Staying Hydrated

Staying hyrdated is incredibly important year round, but in the summertime we are definitely able to notice dehydration more easily due to the heat.  Regardless of my up and down dedication to health and fitness, staying hydrated is something I try to never neglect. I can feel the difference between being hydrated and not, and let me tell you being dehydrated has nothing but an adverse impact on me.  This summer is has been incredibly hot and humid, which makes it easier to get dehydrated. 

So what are some important effects of being hydrated?

If you're trying to shed a few pounds, then water is most certainly your friend. It will replace your high calorie drinks, it can suppress your appetite and keep you from over eating,  Being dehydrated drains your energy, so it keeps you from reaching your maximum productivity. Water can cure your headaches. One of the main symptoms of dehydration is a headache, so you can prevent this by drinking your water. Additionally, drinking the correct amount of water leads to healthier skin. Try drinking the correct amount for one week and watch how much your skin improves. Water is an important component to healthy digestion.  Drinking water can help your digestion and prevent any stomach aches from occurring. You can also drink it after consuming fiber to help with any constipation issues.  Water also helps to flush out any toxins that might be in your body. The more water you drink the healthier your kidneys will be. Finally, everybody knows how important it is to drink water before, during, and after exercising.  There's nothing worse than a little dehydration slowing down your workout. Try drinking sufficient water two hours before you exercise to have an optimal workout. 

Tips to increase your hydration!

If you're struggling to drink enough water on a daily basis, then there are some alternative ways to increase your hydration. Try eating fruits and vegetables that have a high water content. Strawberries, watermelon, pineapple, tomatoes, cucumbers, and zucchini all have lots of water in them.  Consuming them will help you be a bit more hydrated. You might want to try drinking a glass of water with each meal.  This will make you conscientious about drinking water regularly. Taking a large water bottle everywhere you go is also a great way to drink more water. If it's always with you, then it is likely that you will drink it. Drinking a glass of water as soon as you wakeup is a great way to jumpstart the day's hydration too. You could also drink a glass of water every time you go to the bathroom. This will allow you to replace the fluids you disposed of.  Set a timer each hour to remind you to drink some water. This constant reminder will make sure you are on top of your hydration.  Eventually it will become a habit and you won't need the timer. My final suggestion is to add some flavor to your water. Mixing it up makes it easier to drink. Trying add some lemons, cucumbers, mint, strawberries, or oranges to spice it up a bit. 

Lilly Pulizer tumbler// Monogram camelback// Swell bottle

Vineyard Vines tervis// hydroflask// Lilly Pulizter tervis

What works for me?

I personally like to drink a 12 ounce glass of water with freshly squeezed lemon juice each morning after waking up.  Lemon water is great for digestion and it wakes me up a little bit too. During my workouts I try to drink at least 16 ounces of water. I've found that having a water bottle or cup that I really like makes it easier to drink water. This sounds really silly, but I can promise you it makes a big difference. If you have a cute cup/bottle you're more likely to bring it with you wherever you go.  If it's great for that snapchat, insta, or blog picture...then I bet you're going to keep it with you more so than if it were plain and ugly.  I personally use a pink hydroflask.  It keeps my water cold all day long regardless of the exterior temperature. They are a little pricy, but so worth the money you will initially spend. I have a 32 ounce hydroflask, so I try to fill it up twice each day.  This helps me keep track of how much I drink. I also recommend drinking out of a cup/bottle that has a straw. It definitely helps me drink more.  When I'm not using my hydroflask, you can find me sipping water from my Lilly Pulitzer tumblr or Vineyard Vines Tervis tumblr. These three are definitely my go to containers for hydrating. 

I hope my tips and tricks help you out!

XOXO