The Hydration Challenge

[KatieBT]

I've seen a lot of talk about 2018 resolutions and one of my biggest goals for 2018 is make hydration a habit. Rather than talking or thinking about this resolution (like 2017... oops!) I am starting a hydration challenge. Let's get focused on hydration, BIC!

The goal? To increase our hydration levels so we can all feel incredible both inside and out.

Here are a few tips on staying hydrated:

• Eat water-rich foods (cucumber, greens, grapes, etc.)
• If you're sweating, you need to drink more H2O!
• Drinking caffeine? Replace that cup of coffee with a cup of water. (This is in addition to your daily recommended intake!)

This thread will be a space to talk about the hydrating products you're using and to check in on how much water you're drinking. Let's set goals and help each other meet them! Use this thread to share how you're feeling whether you're thirsty, your skin is extra-dry or to offer hydration tips for the rest of us!

Let's get hydrated, BIC! 

[alexasteph]

@k617 Well, I do teach healthy habits in my classes (Health and PE) so I want to make sure I live them and they see that. Teachers have a harder and harder time “proving” their credibility to students as it is, so I want to make sure my students have a real life example of the information I’m presenting. If I teach it and live it, if it’s important to me, they’ll see that and understand it’s value. Not just with drinking water, but with everything else too. 

[fieldsofclover]

@alexasteph That's so great that you all teach a real unit on habit-building! Part of my research is connected to this, and people don't always realize how many related things are skills that need to be explicitly taught! 🍎❤️

[alexasteph]

@fieldsofclover Oh yes! There are many things considered a “basic” skill that need to be demonstrated, taught, and learned. School-related things are a perfect example of this too. Even the act of learning is a skill. 

[fieldsofclover]

@alexasteph I wish I could heart your post more than once.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[malday]

A couple months ago I bought a refillable Trenta sized Starbucks cup for my desk. I drink about 4/5 refills a day at work 😛 So about one full cup about every 2 hours, and two while I'm at lunch. If I'm craving soda or something bubbly I'll have a lemon Perrier or La Croix.

 👍🏼

[Anonymous]

I definitely need to do this. Thanks @KatieBT!

[niki172]

I actually started drinking water that's infused with electrolytes (roughly 72 oz) this summer for health reasons. Not including whatever amount of water is in unsweet tea. I have noticed this winter (which has been brutal) that my facial skin is holding up a lot better than last year. Last year was a pretty mild winter too.  Propel water makes different flavored fruit water if you're looking for something with some taste to it as well.

[mrsbaine]

I historically have been horrible at drinking water, so I got a Swell bottle that keeps water cold for a long time (24 hrs!) and I've been doing so much better keeping it full and drinking all the time. I have absolutely seen a difference in my skin! 

[CC3616]

@mrsbaine I love my s'well bottle! I got a mini one, and it's the perfect size for my gym bag or small tote. 

[ChristineR07]

I've looked into those @mrsbaine.  My issue is I have 5 water bottles to use at work (because people kept buying them for me) and don't particularly want to buy any new ones.  What I should do is buy those re-usable ice cubes and just keep them in the officer freezer.  Then, if these ever wear out I can look into getting a Swell bottle. 🙂  Glad to hear they work!

[k617]

My second bottle is also a S'well @mrsbaine...it's fun and holographic too! I'm very impressed with how long it keep things cold for! They claim 24 hours but realistically it's much longer than that.

[mrsbaine]

I love the ones with a design on them! I got a bigger one; I have the 23oz ones and I haven't seen those big ones with designs. Mine is just white. 

[k617]

@mrsbaine I went back and forth for so long on which bottle I wanted to buy. I knew though, that it had to be fun! 😄

[fieldsofclover]

@k617 You found a holo S'well bottle? You are a hydration sage! This is exciting!

*leaves to scour the internets for shiny bottles*

[k617]

@fieldsofclover This is the one I have, it's more subtle in office lighting (like in photos) but under the meeting room lighting, it's crazy sparkly!

[ChristineR07]

I am really bad at this.  I don't know if I'm alone in this (my Mum has always given me side eye when I said this growing up) but I *hate* the taste of water.  I only willingly drink it when it is very cold.  Or is heated with tea leaves or poured over ground coffee beans.  This makes drinking the daily suggested volume difficult, especially in the winter when the last thing I want to do is to introduce to my body anything else that is cold.  I've tried the water drops, but I couldn't find a flavor I liked.  SoI try to just do my best to suck it up, be an adult and drink water.  But I so rarely succeed.  And then I get frustrated because my skin is dehydrated.  So, I will join you on this challenge to do more.  Maybe I can get over 33 years of preference for the good of the body. 🙂

[fieldsofclover]

@ChristineR07 I became a fan of certain herbal teas for this exact reason.

[fieldsofclover]

I have fatigue and thyroid issues, and my MD told me to put in a pinch of sea salt when I drink a glass of water. I found it helps me keep up with the old saw about "8 glasses" better, because that much water used to push my electrolytes out of balance and make me feel *worse* sometimes, and so now the salt keeps things on track. 🚰🚰🚰

[ChristineR07]

In theory I find out next week if I have lupus or not.  The bloodwork indicates I do, but my doctor wants it to be verified by a specialist before starting me on any kind of medication.  But from what I'm seeing in my very high level investigation I'm going to be having to take a lot of meds and drinking more than 64 ounces of water a day.  I'm not super happy.  Yet another reason to hope that the show House was right and that "It's not lupus.  It's never lupus!"

[fieldsofclover]

@ChristineR07 I collect autoimmune Pokemon unfortunately, so if you ever want to vent, or compare notes on AIP diet, I am here 🙌

[ChristineR07]

@fieldsofclover I bet they aren’t even cute Pokemon like Eevee. It doesn’t sound like it. My doctor was almost in tears when she was telling me about my ANA results. I’d been telling my doctors for years that there was some underlying cause for my various symptoms. She was so mad that I had been so let down by the medical community. She had seen me once. I told her I thought there was an issue, she ordered a complete blood panel and I end up having the highest ANA level she’d ever seen (including her textbooks in med school).