I am so dehydrated

I drink so little water, it's disgusting. You always hear, "Eight glasses a day! Eight glasses a day!" Um, yeah, I'm lucky if I can choke back ONE full glass a day, and I'm not even kidding. I do eat a lot of watermelon as well as assorted fruits and vegetables, which contain liquid, plus a diet Sprite. Oh, I always have oatmeal, which need water, and I eat lots of cereal, so skim milk has to count for something. And then when I work out, I schvitz up such a storm that I absolutely need about two cups of H20 to get me through. But as for being the fit girl who carries around a bottle of water and sips from it all day? No.

I was just reading over at Back in Skinny Jeans that the amount of water I'm supposed to downing can be calculated by taking my weight and dividing it in half...that equals the number of ounces I should be gulping. So if you weigh 150 lbs. / 2 = 75 ounces. Yeah...I likely get about half that total, plus I salt everything from seafood to salad.

There was one point where I got on a hydration kick - I went to get my first and only colon cleansing (for an article, OK?) and as the woman started, um, filling me up, I was actually really excited to see all the "toxins" come flowing out of me. But guess what? My poor body was so chronically dehydrated that after pumping my intestines with something like a liter full of water...nothing happened. Nada. My system was so starved for liquids that it held onto every last drop. Not only did this make the entire colonic experience rather unpleasant for me, but it scared me into drinking a bottle or two of water a day - a step made much easier with those little Crystal Light to go packs, I found.

That lasted for about a week. Now I hear we're on the verge of a bottled water backlash and even with Jennifer Aniston toting around her SmartWater, I fear I'll never be able to change.

Anyone have any tips? I tried the sliced cucumbers in a pitcher thing and it's tasty but I just don't see myself doing it. The Crystal Light thing is my best bey, I think...I just need some kind of motivation to get me to drink everyday. How do you hydrators do it???

Comments

I like to drink warm water. If it's too cold or with ice I can only take a couple of sips before my teeth and throat hurt. But warm water I can gulp down a couple of glasses at a time.

some people just need less water than others, and as long as you're not experiencing any signs of dehydration (http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/d/dehydration/symptoms.htm) you should be good to go.

I've found for me the best way to get the water in is to do it throughout the day. One bottle, or 16 oz, in the morning, which I try to get in before I leave for work. Sixteen more ounces within a 3 hour period before lunch, which I usually drink in the form of tea. Sixteen ounces at lunch, which is by far the easiest for me, and then my final sixteen ounces between dinner and bed. I've also found when I use a bigger glass, it's much easier for me to get it down (I prefer a 16 ouncer obviously).

Just as an FYI or point of interest... The number one "natural cause" of death in the elderly isn't old age... it's dehydration.

Get a really cute (preferably pink) 32 oz water mug to tote around. Something with a straw. I have one that I got from Weight Watchers years ago. I fill it up twice throughout my workday, so that's 64 oz. Then, when I work out, I drink at least another 24 oz. Having something totally cute to drink from will motivate you to drink. Trust me. :o)

I wish I could give you a "trick" that's better than the ones above, but really, the only advice I have is to make yourself start drinking more and more each day. I couldn't stand water, but started on SparkPeople and vowed to start getting at least 100 ounces per day. I started small but have graduated to over 100oz/day, using the same techniques that Monique works with: schedule at least one glass before leaving for work (I LOVE the glass in the morning now) and several before lunch, one with lunch, several after, then a ton while working out after work.

I've just found that the more my body got used to having a lot, the more it thirsted for it. Now a guzzle of water feels like heaven to me, and I only drink sodas on the weekends!

I have the same problem. For me, it's really a taste issue. There are times (infrequent though they may be) when I crave the simple, clean crisp taste of just water, but mostly I much prefer other beverages. I used to be much better about it when I went to the gym everyday and I would carry two 20-oz bottles... but since my membership expired and I've just been running, I don't carry any water with me because it's too much of a hassle. I LOVE Propel and would drink that all the time, but it's too expensive for me to buy on a regular basis. I hope someone else can suggest a really fantastic tip because this seems to be the one undoubtedly healthy thing that I simply can't commit to!

Thanks for the link Leslie! You know I was not a good water drinker either, but I got better at it by remembering that the more water I drink the more my body is happy and healthy. It also helped a great deal in helping me be more "regular". One of the causes of constipation is not enough water, not liquid, water.

I've done the colonic thing too, more than once, and initially had a reaction similar to you. It's just your body's way of coping to all the new water which it never had before. Imagine throwing in a river to a desert (metaphorically). The body freaks out a bit from the shock, but it quickly adjusts, and yes helps move all the toxins out off your body. You'd be amazed how much toxins we can carry in our body especially the colon. One of the best ways to get motivated to a healthier lifestyle is to see what comes out. Yeah, not pretty, but WAY educational...lol..

Guilty. I am so ashamed to admit that I am an H2O under-drinker. I don't drink 8 glasses/day even though I run so much that I probably need closer to 10-12 glasses/day. I have tried to drink crisp, clean water, but, for some reason, I really struggle!

I do drink a lot of Propel and Ultima - which is kind of cheating. I drink 8 oz. every morning (but does making hot chocolate out of it count??). I eat a lot of fruit, but not enough to make up for what I don't guzzle out of the glass.

So I think I am going to invest in one of those nalgene bottles and promise myself that just for ONE day, I will refill it twice (the 32 ounce). If I make it one day, I will try for a second. I do best with baby steps :)

If you wanna try water with an all-natural appetite suppressant and a spash of fruit, visit: www.skinnywater.com -I've lost 10 lbs in two weeks with this stuff!

You know, I REALLY like the idea of getting a big honking glass in in the A.M. - this would give me a feeling of accomplishment (sad, I know) and perhaps motivate me for the rest of my day. I've enlisted my husband (who drinks, oh, 8,000 glasses of water a day, to help me. And I'm please to announce I drank exactly one-half of one 8-oz. glass while reading your answers. Baby steps, indeed.

I'm sitting here drinking Poland Spring sparkling water in the mandarin orange flavor and I love it. And I am exactly like you in that I don't drink water.

I used to drink just about 1 glass a day- now I feel thirsty if I don't get my 8 glasses! hang in there, it's just a matter of practise. Try slicing sweet oranges into the water to improve the taste. Another thing that really works is to puree a peeled cucumber with loads of water, strain and gulp it down first thing in the morning. You'll probably need to drink a glass of water after, so that'll take care of at least two glasses before you even hit the breakfast table. drink a glass (or half a glass) of water before you eat anything- it helps to make sure you only eat if you're really hungry, and really helps to make up the total. Best of luck with the water therapy!!

The trick that I use to overcome the lack of taste that water has is by chewing on a piece of gum. The process of chewing usually makes me feel like I should be drinking as well. Also, carrying around a refillable water bottle helps as this becomes routine to carry and a cue to drink even when I am not 'dying of thirst.'

I used to drink just about 1 glass a day- now I feel thirsty if I don't get my 8 glasses!