One Resolution You Can Easily Keep All Year!
Every year many of us come up with a list of resolutions or changes we feel we need to make in our lives. The inevitable New Year’s Resolution List. Have you done this year after year? Have you been successful in keeping your resolutions? If so, for how long? Have the resolutions become firmly engrained habits?
I asked the same questions of several people over the past few months, and the overwhelming consensus was that most did not stick with the list. In fact, they didn’t even want to talk to me about it at all. There seems to be a lot of guilt and shame around disappointing one’s self, yet again. I am thinking that we need to change it up this year. Let’s make ONE – just one resolution. We’ll keep it simple, achievable, and something that truly makes a difference in your life right away. I have just the one for you! Here it is: Drink more water. You might be saying – what? Is she serious? That’s too easy.
Well, for most people it isn’t easy to consistently drink enough water on a daily basis. It is critical to feel successful when we are embarking upon making changes. We tend to make long overwhelming massive lists each year. For example: “I will exercise more often, I will get out walking, I will eat better, get to bed earlier, watch less TV, eat breakfast and less junk food, I will stop swearing, get a new job,” etc and on it goes. What happens is we take on too much all at once. Or we spin our wheels because we really don’t know where to begin. We have taken on too much.
Here’s what I suggest: pick one item from your list and nail it, then move to the next. Tackle only one at a time. You haven’t been doing any of them anyway, so what’s the big rush, right? When we try to do it all at once we get stressed, overwhelmed and before we know it, we aren’t doing any of them – none at all. We might begin to think thoughts like: “what’s the use, I never succeed, I don’t feel any differently,” and we slowly sink back into the old unhealthy behaviours. For some reason it seems more difficult to adopt a new healthy habit than to keep the old ones. However, once we have made each item on the list a habit we are on our way.
Why did I choose water as the one resolution? Our body’s cells are comprised of 65-90% water. We cannot live without water. We use it in a multitude of ways in daily life – we clean ourselves in the shower, brush our teeth, water our plants, flowers and gardens; cook with it, swim in it, relax in it. It cleanses & lubricates all of our organs, cells & tissues like a giant internal bath.
Camels can lose up to 30% of their body water and still function at their optimum level. Whereas, if humans lose as little as 5%, headaches, confusion, fatigue, forgetfulness and elevated heart rate occurs. So – staying hydrated is a simple strategy to combat fatigue.
We need to drink a minimum of 6 and up to 12 – 8 oz glasses of pure water each day. This depends on your level of physical activity. If you are bumping up the amount of water you consume, do this slowly to allow your body to get used to the additional intake. Your kidneys need to adjust for this increase. And don’t try to catch up at the end of the day or drink your quota all at once.
Lack of clarity, headaches, indecision and improper digestion are just a few things that can go array with being dehydrated. Better yet, add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to your water. And if you are really keen, start your day off with warm water and lemon. You were on a mini fast while you slept and now your body needs water. The body naturally eliminates toxins in the morning, so help it along.
How will know if you are getting enough water? By the colour of your urine. If it is clear or light yellow, you are getting enough. If it is dark yellow or has a strong odour, you are not getting enough water (or taking B vitamins.) This means your kidneys are working too hard.
The most important time to drink water is first thing when you rise in the morning. While we sleep it is as though we have gone on a mini fast. Our body has been cleaning our 100 trillion cells – water washes away all of the metabolic waste before it begins to be reabsorbed by the clean tissue. Drinking water clears away many of the toxins we may have accumulated in the previous day through breathing, eating and from stress.
PMS sufferers, here is a good tip for you! You need to drink more water. The University of Alberta found that PMS sufferers tend to drink less water. Drinking water does not cause fluid retention and can actually help the body to get rid of excess fluid and reduce bloating.
Here’s another tip for those trying to maintain a healthy weight. When you get hungry or have a craving, drink a big glass of water instead. It will make you feel full, and you will therefore consume fewer calories. If you tend to drink a lot of juice or soft drinks, try replacing them with water at least once per day. Or, add a few ounces of juice to your water to give it more flavour.
Caffeinated beverages like coffee and tea are diuretic in nature so you will have to replace the lost water. Drink an extra two glasses of water for every cup of coffee. Herbal teas are fine and can be added to your daily intake amount.
Room temperature or slightly warm water is best. Add a teaspoon of fresh lime or lemon juice to rehydrate the tissues and balance your electrolytes. When we drink with a straw we take in less air and only the water, so you will tend to drink more.
One way to ensure that you get your daily intake is to make water consumption as easy as possible. Place a glass beside your bed at night to remind you of your first glass of the day. Keep a full glass at your desk or wherever you are sitting or working. Bring some with you in the car. Keep it handy. Your body will love you for it!!
We efficiently metabolize and use about 4oz at a time when we consume water. If we down a glass of water quickly the brain tells the kidneys – it’s time to flush you out. So then all we do is urinate it back out.
It is important for athletes to drink enough water prior to activity. There is increased chance of injury with dehydration. Think of a stick of gum when you take it out of the package. Have you tried to stretch it? If you did, what do you think would happen? It would snap right? Now take the piece of gum and chew it for awhile…now stretch it… viola! With the moisture from your saliva, the gum will stretch without breaking. Think of your ligaments and tendons… they are the same… they need to be warm and lubricated before we move them efficiently and without hurting ourselves.
Let me know what you think of my idea!! |
Personal Wellness Coach with a mind body spirit approach to wellness. My goal is to help you feel empowered on your individual path and help you jump out of bed every day loving your life. To help you create a life where you feel happy, full of energy and first on your list. You are worth it!
