London
Everyone knows about the proverbial 2 liters of water per day we need to consume however, sometimes it’s easier said than done. Some are too busy to drink, others don’t feel thirsty in wintertime and, water, with its bland taste – or lack of it – is, frankly, not everyone’s cup of tea.
The consequences of neglecting that water bottle, however, are nasty. Water acts as a building block, a solvent for chemical reactions, and a transport material for nutrients and waste. It is a lubricant for your joints and everyone who’s ever done a 5K run or a squat jump knows how important it is to keep your knee joints happy. So, rather than putting yourself through the headaches, fatigue, skin dryness and other ‘joys’ of dehydrations, here are a few tips on how to get that 2 liters in – and how to do it better.
Learn to like plain water
There is a lot of advice suggesting pimping up your water with fruit slices and infusions or counting tea and coffee as your water intake. I, personally, think you’d be better off if you learn to like plain water. Water is an acquired taste that can grow on you if you set your heart on it, and if you keep drinking plain H2O, you will get used to it eventually, just like you got used to the taste of olives or brandy. Once you change your habit and your body gets used to it, you’ll find you need that same amount every day.
Find your own way to drink up
It might sound funny but maybe it’s the touch of cold glass against your mouth that you find unpleasant, not the water itself. Maybe it’s the feel of a metal sports bottle. Maybe it’s the smell of plastic. Try out different ways of consuming water and pick the one that ‘feels’ right. Yep, it’s a thing. And sometimes, a nice bottle of water can be as motivating as a new pair of leggings in the gym: if you like your fancy water bottle, you are more likely to use it.
In the right place at the right time:
drink water when your body most needs it. First thing in the morning is a good place to start – just keep your water bottle next to your bed and drink up the moment your alarm goes off. After waking up, you are quite likely to go to the bathroom which is another reason to drink a glass of water to replenish the fluids in your body. Start a habit of drinking water after each bathroom break. And, last but not least, drink water before, during and after your exercise. Sometimes, if you run outdoors on a cold day or work out in a freezing industrial estate of a gym, you don’t feel as thirsty but you still can get dehydrated. Drinking before and during exercise dramatically improves your performance, and hydrating after your workout will speed up the recovery.
Anastasia Petrova,
Owner and Founder at Burn and Tone Workout,
Fitness Trainer at Curves Edinburgh Northwest,
Brand Ambassador at Kelta Fit