How to Drink More Water Even if You Don't Like Water

Why water?  Sugary Drinks (Juice, Sports Drinks, Soda, etc.) have calories or artificial sweeteners or artificial colors and/or sugar (depending on the drink) and are just not good for you.  Our bodies need water to function well and there are many, many reasons to stay hydrated.  Here are just a few:

• Increased Metabolic Rate - Water is necessary to spike lipase, the enzyme in our body that burns fat.  Even mild dehydration will slow your metabolism.  See the study in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.  
• Curbs Cravings - Dehydration can actually feel like hunger making you eat more calories than you need and leave you still unsatisfied.  A good practice is to drink a glass of water prior to eating any snack or meal.
• Reduces Fatigue, Mental Clarity and Mood
• Reduces Headaches (including migraines!)
• Increases Workout Performance - Water energizes your muscles making your workout more productive and effective.
• Ditching sugary (or fake sugary) drinks is a great step towards reducing calorie intake and weight loss.  Plus just improves your overall health!

Not ready to ditch the sweet stuff yet?  Don't like the taste of water?  Here are Some Baby Steps To Getting More Water:

• Dilute your sweet drinks with water
• Replace one sweet drink a day with water (gradually increase to all water!)​

• Add fruit - There are infuser water bottles that make this easy.  I like adding strawberries or raspberries and lemon.  
• Set up water bottles around the house - One on your nightstand, one in the living room, one in the fridge...
  
• Fill up your water bottles every night before bed so you are ready to grab one or two before you head out the next morning.
• Find the temperature you like your water.  I don't love super cold water so I'm more likely to drink it if it is room temperature.  I have a water bottle out on the counter to get to the temperature I like best so I will drink more!
• Miss the carbonation of a soda?  Try sparkling water.  Just check the ingredients to be sure it does not include anything artificial or sugar. 

If you aren't drinking any water right now - pledge to drink one bottle or glass of water a day and slowly build up to having more.  Gulp it down like medicine, because it is!