If you're following my Weight Watchers journey, you know how strongly I feel about the…
How to Drink More Water
If you ask a nutritionist how to drink more water, they will usually say “drink when you're thirsty”. The problem with that is, I'm never thirsty! I can go all day without drinking anything at all and not even realize it. In order for me to drink more water and make sure my body stays hydrated, I have to set alarms, make it fun, and even add fruit or flavoring sometimes.
How much water you need to drink depends on a variety of things:
— your size (height/weight)
— your general health
— if you're pregnant/breastfeeding
— weather/altitude
— exercise level
While Weight Watchers says you need to drink 48 ounces of liquid a day, and they allow you to count coffee, tea, and even juice and diet soda, I completely disagree with them on this. I'm a huge fan of drinking half your body weight in ounces. So if you weigh 200 pounds, aim for 100 ounces. There are many studies to back this up, along with my own personal experience and a recommendation from my doctor. If your weight loss stalls, not drinking enough water could be the culprit (sodium could be another one).
So my recommendation is to drink…drink…drink!
Apps to help you drink water
There are so many apps to help you remember to hydrate each day. If you would rather use physical pen and paper, track your water intake in your food journal!
Plant Nanny: Adorable app where you grow a plant as you drink water. Available on Google Play and iTunes.
Waterbalance: Delivers facts about water and health. Allows you to earn badges and share achievements with friends. Available on Google Play and iTunes.
Daily Water: Simple, single-focused app. If you don't want any fluff, this is the app for you. Available on iTunes.
Some Fun Ways To Dress Up Water
Flavor packets: There are so many options for flavoring water, including Mio, JUST Water's infused water and Crystal Light. I absolutely love the Great Value flavor packets, especially the lemonade and strawberry lemonade flavors. :) The Crystal Light Fruit Punch is also one of my favorite flavors. I make a large pitcher of it a few times a week. I drink it EVERY day. It is really good and a great way to get a lot of water in daily.
Add fruit: Search Pinterest for “fruit water” or “fruit infused water”. Since fruit is a 0 point food, you don't have to worry about racking up points. I recommend adding raspberries, mint leaves, lemon, lime, grapefruit and cucumber. All are delicious so have fun with it
Seltzer Water: There are so many brands that sell zero calorie seltzer waters now. In every kind of flavor you can imaging. Here are a few for you to check out if you like bubbles in your water. There are even probiotic seltzer waters that are good for your digestion as well.
Drink Throughout the Day: It is better for you if you are drinking water throughout the day – vs. the “all at once” method that we use when we forget to drink and try to make up for it. So, try setting a timer on your phone to reoccur daily at 8am, 11am, 2pm and 5pm, for example. When it goes off, drink a glass of water. Also, drink a glass with every meal. Chances are, if you do these two simple techniques, you will hit your water goal daily without having to think about it.
Drink every Morning: Set a tall glass of water on your nightstand before you go to bed at night. When you wake up, the first thing you should do is drink that glass of water.
Carry a large water bottle at all times: Camelbak has always been my favorite brand of water bottles. They last forever and are dishwasher safe! Plus they come in all sizes!Â
However, I am now just as excited (okay obsessed) with a new water bottle I found that is infused with weight loss crystals.
What??
I know. It is so pretty and the crystals are said to promote weight loss so the minute I saw it I knew I had to have it. I got one for my mom too. When I take mine to the gym with me, everyone asks about it. You can see for yourself here. To learn more about how the crystals work to aid in weight loss, you can watch the video here.
Drink water with every meal: Instead of drinking coffee, tea, soda, juice or milk, etc., have a big glass of water every time you eat. After you finish the big glass, you can follow up by drinking whatever you like the rest of the meal. You can really get a lot of water in doing it this way.
Set up A Reward System
If you're still drinking soda, juice, Starbucks, etc this one may work for you. Before you allow yourself to get a Starbucks drink (or soda or whatever), you must drink 12 ounces of water. If you're used to starting your day with Starbucks, that might be difficult, but it's worth trying.
Or, if you start your day with Starbucks you can do that but ONLY if you promise to drink half your body weight in ounces of water throughout the day. Don't drink the water? Don't get Starbucks the next day.
If you are a Starbucks lover, you must try my Weight Watchers Starbucks iced mocha copy cat recipe that is only 2 WW Points. And if you like that, you are going to love my Weight Watchers Starbucks pumpkin spiced latte copy cat recipe that is only 3 WW Points.
It seems silly but sometimes I have to play games with myself and figure out a way to be tricked or bribed into drinking water. It works. After a while, drinking enough water will become a habit.
Are you Still Struggling To Drink Enough Water Throughout the Day?
Don't worry, you're not alone. Many people find it challenging to stay hydrated, so we have even more ways for you to encourage yourself to drink more water.
Here are our additional tips to help you get that water in:
- Keep water easily accessible: Place water bottles or glasses in various locations throughout your home, workplace, and car. Having water within reach will serve as a constant reminder to stay hydrated.
- Drink water before meals: Make it a habit to drink a glass of water before each meal. Not only will this help you increase your water intake, but it can also aid in weight management by reducing your appetite.
- Track your progress: Keep a record of how much water you drink each day. This will help you see your progress and motivate you to reach your hydration goals.
- Use a straw: Drinking water through a straw can make it more enjoyable and easier to consume larger quantities.
- Set achievable goals: Start small by setting achievable goals for increasing your water intake. For example, aim to drink an extra glass of water each day and gradually increase the amount over time. Remember, staying hydrated is essential for maintaining overall health and well-being. By incorporating these additional tips into your daily routine, you'll be well on your way to drinking more water and reaping the benefits of proper hydration. Cheers to a healthier you!
Donna Jean Messner says
Loving your Emails. Getting items to make the recipes.