Dear Home Ec 101,
I know we’re supposed to drink eight 8oz glasses of water a day, but I hate it and can never make myself do it.
Any ideas?
Signed,
Parched in Parkersville
Heather says:
Interestingly enough the whole sixty-four ounces of water may be a myth. Like you, I don’t enjoy drinking plain water. That said, when I drink lots of water during the day I find myself reaching for other drinks, like sweet tea, much less.
I have my water consumption on my to do list. Just like any other thing I don’t enjoy doing, I suck it up and get it over with. When I first wake up, I have a glass of water before I let myself have my coffee. Then I have one before breakfast, snack, lunch, and dinner. Perhaps I’m a little, OK a lot, on the OCD side but when I’m forcing myself to drink, I find that counting swallows takes my mind off the water itself.
If your water is particularly unappetizing consider investing in a filter. The water in Ivy’s area is notoriously bad, but after it has been filtered it tastes just fine.
Not every aspect of life is fun, like paying the bills, taking care of yourself is just something that must be done. There are those who insist they feel a million times better when they are well hydrated. Personally I find it to be one of those gradual changes. I find I have fewer headaches, but it goes unnoticed until I find myself reaching for the ibuprofen a little too often.
As far as flavored water goes, I personally cannot tolerate aspartame and cannot recommend it. Sometimes a twist of lemon, lime, or even cucumber is a nice change of pace.
Remember it takes around twenty-one days to build a habit. It won’t be long before it seems less of a chore.
Submit your question by sending an email to helpme@home-ec101.com
Also, to amp up the visual appeal of plain water (which might help make you drink more), you might consider a special ice cube tray for freezing small slices of lemon and a mint leaf in each cube. (That idea can also be used for cubes of cucumber, single raspberries, etc.) You then get the water you need with a pretty little surprise inside…
I’m on a “make boring food/drinks look better” kick lately… 🙂
Infused water is your answer. Put one cup of raspberries, strawberries or cucumbers in a pitcher of water and chill. The taste is amazing!
Also drinking water from a straw helps, ice cold water helps, and I love a splash of lemon in my water.
When I was in college I used to carry around a huge bottle of water and just make it a point to drain it by a certain point in the day, and then fill it again and try to drain it again by the end of the day. As a plus side, I lost a lot of weight drinking that much water!! I’ve never tried the cucumber but I agree that I like a wedge of lemon or orange or even grapefruit in my water, and also dislike aspartame, I think it detracts from the healthy side of drinking the water in the first place. I drink a lot of herbal tea as well, but keep it caffiene free since caffiene can lead to dehydration.
Even easier—when I fill up my 32 ounce bottle each morning I pour in a bit of juice: light cranberry, cherry, or pomegranate. It keeps me from drinking a bunch of juice (high calorie) and encourages me to drink the tasty water.
I agree that the “eight glasses of water” thing is a myth, but to keep up with my body’s extra need for hydration while I’m pregnant, I’ve been drinking sparking water. SO much more satisfying than plain old water! Also, I recently saw Green Tea being cited as the second-healthiest drink, after water, so you might consider that – but watch the caffeine, and not (sadly for me) if you are pregnant.
I try to remember, like Heather, to drink a full glass of water before eating if I think I’m hungry. Our brains sometimes send the signal to the wrong place and we think we’re hungry, but in fact we’re thirsty!
I like the infused water idea.
My favorite sipping is seltzer, whether plain or lemon lime. It’s pretty cheap and I really love carbonation!
i use the slice-o-lemon method to make my (even filtered) water drinkable.
I haven’t tried these, but there are actually filters for flavored water. I guess it flavors the water for you.
http://www.purwater.com/pur-flavor-options/
I second the “use a straw & drink ice cold water” thing. I have a 32 oz. cup I fill up at least twice a day, and sometimes a bit more (I’m pregnant). 😉
I have a friend that is just the opposite- she likes it *almost* lukewarm and chugs it down during certain intervals throughout the day. She says having it not cold makes it easier to drink… sounds gross to me. 😉
I have developed some serious digestive issues and have had to give up all soda and caffeen. I have had nothing to drink but water since April. I have lost weight and I feel better. A couple of years ago I heard a very well know weight loss expert say that if you did nothing else different in your diet than change to drinking only water you would lose 18lbs in the first year……the good news is it won’t hurt you…
If you’re interested in losing weight through drinking water, drink it ice cold. Your body burns energy digesting it. (Right up there with the “takes more calories to chew and digest celery than the celery has in it”).
Nice Blog you have here, Was just trying to find something nice on weight loss and health & Fitness and came here to this one … and I have read this post and find it really good ….
Drinking water is not a preffered activity for most of the poeple … but as Heather said you should consider it as one of those things that you have to do .. just suck it up and get it over with ….
have to read a few more … keep up the good work …..
Mark
Editor
http://www.212articles.com
Plain water is definitely not appetizing. Our tongue craves for sweet drinks and foods. In order to drink the required amount of water everyday, we need to have an active lifestyle. In this way, even though we don’t really like the taste of plain water, we are compelled to drink a lot because of our thirst.