It wasn’t until a few years ago that I realized the importance of hydration.

My love affair with water began as a way to limit my “boredom snacking” at work; stuck at my computer, I’d always get a hankering for chips, sweets, and less healthy foods.

To help keep my stomach full, I kept refillable water bottle at my desk. It was a win-win because I walked to the water cooler a few times a day and stretched out my legs taking more frequent trips to the ladies room.

As I became more interested in my health and active in Bikram yoga, I really understood the importance of proper hydration. When you sweat for 90 minutes, your body lets you know if you’re not drinking enough. On the few days my water intake was low, I felt lethargic, light-headed, and off-balance. I learned my lesson for sure!

Now that I’m pregnant (but taking a break from Bikram), I continue to drink ample water during the day. Since I’m fairly active still and live in a hot, humid climate, this amounts to around 80-90 ounces a day.

Below are some of my tips for staying hydrated.

1. Invest in a nice plastic or aluminum water bottle 

My 32-oz Nalgene bottle is basically an extension of my body. Every morning, I fill it after I finish my small cup of coffee. I constantly sip throughout the day, and refill at lunchtime. I usually consume 64 ounces while at work!

2. Eat fresh fruit and vegetables in between (and as part of) your meals

Drinking isn’t the only way to stay hydrated! Many fruits and vegetables (my favorites are watermelon, pineapple, berries, apples, cucumber, and celery) have high water content, and they’ll certainly help fuel your body.

3. If you don’t like the taste of water, add sliced cucumber, lemon, etc.

During my first trimester—when I first gave up alcohol and excess caffeine—I got tired of drinking water! Although I treated myself to the occasional soda (like Zevia or a naturally-caffeine free Abita root beer), I often squeezed lemon juice in to my water to brighten things up. I also became a fan of La Croix sparkling water.

4. Add water or coconut water (instead of juice) to your smoothies

I love coconut water on its own (it’s full of natural electrolytes, making it excellent after workouts), but I especially love adding it to smoothies. Where you may normally add extra juice or milk, add some coconut—or plain—water instead.

5. Make homemade popsicles or fruit-filled ice cubes

Rather than buying the sugary, artificially-colored popsicles from the store, blend up some fresh or frozen fruit, yogurt, etc. (much like making a smoothie) and freeze for a healthy treat or mix berries and water into your ice cube tray as a way to add color and flavor to plain water.

Bottom line, there are many ways to increase your water intake—even if you despise plain water and have to get creative. If you really struggle, try investing in a special tracking cup like AquaTally, which includes a built-in, rotating measure to make it easy to track your own hydration goal. Before you know it, drinking water will become second nature! 

Questions for you:

• Have you ever had trouble staying hydrated?
• What’s your favorite method of hydrating?