Healthy habits – H2O

Friday, February 10, 2012 Permalink

We’ve had a lot of rain in my part of the world. In fact last year at around this time, the State I live in experienced significant flooding which has required investment in new infrastructure and lots of insurance claims. Worse still. Lives were lost.

But this post isn’t about that.

For a change I’m writing about something I do well. (And no, I don’t mean my ability to deliver oh-so-eloquent prose through blogging – NOT!)

In fact, even when I haven’t been trying to be healthy, I’ve enjoyed doing something that’s been good for me. And… you’ve probably guessed it from the title. Yes indeedy, I am – as it happens – a most excellent drinker of water (if only it was an Olympic sport, or if paid sponsorship were an option. *Sigh*).

I have to admit that this is something I basically take for granted. You know, ‘Eight glasses a day? Meh.’ In fact, I’m probably more in danger of drinking TOO MUCH water, which I’ve read is possible for reasons that have something to do with diluting vitamins or minerals or electrolytes or similar.

Another blogger recently talked about the difficulty she has drinking her ‘8 glasses a day’. And since reading her post I’ve been trying to cast my mind back to when I became a water-drinker. Certainly it wasn’t commonly done when I was a kid. Bottled water was almost unheard of in the 70s and 80s here in Oz, where tap water is almost universally drinkable. In the early 1990s I recall occasionally procuring a bottle of water when out, although it was seen as slightly frivolous back then.

When I was living in developing countries through the mid and late 1990s, water was a precious commodity and one I came to appreciate. At one point I was travelling around Mozambique (where I was living) for about 3 weeks and for at least a week of that bottled water was not to be found. The absence of toilets meant I tried to essentially drink nothing and used faux Fanta (aka Finta, which was possibly pink in colour) to rinse my mouth and brush my teeth.

I recall flying back into Australia after living in Cambodia for seven months and brushing my teeth at the International Airport in Melbourne and being struck by the realisation that I was ABLE to swallow the water without being laid up (or on the loo – Australian-speak for toilet) for days on end.

But sometime between then and now I became a lover of water. Well, of cold water more specifically. I have a 750ml bottle that sits on my desk and is filled at least 3 times a day. Four or more times most days (as I take it to the gym). At home I have a water filter/chiller thing which sits atop a kitchen bench and constantly wander about (or sit at my computer) with cold bottles of water.

At those times when I’m being SERIOUSLY healthy and minimising the crap I put into my body and drinking a lot of water, I notice my skin is visibly improved. I look brighter. Less exhausted. Less puffy. And not as old.

Having weaned myself off (vanilla) diet coke in the middle of last year (and experienced the benefits), my intake has again crept up over the past 4 or 5 months. Coupled with my inability to buy it in bulk (thereby paying $4+ for each 600ml bottle) I’ve decided the time has come to cut the cord again.

So, my consumption of water will be even more important. I know I can add lemon or have soda water and so forth, but water itself is fine with me. It’s something healthy I already do willingly and well… and I can’t say that about too many things.

When I read of others’ struggle to get their through their 8 glasses I am flummoxed – although others would probably say the same about my lack of fruit consumption!

I’m intrigued…
Are you a water-drinker or do you have trouble getting through your ‘8 glasses a day’?
Are there healthy things you enjoy doing that others find challenging?

20 Comments
  • KCLAnderson (Karen)
    February 10, 2012

    Like you, water has pretty much always been a good habit…and it has become even more important to me in the past several years. I LOVE water. I can tell very quickly if I am dehydrated…it rarely happens but when it does I feel sick. I drink probably close to a gallon a day and more in the summer. I can’t imagine living in a place where there is none.

    I grew up drinking wonderful well water and admit that I am a water snob, but will not buy bottled water as I think it’s a huge waste of resources (unless I am traveling and the water where I am tastes icky). We have a fridge that has a filtered water dispenser so I am in heaven.

    • Debbish
      February 10, 2012

      Karen, I had to google the conversion from gallon into the metric system (nearly 4 litres, which is similar to what I drink)!

      Like you, I love my water chiller/filter thingy – and it’s free (well, after the initial purchase; and other than the filters!). It’s probably one of my favourite household appliances (well in the kitchen anyway!).

      Deb

  • Nikkimaloo
    February 10, 2012

    I’m always flummoxed by people who say they have trouble drinking 8 glasses of water a day too! I drink 3L a day easily, and have for years. Also ought to be a prize-winning water drinker!!

    • Debbish
      February 10, 2012

      Hee hee! I do have a couple of friends who rarely drink water. When we’re out for a meal etc, the rest of us keep topping up our glasses, and I know not to bother with the others! I actually enjoy water. (Dare I admit!?!)

  • Amy @fridays5cents
    February 10, 2012

    Going downstairs to get myself a glass now! Infact I am drinking quite a bit at the moment as I am breastfeeding and constantly thirsty (& hungry for that matter)

    Mind you, I only enjoy good water (I am really fussy when it comes to taste, and YES I can tell the difference), so I have a beautiful ceramic filter which sits on my kitchen bench.

    I hate it when I am at a restaurant and they refill & refridgerate glass bottles. They always taste mouldy to me.. I usually end up requesting a glass of “fresh” tap water. :-S

    • Debbish
      February 10, 2012

      Amy, I used to really hate water in those jugs at old style motels for a similar reason…. it just tasted mouldy or musty. Blergh!

      I can’t believe you can taste the difference in water. For me it’s a bit obvious when I go to different cities etc, but I soon get used to the taste.

      PS. I hope you enjoyed your glass!

      Deb

  • Miz
    February 10, 2012

    I STRUGGGGLE with this.
    daily.
    even though I know how much better I feel when I get the water in.
    Quite frankly and EMBARRASSINGLY (as Ive spent time in developing countries) Id never thought about the fact Im freakin LUCK to have water to not wanna drink….

    • Debbish
      February 10, 2012

      WoW Miz… you seem SO on top of everything else! I’ve always been a sook when I see advertisements re kids in developing countries – but worse since I’ve been in those situations… but not always appreciative as I should be. HELLO… kids there are starving and yet I’ll eat all sorts of expensive crap I don’t need. (Ugh!)

  • todays date
    February 10, 2012

    i love your blog, i have it in my rss reader and always like new things coming up from it.

    • Debbish
      February 11, 2012

      Hi… thanks for the comment (and compliment!)

      Deb

  • Karen@WaistingTime
    February 10, 2012

    I count decaf tea so with that, I get plenty. If I’m not out and about. I don’t drink other stuff like soda or milk.

    • Debbish
      February 11, 2012

      I wish I didn’t drink soda Karen… (I write as I’m sitting here drinking a 600ml bottle of vanilla diet coke, which I’m supposed to be weaning myself off!)

      Deb

  • beanfruit
    February 11, 2012

    This is one of the things I’m actually proud of about my weight-loss/getting healthier efforts! When I was pregnant, I had a huge water bottle (64 oz.) that I would fill in the morning and drink while I was at work. It was a fun challenge to drink it all before it was time to leave! Then after having my son, I fell off that wagon and drank a good bit of diet soda – usually 2-3 cans per day. But mid last year, I decided to cut out almost all caffeine and now I drink at least 8 glasses of water a day and typically don’t drink soda unless I occasionally have a Sprite Zero or sometimes at Diet Pepsi if I go out to eat. I’m glad you’re having success with the water consumption as well!

    BTW – I’m fascinated to read about your past travels!

  • m3lly78
    February 11, 2012

    I also find it incredibly easy to smash water; about 2-3 ltrs a day which goes upwards from there when Im working out or out in the heat. On the other hand, my hubby has to consciously force himself to drink water & my BFF will only drink water if it has a slice of lemon in it!
    Different strokes for different folks…

  • snowangel12wbt
    February 11, 2012

    Oh Deb I envy you! I so wish that drinking water was easy for me. I struggle to get my 8 glasses a day and am forever trying to find techniques to improve. I have even resorted to putting an alarm on my computer at work to remind me but I just ‘snooze’ it all the time! I have discovered that clear bottles work best for me because then I can see how much I’m not drinking but my head still doesn’t get it! But I am super good drinking water at the gym so hopefully that makes up for my poor performance the rest of the time!

    • Debbish
      February 11, 2012

      I have a bottle sitting next to me all of the time so find myself sucking it down (though I do the same with diet coke)! (Am sure Freud had something to say about oral fixations!) Years ago I used to put slices of lemon in a water bottle and refill it a few times and drink it that way. I knew someone else who also put chopped strawberries in hers to give it a flavour!

  • ijah
    March 17, 2012

    Wow, marvelous blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your website is fantastic, let alone the content!. Thanks For Your article about Healthy habits – H2O .

    • Debbish
      March 17, 2012

      Thanks… I’ve been blogging for a couple of years now – though still feel like a beginner!

      Deb

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