My goal for January was to drink at at least 64 oz of water every day.
I put this as my first goal on the list this year, because I have been struggling with this for quite a while now and I feel it had priority over anything else. Sadly, I have to tell you that if I am completely honest with myself (and you), I am still majorly failing at the whole “drinking enough”- thing.
Great! I already failed the first monthly challenge. I am really not proud to admit that.
I knew this goal was going to be difficult for me; I knew that I still have not found a way to stick with the water drinking.
You must know that I loathe drinking. The physical act of pouring liquids down my throat does not excite me. Especially, if I am not thirsty at all (which I hardly ever am). I know that seems pretty silly, right? But I swear it is the truth and I go to great length to try and avoid drinking if I don’t have to. I guess, I am lacking a gene or something, but really only very rarely do I feel thirsty at all (and as you know, you should drink something before you even get thirsty). On top of that, I do a lot better with hot drinks than with cold drinks, which – can you guess it – is a problem when it comes to water (which doesn’t taste any good when it’s hot, unless it’s tea) and becomes a problem particularly in the summer. I think you can see, where this is going.
There were days this last month where I did really well. I started my day off with a big glass of water before I left for work and remembered to fill my 32 oz water bottle and make sure I drink and refill it one more time during the day.
Sometimes, I forgot to refill and was pretty much trying to gulp down another 32 oz before leaving the office. Hello, bloated belly. But hey: I drank my 64 oz.
Other days, I wasn’t so lucky. There were still days, not many, but still too many, where I basically forgot to drink anything at all (except for my morning coffee and a glass of water with dinner). Mostly, this happened on the weekends. You’d think that with only this one goal taking priority over anything else, I would have managed to come up with a fool-proof way to make sure I get my water in, but alas, I slipped up more times that I care to admit. Even if I remembered (I sometimes set myself reminders on my phone), I’d find “excuses” (not very good ones obviously, but still excuses) to postpone the drinking.
The bottom line is: I have to try harder. This is not something I am going to give up on, as it’s really critical health-wise. Hence, I will have to focus on not one, but two goals in February. Luckily, my February goal (more on that in a few days) will not take as much daily focus as the water drinking does and so I am hoping to continue to try and make drinking a habit to the point where I don’t have to constantly think and remind myself all the time and where I won’t despise it so much.
If you have any recommendations or tips on how to beat this problem, please do share. I am really a bit desperate at this point.
How did you do this month? Did you succeed or have a hard time, too?
Stephany
January 30, 2012 at 6:24 amI am really glad you were one of the first posts that popped up in my reader today, because I had a similar goal. Mostly to try to beat my soda habit and drink more water. I didn’t put a “oz” goal because I have the same issue as you: I just don’t drink much, period! I just want the main things I drink to be water or juice and while I am further along at beating the soda addiction, I’m still not where I had hoped to be.
Anyway, thanks for the honest post. Even taking baby steps is progress. :)
Holly
January 30, 2012 at 6:25 amI’ve never been one to drink a lot of water either but I tried really hard when I was pregnant with Topher – I found having a pretty cup or water bottle helped :) Maybe it inspired me? And I had an easier time drinking really cold water rather than water that had sat in my bottle all day, so I was constantly refilling it or sticking it in the fridge for awhile.
Maribeth
January 30, 2012 at 6:50 amTough month for me. I’ve been trying to lose just a little more weight before our trip and it just isn’t happening! It’s not that I am eating cakes or cooking all the time, but my portion control has been totally off! Need to get a grip on that as we leave in a month.
My drinking has also been a problem, but I have been making big containers of lemonade and tried drinking this. Still…..tough. Good luck for you and me too in February!
Melissa
January 30, 2012 at 7:54 amI think this whole “drinking more water” thing is really complicated because I’m exactly like you- basically never thirsty. I mean, I try to drink one to two water bottles per day, but I often don’t. If your body isn’t asking you for all this liquid, then why on earth would you force yourself to do it? If you’re working out then fine, drink more to substitute, but I really don’t think you should beat yourself up for this one, I feel like it just made you LESS happy to accomplish this than more happy (maybe that’s just the impression I’m getting?) Why not make this more realistic for yourself and say, drink a big glass of water when you wake up, keep water with you throughout the day to sip on, and maybe have a glass before bed so you can stay hydrated during your sleep? That’s often my water goal so that I’m at least getting SOME, but not forcing myself to drink TONS of it.
Travel Spot
January 30, 2012 at 10:27 amYou are doing great! Even if having this goal causes you to drink MORE water than you were before, you are successful! Are you not a fan of liquids AT ALL, or just not water? Because you could always drink juice, tea, coffee, milk or anything else basically and it will help with your hydration!
whitney
January 30, 2012 at 12:27 pmI’m like you – on the weekends I don’t drink enough water. But I actually find myself getting dehydrated, so I try and remember to drink something! I keep a small water bottle with my if we’re out and about. I keep it small because a big bottle filled with water is heavy and if it’s smallish, I don’t feel pressured to drink a ton of it. I take sips every once in a while and leave it at that. The other thing I’ve found is that it’s easier for me to drink more if a straw is involved. I keep one of those insulated plastic cups (https://www.starbucksstore.com/customizable-cold-cup-24-fl-oz/011010802,default,pd.html?start=2&cgid=cold-beverage) on my desk at work and drink from that all day. It seems to help me drink a little bit more than I normally would. Also, I think tea totally counts! And maybe you don’t need 64oz a day, so I wouldn’t beat yourself up about it. Just the fact that you’re drinking more water is a good thing!
Lisa of Lisa's Yarns
January 30, 2012 at 5:40 pmI try to drink at least 32 oz during the day when I am at work, and then at night I drink a couple of glasses of crystal light. It’s not as healthy as just water, but at least it has zero calories, and it tastes good. ;) I do so so on drinking water at work. Some days i am great and I drink 64 oz. Other days i get realy busy, forget to drink, and maybe have 8 oz!
Stephine
January 30, 2012 at 11:07 pmI too have failed in any of my goals. I started off exercising well and I’m ending the month with drinking a ton of pop and eating 40 candy bars a day :\ I need to start drinking my 64 ounces because I’m carrying so much water weight it’s not even funny.
One suggestion, since I too don’t like plain water, is to buy bottled water and either Crystal Light packets or something like it. Walmart has TONS of them. They have fruity drinks, tea type drinks, kool-aid flavored. You can pick something that you like and drink it. For some reason, they make you more thirsty and therefore will help you drink a little more :)
Jen
January 30, 2012 at 11:21 pmI love to drink, cold beverages, not water though, but Coke Zero. I’m so hooked on it I had to change my February goal (stop drinking coke cold turkey) because I was feeling anxious and unready about it, so I took on my March goal instead: no red meat. Wish me luck!
Eleni Zoe
January 31, 2012 at 1:47 amMy mother is the same way. She just doesn’t feel thirst. And so it’s really difficult for her to drink water. I, on the other hand, love cold water.
Maybe, you’d be more successful if you do it incrementally. For example, for one week drink one glass of water when you wake up and one before going to bed. Make a small goal like that, that is easier to accomplish so you can accomplish it. Then you’ll be motivated. Then, the next week you can add a third glass of water. And so on and so forth.
Nilsa @ SoMi Speaks
January 31, 2012 at 8:57 amIt’s hard to drink that much water, so I give you credit for trying. Plus, maybe you weren’t drinking 64 oz everyday, but I bet you were drinking a lot more water than you were previously. And that’s a win.
I once read somewhere that you should drink 8 oz of water before each meal and 8 oz of water during each meal. Have you ever measured 8 oz? It’s really not that much. Maybe if you break up your 64 oz into meals, it’ll be more doable? If you drink 8 oz before each meal and 8 oz during each meal, that’s 48 ounces for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And then, you could pepper in two more 8 oz glasses of water elsewhere in your day or just after you wake up and just before you go to bed or something like that?
Nicole
January 31, 2012 at 10:20 amThis year needs to be one of action for me and I need to focus on where that action needs to be to make positive changes in my life. So far I’m doing quite well on seeing where things need to improve and starting to take some positive steps in the right direction.
erin
February 1, 2012 at 9:53 amI thought I commented on this before, but I could be wrong!! This is such a great way to plan your goals: MOnthly! LOVEEEE IT
terra
February 2, 2012 at 11:16 amI love drinking water. I try to do it all the time, but I still forget. I know I feel 10 times better if I drink at least 6 glasses of water a day, and yet still, I’ll forget to take water with me to work or I’ll let me glass sit empty for a few hours and before I know it I’m totally parched and have a headache.
Maren
February 2, 2012 at 4:21 pmI NEVER drink enough. And that’s why I end up with headaches all the time. I need to do this, too. Drink. More. Water.