Bottoms Up! ...with H2O

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Today, for some reason, the skin on my face felt a bit taut and uncomfortable. Mixed with my exhaustion and lightheadedness, I eventually realized that it could only be one thing: dehydration.

I'll admit, I never really drank enough water daily. Since I also drink coffee every day (and the occasional soft drink), I definitely need to be hydrated more often. I know that the "8 (ounces) x 8 rule" (a cup of water eight times a day) is a standard that has been reiterated multiple times. But in middle school health class, I actually learned that the proper way of determining how much water you need to drink is to take your weight, divide it in half, and that would be roughly the number of ounces of water you need to drink daily.

So I did that little calculation (and no, I won't share my weight...tsk tsk), and I do not drink nearly as many ounces of water that I should. So how to remedy this dehydration? Plan and simple....have water on me at all times!

I have an aluminum reusable water bottle that I used on a regular basis, but unfortunately its use has only been dwindled down to the times I go to Zumba class (which, also unfortunately, has dwindled as well). Making a habit of carrying water with me will ensure that I will not be dehydrated throughout the day. Plus, it's eco-friendly and super convenient, how could you beat that?

Also, having the water bottle will prevent me from getting sugary drinks when I'm picking up lunch, since I have a drink with me anyways. Not only am I staying hydrated, but I'm also cutting out a lot of unnecessary sugars and calories that are in sweet drinks.

So if you are feeling parched, load up on the water! Even though hot chocolate may feel nice during the dry, cold days of fall and winter, be sure to have some water on the side to keep your body properly hydrated.