Everyone knows drinking water is important. Your body is about 60% water and being properly hydrated is a key component to good health. Some of the health benefits to drinking water are better looking skin and fueling your muscles and organs, especially your kidneys. If you drink water, most people’s kidneys do a fine enough job in detoxing your body. It’s also important to increase your water intake if you are trying to lose weight because often you think you’re hungry, but in reality you are thirsty.
The question is, how much water should I drink and how am I going to get it in? The general guideline for water intake is to drink half your weight in water. For many of us, that number can be overwhelming, particularly in the winter season.
Here are some tried and true, tips and tricks to getting all your water in:
1. Leave a glass by your bedside and drink water as soon as you wake up. I always have water to drink throughout the night when I get up, but this is hard for me. I need my water cold. A friend suggested using a water bottle to keep my water cold overnight.
2. Add lemon to your water. I do this several times a day. Having to deal with real lemons can be annoying for me, so I’ve gotten to the point that I just by the lemon juice and squeeze some in, boom! Sometimes I add peppermint or grapefruit essential oil or even a little low-calorie powdered beverage mix.
3. Know your number and figure out a container that makes it easy to track. When I’m at work, I have two different water bottles that are both 40oz, and I know if I get through them, I’m in good shape with my water intake. At home, I have a tumbler that’s 24oz and has a straw, which also helps me drink my water. There are tons of fun water bottles on etsy to buy if you need motivation.
4. Set a reminder on your phone. In this digital age, why not use an app to help keep you healthy. Many devices have water trackers, too, if you are already using something to count steps and calories.
5. Drink before you eat. This one is key for me at night because I often think I’m hungry, but after some water or a cup of hot tea, the thought of eating passes.
6. Do a water challenge with some friends. Lots of health coaches run these types of challenges for free, just as a way to help people remember how important drinking water is. I am super competitive, so this works great for me. It’s also fun to do a Stop, Drop and Chug #SDAC challenge on Instagram.
