Staying Hydrated

[MSLight]

Hey all- I'm fairly new here so if I haven't chatted with you yet- pleased to meet you.

I've had trouble my whole life with staying hydrated. I don't have a taste for water unless I just worked out or it's really hot. Lately I've been trying to make a conscious effort to drink more water (like the 8 glasses a day). I haven't gotten to 8 glasses in a day yet, but I've gotten close.

How do you all stay hydrated? Do you add things into your water to make it taste better? I use Crystal Light lemonade a lot-- I like it because it is sugarless and makes the water delicious.

[craftyashley]

I have the same problem. I try and drink as much as I can- but it seems to run my life when I try! lol Anyway, try the Ocean Spray drink packets that you pour into a bottle of water. They are amazing! And I'm hoping that getting some cranberry into my day will ward off a UTI. Good luck!

[Lindsey73]

What about flavored water? Sometimes I even put just a tiny bit of juice in a cup and then pour the rest with water. After you drink water for a while you start to get used to the taste too. And i would definitely get a brita or some kind of filter, it helps alot.

[MSLight]

Lindsey- I don't like flavored water- I've tried a few of them but they just taste (and I know this sounds silly)... watered down!

Craftyashley- good thinking about the cranberry! I'm a bit brand loyal to Crystal Light, just since I've been drinking it since I was in high school, and I just checked out their flavors and they have a cranberry too (http://brands.kraftfoods.com/CrystalLight/Varieties/refreshment.htm).

I'm at work now though, so I'm off to get my third glass of plain water, but it's super cold and that helps.

[cynthalia]

The only thing about Crystal light is it has artificial sweeteners in it and my dr told me to completely cut those out. So no Crystal Light for me, even though I used to love it!!

[Ombeline]

I usually have trouble staying hydrated, too, and I wanted to avoid both too much sugar and artificial sweeteners (my doc also said to keep away from them during pregnancy). I figured out a trick to make myself drink lots of water. It's a little gross but it helped me. For a couple weeks, every time I went pee, I automatically made myself gulp down a big glass of water just afterwards. At work I kept a stainless steel water bottle in my purse and filled it at the tap just after washing my hands and made sure I drank it then and there. At home I kept a clean glass on the bathroom sink. I really got into the habit of drinking a lot of water (the more you drink, obviously, the more you pee... and the more you drink again!) and now I don't have to use bathroom trips as a reminder anymore. I even crave water. You really can get used to it.

[MSLight]

These are great suggestions- I like the "drink a glass of water right after you tinkle" tip.

Cynthalia, I understand about artificial sweeteners- I feel like most things are ok in moderation though. I can't part w/ my crystal light lemonade yet!

Ombeline- I am craving water right now! I think talking about it brings it on :)

Thanks for the tips, all!

[tmonfet01]

Oh momma if u think ur the only one, you're not! Lol when I was pregnant with my dd I could ONLY drink Dasani bottled water. (i know I know, btls omg, everyone save their breath on telling me how bad btls are for our enviroment. Bc I honestly deserve to be able to keep down water during a pregnancy! I usualy
do the plastic water btl and fill up, but it's a preggo thing.)

now I'm preggo with baby #2 and can ony
drink aquafina (it's obviously a boy bc it won't drink dasani, lol, j/k.)

I however, have had tons of trouble during my
first trimester, I would throw up right after drinking a glass or btl of water. I tried the crystal light packets, juices, watered down juices. Nothing worked. So my dr prescribed me a nausea med to help me keep it down. It works, but now with a toddler and being preggo, it's even harder to remember to drink those 80oz I'm supposed to get for everyday. So now I mark btls of water 1-5 and make myself tote them around the house in a bag. Seriously, it's that important to be hydrated.

Take my advice, and do whatever it takes to get that water down. I was hospitalized 3times for dehydration in my first pregnancy and I vowed to not go once for any other child, fingers crossed!

[MSLight]

tmonfet01 - yes, obviously a boy b/c of the no-Dasani ;) lol! I hope this pregnancy goes well for you!

I saw on Good Morning America that icy cold water helps keep your metabolism up, so that's another bonus. That's how I like my water anyway--- and with a little Crystal Light flavor obviously, since I've told yall like 1k times haha. What flavors did yall drink, when you used it?

[mort20]

I think if you lessen your meal with rice, crops like potatoes, or bread you will get low carb diet. I think carbohydrates can make a person increase it's weight, and I think it will turn into fats when inside our body.