How to Drink Enough Water

Drinking water is a huge part of being fit. If you’re like me, sometimes you struggle to get enough on a daily basis. In fact, sometimes I go to bed just realizing that I hadn’t had any water at all that day. When I was working, water was frequent. Walking to the water cooler was a great break. Plus, working in retail involved manual labor – especially on truck days – so drinking water was a necessity when you had to unload all of the merchandise. Now that I’m home all day every day, drinking enough water is much harder. So, how do I fix that issue?

How Much Water Should I Drink?

The rule of thumb has always been that a person should drink 8 cups of water a day. While that might be a good start, that seriously undercuts the needed amount for the majority of the adult population. 8 cups of water are the equivalent of 64 ounces. 64 ounces is only enough water if you weigh between 64 and 128 pounds. In reality, you should be drinking anywhere from 1/2 ounce to one ounce per pound of bodyweight. For example, if you weigh 180 pounds, you should aim for at least 90 ounces of water each day.

90 ounces falls between 11 and 12 cups a day. If you drink standard sized bottled water, you’re looking at consuming nearly 5 and a half bottles of water. Visualize how much water that is! Since the majority of people seem to sip on one bottle in the morning hours, one in the afternoon, and one in the evening, it can be a challenge upping the intake to what is really needed.

How to Drink More Throughout the Day

Once you have determined how much water you should be drinking, there are a couple of ways that might help you accomplish that need. If you need 5.5 bottles each day, round up to 6 to make it an even number. Then, figure out exactly how many waking hours you have on a regular day. If you wake up at 8 am and go to bed at 11 pm, you’re looking at 15 hours. Simple math tells us that you would need to drink 40% of an entire bottle of water every hour in order to reach 6 total bottles. You might start by setting that as your goal, as shorter term goals are generally easier to accomplish.

You can make life easier by drinking water instead of other beverages. When you wake up, swap out your coffee for a bottle of water. Personally, this is not the route I would take (HUGE COFFEE LOVER!). I have read that water does more for the awakening of your mind than caffeine does, though. Since I love coffee so much, I try to drink a bottle quickly before I drink my coffee. Sometimes I fail horribly, what with all of the things I have to do first thing (diapers to change, breakfasts to serve, baby to nurse). It is an ongoing personal goal. Here are some ways I’ve had successful days:

1. Drink from a larger bottle. It’s easier to drink what is already there so that I don’t have to make a trip to the fridge for each new bottle.
2. Mark times on the bottle so that you know if you are on schedule. Time can pass us by. If you know you should have 32 ounces down by lunchtime, you can easily catch up if you notice you’re behind at 10 am.
3. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty. Be proactive!
4. Add sliced fruit if growing bored of water. Tired of drinking only water? I like to add a few slices of strawberries, lemons, apples, or even cucumbers to mine and let it absorb some flavor. While I hate bottled flavored water, the taste is so much better when it comes from something fresh!

   

5. Drink water with meals or at restaurants. I always find myself drinking more when I’m at restaurants – probably because of the frequent refills! When I order water, I easily drink 2-3 glasses with dinner where I would have been drinking sweet tea before.

It can be hard to make a huge change like this overnight. Focus on how you’re progressing over time if you find yourself struggling. Yesterday you drank 64 ounces? Try hitting 70 today. Think positively!

Why is Hydrating Important?

There are several reasons that water benefits your health. Aiding in weight loss is only one. Drinking enough also helps brain function, decreases anxiety, and boosts energy. If your health is a priority for you, drinking water should be at the top of your list.

Today is Ash Wednesday. For me, that means working on something specific for the 40 days of Lent. In addition to placing more focus on my devotionals and Bible readings, I’ll be drinking my minimum water intake every day. If you want to join me, let’s talk about it! Do you do something different to get enough water in your system?