WATER.... a call to ACTION!

[sol]

Hello Family,

I've been thinking a lot and I think its time we bond together in one post about the something that we are all struggling with.....WATER.

Now granted, protein is a similar struggle but I'm finding it easier as I go along. (and we already have a VERY informative post about that, Thanks to who contributed)

So......

WATER! WATER! WATER!

lack of water gave me gout, lack of water made Danielle pass out at the mall, lack of water dehydrated Sam, lack of water has created no energy in Alfonso!!!!

This post has one purpose only: creating opportunities to get more water in


It's high time we really embed the importance of this to each other and not only that but MOTIVATE and PUSH and hold each other ACCOUNTABLE.
Because let's face the moral support has been a tremendous help but if we go one step further and push each other then we are likely to hear less of these horrible and sad stories that crush each and every one of us. And of course realistically water will not solve everything but it will PREVENT frustration, discouragement and more importantly the health problems that cause the frustration.

With that said here are a few things that I've done to ensure that I make the best attempt at getting in 64 oz. a day.
Please share with the rest of us what you are doing and lets get this post looking like the protein post.


1. I got 50 oz. water bottle and fill it up every morning, the goal is to have it all down by early evening, if I can get at least one down I'm doing good. I'm a bit of a thief because I get the water from the water cooler at work, but I also bought a couple of those water juggy things that have the spout for the house. I have found that I've ended up with 100 empty water bottles in my car and that also made me think about plastic waste.

2. If I have to drink from normal sized water bottles I have determined that I have to drink 4 a day to get to my 64 oz. ...do the math on the bottles you are using!

3. If I decide to drink something else which is almost never, I water it down. It's still tasty. If i get the Isopure's I water those down 50% so it doubles that amount I'm drinking.

4.I use water in my protein shakes which counts too!!!

5. * FOR MY NEWBIES** I once read on the forum (can't remember who said it) about using a timer. On days that I am low I grab my 1oz. shot glass and set the timer on my iphone to go off every 2 minutes. When it goes off I take a shot of water, I continue this until I complete how ever many ounces I want to get in.

And lasly ....

6. Ice chips. I have a Ninja blender and it makes Ice like snow cones...I throw a dash of lemonade in there and it is sooooooo good!! One night I couldn't stop and had probably about 5 cups!! lol I literally froze my sleeve!! So now I only have 1-2 cups.

So there you have it ...6 things I've consciously done to get my water intake in. Am I perfect ...nope far from i, but that gout attack crippled me and so it is my goal to be as perfect as possible with this whole water thing. I was scared and still kinda am. :-(


I've seen too many posts about lack of water consumption (including my own) and I think we are all starting to find out just how much it can effect us. It's time to step our game!!!


With Lots of Love,
Sol

[Mandithomas]

Great post. Thanks for the tips

[marlene williams]

You got that wright every thing you said .we have to get that water in. I'm having problem drinking water but I force my self to do it every day I'm getting one of those water bottle and I just stared eating ice. we all can do its for our good

[Mostspicy]

Great post! Thank you so much.

And I have not had another fainting spell since

Hugs to everyone!
Danielle

[willufight4life]

I love this post and tend to approach it very similarly. I stretch my water out over each of my vitamins and meds every morning and I don't allow myself to eat until I've finished drinking my first 32 oz. (I have a 32 oz. bottle and drink one in the morning with vitamins and meds and one more that I make sure I finish by the end of the day.) For some reason, making it through two bottles helps me psychologically. Does anyone else count drinks? (I can't believe I'm saying this)...I probably have OCD, but sometimes, when I want to just get the water down, I make myself take about good five drinks. That's about as much as I can handle at a time, but I can do it over and over until most of the water's gone. I know. I got issues.

[tniagirl]

Great post, Sol!
I am able to drink more than just a little sip at a time now, so I'm getting better. In the beginning it seemed like it took forever to get down the 20 oz Isopure!
So after I get down my 20 oz of protein water (blah) I go back to plain or flavored with crystal light, something that I like.
Popsicles count too!!!

[Mountain Girl 63]

Thanks for the post Sol,

I live in the mountains so we have some pretty awesome water right out of our taps, but I too struggle to get all my water in. One thing that helps is I mix one of those awful tasting protein bullets with 16 oz of Powerade Zero, Mixed Berry and it helps me get both 27 grams of protein in and 16 oz of liquid. I will try to be more accountable starting today!

Thanks Again,

Mary

[jerseylocks]

Great post....I struggle everyday but I like your advice

[k_jo35]

since i read this post yesterday, i have come closer to meeting my water goal, i drink sugar free lemonade but... gonna have to try the protien in something, setting my timer on my iphone had really made a difference!!! thanks for the great ideas.

[This is it]

This is a great post - thanks. I still write down everything I eat and drink. I write the list of a morning for the whole day and tick off as I go. So I know where I am at that way. I am 3 weeks post-op and still finding it a bit hard to get all of the water and protein in but I'm trying. Sheryl

[MissDeidre]

This is a fantastic post! Some of the things I do are very similar to yours:

1. The first thing I do every morning when I get up around 6:00am, before I've even gone to the bathroom, is put my protein powder and my water into the blender and get it going while I'm in the bathroom and weighing myself. As soon as I come back into the kitchen, I pour my protein drink into a bottle and sit down to read my emails while sipping and getting ready for the gym.

2. On "gym days" (which is Mon - Fri without exception) I bring a PowerAde Zero to sip on as I'm working out (I almost passed out on my trainer last week because I didn't have enough fluids and I was dehydrated)

3. I bought a 1 gallon container from Amazon that I fill every day with water and sugar-free drink mix and put in the fridge. I then have a 40 ounce water bottle that I fill throughout the day. The goal is to have that gallon container empty by the time I go to bed at 1am.

I'm in a unique position where my work is in my home and I'm literally steps from my refrigerator to refresh my bottle but I'm sure that we can all make the conscious effort to keep our hydration levels up. I find that I do better when my water is COLD COLD COLD ... it's more refreshing!

I'm going to try the SnowCone-like ice chips with some lemonade ... SUCh a great idea!

Thanks everyone!

[sol]

WOOO HOO!!

Thanks for all the comments/suggestions and you all are defintiely welcome for the suggestions!!!

I think I'm a bit of a nerd when it comes to "compiling" information in one place lol

Kim's comment hit me the hardest. If reading this post didn't make everyone grab their water immediately..... [!!!!!]
lol (thank you Kim!)

It was meant to shock/motivate all of us the same way it does when we hear from each other that someone has suffered because of lack of water. Also, help us think outside of the box when it comes to water consumption.

Good Luck Marlene!

And thank you Danielle, for sharing your story with us!

LOL Angel... that is funny! I haven't quite gotten there but I think as quirky as it seems to you if it works then that's what matters!! Love the ideas too, you seem very dedicated girlfriend. Thanks for sharing!!

Janet!! Popsicles!! *lightbulb* lol I didn't think of it!!

Mary, if you are more accountable then I am too!! Bless your good water lol its so funny now that I'm drinking so much I can really taste the difference as to where before it couldn't. In fact I thought people were crazy for saying they could...turns out I'm the nut. lol

Hold it down Jersey!!

Miss Diedre Thank you for your suggestions!! I must admit, getting the dang protein shake ready in the morning is what makes me late for work most days. The type of blender I have works by hand but after reading your method I may opt to get a blender that runs on its own while I'm in the shower. Also YESSSS to cold water!!! it defintiely helps me.

Thanks again all and Goodnight Family XOXO,
Sol

[accordingtome]

I get some of my fluids by drinking a pot of Hot, decaf, unsweet tea in the mornings instead of coffee. I chose decaf so that I don't retain fluid from the caffeine.

[mom2dms]

Angel you crack me up! I count everything! I have a water tracker on my phone to remind me to drink...but I must admit that I have just recently turned the reminders off because I was "FAILING" to get all my water in. I don't like straight water so I mix protein with crystal lite (which I am a bit tired of right now) and / or green tea. I count this as my water...but I am not coming close to my goal.

Sol...you have some excellent suggestions! Thanks

[Tammy64]

Thanks..all this info is being stored for future usage...but I'm going to win this battle.