How Much Water Should You Drink?

Do you own the the perfect water bottle?  I’m always impressed how many people come to my classes with their beloved water bottles and sit them down proudly on the table like a beacon of health. The bottles come in all shapes, styles and colours.  Some are stainless steel  with wide rims and others are coloured  with drinking spouts that pull up. There are multi coloured and round. And some can even hold a whole day’s worth of  water…these always impress me.  There are even some with a separate container in the bottom for lemon or cucumber slices if you don’t like drinking plain water.  

I’m actually jealous of all these water carrying devotees, because I too have a perfect water bottle. I fill it up regularly with water from the Britta water jug in the fridge but always manage to leave it behind on the kitchen counter at home when I go out.  It’s the reason why I often don’t drink my recommended 8 glasses of water a day.  

As we head into the holiday season it’s wise to locate your favourite water bottle and carry it with you everywhere you go (note to self).  There are many good reasons why we should drink water over the festive season. First and most important, water fills us up which stops us from over eating and drinking too much.  A delicious Christmas dinner along with a few glasses of Christmas cheer can easily add up to a whole day’s worth of calories.  A glass of water in between nibbles and wine will mean less time in the gym after Christmas trying to lose that Christmas bulge. 

Your body will thank you as well.  We need to replenish the water we lose each day  to stay hydrated.  About 60% of our body weight is made up of water. Every system in our body relies on it.  It’s recommended we drink 8 cups of water a day.  We should aim to drink 1.5 litres of water a day which is roughly about 6 cups  plus other beverages, such as milk, juice and even coffee or tea.  If you are active, have health concerns or live in a dry climate, your numbers will rise (sorry about that!).

So this Christmas season, remember to drink water.  I suggest putting a big orange sticky note on the front door to remind you to take your water bottle with you when you leave the house.  They go and enjoy your xmas treats.