Miami Women-Only Fitness Bootcamp

You hear it all the time….  “Drink more water!”  You try to, but some days are better than others.  Well, did you know that drinking water can help you lose or maintain your weight?   It’s true!  Our bodies sometimes confuse thirst for hunger when we’re dehydrated.  This can lead to overeating!  No bueno!  More so, water is essential for proper kidney function, and digestion.

Try the following tips and stay constant with your water intake:

1. Add a splash of citrus to your water.
   
   If you want to perk up your water, squeeze some lemon or lime juice into your glass.  It’ll add a light touch of flavor, and it’s super refreshing. You can even try adding berries or melon for a fruity taste.
   Time-saving tip: Prepare a big pitcher of fruit or citrus-spiked water in the morning, and keep it in the fridge for all-day hydration. You can also buy a pitcher with a built-in fruit compartment like the one below for less than $15 at Target.

2.  Don’t leave home without it!

If you don’t have a good reusable water bottle (or two), get on that!  Make it part of your daily routine to bring it with you any time you head out.  This tip is crucial for me.  It’ll keep you from getting thirsty AND from spending money on plastic bottles while you’re out.  I like the stainless steel thermos ones that keep the water cool for a few hours.
((As we become more environmentally conscious, it’s important to educate ourselves on the harmful chemicals that exist around us.  Plastic items are everywhere!  It’s impossible to avoid them entirely so I will elaborate on the safer plastics this week.))

3.  Get sparkly.

Bubbles are where it’s at!  There are so many amazing sparkling waters on the market now.  I love Perrier Lime or Grapefruit!  Who said hydration had to be flat and boring, although I’m not too crazy about the ones flavored with artificial sweeteners.  I recently discovered Bubly by Pepsi, and I love it!  It’s similar to LaCroix, which is also great and contains no sugars, calories, sodium, and artificial ingredients.

4.  Use your phone to keep you on track.

If you’re not used to drinking water throughout the day, set mini goals for yourself every morning.  Drink a glass of water when you wake up, one before and after each meal, and one more before you head to bed. That adds up to eight glasses of water!  You can also set daily alerts on your phone, or download an app like Waterlogged to make it even easier.

SO JUST HOW MUCH WATER DOES ONE NEED TO DRINK EVERY DAY ANYWAY?

You may have heard that you should drink eight 8-ounce (237 milliliters) glasses of water a day.  Well the problem with this rule is that we are all different.  We have different levels of activity, our weights vary, and what we normally eat and drink also varies.

The truth is, there is no magic formula for hydration — everyone’s needs vary depending on their age, weight, level of physical activity, general health and even the climate they live in. The more water you lose to sweating, the more water you’ll need to replace with food and drink.  I let my thirst & urine be the guide.  Obviously when I’m thirsty, I drink.  My only beverages are coffee and water.  Second, a well-hydrated urine should look pale yellow or colorless.

The bottom line: Drink up when you’re thirsty, and drink more when you sweat more.  And try to make water your beverage of choice every time!  The literature suggests that in general, an individual should try to drink between half an ounce and an ounce of water for each pound they weigh, daily.

This entry was posted on July 29, 2019 at 11:27 pm and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.