Water Intake is Not Created Equal!!!

If you're like me, you take water for granted. You drink when you are thirsty (whether water or not) and move on. I mean, you haven't died of dehydration yet, so you must be fine.

You are pressured with information on how you need to drink water. Do you drink 8 cups a day? Do you only drink when you are thirsty? Do you drink water per body weight? There is so much information out there and it can be extremely frustrating for those trying to do the right thing.

So what is the right rule to follow?

To start, we all know that water is one of our life sources. But why is it so important? Here are just a few reasons why adequate water intake is crucial:

• Prevents blood clotting;
• Keeps body temperature regulated;
• Joints remain well-lubricated;
• Digestion eases; 
• Assists in storing glucose as glycogen for energy rather than turning to fat;
• Prevents thickening of blood to help ease transportation of oxygen to the brain and muscles.

Next, let's focus on you! Everyone is different, from size to activity level. They both play a significant role in how much water one should drink! For example, a 200 pound active individual will need a different amount of water than someone who is 120 pounds and sedentary.

Here is an easy 2 step process on how to determine how much water YOU need.

Step 1: Determine your fitness level

0.5 — No sports or training (Sedentary)
0.6 — Light fitness training
0.7 — Moderate training 3 times a week
0.8 — Moderate daily weight or aerobic
0.9 — Daily heavy weight training daily
1.0 — Heavy weight training daily plus sports training

Step 2: Multiply your weight (pounds) by your activity or fitness level from Step 1.

Example: 125 X 0.8 = 100 ounces

It is recommended to take your number and divide it between 8-12 servings per day. This would prevent from taking in too much water at once, which can lead to water intoxication.

Example: 100 oz/10 servings = 10 oz

So, should you have 8 cups of water a day? No. Should you drink when you are thirsty? No. You should drink water per your body weight and your activity level.

Prior to doing this, I was drinking 64 ounces of water a day...maybe! This week, I began following this recommendation and have already noticed a significant improvement in my body processes. I have more regular bowel movements (TMI: I used to go DAYS without going #2) and less bloating. It is still too early to see additional improvements, but I will definitely continue this way of taking in water as bathroom visits and bloating have already improved. Good enough for me!

Try this for a week yourself and let me know what improvements you notice! I would love to hear your results!

What rules do you follow on water intake?

Do you have any current digestive issues?

Do you have any issues with bloating?

What results have you noticed from following the above?