I have a lovely collection of water bottles and carafes. I stash them all over the house, so where ever I go, I always have water handy. These past few years, we have been experiencing uncharacteristically humid spells and maintaining myself adequately hydrated hasn’t always been easy.
I have tried the phone beeps, the Fitbit buzzes, the water challenges with my peers, and even a post it note on the shelf at eye-level commanding me to DRINK!
I have friends who swear by drinking a cup of hot water with a slice of lemon (others squeeze the juice of a whole lemon) first thing before breakfast. If I drink anything hot in the morning, it’s coffee. While I love lemon, hot water is not my thing. I also can’t drink water with ice unless I have a straw, so several of my water carafes have built in straws.
When I first started training, I did show up with a water bottle because I knew I was going to get hot and sweaty. I used to run (I once signed up for a ten kilometre race except it turned out to be a ten mile race) and water was really critical. I’m not a fan of sports drinks generally (although I have found a brand and a flavour that I love).
I got to thinking about how much water we should be drinking. Most of the health apps have a water calculator so you can check off your eight 8oz glasses daily. Where did that come from? According to the Mayo Clinic, it was the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine that came up with the recommendation that on average, living in a temperate climate, men should drink almost 16 cups and women should drink almost 12.
But that’s an average. Some people need more and some people need less. If your weather is excessively hot, or you are a very active person, you may need more.
Also, about 20% of that water comes from food and other beverages. Hence the simple reminder about eight glasses daily. Water helps flush your system (no need to spend money on fancy cleanses!) and keeps all your body chemicals balanced. You can drink too much water and you can also drink too little. My system of three to four bottles, while a little cluttery on table tops, does remind me of how much I have consumed, and if I should drink a little more to keep myself properly hydrated.
How about you readers? What tips do you use to keep your fluid intake level optimal? Please share in the comments.
MarthaFitat55 is writer who likes powerlifting, yoga, and swimming.