How to Drink More Water Everyday

[Newsbot]

There are a variety of reasons to drink plenty of water each day. Adequate water intake prevents dehydration, cleans out the body, and promotes healing processes. Substituting water for beverages high in calories can also help control weight. Follow the steps below to make sure you're getting enough of this most basic necessity.


Steps
Determine how much water you need. You've probably heard the "8 X 8" rule--drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day--but the amount of water a person needs varies depending on his or her weight and activity level. A better way to determine your recommended water intake is to divide your weight (in pounds) by two. The resulting number is the number of ounces of water you need each day.

For example, if you weigh 150 lbs., strive to drink 75 ounces of water daily. Metric people should divide their weight in kilos by 30 - so somebody weighing 70kg is going to need 2.3 litres per day. (See warnings below.)

Measure your daily intake of water. Do this for a few days. If you find that you're drinking less than the recommended quantity, try some of the following tips.
Carry water with you everywhere you go in a bottle or other container. Before long, you'll find yourself reaching for it without a second thought.

Keep a glass or cup of water next to you whenever you'll be sitting down for a long time, such as when you're at your desk at work. Drink from it regularly as you're working.

Try wearing a digital watch that beeps at the beginning of each hour. Use that as a reminder to pour yourself a glass of water. Vow to drink that water before the next beep. If you drink only one small (6 ounce) cup per hour, you'll have consumed 48 ounces by the end of an 8-hour workday.

Get a water purification system. Purified water tastes very good and may help make drinking water more appealing to you. Be aware, though, that as you grow accustomed to purified water, you may find that tap water leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

Tips
Except in very rare cases, it is not necessary to buy expensive bottled water. Companies that sell water have a financial interest in convincing you that tap water is undesirable. However, if you choose to drink tap water, please be aware of the pollutants and additional chemicals that exist in many tap water sources. Some studies have linked the long-term accumulation of these chemicals in your body to chronic health problems. A simple water filtration system or boiling of the water will help reduce these risks.

Instead of that Coke, try a glass of water. It may not be as tasty, but it's a lot better for you than drinking almost ten teaspoons of white sugar. It's also considerably cheaper, especially if you drink tap water.

If you really can't stand the taste of your water, try adding a tiny bit of fruit juice or a squeeze of lemon or lime--just enough to slightly change the taste. Refrigerating your water may also help make it more palatable.

For a feeling of accomplishment, fill two 32-ounce water bottles (or one big 64-ounce bottle, as in the full "8x8" amount) in the morning and make sure you have consumed the contents of both by the end of the day.

Drinking a full glass of water first thing in the morning helps wake the body up. So kick-start your day with water!

Water helps you look good. By flushing out toxins and impurities, water can make your skin clearer, smoother and younger looking.

Drinking water helps you control hunger. Drink a large glass of ice water 20 minutes before meals. The cold causes your stomach to shrink somewhat, which will make you feel full more rapidly.

Whether drinking tap or bottled water, do some research on the source. In some places, such as Philadelphia, the tap water actually contains the same electrolytes that are in Gatorade. On the other hand it's also possible that your bottled water may be from a different source than its name suggests. If the bottle says 'Municipal Water Supply' or something to that effect, then the company has simply bottled tap water, and you're probably wasting your money.

If you find out you have lead plumbing, and water is abundant in your area, let the water run for about thirty seconds before filling your glass. This can reduce the amount of lead--and the bad taste that accompanies it--in the water you drink. If you live in an area with a shortage of water, however, this is probably not a good option.

To convert the units of measurement in this article to metric units, you can use
Google Calculator

Nutritionists believe that you should only drink water at least 20 minutes before a meal and 1 hour after, not during or immediately after eating. The theory is that your digestive juices need to remain undiluted in order to properly break down your food for proper nutrient uptake.

Every time you walk past a water fountain, take a sip or two.

Gradually increase your daily intake of water by starting with, for example, 1L.

Keep a 1L bottle of water in the fridge and aim to have it finished by the end of the day. Increase this amount every day.

Vow to drink only water for a month. Once your body becomes accustomed to it, it will be hard not to drink enough water. Also, by the end of the month water starts to taste delicious...no lie!

To get the needed 8 oz. glasses of water, say 8, put 8 hair ties or rubber bands on your right hand to represent each glass of water you need. When you drink one of the glasses, switch one rubber band to your left hand. Your goal is to get 8 hair ties on your left hand before the day is up!

If you don't like the taste of water try hot water. It's a different taste and it feels good on your throat!

Try drinking cold water out of a glass instead of a plastic or paper cup. The glass will retain the cold better than other materials and will keep your water crisp and fresh-tasting longer.

Warnings
Increasing your water intake may cause you to have to get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. To avoid this, you may want to stop drinking water a few hours before bedtime--or make sure you visit the toilet before bed!
While adequate water is essential to health, it is possible to drink too much water or any other beverage, and there has been considerable scientific debate surrounding how much water a person really needs per day. According to Snopes - http://www.snopes.com/medical/myths/8glasses.asp - the Los Angeles Times has reported that "Kidney specialists do agree on one thing, however: that the 8-by-8 rule is a gross overestimate of any required minimum. To replace daily losses of water, an average-sized adult with healthy kidneys sitting in a temperate climate needs no more than one liter of fluid...the equivalent of about four 8-ounce glasses. According to most estimates, that's roughly the amount of water most Americans get in solid food. In short, though doctors don't recommend it, many of us could cover our bare-minimum daily water needs without drinking anything during the day."

Drinking excessive amounts of water can cause serious health problems for some people.

People with some heart conditions, high blood pressure or swelling of the lower
legs (edema) need to avoid excess water. If you have a history of kidney problems, especially if you have had a transplant, consult your doctor before increasing your fluid intakes.

You shouldn't drink too much water while eating as it waters down your stomach acid and can cause digestion problems.

If you live in a place with a lot of heat (e.g., the desert), you will have to drink extra water.

http://www.wikihow.com/Drink-More-Water-Everyday

[Janet]

Holy poop, if I went by the 8x8 rule I would have to drink 116 ozs a day or 14+ 8 oz glasses a day. I think for now, I'll stick with 6 bottles of water a day. Now if I could get my computer into the bathroom, I'd just sit, post, pee, drink, sit, post, pee, drink and so on and so on....LOL

[Kimberley]

Very interesting!

[Amber_lv]

Originally Posted by Janet

Holy poop, if I went by the 8x8 rule I would have to drink 116 ozs a day or 14+ 8 oz glasses a day. I think for now, I'll stick with 6 bottles of water a day. Now if I could get my computer into the bathroom, I'd just sit, post, pee, drink, sit, post, pee, drink and so on and so on....LOL

OMG you are so funny LOL hahahahahahahahahhahaha i'm laughing so hard right now lol

[Mandy]

Originally Posted by Janet

Holy poop, if I went by the 8x8 rule I would have to drink 116 ozs a day or 14+ 8 oz glasses a day. I think for now, I'll stick with 6 bottles of water a day. Now if I could get my computer into the bathroom, I'd just sit, post, pee, drink, sit, post, pee, drink and so on and so on....LOL

LMAO thanks for the laugh, but as i read your reply i just had a sip of my coffee, it was all over the keyboard!

[RLC12345678]

I talked with my hubby yesterday who's a doctor and he said that it is chemically impossible for water to interfere with the digestive process. He said that there is no harm in drinking water with meals. Chemistry speaking, water is not a good buffer, so even when it is mixed with acid, it does not change the pH level of the acid.

I was just a little worried when I read this because all I drink with meals is water. I had to get to the bottom of it!

[Emmsmom]

Did you also know that if you give babies to much water that it can be toxic to their system. WHo would have thought that over using something as pure as water could be dangerous. I have always heard that we should drink 6 to 8 glasses of water a day. I try but I can't quite get there yet.

Michelle

[Mandy]

Originally Posted by Emmsmom

Did you also know that if you give babies to much water that it can be toxic to their system. WHo would have thought that over using something as pure as water could be dangerous. I have always heard that we should drink 6 to 8 glasses of water a day. I try but I can't quite get there yet.

Michelle

Wow i didnt know that, thanks for sharing! See we learn everyday

[Janet]

The only bad thing that I can think of is that after drinking so much water, you have to go to the bathroom so much and the "hoochie" gets sore from all the wiping. Maybe we need a "hoochie" dryer like we have those hand dryers.

[Mandy]

Originally Posted by Janet

The only bad thing that I can think of is that after drinking so much water, you have to go to the bathroom so much and the "hoochie" gets sore from all the wiping. Maybe we need a "hoochie" dryer like we have those hand dryers.

LOL "hoochie dryer" Something new on the market

For me its easier to drink the water straight from the tap, well from fridge door actually, with no ice. I tend to drink more this way. Also if you are trying to lose weight or just eat better and you get a craving for that chocolate bar or little debbie snack in the kitchen, make yourself drink a glass of water beforehand then wait just a bit if you still want it, get it. Usually after drinking the water I don't want it or its taken me so long to drink the water the craving is gone. Either way if you eat the craving or not at least you've gotten closer to that water goal.

Oh and one of the first things I noticed when I started drinking enough water was that my skin looked and felt better, so, for me at least, that part was definately true.

[Janet]

I'm definitely going to try and drink more water. My skin could use all the help it can get!!! Plus....it will fight off the wrinkles that are starting to show themselves.