3 tips for developing a better water intake habit!
We hear it all the time, “stay hydrated!” or “drink more water”, and this is awesome advice! Drinking an adequate amount of water is essential for our health, but it can be a daunting task to deal with every single day. Some of us might get too busy and forget throughout the day to make sure we are drinking enough water, or maybe some people just don’t like the bland taste of water. I’ve heard every excuse in the book, and here are my three tips to help you consume more water throughout the day and maintain your hydration!
1. Track your intake!
A common question is how much water should I be drinking? And there is often the generic “64 oz” answer, but everybody is different and there is no one amount that works for everyone. Generally, I tell my patients to make sure they are drinking half their weight in ounces. So for someone that weighs 150lbs, they should be drinking 75 oz of water a day. For those of us that live in dry or humid areas we need to consume more water to make sure our body stays hydrated. Also, if you are physically active it is essential to make sure your water intake is up to par to avoid muscle aches and soreness. Now days, everything is done on our cell phones and there are a few apps that make it super easy to track your water intake!
2. Make water more convenient, and tasty.
You are more likely to succeed and complete the 30 day water challenge when you have water always readily available to you. Make sure you have a reusable water bottle with you, that way you know exactly how much water you are drinking and you always have it available to you. Use fruits like strawberries, cucumbers, lemons and even mint in your water to make it more refreshing and tasty. If you feel hungry, always drink water before digging in, often when we feel hunger it can actually be because we are thirsty! This is super beneficial for weight management as well.
3. Make it fun…
I remember I use to always have trouble with drinking adequate amounts of water, and I had someone teach me a fun “game” to help make the process of drinking water more fun and challenging. Put a handful of blueberries in your water bottle, and make a point to get 4 blueberries each time you take a drink of water. I promise you, this is far more challenging than it sounds, and you will definitely consume a whole lot of water. If you have a competitive personality, I think you will enjoy this just as much as I did!
