Did you know that the average person doesn’t get half the recommend amount of water in a day? We all have heard it, that the average person should drink at least eight 8 ounces of water a day. We all think that it is so easy, or ‘I probably already do’, but it’s actually, a lot harder than most people realize.
I myself was sure that I, who drink water most all the time, drank more than that. So, I tested how much water that I really did drink in a three-day period and was surprised by what I found out. Not only was I not drinking that eight 8 ounces but, I was wasting lots of water by leaving it lying around the house. I found myself drinking an average of only 48 of the 64 recommended ounces. Hence, I went on a quest to figure out how I could get those pesky 16 ounces of water that I needed to complete my eight 8 full glasses of 8 ounces a day.
As I stated before, I found out that I left water lying around everywhere. I had half empty bottles and glasses of water all in my bedroom. Every morning, I would get a fresh bottle of water from the fridge; a 16 ounces bottle. I then would drink about a third of the water with breakfast. I normally would leave the bottle on the table or put it somewhere and forget about it. So, determined to focus on getting my ounces in, I decided I would take the bottle with me, and stick it right in front of my face, that way I could not forget about it. This did help out a little bit, but I found that the water got hot and harder to drink, as it got hotter. So next came, a great idea; I would get a smaller bottle of water, that way I could drink it while it was still cool. Going to the store I found eight ounce bottled waters; the perfect size. I found that I did in fact like the smaller bottles better. I felt like I was drinking more because I would finish the bottle off in one sitting and then could get myself a new colder one.
After a few days I found that I still was missing my mark by about 9 ounces and that plain water was starting to taste a little boring. I myself, not liking the new flavored waters, decided against getting them; they leave me with a funny aftertaste. Looking into different ways to flavor my water, naturally, I found that beside lemons there are quite a bit of juices that make water taste great such as cherry, strawberry, pineapple, and lime juice. All you need to do is add a few drops and you have a great flavored, zero calorie, natural water. I am happy to report that I now drink my eight 8 ounces or 64 ounces of water almost daily. I will admit that I still miss it every once in a while.
Some interesting facts, I found on water, is that it suppresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolize stored fat. Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to increase, while an increase in water intake can actually reduce fat deposits. Here’s why: The kidneys can’t function properly without enough water. When the kidneys don’t work to capacity, some of their load is dumped onto the liver. One of the liver’s primary functions is to metabolize stored fat into usable energy for the body. If the liver has to do some of the kidney’s work, it can’t operate at full capability. As a result, it metabolizes less fat, more fat remains stored in the body, and weight loss stops. Drinking enough water is the best treatment for fluid retention. Another fun fact is that like humans everything has some sort of water in it for example a chicken is about three-fourths water, and a pineapple is about four-fifths water. I had no clue that water is the only substance on earth found naturally in three forms – solid, liquid and gas, or that a dairy cow has to drink 4 gallons of water, to produce 1 gallon of milk. Here is my favorite fact about water, or; did you know your brain tissue is 85% water. Messages from your brain to everywhere else in your body are transported on ‘waterways’. Sounds like a fun water park to me.
A few tips on how to get your 64 ounces a day. Have a big glass of water at every transitional point of the day: when you first get up, just before leaving the house, when you sit down to work, etc. Have one glass every hour on the hour while at work/ school. When the work/school day is done your water quota is met. After each trip to the restroom, guzzle an eight-ounce glass to replenish your system. Don’t allow yourself a diet soda until you’ve had two to four glasses of water. You will find that you won’t want the soda anymore or that just half a can is enough. Every time you walk past a water fountain, take a sip or two. Fill up a cup of ice cubes and snack on them throughout the day.
Now grab your water and start a drinking.
