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By Elizabeth Meyer, RD, LRD
I’m looking out my window watching snow accumulate on the ground. To spare you all the details, I’m annoyed. It’s too soon for this. Mostly because I HATE shoveling. So, this seems like an odd time for me to bring up how much water you’re drinking in a day. But even though it appears summer is officially gone (and possibly fall too) we still need to make sure we’re properly hydrated.
It seems like it should be something easy we can check off our list for the day. I don’t even want to admit how many times I’ve filled my water bottle in the morning when I get to work, only to arrive the next morning with the water bottle just slightly less full than the morning before. Oops. I can’t be alone on this, can I?
I do better some days, but I know it’s probably rare when I actually drink the amount of water my body needs.
Which poses the question: How much do we need? 8 cups? Until you don’t “feel thirsty?” Convert your body weight into ounces and then multiply that by the diameter of your left eye? Keep drinking water until your pee looks like watered-down lemonade instead of Mello Yello? Who can keep up with all these rules – its drinking water. Why do we need to complicate this too?
Let’s try to simplify this. I’m always looking to cut corners any way I can. It shouldn’t be this complicated. Eight 8-ounce glasses a day is easy to remember and feels so attainable (until its lunch and I still am only drinking my coffee). If this works for you, go with it. But, there are different factors that can change this up for some people:
- Exercise – we need more when we’re working out. Remember to sip up during your workout (before and after too)
- Weather – if it’s hot and/humid, we also need more water
- Health – when were sick, generally we become dehydrated too
- Pregnant/breastfeeding – these both require greater water intake
Does drinking water get boring?!? If you are me, YES (see previous posts on my love for Diet Dew). Is water best? Of course! It’s essential to our survival; but other sources still count. Just beware of extra calorie intake from some of these (juice, pop, sports drinks, etc.), and caffeine which can also dehydrate us even more. Don’t forget to keep eating those fruits and veggies, they are made of water, and that counts towards your daily intake also.
Set a goal. Drink more than you’re drinking right now. Carry a water bottle, keep one in your car, at your desk, by your bed. Drink a cup of water right when you wake up. Find something that motivates you. Just because summer is over, doesn’t mean we aren’t going to get dehydrated. Fill those water bottles and then remember to drink them!!!
Elizabeth Meyer is a licensed registered dietitian and wellness education specialist at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota.