Fit Fact Friday: Tips to get enough water!

Water intake and staying hydrated is obviously a huge part of our overall health.  The Institute of Medicine determined that an adequate intake for men is about 3 liters (about 13 cups) of total beverages a day, while they recommend that women should aim for around 2.2 liters (about 9 cups) of total beverages a day.

So what about 8, 8oz glasses of water each day?  That’s about 1.9 liters, which doesn’t differ too greatly from what the Institute of Medicine has recommended, especially in regards to women.

 

If you aren’t getting enough water, consider these simple tips to help ensure that you do:

 

1. Carry a water bottle with you at all times:  This is perhaps the best way.  If it’s always there, you obviously have a much better chance of drinking it.

 

2.  Use something (bottle/cup) with a straw.  This sounds ridiculous, and there are no studies behind this as far as I know, but I am suggesting this with a personal experience in mind.  My sister would carry a screw-cap water water bottle with her and rarely drink from it.  She now has one of these:  

 

For whatever reason, this has really increased her intake of water, putting her to where she needs to be.

 

3. Get in the habit of drinking a glass of water before every meal: this also helps with regulating your hunger.  Often times, you may feel hungry when your body really just needs fluids.  People often misread this and overeat. Prevent this by drinking water beforehand. 

 

That’s all for now.  Thank you for reading my Friday Fit Fact!

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