Health Check: How Much Water Are You Drinking?

Originally posted May 15, 2010! UPDATED on Friday, January 28, 2011! Updates are in red!

I have lost 5 pounds since January 1st! I'm not on a diet, have a personal trainer, or any of those typical things. I have been losing the weight cold turkey and will be posting a video next week on my progress. However, one of the biggest things that has helped, I believe, has been water. I have been working to up the amount of water I drink, and through it (not purposely), I have rid myself of sodas and my beloved koolaid. I have surpassed my goal of drinking 8 glasses (64 oz) and am averaging 96oz (12 cups) daily. I have 2 32 oz water bottles, like the one below which I now call Ol' Faithful. I keep them both stocked with water in the fridge. When I finish one, I refill it, put it in the fridge, and grab the other one. Water is great for removing impurities from the body and helps to cleanse your insides (at least better than a soda would! lol). It also helps to curb your appetite which will help with weight loss!

So, I'm all about cleaning up my skin problems right now, because as it gets warmer, the more skin you're supposed to show lol. SO I can't be showing off terrible looking skin! I started the black soap as a facial wash and am using St. Ive's Shea and Oatmeal soap... so far so good! I now am using Madina's Aloe Vera and Shea Butter facial soap. I've lost my St. Ive's but am going out to buy some today because I loveedd it on my skin!

ALSO, I bought a new water bottle from Walmart! It was on sale for about $4.00 which is pretty good! Here's the thing: that whole rule of 8 glasses a day... is just extra. Like, who's really going to get 8 classes of water. Mentally, I can't do it lol. HOWEVER, this water bottle is 32oz!! BAM! I just have to feel it up TWICE and I have my water serving of the day. Most times I actually drink more because I don't even realize that it's 32ozs of water. I definitely would recommend everyone purchasing one!

Here are some essential water facts:

• Our bodies receive water three ways: from food, from drinking and from metabolism
• The old "8 glasses a day" is a fine standard... depending on what size glass you use! We need about 2.5 liters per day.
• Drinking enough water actually prevents water retention.
• Water helps you improve your muscle tone.
• Hair needs water to maintain its moisture levels.
• Water helps improve blood circulation which contributes to hair growth.
• Water may help suppress your appetite.
  Water is the best choice to drink before moderate length exercise
• Drinking water helps you lose weight because it flushes down the by-products of fat.
• Drinking water raises your metabolism because it helps in digestion.
• Helps to relieve headache and back pains due to dehydration.

Also, some people may say that they don't want to drink a lot of water because of the water weight. However, the body only holds onto water when it's not use to getting it, as a survival technique. The body ill think that because it doesn't get a normal intake of water, it needs to hold onto the water that it is getting. If you increase your water intake as well as the frequency of the intake, the body flushes it out more because it knows it will constantly get some! Hence the frequent urination that will occur when drinking more water.

Lesson learned: drink more water cause I'm "feelin' good, feelin' great!" lol
--Jameka