Fitting comfortably into a pair of currently snug jeans may just be a few glasses of water away. If you struggle with bloating or just want to feel better, drinking more water could bring relief. According to a recent article in US News and World Report, “Some of the benefits water provides include: increased energy levels, decreased appetite and improved metabolic function. Water also helps eliminate toxins and wastes, and alleviates fluid retention.”
If you’ve ever attempted to increase your water intake, you know it’s not as easy as you first think. It takes some “re-conditioning” to swap out sugary sodas for water, even if you opt for flavored water. Besides that, increasing your water intake often means increased trips to the restroom. That can be an embarrassing problem if you don’t plan well. Ideally, you need to drink six to eight 8-ounce glasses of water. So how you can you easily drink more water?
Start your day with a glass of water. We all have a morning routine. Visit the loo, brush your teeth and wash your face. By placing a plastic glass or cup by your sink, you’ll encourage yourself to start the day with a glass of water. By working it into your routine a glass at a time, you’ll reach your water goal.
Invest in an infusion water bottle. This nifty tool has an insert that slides into the bottle. You can fill it with fruit like lemon, pineapple or even grapes. This is perfect for people who don’t care for plain water.
Substitute one of your favorite caffeinated drinks with water. Okay, do you really need three cups of coffee? Not really. It’s bad for your skin and makes you feel sluggish after while. Substitute one of those cups or a bottle of soda for a glass of water.
Download a water app. There are quite a few free water tracker apps available. Download one today and start tapping whenever you drink a glass of water. You’ll be able to see how much you drank each day.
Try some sugar-free juice. In case you didn’t know, juice can count as a glass of water as long as it’s sugar-free or low in sugar. You can’t substitute all your water for juice but one glass is perfect for getting more “water.”
With some diligence, you can get all the water you need. Like working out or losing weight, you may have to work your way up to the full eight glasses. Start with four then increase the glass amount as you adjust to drinking more. You can increase your water consumption with some practice.