Are You Drinking Enough H2O?

Truth be told, I am terrible about drinking water throughout the day!  Most days, I go the entire work day just drinking one measly glass of water!  It's terrible, I know - I should know better. Most of the time the thought of drinking water doesn't even cross my mind. So, how much water should we drink everyday?

You've probably heard, "drink 8, 8oz glasses of water per day."

Other recommendations:

•  30-35 mL/kg body weight
• For a 120 lb. person this would be ~1620-1900 mL/day or about 7-8 cups. 
• 1 mL/kcal consumed
• If you were eating a 2,000 kcal diet, then you would want to drink 2L (~8.5 cups)

Regardless, I say the minimum is 1,500mL/day or about 6-7 cups. You should be drinking even more if you are active.

What's most important is that you always listen to your body. Do you feel tired or sluggish? Is your urine dark in color? Do you have a headache? These are just a few of the symptoms of mild dehydration. Don't wait until you feel thirsty to drink, just drink!

Here are a few tips to increase your water intake:

• Add lemon, cucumber or other fruit or vegetable slices to your water for added flavor without the calories
• Perk up sparking water with a splash of 100% fruit juice
• Carry a reusable cup or Nalgene with you so you can sip on the go (Thanks P&G!)
• Try drinking 8 oz of water before each meal. This also helps for those trying to lose weight.

?    I'd love to know...how much do you typically drink in a day?     ?