« Happy 6 months, baby! | Main | Mmmm, chocolate »
Backwards Works For Me Wednesday- Drinking Water
By nottryingforaboy | March 4, 2008
I’m a raisin. Seriously I am. Or maybe a dried apricot actually. All I know is that I’m dehydrated. I’ll spare you the details of how I know.
I need to drink more water. I don’t get my eight glasses a day. I’m lucky if I even get two.
Do you drink all your required water for the day? If so, how do you do it I need techniques. I’ve tried a chart, I’ve tried a big old jug with 64 ounces, I’ve tried the flavored stuff, but it seems as the end of the day, I haven’t come close to what I should be drinking.
So, at this backwards edition of Works For Me Wednesday, please share your water techniques with me. What works for you?
Topics: wfmw |
March 4th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
hmm, you’ve tried a lot of ideas that I would have suggested. I can’t say I drink 64 oz, probably more like 24 oz of water and 24 oz of iced tea. there was a time when i had to drink 64 oz of water every day and what worked for me was to have 4 16 oz bottes of water in the fridge. when i got up i took one bottle out and when that was empty i set it aside and grabbed another one and so on till all 4 were empty. then i would refill the bottles and set them in the fridge for the next day. i also recommend keeping a few new bottles in your car and one on your nightstand and another one in your handbag. i also suggest noshing on some pretzels, the salt helps make you thirsty ergo you drink more!
[Reply]
March 4th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Okay, what I do is I always drink water while I drive. I keep a liter size bottle with me, and just keep taking swallows every few minutes. It’s amazing how much water you can drink that way. I also take the liter bottle with me (full) to my daily morning meeting at work that usually lasts 45 min to an hour. I will generally drink the entire bottle during the course of the meeting after which I bolt for the bathroom. However, because of these two things, I usually have drunk a liter and a half by 10am. I will usually drink another liter over the course of the rest of the day. Sometimes a little more. I’ve gotten into the habit of just carrying the bottle of water with me and swallowing gulps throughout the day. Anyway, that’s what works for me.
[Reply]
March 5th, 2008 at 1:03 am
I use half-liter bottles - its my goal to drink four a day. And I always have one with me. I even take them to friends’ houses for dinner (at least, the ones I know well enough). What I’ve found is that I drink a lot more when I’m out, even subconsciously.
[Reply]
March 5th, 2008 at 2:47 am
Sadly, I think this is one of those annoying areas of life that just require work. You mentioned several of the suggestions I was going to put forth. For me, when I don’t drink water I never think to choose it. I’d far rather have coffee or tea. When I do make a glass, however, it awakens my thirst and I enjoy it.
I have to MAKE myself drink all 8 glasses. I don’t find it easy. Just do it! Go for it. I just started a healthy living contest with a few friends. I put water drinking down as one of my goals. I’m striving to make it! Whatever it takes to motivate or encourage you is helpful!
Duckabush Blog
[Reply]
March 5th, 2008 at 7:22 am
You don’t really need 64oz of water a day. You need 64oz of *fluid* a day, which can be in the form of juice, water, and even the liquid that is in your food. I assume you aren’t eating freeze dried only food, right? Then you’re getting fluid from your food.
One thing I’ve done is to drink a smaller glass of water (so not a full 8 oz) each time I go to the bathroom. The more you drink, the more you pee, which makes you drink even more if you follow this.
[Reply]
March 5th, 2008 at 7:35 am
I don’t know if I get quite the right amount… but I tend to keep a water bottle with me everywhere I go. That way I can just drink small amounts throughout the day. Those small amounts gradually add up to a much larger amount!
[Reply]
March 5th, 2008 at 7:36 am
Walmart has 10 oz water bottles and for some reason drinking those seem easier than the bigger bottles…just a thought!
[Reply]
March 5th, 2008 at 8:28 am
You could make it a rule that you drink your water before you eat anything.
[Reply]
March 5th, 2008 at 8:42 am
two things… i drink SO much more out of a straw than i do out of a cup. sport bottles don’t work for me either. but a straw, and a thick straw is even better, help me drink a lot more.
i also don’t drink water during the day. i drink lemonade or juice, but i’m not interested in water. at night, though, when i’m up with my baby, or even right before i go to bed, i can drink 32 oz in a sitting… a few of those and i’m set for the day.
[Reply]
March 5th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Try adding those Crystal Lite to go packs in water if you get tired of drinking so much plain water! Works for me!
[Reply]
March 5th, 2008 at 10:07 am
I don’t always get the rec. 64 oz either, I hate tap water so I know if I drink at least 4 16.9 oz of water I have meant the amount. I don’t recommend anything with aspartame (Crystal Light, Whelers) in it or splenda. I am diabetic and enjoy the occasional Country Time lemonade individual packets, they are tasty.
[Reply]
March 5th, 2008 at 10:09 am
I’m commenting about your reply on someone else’s question regarding cloth diapering. I’m having a baby girl soon, and after the first few weeks, we’ll be cloth diapering - using Fuzzi Bunz. I have a front load washer also, and it seems that a lot of the instrucitons I read are for top-load washers.
How do you set your washer to soak and just rinse? I honestly don’t know how to set the rinse cycle. I feel really dumb…I guess I’ve never had a need to do that before now! What does yours say?
Thanks so much!
[Reply]
March 5th, 2008 at 10:42 am
I just keep 16 oz bottles in the fridge at all times and make sure it is very cold. Then I just chug it b/c I hate for it to get warm.
[Reply]
March 5th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Does sweet tea count-as water consumption?
[Reply]
March 5th, 2008 at 11:11 am
We have several large plastic tumblers that hold 30oz. I just make sure I drink at least two of those per day (usually 3). Plain is usually fine but sometimes I add lime juice.
It does take time to develop the habit, but now I must say I am a die hard water drinker. I feel the difference instantly if I get too busy and don’t drink enough; I get a headache and just feel blah. We have tried to raise our kids to be water drinkers too and not be dependent on a drink having a flavor in order to get it down.
[Reply]
March 5th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
The big jug of 64 ounces really helped me to make sure I got it all in.
Are you nursing? Because I always did better at getting my fluids in then. I just put the jug on the side table where I nursed. Then, when I was sitting there, trapped :), I drank it down. Maybe you could set it down near the TV, and drink it instead of snacking while watching. Oh wait, I’m giving advice to myself.
I also fill up a bottle and take it with me every time I excercise. I empty it by the time I’m done with my walk or whatever.
[Reply]
March 5th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Lately I have heard and read in several places that the whole 8 glasses a day is a myth. How can it be the same for a 250 pound man as a 128 pound woman, right? And remember, you’ll get water in many of the foods you eat. So, no, you don’t have to measure out 64 oz. of the stuff each day.
What I also read is that if your urine is dark yellow, you’re not getting enough water. If it’s too clear, you’re getting too much. (And you were sparing US the details!) You actually can drink too much water. It overtaxes your kidneys.
So, I’d keep a water bottle on hand and drink from that whenever I was thirsty. Your body will tell you if you need to drink more. The fact that you are aware you are dehydrated tells me you know this already!
[Reply]
March 5th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
I used to be the same way. I ended up with a sore throat that hurt to swallow because I was so dehydrated. It got worse and worse until I went to the doctor. They were quite alarmed to find out I was so dehydrated that my resting heart rate was 120bpm. They put me on an IV immediately. I felt SO much better after that.
I only get a sore throat when I’m dehydrated; I’ve never gotten a sore throat for any other reason. That’s my clue that I haven’t been getting enough so I make an extra effort.
What works best for me is to either drink a large cup (mine hold 15 oz) with each meal and not get up until I’m done or to stand at the sink and drink a large cup of water. That way I get it in 3 or 4 large drinks a day. It also helps to drink it from a straw. If I try keeping a bottle of water on the table next to me or carry one with me or take on in the car with me, it will still be 100% full by the end of the day. Sipping just doesn’t work for me.
[Reply]
March 5th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Have you tried drinking from a straw? My grandmother always did that, and I have found there’s wisdom in her method. I seem to take larger drinks, and more often, when there’s a straw in my glass or water bottle.
Also, I read a trick that helps me *sometimes* - have a pitcher (read: pretty spa sort of thing) at different points in the home. Fill with water, sliced lemons, sliced cucumber, or fresh mint. Have glasses stacked beside, and pretend you’re in a spa. Not sure it’s a long-term solution, but it helps for a day or so.
I’m with you - need more water, struggle to drink enough - but I also think it’s a worthy habit to figure out.
[Reply]
March 5th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
I always have a water bottle with me. I end up sipping on it throughout the day and before I know it, I’m at least at drinking the amount of water I need.
[Reply]
March 5th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Keep in mind that water that is contained in fresh fruits and vegetables counts toward your total daily intake of water. Also, by avoiding caffeinated beverages, you are helping to hold on to the water you have consumed. My only other “trick” is to keep a small glass (no bigger than 8 oz.) by the sink and drink one glass full before each meal and one glass after each meal. That will get you at least 6 glasses this way. It may help to build this habit up slowly, doing just the “before the meal” glass for a few days, then adding in the “after the meal” glass. I hope this helps!
[Reply]
March 6th, 2008 at 7:55 am
My Dad, the Doctor, claims that you can get a large amount of water by drinking drinks other than straight water: coffee, tea, fruit juice, soda, etc. My personal experience is that drinks with caffeine make me thirsty, so I try to limit those to 1 a day…they also make me terribly WIRED!!
Before kids and during working days, I would bring a thermos/big clear plastic bottle full of water and sip on it all morning, finishing it with lunch. I’d fill it up again and would finish it by dinner time…Full day’s worth of water right there!
When I was preg with my first child and still working, I could not tolerate plain water, and I craved crushed ice. I ended up with this cocktail, and I still love it: 1 part cranapple, 1 part water over full cup of crushed ice. The funny part, now, is that I can not drink straight juice anymore; it HAS to be diluted.
I read some other comments on your post, and they are full of good advice. Give them all a shot, and you’ll find what works for you. I agree that it takes some time to get in a routine, but be consistent, and you will soon find yourself to be a water-drinker and loving it!
[Reply]
March 7th, 2008 at 10:21 am
Give yourself a break! Needing eight glasses of water a day is a myth. Drink enough liquids that you like to keep your urine pale yellow. Have a drink handy to sip on through the day.
[Reply]