Staying hydrated is one of the most important things we can do for our body. In a world of coffee, Gatorade, and soda it’s often easy to skip drinking straight water. We justify it by saying that there is water in the liquids we drink and that should cover it. I mean as long as

I’m not thirsty then everything is fine, right?

Actually, if you become thirsty then your already dehydrated!!! You need to make sure that you are drinking plenty of water throughout the day to make sure that you are not putting your body into a stress mode.

So your wondering, “How much water do I need?” The answer is not as exact as easy as saying 8 glasses a day. Sure you could shoot from the hip like that but if you’re a 120 pound 18 year old woman or a 350 pound 35 year old male, you may start to think that different

quantities may be more appropriate for your particular size. The way that I use with my clients is a very simple math problem:
Body Weight / 2 = Amount of water (in oz) needed daily

This equation will work for all individuals who are not anorexic or morbidly obese. Rule of thumb is that no matter how small you are try to drink at least 60 oz a day and no matter how

big you are do not drink more than 500 oz a day.

Here are some tips to help you get the appropriate amount of water everyday.

1. Drink at least 12 oz of water before every meal: If you are eating 4-6 small meals a day then doing this will make sure that you are getting at least 48-72 oz of water without even thinking about it.
2. Carry a water bottle… EVERYWHERE! With the invention of the carabiner we have found a way to clip just about anything onto our bodies. I cannot leave home without a water bottle on my side. This will help limit your temptation to by high calorie drinks and also help cut back on the amount of plastic bottles you use.

1. Leave the Zero Calorie mix powders out of the equation: Using artificial sweeteners can harm your bodies delicate digestive system. Things like aspartame are chemically changed into formaldehyde in the body and long term damage is still widely unknown. If you need water with some sort of taste then look for some lime or lemon juice to add. This will give it some taste without tainting it’s benefits to the body.
2. The bowl doesn’t lie: I know it’s not the most popular thing to talk about but examining your urine after you go to the bathroom can tell you a lot about how hydrated you are. If it is bright yellow then you are already dehydrated and need to increase your daily water intake. Clear to mild yellow is the optimal color and you should experience at least 4-8 No. 1 breaks throughout the day. Important side not is that some medication and vitamins can cause a yellowing of the urine. This is due to your body getting rid of all the minerals/vitamins that cannot be absorbed.
3. Don’t guzzle your water: Doing this can dilute the amount of sodium in your body causing an electrolyte imbalance. This is why athletes drink things like Gatorade, with water, while working at high intensities. Even if your a little behind on your water intake at the end of the day try to drink 30-40 oz of water broken down over the course of an hour instead of all at once. This will also cut down on the instances of running to the bathroom at 2 am.
4. Adjust your intake as needed: Coffee, tea, and alcohol are called diuretics and cause your body to expel water more frequently. If you drink 1-2 cups of these beverages a day then increase your water intake by 15-30 oz.

I know that many of us are caught in a rut of feeling that we NEED certain beverages like diet coke or coffee in the morning. The truth is that caffeine laced products are addicting and need to be used in moderation. Try to remember that you can retrain your taste buds to enjoy water as long as you keep the right mindset.

Being properly hydrated will increase your metabolism, ease some types of joint pain, increase skin elasticity, and help you live a longer and happier life.

If  you have any questions on proper hydration or anything else then shoot me an email at jdidlott@therpmsystem.com and I’d be more than happy to help out.

If you are interested in starting an overall wellness program then you can try the one that I have designed and use everyday by going to www.therpmsystem.com and entering the code: 346976698 to try it absolutely free for one week. Good luck and have a healthy day.