The ART of drinking water!

There really needs to be an art to drinking water when you aren't thirsty.  

Because really, to get in the minimum of 64 ounces of water a day, 

it means you are chugging the H2O when you're not necessarily thirsty.  

I think this is one reason I was never a good water drinker.  I didn't crave gulping it down.  

And, whenever I drank very much, I always had to pee a lot.  

It's a pain to keep running to the bathroom.  

I think that was my biggest obstacle.  

But now, I am a major water drinker.  

Usually over 100 ounces a day.  

But it takes conscious effort since it doesn't come naturally to drink when you're not thirsty.  

Here are some ways that have helped me:

1. Have some good water bottles that are easy to re-fill 

and drink from always available 

and get used to taking a water bottle 

with you wherever you go.  

I personally like the kind with a trigger spout 

that I tip to drink from.  

But I've also used the kinds with straws in them.

2. When I first get up in the morning, I've gotten in the habit of drinking a glass of water right off.  

This is before I've eaten or even showered.  

That first 8 oz is easy to get in first thing when I wake up.

3. It is my goal to try and drink one of my 24 oz water bottles 

with each of my six meals.  

So, before each meal, I take several swallows of water 

and then in between bites I keep taking sips here and there, 

so by the time I'm eating my last bite, 

my water bottle is pretty much empty.  

By this time, I'm feeling quite full and satisfied. 

4. I always try to quickly fill 

my water bottle back up once it is empty.

5. If I want a piece of gum, 

I always chug some water before I pop a piece in. 

6. I keep my water bottle with me in the car, 

and when I stop at a stop lights, 

I get a few swallows in each time.

7. To keep my water bottle full when I'm out and about, 

I take it in stores and eating places 

so that I can easily fill it up at a soda fountain 

where there is water 

or at a drinking fountain.  

I keep it in the cart when grocery shopping 

and chug a bit here and there.

8. To switch it up sometimes, I add in some crystal light 

or other low/no calorie flavoring into my water bottle.  

I try to do this only once a day 

because I don't want to become dependent 

on needing that flavor to drink my water.  

It's more of a little treat once in a while.

YES, I do have to use the bathroom quite a bit.  But, I feel better when I drink a lot of water!   It flushes out the toxins in my body.  I don't get headaches when my water is good.  I can just tell that my body feels and responds better when I'm getting my water in.  This is probably the biggest thing I've learned on my journey. Up until about 2.5 years ago, I barely had 1 or 2 glasses of water a day!  I think I've amazed myself that I've become such a water guru!

Do you have any tips or ways that help you get your goal amount of water in each day?

LIFE IS GOOD 

(especially with yummy water!)

XoXoxO ~Margene