Sunday, 10 January 2010
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Tips to Getting Yourself to Drink More Water
You’ve heard it before: You should drink at least 8 cups of water per day or else blah blah blah... You know it! I think the two largest reasons that would motivate young people to drink more water are: better skin & a strategy to curb one’s appetite and prevent overeating.Firstly, is your water safe and BPA-free? BPA (bisphenol-A) is a chemical from plastics that can leach into the water you drink. Even your old Nalgene water bottle may not be BPA-free. After new studies came out last year identifying how BPA can interfere with your body's hormone system, Nalgene changed the type of plastic they used to make their water bottles. BPA has been linked to higher chances of breast and uterine cancer, miscarriage, and decreased testosterone levels.
Make sure that any new reusable water bottle you buy indicates that it is BPA-free or go with stainless steel! The bottles used for bottled water and soda pop are only meant for one-time use. If your water tastes kinda quirky, then you're pretty much drinking plastic.
Knowing these results from new scientific research just leaves me wondering: What the heck have I been drinking for the last 5 years?! Anyway, I purchased this new BPA-free water bottle from Second Cup coffee shop. You’ll often see me in this coffee shop near campus doing my readings for work and sipping on pomegranate white tea!
I find myself drinking more water now because I find this bottle "pretty". I know it's a stupid reason, but it's true. Choose a water bottle with a design that you like and you will probably use it more! I also like this water bottle because it can contain up to 1 litre of water. It makes it easier for me to keep track of how much water I drink each day since I know that I need to drink at least 2 of these bottles per day. The number 2 is a lot easier to remember than 8 cups of water, which can make it easy for one to lose track.
When I used to sit at my desk all day, I had these pins on the wall above my desk and I’d move them around to keep track of how many cups I drink. Another tip that I’ve heard of is taking 8 elastic bands and putting them on one wrist. This serves as a tracker because for every 250ml (1 cup) of water that you drink, you take one elastic band and transfer it to your other wrist!
This idea is better utilized by women though. Large and numerous bangles are popular and in-fashion today. They can serve as fashionable reminders to drink more water as well:
I purchased these 8 bracelets from Aldo for just $15cdn. I like them a lot and I won’t have to awkwardly answer other people’s questions about why I have 8 silly elastic bands on my wrists!
Got any more tips on how to encourage yourself to drink more water? Let me know!
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Comments (55)
Wow great tips! First thing tomorrow I'm gonna go find that pretty stainless steel Lululemon water bottle I got ages ago and forgot about, haha :)
To be honest, I one of those people that don't drink alot of water. Thanks for the update on BPA. I guess I will try to stay away from bottled soda too since they are the same type of plastic used in bottled water. Your page is very healthy. Nice.
excellent tips. i have a water bottle. i forget the size, i want to say 48 oz. but i could be on crack, that i won in a game tournament. i try to drink one of it each work block. clock on to break, 1 bottle, refill, break to lunch one bottle, refill, and so on. so that's 4 full bottles a day. then anything over is gravy.
Mahalo for the tips for drinking water, because I'm another person that just can't drink liquids period? I'm like a camel, but I know my body should have the 8 glasses per day? What do you think of mixing water drinking with juice drinks like Power Aid or Gatorade? Does it count? And I really like drinking COLD water versus room temp water...I just can't get it down...any thoughts, thanks! Aloha..
the bracelets are a great idea! my motivation.. well i don't have any :( it's usually that i put a mug of water in front of me when i study.. then take sips when i'm bored. haha. not very inspirational but it works for me! pomegranate white tea sounds yummy :)
i should really buy myself a reusable plastic water bottle. hmm...
@LastSamurai57 - PowerAid and Gatorade are fluids too right, so they can also hydrate your body! The difference is that juice drinks have more sugar and calories in them. Some equate these sugary drinks to soda pop and coke. When you eat a meal, your stomach will actually feel the same satiety from a cup of water as it would a cup of juice/poweraid/pop. It doesn't register the extra liquid calories from the latter. Water is always the better choice, but I have a feeling that you find it too bland or not sweet enough? You can try those Crystal Light packets or cold brewed tea(Link). And there's nothing wrong with cold water :)
@mywishx - I love the Lululemon water bottle with all the quotes on it! I found a picture of it the quotes and used it as my desktop background now to inspire me
Just stumbled upon your site and it's great. I agree about having a bottle that you like, one that's easy to carry around and won't leak! For me having really cold water also helps.
Throughout the day, I might not be too diligent about drinking water. But at the gym, I make sure I take plenty of water breaks in between sets and every 7.5min while doing cardio
I need to buy myself a Hello Kitty water bottle and some colorful wrist bands. :) LOL. Nice tips!
really dont know how u all drink so much
water just makes me mega bloated x
I received one of those stainless steel Lululemon water bottles as a corporate perk. I was going to use as decoration until I read this blog. Thanks for the insight into the world of plastic, water. & health.
I recently purchased a BPA free bottle too. I wrote a couple of quotes I like and drew on it. It's pretty so it encourages me to drink more. I like the bangles idea...I'll have to try this.
Personally i have been drinking only water for 2 years...i felt a big difference. Those soft drinks or vitamin drinks are just pure sugar and water. And i think running and swimming are the best exercises ever. By the way, you have a good site to raise the awareness of healthy living and maybe protect the planet too...nice job...
I have to drink more water now since I was diagnosed with low blood pressure >.>
But, having a cute water bottle really helps.
The biggest thing to drinking water is to try to make it a routine, first thing I do before I get out of the house is to drink at least 2 glasses of water. First, it will help wake you up so you don't need that coffee, second it will start you metabolsim for the day. So its a good pluse to get that going. then its gym time and more water goes in me there, on the way to work drink a bottle, at work I drink tons, and so on through out the day.
I found it hard at first to drink so much, but your body will naturally get use to it and dispense it a lot quicker.
Drinking sports drink is ok, but should be used when during physical activity. The added electrolytes in your drink is not needed when you're not doing anything, it'll just be added calories, sugar....
But I gues its still better than nothing...
So Happy Hydrating!
Personally I like water. Just never build a habit of drinking the other junks.
trying to make a blog. more for my own recreation tho>< like something i can add up into a collection of stuff. lovin ur site tho. so informative<3
i keep 8 coins on my counter next to my water .
everytime i drink a glass i take one coin and put it in the box next to my water LOL
it works for me everytime (:
Personally, I LOVE water! My boyfriend drinks nothing but Coke, and DO NOT understand how he survives! I stay pretty well hydrated when I work: I work in a restaurant where the employees are allowed to have drinks near the beverage stand (the beverage stand is near the kitchen where the guests can't see. Therefore, we don't have to worry about it looking tacky or unprofessional), so I keep water there. Every time (or nearly every time) I go to get a drink or drink refill for a guest, I take a quick swig out of my own as well. I have no idea how much I end up drinking total, but it certainly is plenty!
@FoxFire12 - Oh yea that's definitely a good idea! I used to be a server too. You do so much walking! It's a job that makes you exercise (and drink more water!)
8 cups of water ! try 8 pairs of underwear yu have to go through in one day because yu will peeing yur pants so much ! ahahah but i do drink a lot propel. kinda like water rightt ? lol
i agree. I just bought one with JACOB BLACK's face on it!!!!
That's why I buy 'pretty' water bottles, too! I have a hard time drinking water but having something to make it exciting definitely works for me. It's not that stupid of an idea. (:
Excellent post.