Required water calculator
Are You Drinking Enough Water?
You probably already know that it's important to drink enough
water. A minimum of eight glasses of water a day is
recommended. You should aim for more if it is really hot, or
you are working out and sweating a lot. Getting enough water in
your body will prevent you from getting dehydrated.
According to WEBMD the early signs of dehydration are increased
thirst, dry mouth, sticky saliva and reduced urine output with
dark yellow urine. You may also experience a lack of energy and
a headache.
None of these sound very fun. I know it is hard sometimes to
drink that much water; especially when sodas and coffee tempt
us. However, to stay healthy and feel great, we should strive
to drink those eight glasses of water a day.
Here are a few tips to help you remember to drink the water,
and to make it a little more pleasant or interesting.
1. Keep a Log
This can be as simple as a little piece of paper on the fridge,
or a page in your day planner. Just make a little checkmark, or
dash on the piece of paper every time you drink a glass of
water. The log will help you keep track of how much water you
have had in any given day. You'll also be surprised how
motivating it is to try to get those eight little checkmarks on
there every day. Another idea would be to use little stickers
instead.
2. Add Some Lemon Juice
I tend to get bored with drinking just water after a few days.
Change things up and add a little flavor by adding a teaspoon
or less of lemon to your water. You can also try some other
fruit juices. Just make sure you are still drinking mainly
water. Just a splash of juice should be enough to make things
interesting and give the water some flavor without adding a lot
of sugar and calories.
3. Try Some Club Soda
If you are craving the fizz of a soda, try some Club Soda. Most
brands have a little too much fizz for me. I end up watering
them down with - guess what - water. If you want to get really
fancy, check your local grocery store for flavored club sodas.
Alternatively, you can also add a splash of fruit juice to your
watered down club soda.
4. Drink Some Water When You Feel Hungry
Unfortunately many of us have gotten so out of tune with our
bodies that we feel hungry when we are actually thirsty. If you
feel hungry, try drinking a glass of water first. You may just
be thirsty.
5. Carry A Water Bottle
It's much easier to drink water when you have it readily
available. Carry a bottle of water around with you in the car,
at work, while running errands, in the yard, and even while you
are working around the house. You'll be sipping away the water
without even noticing it.
6. Drink More If You Are Working Out
We already touched on this, but it bears repeating. Make sure
you drink a few extra glasses of water if you work out, or if
you spend some time outside while it's hot. Your body uses and
needs more water when it sweats a lot. So don't forget to fill
back up on water during and after your exercise.
Just pay attention to how much you drink and implement some of
these ideas if you don't get the recommended eight glasses of
water a day. Your body will thank you for it in the long run.
About The Author: Susanne Myers together with Christine
Steendahl, owns and publishes the Healthy Menu Mailer. Each
week, we provide you with 7 dinner recipes. Sign up for a free
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