Weekly Challenge - Week 16 (4/16/13)

Drink half your weight (in ounces) of water each day.

This challenge is a good habit to do year round, but especially in the spring when your body is naturally cleansing. 

A few things to think about for this challenge: 

1.  To calculate your water quantity, use your ideal weight.  For example, if you weigh 150 pounds (or this would be your ideal weight), then drink 75 ounces of water each day.

2.  Measure out your water in the morning.  So many people THINK they drink a lot of water during the day, but when they actually measure it out, they find they are not drinking anywhere near the correct amount.  If you fill up a pitcher in the morning, you can see at the end of the day how much you have consumed.  Another great suggestion someone told me is to use magnets on the refrigerator.  Measure how much your glass holds, for example, 12 ounces.  If you are drinking 75 ounces each day, then put 6 magnets on the refrigerator.  Move to a 'finished' spot to record your water each time you fill up your glass.

3.  You want to store your water in glass and drink out of glass, not plastic.  Joanna found this great glass pitcher with a white stopper top at Walmart (shown on left in above photo).  It is inexpensive and glass.  Of course, I had to get one too!   Be sure to follow all of the same rules that were discussed in the Week 1 challenge (room temperature, good quality filtered water). 

4.  Drink your water between meals (wait 30 to 60 minutes after eating), not with your meals.  Try to drink no more than 2 - 4 ounces of liquid with your meal.

5.  If you have not been drinking this much, expect to initially get up during the night once or twice to go to the bathroom.  This should subside in a few days (if you don't try to drink all your water in the evening). 

 

6.  Keep a glass or bottle (not plastic) of water with you throughout the day and sip on it frequently.

7.  If you are working out in the heat or exercising, it is fine to drink more than this if you are thirsty. 

With so many toxins in our world all around us, it is so important to drink plenty of clean water throughout the day.  Keep in mind also that we often overeat because we are dehydrated, so drinking more water can also help you eat less if you are trying to lose weight.  If you don't like water, especially room temperature water, just do this anyway.  You will adjust - I know, I have been there.  I remember when the only thing that tasted good to me was a Dr. Pepper soda in a glass filled to the brim with ice!  But now I love water and the thought of the soda gags me.  Give it a try, it is so important for healing and health.