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.
I have heard the lemon water thing too but don’t do it, I try and have glasses of water throughout the day. Thanks for the insight into where the 8 glass thing came from, interesting.
I’m glad I’m not the only one on the lemon water. In the summer, I find adding a slice of cucumber and a sprig of mint to my water pitcher is really nice but that’s about it for additives for me. Thank you for sharing!
Oh yes love cucumber or mint! So refreshing in summer 👌
For me and my coworkers our current hydration challenge is masks. We share an open work space and the added impediment of having to stop work and go to the designated eating area is a real problem.
We have had to make contests with ourselves to get enough water.
Some have giant water bottles.
I have to drink an entire 12ounce mug of beverage at every break.
It was such a problem that after 2 months back after shelter in place, we negotiated a water bottle with straw exception so that we can drink water in the workroom.
I hate those bottles so 12 ounces at every break it is.
I really miss my leisurely sipped cup of coffee at my table.
That’s a really great point @pointygirl. New guidelines for workplaces are going to make hydration harder for most. I often pause and sip while I think about a problem. I can see that being an issue in these COVID times where space, while distanced, is still shared. Thank you!
I heard this past year that the amount of water we need varies by our weight (and probably body composition). The formula I was given had me convert my weight from pounds to kilograms (I’m in the US), and then that number is how many ounces of water I should consume daily. Right now, that means I should drink a bit over 100 ounces, which is challenging. I can drink 64 oz a day no problem, and have fairly consistently done so over the years. Thanks for the reminder that we also get water through the foods we eat.