Drinking Water

Ugh-I have to admit that I do not typically enjoy drinking water. I prefer something with flavor and carbonation (diet Mountain Dew or diet Pepsi to be more exact). However, I know that drinking water is important so I have been trying to focus more on making sure it is part of my day.

Drinking a soda each day isn’t horrible. My problem is that I would drink more like two or three a day and not drink anything else. Switching to water has been kind of a hard transition. I have done a pretty good job of it but, I do reward myself with a soda every once in a while-mostly on weekends. As I have said before, there is no need to completely cut out the things that you enjoy. They just need to be done in moderation.

The American Dietetic Associations website, www.eatright.org, says that adults should drink 8 cups of water a day which is 64 fluid ounces or just under 2 liters. You should drink more on the days you are exercising. Kids over eight years old need the same amount as adults where as younger kids need 4 to 5 cups.

So, how do we make sure we are drinking enough? As with most things, it starts with awareness and planning. Start being aware of how much water you drink. Do you drink as much as you should? If not, come up with a plan to get there. For example, I like my water really cold, so I bought a few 16 ounce water bottles. I fill them up at night and put them in the refridgerator. Throughout the day I pull them out and drink them; knowing that I need to finish all four before I go to bed. At night I wash them out, refill them and put them in the fridge for the next day. If I am leaving the house I always make sure to take one with me. I also make sure to drink a big glass of water after my workouts (in addition to my daily ‘requirement’).  Put together a plan for yourself. Think about why you aren’t drinking enough water and what would help you get there. Maybe it means putting some flavor in such as Crystal Light.

I have actually noticed a difference in the way I feel since I started focusing on my water intake. I just feel better. I also don’t crave the sweetness and flavor of sodas as much. I even find that when I do get one, I can’t drink it all in one sitting. I even find myself choosing it over soda when I am at a social gathering. Now that is something I never thought would happen!