I drink a lot of water. I mean A LOT of water. As someone who suffers from kidney problems and Crohn’s disease it’s very easy for me to become dehydrated. Drinking enough water is something I have to pay attention to every day.
My life is made a whole lot easier by EmergenC, one of the best products on earth. I hate the taste of sports drinks like Gatorade (haterade, FTW!) so I keep my electrolytes in balance with EmergenC. I could totally be their spokesperson. It contains the right balance of electrolytes to keep me hydrated plus all kinds of vitamins. Sometimes I go through so much EmergenC in a day I swear my vitamin-filled pee could cure scurvy.
I drink at least two glasses a day: once in the morning and once before bed. If I have a large water debt or if I’m sick I’ll have some more throughout the day but I do try to limit it to two glasses. At ten bucks a box it’s not the cheapest of home remedies, but it’s worth it.
EmergenC comes in all kinds of flavors but I really only like one. I’ll drink the others but one is far and away the best. I’m not going to tell you which flavor is the best. The last time I was in this situation I tweeted the best kind of Greek yogurt someone (ANGELA) discovered their supreme tastiness and bought them all. So, on the off chance you live in my town and shop where I shop and are therefore my competition you’ll just have to figure out the best flavor on your own (ANGELA).
But I will tell you it is red.
I have no trouble staying hydrated in the library. I keep a large water bottle at the circ desk that I refill several times a day. Last Christmas I received an electric teakettle from my mother in law and boy do I love it. When the weather’s cold I have hot decaf tea available right at my desk.
My day in the library is broken up in predictable chunks and every day has a rhythm. On weekends and vacations I always get in trouble with my water intake. One thing leads to another and before I know it it’s 2:00 p.m. and I’ve only had one glass of water. Since I don’t have the same strict routine at home I decided I needed a way to be sure I get my water. And then last week while thrifting, I found it:
The carafe.
Requisite Cat Shot
It’s pure vintage gorgeousness and best of all it’s plastic so it will be durable enough to last Isobel through the toddler years should she happen to accidentally knock it over. I figure I can keep it stocked with cucumber water or lemon water or iced tea or even just plain old water. I’ll be able to judge my water intake based on the amount of water in the carafe as opposed to waiting for my body to tell me I’m dehydrated. I can’t wait to try it out.
Requisite Kid Shot
I’m actually very curious how much water ‘normal’, healthy people drink a day. How much water do you drink?
Little Big 
I often go all day at work (9hrs) without drinking a single thing. In part because I’m trying to break up with soda (which I could drink all day every day, but is so bad for you). I have to make a concious effort to fill up my water cup at work, and I’m constantly forgetting. I’ve tried adding flavor with LiveActive packets and all sort of vitamin/flavor additives, but after a day or two I lapse back into forgetting. I’ve been awake for 3hrs and had nothing so far! Gotta find a way to change. Set an alarm maybe? That seems SO silly.
Breaking up with soda is HARD. Your body CRAVES it. Sugar’s an addictive bitch.
I drink plain water most of the time. I keep two 34oz glass bottles (from Ikea) filled with water in my refrigerator and make sure to empty them both before the day is out.
This is a good idea.
LOL! I will totally not steal your Emergen-C flavor, I promise!
And I even bought the yogurt at a different grocery store last week so Raleys wouldn’t be out!
I have to give up pretty much everything except water and tea for the lap band procedure so right now I am drinking mostly water and flavored water all day long. At work I fill up my water cup twice, so about 40 ozs a day. I am like you on weekends though, I don’t get enough.
Aw, I was just kiddin’! Don’t go out of your way for me! Raley’s has plenty of yogurt for all.
What kind of tea do you like?
I don’t know if I could be considered normal but I drink about a litre a day. Sometimes 1L 1/2.
BTW – 1L=33oz, 1L 1/2=50oz
Ah, thanks for the conversion! 😀
i’ve been monitoring my water intake recently too! I found some website that calculates how many ounces of water you need for your body weight and for me it’s 60oz a day. So i have this huge 30oz plastic glass i use at work and i figure if drink two glasses, i’m golden! but the weekends are tricky for me too… i might need to score myself some type of carafe as well!
Ooh, I’d love to see that link when you have a chance!
I drink way too much milk. Might be part of why I have iron problems. I’m trying to drink more water. Right now, with us doing so much work over on the lot clearing it for the house… I drink a lot of water but it’s still probably not enough for what I’m doing. And… I have no idea about amounts. I know I should drink more though.
I love dairy, and I love milk in cereal or as an ingredient in a recipe, but I’ve never enjoyed drinking plain milk. What kind do you drink? I was raised on 2%.
I like the carafe! It’s tempting to think it is a 1970s item (the green & yellow), but the colors aren’t quite 1970s in tone. I’m thinking it’s more likely from the 1960s.
I’m not going to say how much water I drink! Someone is bound to object “That’s not enough!” However, no doctor has ever said that I don’t drink enough water (after a blood or urine test for one reason or another).
I think you’re right, Edgar, I guessed it was from the 60s ad well.
If you’re feeling fine and your tests come back healthy it sounds like you’re getting enough water to me!
I’m a pure H2O girl and I never leave the house without my wee red Laken (3rd pic down http://shantiwallah.blogspot.com/2010/02/everything-is-beautiful-today.html) but, like you, when I was teaching I’d have more of a routine and drink about two bottles a day and now that I work from home it’s different. I get dehydrated easily too, so I keep my glass of water on my desk but it’s a different habit then my old set up students with activity, drink, check on students, drink. Now I have to pull my head out of computerland and force myself to notice my neglected glass of water on the desk.
Aw, man! The link didn’t work for me. I’m curious what you use.
What is this cucumber water you speak of?
Cucumber-flavored water is very refreshing and easy to make: slice a cucumber finely and add it to a pitcher full of ice water. Add thin slices of lemons, limes, or most deliciously, a mixture. After about an hour your water is flavored by the vegetables in a delicious, quenching way.
I drink way, way too little water. Particularly with having Crohn’s disease, I know this is insanely stupid. When I was a kid I HATED drinking water, it was a total high-tension thing. When we’d stay with my grandparents in the desert, they’d always be asking “Where’s her water?” because I’d have ditched my glass of icewater somewhere so it couldn’t be found.
As I get older it’s gets easier, but I still have to employ tricks in order to get my minimum – carrying a Sigg bottle around, keeping cold water in the fridge (also glass Ikea bottles!), flavoring the water (my favorite: big bunch of crushed cilantro with sliced cucumbers), anything to get myself to do it.
And! I had a co-worker once who was anorexic (a long and awkward story) and she once told me that I needed to drink AT LEAST FORTY OUNCES WITH EACH MEAL. I was all, lady, you’re insane. I mean, she was, but it took a while for me to understand that excessive water drinking is a sign of eating disorders since it both “fills you up” (uh, no) and moves your system along faster (well, true). And that’s when I knew I could never be anorexic.
Shame on you, Sunday! You need to up your water intake, or I’ll sick Quag on ya. It’s funny that you mentioned how much you hated drinking water as a kid—I had a similar situation with milk. I didn’t like it but everyone was convinced I’d break all my bones if I didn’t so after dinner you’d find me with my plate clean nursing a disgustingly warm glass of milk and whining. To this day I don’t drink milk, but that’s because it’s nasty.
For awhile I tried to up my water supply with meals but that’s really not a great idea. It lead to me being very nauseated from a very over full stomach. I would make the world’s worst anorexic.
I drink very little water with meals. Unless I am actually thirsty, drinking too much water with meals makes me feel bloated. Back in the day, I used to have a beer with meals sometimes, but that was long ago and in another country. 🙂
A very nice-looking carafe! I was actually looking for one this past week. The standard tale is that one is supposed to drink 8 glasses a day, but I do agree it’s a bit dependent on your body weight and the like. I drink water throughout the day by hitting the drinking fountain every time I step out of the office. The other way I do it is by eating more fruit, especially oranges.
Cucumber water is pretty darn good.
Sugar is indeed an addiction and one that should be broken if not reduced. That’s how the manufacturers make money, by increasing the fats, salt, and sugar. Ah, we 21st century humans still eat as evolution programmed us, in times of scarcity.
Drat! I read your post too late. I found a very awesome green glass carafe while thrifting. It was gorgeous and I totally would have picked it up for you if I knew you were in the market.
My Mom also swore by the 8 glasses a day. Personally, my body pretty much constatnly keeps me aware of my water levels so I have no idea how much I actually drink, but it’s more than that.
I could never be totally free of sugar’s grasp. I simply don’t want to be. But I’d love to be able to cut waaaay down.
Could you substitute honey for sugar sometimes? Would that help?
Not as much as I probably should. I don’t like water and if I drink it, it HAS to be ice cold.
I remember we had a 3 hour meeting with a doula and she scolded me for not drinking any water during that time. Ooops!
That’s weird. Does this link work? http://shantiwallah.blogspot.com/2010/02/everything-is-beautiful-today.html
Yes, got it! Thank you.