Tips on Staying Hydrated!!

It's HOT out there!! With this summer heat, it's extra important to make sure you're staying hydrated all day. If you're already in my challenge group, you hear me say it all the time. That's because I can't say it enough... if you want to lose weight, you need to drink water. If you exercise, you need to drink more water. If you want healthy skin, you need to drink water! If you want to be alert, have organs that function properly, and allow your body to function at its best, you need to drink enough water. In the spirit of this post, how about pouring yourself a glass of water right now as to sip as you read? Go ahead, I'll wait ;)

Here are some tips to make sure you are staying hydrated and keeping your body healthy:

1. Drink a full glass of water RIGHT when you wake up. You haven’t had any fluids for 8 hours, so this could be the most dehydrated you will be all day. Plus, it’s a great way to jump-start your metabolism. Try leaving a tall glass of water on your nightstand and drink it before you get out of bed.

2. Calculate & Keep Track: Knowing how much water your body needs is key! The easiest way to calculate this is to take your body weight and divide it by 2. This is how much you should be drinking in ounces each day. So if you weigh 160, you would drink 80 oz of water each day. You can then divide that by 16 or whatever size your water bottle is and know that you need to fill it up 5 times each day. Not so bad, right? Keep track with tally marks, or grab a large gallon container and draw lines to calculate how much you should be drinking throughout the day.

3. Bring your water bottle with you wherever you go! Think of it as your "necessary accessory". I love carrying around a cute water bottle; there are colors and styles for everyone. Splurge on one you really like, the bigger the better. Glass and stainless steel are the best choices, as they won’t leach chemicals into the liquid contents. Avoid plastic bottles whenever possible.

4. EAT your water- Most types of fruit are at least 80% water. Fruits like melons, cucumbers, berries, and celery. Avoid fruit juices though, as they usually have extra sugar. Drink veggie juice instead!

5. Set a reminder- I have a hydration app on my phone that makes a little water gushing sound every hour so I remember to drink another glass of water. Sometimes I get distracted, so it's always a nice reminder. It also helps me remember to take my toddler to go potty! :) And if YOU're drinking enough, you'll probably be ready for a potty break too!

6. Give yourself a little variety: Sometimes I get sick of the taste of water (or lack of taste) so I like to add a little zing with a wedge of lemon, some crushed mint leaves, sliced cucumbers, melon or berries. My kids go crazy for fruity water too! If you love the bubbles of soda, get some sparkling mineral water and add your fruit for an extra yummy glass of H20.

7. Drink before you eat. I used to love a juice or soda each time I sat down for a meal, but now I drink water instead. Drinking BEFORE you eat will help you feel more satisfied and you will eat less to help you lose weight and keep it off. When you feel a snack-attack coming on, drink a glass of water, then wait 15 minutes. Dehydration pangs are often misread by your body as hunger. A glass of water will replenish your body and help you feel satisfied. If you are still hungry 15 minutes later, reach for a piece of fruit or a handful of raw nuts. If they are lightly salted, they'll help you want to reach for more water too!

8. Drink a glass before bed: Remember that glass of water on your nightstand? Fill it up again before you catch some Z's to stay hydrated until morning. Or, try a soothing mug of hot water with lemon and a small drizzle of honey.

Hope that helps!!