How Do You Remember to Stay Hydrated During the Day?

Updated on July 04, 2011
L.F. asks from Petaluma, CA
18 answers

Hi Mamas,

I am wanting some tips on how to stay hydrated during the day--especially during summer. I remember to give my little ones water all throughout the day, but I have a hard time remembering me! I get super thirsty at the end of the day and realize I haven't drank even a 1/3 of what I should have and then have to make it up that night. But with that, I don't sleep well because I am up every hour having to use the bathroom! What do you ladies do to remember to drink water and balance it out where you don't drink too much and have to go to the bathroom all the time????

Do you believe that your water intake should be based on your weight etc? Or do the 8 glasses a day theory?

** I don't drink coffee, tea or soda. I drink water and on the rare occasion I have flavored water or cranberry juice with ALOT of ice. Thanks so much!!!!

Happy 4th of July to you all!!!

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So What Happened?

Hi Ladies--- I loved all of your responses and suggestions. Thank you so much for taking the time to write to me! Have a great day~!

Featured Answers

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S.S.

answers from Daytona Beach on

i have a cup of water nearby all day. even if i have a soda that i am drinking, i have a cup of water, too. i'm a cup fiend :). i love plastic water bottles, etc. my husband got a 32oz Bass Pro cup, and i refill it about 4-5x or more a day. it's a habit that i've always had. i dehydrated when i was little and my mom had to rush me to the ER and i was in the hospital for a few days, so i've always drank a lot.

1 mom found this helpful
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R.H.

answers from Boston on

Every morning I fill up a large water bottle and put it in the diaper bag. As soon as we get in the car I put it in the cup holder and start sipping. It goes everywhere with us!

1 mom found this helpful

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C.W.

answers from Las Vegas on

In the military, we always went by pee color. They had fricken charts with colors and what they meant on the back of all military bathroom stall doors. An orangish color means seriously dehydrated, yellow means dehydrated, etc up til clear means your good. Also if your thirsty you need some water of some sort. If your lips are dry then your dehydrated or need some chap stick, but mostly it is dehydration.. like dry mouth, pretty dry throat feeling. I don't believe in 8 glasses a day. In Yuma Arizona, in the Marines I drank maybe 1/2 a gallon a day or every other day and I was fine when they made us do the 3-6 mile runs and all the other "fun" outdoor workout stuff. I was also fully hydrated by all bodily signs.

4 moms found this helpful
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A.K.

answers from Houston on

Scientists and doctors have totally debunked the 8 glasses of water, drink till you pop, permanently sucking water theory as being untrue.
You need to drink when you feel thirsty, the 8 glasses of water myth came from the fact that our bodies need 8 cups of "fluid" a day, and a lot of these 8 cups can come from our food, coffee, tea, and drinking water.
If you are going to the bathroom all the time you are difinitely drinking too much water, and that is unhealthy for your body.
Your hypothalmus will tell you when to drink, unless of course you are working outside and sweating pints, it will not have a chance to trigger your thirst mechanism before you become dehydrated.
So just drink when your thirsty, or with your meals and you should be good!

2 moms found this helpful
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R.K.

answers from Appleton on

I keep a glass of water right by me all day and one on my bedside table. If I am driving I take a to go cup of coffee and in summer a to go cup of water. Just keeping a glass of water next to me all day prompts me to drink it. If I have to get up and get one and I'm ingrossed in something I will wait to get a drink.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.L.

answers from Las Vegas on

One way is to use a large bottle .. fill it up in the am and drink from that.. when you use glasses, unless you write down each one you drink, then you'll lose track. I use the color of my urine as a gage as to whether I am drinking enough.. If it's clear, then I know I am good, if too yellow, then HYDRATION.. Additionally, if I am going to be outside all day with no restrooms, then I do tend to curb the water intake somewhat, but once I get home, I usually will drink a couple glasses right away..

I do think it's important to remain hydrated for many reasons... one, it helps your metabolism, two.. your brain function and overall, your internal organs run better.. I view it as the gasoline for the body...... if you don't have enough, your body won't run properly .....

good luck

1 mom found this helpful

K.L.

answers from Redding on

I drink nothing but water and need a lot due to kidney stones. I have large glasses I fill and sip from all day. I leave one on the counter in the kitchen and everytime I walk thru, I stop and drink a glass full. I have one sitting next to me when watching tv and online and sip all day. I probably drink nearly a gallon a day. When Im busy sewing I have a glass next to me, or a bottle of water so I dont spill on things if I bump it. I take a bottle of water in the car too. Everytime I have to go to the bathroom, I drink another glass of water. When I say "a glass" I have measured and its about 2 cups worth.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.R.

answers from Chicago on

Buy yourself two 32 ounce Nalgene bottles, fill them up each night and put them in the refrigerator.

Be sure to drink both of them each day.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

Try to drink AT LEAST 8 glasses of water per day.
Keep an aluminum bottle of water or two in your car .
Take water to the park so you AND your kids will remember to keep hydrated.
Always ask for water at a restaurant and DRINK it.
Always have a glass of water at lunch and dinner + whatever you else you feel you MUST have.
If you walk, take a bottle of water w/you.
If you use the stroller, always keep a bottle of water for you AND baby.
Keep a bottle of water on your desk, in the car, outside when playing w/kids, at the dinner table.
Jog/walk w/bottle of water.
Use a cue to remind you to drink water: every time the phone rings, commercials.
Keep your kids hydrated.

1 mom found this helpful

R.D.

answers from Richmond on

I drink coffee first thing in the morning, then nothing but water the rest of the day. If I'm hungry but it's not mealtime, I drink more water. It's definately a learned habit, but once you get there, it's easy to maintain! The trick for me... I became a 'water snob'... I will ONLY drink Aquafina bottled water. My husband tries to trick me all the time and refill a water bottle with tap water... it makes me gag! I can tell the difference every single time ;) But now that I found a water I LOVE, I drink it constantly.

My trick for getting the kids to stay hydrated... one, I don't keep juice in the house. They HAVE to drink water. Juice has a lot of sugar in it, and sugar dehydrates you. I also load them up with freezey pops... it's mostly colored sugar water (but not NEARLY as much sugar as in juice! Even natural fruit juice!) I've also let them pick out a water bottle for themselves... since they picked it, they're more prone to drink from it more often.

Good luck :) Happy 4th!!

1 mom found this helpful
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A.S.

answers from Dallas on

I work a very hectic schedule most days and I am always forgetting to drink enough water. My husband says I used to live off of moisture in the air most days. When I was pregnant I started setting the alarm on my phone and everytime it went off I drank an 8 ounce glass of water. It worked then and I still do it now. I'm convinced it's the only way I drink the amount of water I should and I'm actually not a big water fan, I'm a iced tea fan. Water for me has to be super cold or iced in order for me to drink it.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.L.

answers from Minneapolis on

k

1 mom found this helpful

V.C.

answers from Dallas on

A general rule is to drink 1/2 your body weight in ounces. For example, if you weigh 120 lbs, then you would need to drink 60 ounces. Drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning is also a great weight loss tip.
Start by putting a glass of water bedside to drink first thing, then drink a glass before each meal.

1 mom found this helpful
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T.V.

answers from San Francisco on

As you remember your little ones, remember they need you. In your words " you drink water and other drinks with A LOT OF ICE" (ie...ice = H20)....you will be fine. Should you become thirsty....more liquids..water is best.

Blessings.....

1 mom found this helpful

J.S.

answers from Hartford on

If you feel thirst, you're already dehydrated. Drink when you remember to. We're really supposed to drink/take in about a gallon of fluids within every 24 hours. If you do that, you won't be peeing constantly but you'll be doing your body a lot of good. You'll have better hair, skin, and nails. Fewer headaches. Fewer body aches, muscles aches, and joint pain. Improved memory. Fewer migraines. More clear sinuses and improved allergies. All of your inner organs work better/more efficiently. It's better for your teeth since you'll have better saliva production. It's good for your blood.

Basically, every single bodily process requires adequate water intake. I always have water nearby even if I'm drinking coffee or tea. I love iced water. My girls do too. Someone is always refilling the ice trays in our house. :-)

1 mom found this helpful

R.A.

answers from Providence on

I have a water bottle with me at all times of the day. I go by ounces. I try to get in two whole water bottles a day. It reminds me to drink water when it is right next to me. I had a problem with dehydration and not drinking enough each day. It caused me lots of joint pain, as well as swelling, painful urination. After all that, I remember now to drink up!

1 mom found this helpful

R.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

I HAVE to keep hydrated, I have fibromyalgia and if I begin to start dehydrating I feel it in my muscles and joints. I got extremely dehydrated last Friday, the first day of our heat wave, and that night was awakened by severe Charley horses twice. I was in tremendous pain but had to force myself to walk them off AND try to get fluids into my body at the same time.

So, with that reminder I have my water bottle filled at all times and keep it near me to sip while I'm cooking, cleaning, on the computer, whatever I'm doing. When I give the little guy water, which is several times a day since he loves it, I drink water, too.

I drink at least the equivalent of 8 glasses of water a day, probably closer to 10, and try to guzzle the majority of it during the day and early evening because I don't like being up in the middle of the night having to use the bathroom either.

And, something I learned from seeing a friend do it all the time is to drink ice water with a lemon wedge in it at mealtimes. I just squeeze the juice into the water, you can leave the lemon in the glass as well, and the lemon water has the added benefit of bringing out the tastes of foods. I started doing this in restaurants as well and save on drinks : )

L.G.

answers from Eugene on

I got a 22 oz water bottle. I fill it in the morning. I leave it on the chopping block which I pass often as I go from dining room to laundry room. When I see it and have a free hand I pop the top and drink from it. When the bottle is empty I refill it.
I drink coffee and so I got a 2cup mug. I also eat soup. When I want a snack after dinner I have an orange.

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