Today, I'll be sharing how I managed to increase my water intake.
Filtered Water | First, you need to address the taste. Yes, water does have a taste! I like my water to taste good, don't you? That's the first step. I get my water containers filled up at a grocery store filtered water station. We get a 3 gallon fridge container and a couple gallons of storage to fill it up with when it gets low. Thinking about that cold {very cold, I like it cold!} yummy water has me drinking some while I type this! I have tried the filters you attach to the sink faucet. You know, those Pur or whatever filters? Not the same at all. I do use them on occasion, but not for straight up drinking. Mainly making large batches of tea or something. Another option are those reverse osmosis in home water treatments that you can have installed. That's good water, too. As long as you keep up with the filters. |
Water Bottle
I started out with an insulated 24oz typical water bottle. Used it for a couple years. It was great, but then I won some dinky contest with MapMyFitness & Crystal Light so they sent me a free camelbak basic water bottle with the bite valve. Started using that and LOVED it. I drank twice as much from that alone. Something about the bite valve makes it easier to drink larger amounts at a time compared to the traditional thing you pull up then tip your head back to try and drink.
So I definitely recommend the bite valve water bottles.
Want to take it a step further?? Go with a clear water bottle! Yup, the clear bottle encourages even more water consumption! For one, you get a little motivation from noticing that you're drinking a lot of water. If you take it with you to work, you can set goals for yourself like reaching the half way point on your bottle by the time you're at the half way point of your shift.
SO to sum up your next purchase:
- get a water bottle
- a clear one
- with a bite valve
Last thing on the water bottle to mention is capacity. I started with the 24oz and it was nice because it was small and easy to carry around. However, I'd have to fill it up regularly and then you can imagine that I'd get lazy about it.
Now I have the 1L {a little over 33oz} size. This thing is more difficult to lug around, but I already got in the habit of carrying one with me so it's not a big deal. Also, in the same time frame as before, I'm drinking an extra 10oz.
So ask yourself if you're going to be too lazy to refill it OR too lazy to carry it with you.
Eating Out | When you eat out and the waiter comes to get your drink order, make a habit of just saying water. Sure every now and then you might want to treat yourself to wine or whatever, but even then make sure to ask for a water as well. They don't always give out waters automatically anymore. If you order water with your meal, you'll drink water. Unless it tastes absolutely horrible and let me tell you, some restaurants have some disgusting water, but most are fine. At some point during your meal you'll need to drink something to wash down your palette. That's anywhere from 2 - 16oz of extra water intake you wouldn't have had otherwise. |
Other Tips |
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My current 1L, clear, bite valve water bottle is this one from CamelBak. {I bought mine from Target}