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Friday, September 28, 2007

Upping the Agua

Teale is trying hard to get the water intake she needs. We all know how important it is to drink plenty of fluids while on this journey.

Why?

1. to remain properly hydrated, so we don't confuse thirst with hunger.
2. to give our tummies that sense of fullness when we're eating less than we were used to or still want to
3. to keep you from becoming constipated (which shows on the scale and is just plain painful)
4. to minimize bloat from sodium intake from convenience foods like frozen dinners and canned soups


There are, I'm sure, other reasons, but these are the ones that come to mind for me.

I never was a water drinker. I've ALWAYS had trouble getting in more than a cup or a couple a day. Those "drink 8 glasses a day" rules used to just frustrate me.

This time, it's been easy. I just made a system of it: I can't eat until I have 3 to 4 glasses of water.

That's it. That's the only change I made. Told myself: I will drink water BEFORE I eat. That way, I can journal my water easily when I journal my food. Right there, how many cups.

I find that it takes about 3.5 cups for me to start feeling the tummy distention thing. One to 3 cups alone doesn't do it. Only after 3 cups does my apparently enormous stomach pouch get the "stretchy" sense that something is in there.

If I drink 3 cups before each of my three meals, that's NINE CUPS OF WATER at least for the day. If I drink a couple more with snacks, I make it past ten cups. So, this ONE strategy--link drinking water to "before meals"-- has simplified intake for me. Rather than chugging all day long (which annoys me, though it works for some), I just guzzle it fast while I'm heating or preparing meals, so that it's done and out of the way before I sit down to the yummies. (I'm not much for drinking a lot WHILE I eat, so this fits with my modus operandi.)

What's your tip for getting in adequate or substantial amounts of water?

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6 comments:

Chubby Chick said...

I'm a "chug it all day" kind of gal. I've always loved drinking water... and I've always drank a lot of it... so I am thankful that getting my water quota on a daily basis has been relatively easy. Now if I could just say the same about exercise... hehe

Chubby Chick said...

Just getting back to you...

I LOVE Calvin and Hobbes, too! It is my favorite cartoon of ALL time! Can't wait to read your post!

Heather said...

I always make myself drink at least half my water intake (8 glasses) before I leave work for the day. I dont care if I have to sit there and chug the water down, I do it so that way when I get home, I only have to drink 4 more. Water really does help you feel fuller and just better in general. I neve realized how dehydrated I always was until I just drowned myself in water.

Naturally Blessed said...

i have this 32 oz water bottle that i chug at work. i make sure to drink it down at least 3 times befor ei leave work. thats 96 oz. then i try to get in at LEAST one glass at home, which is typically with dinner. BOOM, got my 100 oz of water necessary for me to stay flushed and lose the weight.

Anonymous said...

whenever my lips touch the water bottle i force myself to take no less than 10 LARGE gulps. that way each trip to the bottle is fruitful... and i get through it faster. i take it almost medicinally. then, regular sips throughout the day AFTER my quota of 90-100 oz is reached, are just gravy.

fat and calorie free gravy.

www.blogs.weightwatchen.com/thisisforme
weezie

MB said...

I keep a bottle on my desk and chug it all day long. I always take a bottle to lunch with me and make sure I finish it off before going back to work. I find it really hard to drink once I get home so try to get it all in before leaving the office. Weekends are a big challenge for food and water intake.