Water: The Basics

Like a Fish Loves Water
It's really that simple. Water does wonders for your health and any diet, especially in the beginning. I grew up drinking milk, water and juice with only the occasional soda. So, depending on how you look at it, I was at a disadvantage to lose weight - since one of the easiest dieting tips is to cut soda intake. I would hear stories of people losing 10lbs in a month just because they switched to diet soda. I wish I had just that one thing to go without to lose weight! But I was always a good "drinker."
During my years in drum corps, we were constantly lectured about drinking enough water. They'd tell us if our "pee isn't clear, you're not drinking enough water!" As graphic as that sounds, it's a guideline I keep with me today! During a typical 6-8 hour drum corps rehearsal, I drank at least a gallon of water. I always had a full water jug under my bus seat and next to my sleeping bag at housing sites as I would wake during the night just to drink water. Of course, these were extreme circumstances. We were burning thousands of calories out in the scorching sun day after day, sweating profusely, so water was our life source.
However, when I got out into the real world and had to adjust to having a real schedule, I wanted to start some good habits. I decided the first step would be increase my water intake. I made sure to drink my 8 -8oz glasses of water a day. I admit, at first it was a little challenging to keep up on. Not because I don't like water, or couldn't drink that amount - but just incoporating that much water into  your entire day can be hard to fit in! I would find myself only at 4 glasses at the end of the day, so would have to chug a big bottle of water to make it up.
After just a couple weeks, though - there I was: bottle of water always with me, glass of water on my nightstand and yes, going to the bathroom about 8 times a day. It took a little getting used to, but once I did - it was the first real "lifestyle" change I have ever made and stuck with. It has been eight years and I am still a water addict! If I go a couple hours without water, I get headaches and feel like my veins are collapsing!
As you can see in my previous post, I have water built in to my daily schedule. It wards off some food cravings, because I make myself finish an entire glass of water before having a snack or meal. Drinking the right amount of water is easy to do if you have a desk job. I always have my cup next to me and make sure to fill it before I go to a meeting. It also gives me a built-in reason to get off my butt several times a day to re-fill and/or to go to the rest room, so it helps in that regard too!
Water helps in so many ways. It keeps your skin soft and hair strong. I usually get an annual cold, but it doesn't stick around for long or escalate, and I'm sure the amount of water I consume helps push those yucky germs out. It also helps with digestion and preventing post-meal tummy aches. When I feel I've eaten something that disagrees with me a bit, I make sure to wash it down with plenty of water to get it moving on through.
Also, while pregnant I read so many articles urging mothers to drink plenty of water. I had no problems doing that and I think it really helped minimize my body aches and cramping. I didn't really have many aches and pains or cramping during my pregnancy thanks, I think in most part, to water! The same was true while Addison was an infant and I was breastfeeding. I felt the more water I consumed the better my supply would be, and that can only benefit the baby too - getting as much hydration as they can too from the milk.
I could really go on and on about water. It seems so simple and silly, I know. But yet there are so many people I know who hardly drink water at all and instead consume several sodas a day! It's such an easy life change to adapt and stick with, plus there's no side affects!
So put down that soda and grab a water bottle. We've got some drinking to do!
CHEERS!