Hydration as a Critical Life Skill (and for weight loss)
We learn a few valuable lessons from an early age. Hopefully, life skills like eating our veggies were one of those lessons. We learn this as a result of long stints at the dinner table. Just us and that veggie. It's a face-off, and eventually we learn to eat it. Maybe it's because we want dessert, or maybe because we just want to get up to play. Thank you to all the moms out there with undying passion for their kids well-being. Undeterred by tears and whining. First we choke it down, and then a few years later, it isn't quite so horrible, and then eventually we learn to like it.
There are other valuable life lessons for better health that we tend to learn along the way. Don't eat too many sweets, or else you will get sick. Take walks so you can stay emotionally well. Brush your teeth so you don't get cavities. We know that these things are critical to a healthy life, so we just do them. Our parents trained us.
Hydration is one of those critical life skills. It's actually the single most critical life skill for optimal health. If you drink enough water, you aren't hungry for junk. Your sugar cravings start to go away, and you crave fruits and veggies. It's easy to drink water, but it's also easy not to, so this is where I think we slip up some. We know we SHOULD drink water, but we forget, or we don't make it priority.
Ok, it's story time.
Last year, when I was picking up my girls from their summer camp (that they LOVE, and by the way, no, they cannot go this year thank you to COVID....anyway), I was so happy to see them. And just like usual, the first thing I asked them, after lots of hugs and embarrassing kisses, was, "have you been drinking enough water?". I worry so much about fainting or heat stroke for all these kids doing sports for hours in the hot sun. Eyes roll.
One of my girls says back to me. "Yes, mom. There was a guy that walked around camp yelling "hydrate or die-drate!!".
"Wow, that's pretty dramatic", I think to myself. But it's true. These kids are sweating up a storm in the hot summer sun, doing sports for hours. They really could have severe issues if they don't drink water. It just got me thinking that more of us need a good saying about water. So, here it is. "Hydrate or die-drate". You are welcome. And to the guy at camp that has given us this little mantra (that we now banter to each other often)....thank you.
Whatever works, right?
Another thing that works well is knowing the benefits of staying hydrated, so here's a few reminders.
1. Headaches. Staying hydrated reduces dehydration headaches. Being dehydrated is one of the #1 causes of headaches.
2. Energy. Staying hydrated increases energy. Being dehydrated is one of the #1 causes of fatigue or low energy during the work day. Feeling low energy at 2? Drink a big glass of wter and go for a quick walk. It will help!
3. Improved focus. Yes, staying hydrated helps you think better!! Memory improves and focus improves.
4. Nutrients. Good hydration improves nutrient circulation. This supports better heart health, detoxification and even really fun stuff like better hair, skin and nails.
5. Weight loss. Yep, how much water you drink is directly related to BMI. If you aren't drinking enough water, you will process thirst as hunger, and you try to "fill up" on food. You get full faster if you are first getting enough water. Water content in the food you are eating is also an indicator of how much weight you will lose. If you eat a small bowl of soup or even just a small side salad before dinner you have a MUCH better chance of losing weight at a healthy rate (1-2 lbs per week).
So there you have it. Drinking water is so important. I work with my clients on it. I try to do it myself. You can go a few days without food, but you can't go a few days without water. Make sure you have an awesome water bottle (25 ounces would be great), fill it up regularly and go for between 50 and 100 ounces daily. Closer to 100 is ideal.
You can do this, and your body will thank you!!
There are other valuable life lessons for better health that we tend to learn along the way. Don't eat too many sweets, or else you will get sick. Take walks so you can stay emotionally well. Brush your teeth so you don't get cavities. We know that these things are critical to a healthy life, so we just do them. Our parents trained us.
Hydration is one of those critical life skills. It's actually the single most critical life skill for optimal health. If you drink enough water, you aren't hungry for junk. Your sugar cravings start to go away, and you crave fruits and veggies. It's easy to drink water, but it's also easy not to, so this is where I think we slip up some. We know we SHOULD drink water, but we forget, or we don't make it priority.
Ok, it's story time.
Last year, when I was picking up my girls from their summer camp (that they LOVE, and by the way, no, they cannot go this year thank you to COVID....anyway), I was so happy to see them. And just like usual, the first thing I asked them, after lots of hugs and embarrassing kisses, was, "have you been drinking enough water?". I worry so much about fainting or heat stroke for all these kids doing sports for hours in the hot sun. Eyes roll.
One of my girls says back to me. "Yes, mom. There was a guy that walked around camp yelling "hydrate or die-drate!!".
"Wow, that's pretty dramatic", I think to myself. But it's true. These kids are sweating up a storm in the hot summer sun, doing sports for hours. They really could have severe issues if they don't drink water. It just got me thinking that more of us need a good saying about water. So, here it is. "Hydrate or die-drate". You are welcome. And to the guy at camp that has given us this little mantra (that we now banter to each other often)....thank you.
Whatever works, right?
Another thing that works well is knowing the benefits of staying hydrated, so here's a few reminders.
1. Headaches. Staying hydrated reduces dehydration headaches. Being dehydrated is one of the #1 causes of headaches.
2. Energy. Staying hydrated increases energy. Being dehydrated is one of the #1 causes of fatigue or low energy during the work day. Feeling low energy at 2? Drink a big glass of wter and go for a quick walk. It will help!
3. Improved focus. Yes, staying hydrated helps you think better!! Memory improves and focus improves.
4. Nutrients. Good hydration improves nutrient circulation. This supports better heart health, detoxification and even really fun stuff like better hair, skin and nails.
5. Weight loss. Yep, how much water you drink is directly related to BMI. If you aren't drinking enough water, you will process thirst as hunger, and you try to "fill up" on food. You get full faster if you are first getting enough water. Water content in the food you are eating is also an indicator of how much weight you will lose. If you eat a small bowl of soup or even just a small side salad before dinner you have a MUCH better chance of losing weight at a healthy rate (1-2 lbs per week).
So there you have it. Drinking water is so important. I work with my clients on it. I try to do it myself. You can go a few days without food, but you can't go a few days without water. Make sure you have an awesome water bottle (25 ounces would be great), fill it up regularly and go for between 50 and 100 ounces daily. Closer to 100 is ideal.
You can do this, and your body will thank you!!
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