Let’s Go Drinking!!

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“How much water should I drink?”

“How often do you pee, and what color is it?”

“Seriously?”

“Seriously.”

It’s a bit interesting to me how concerned we are with what we’re putting into our bodies, and never take much notice about how it comes out. Not that we have to go collecting samples or anything, but just having an idea of how your system is functioning, at both ends, can help you make better decisions when fine tuning your nutrition, fitness, and life in general.

Most of your body is water.

You already know that water is good for you. You know having enough makes your kidneys and liver happy, as well as helping shuttle nutrients around the body.

You’ve cut out soda, skipped the sports drinks, and do your best to drink that one cup of coffee black. Well done. You’re getting yourself reacquainted with the good stuff nature intended. But should you have a goal for water consumption? I mean, how much should you be drinking?

Get to it, how much?

The answer is really quite simple, but a little different for everyone. You should pee clear (or close to it) 5 times a day. Two of those five should be after your workout, to be sure you’ve rehydrated. It’s really that simple. Of course, you’ll probably pee more than this, but if you’re getting your 5CP’s (clear pees) in a day, chances are you’re plenty hydrated.

Telling a person that they should drink something like 8 glasses or 64 ounces can be misleading. Depending on things like our daily activity, stress, and even sleep, we may need more or less than that. We also get a good deal of water from the food we eat. Veggies like cucumbers, carrots, and celery have quite a bit of moisture (try juicing those three together – it’s tasty and you get TONS of juice). Taking all this into account and having someone else figure out that perfect quantity for your particular body can be just this side of impossible. Giving you the guideline to do it yourself? Now you’re empowered! Through pee! Amazing, I know.

Start your day hydrated.

I teach a class at the gym at 5:15am, so every morning a bit before 5am, I’m having two big glasses (about 24-30oz total) of water. That’s before breakfast! Then I grab the keys and head out the door. This does two things for me. First off, I’ve spent the night essentially fasting and detoxing during sleep, and this surge of water helps to mobilize and flush out the toxins left over from the night, without starting the digestive engine. Second, it helps me to put breakfast off for a bit, remaining healthily in the fasted state for another hour or two. (More on fasted states in an upcoming post. We know there have been some great questions about this topic). By the time I have breakfast (usually around 10am), I’ve probably got at least 2CP’s in already. My attitude is generally better, and my head is clear.

So, give it a shot. Grab a glass or two in the morning with or without breakfast, first thing. Then pay attention to how your body is working through your extra water throughout the day. You may find that this little conscious addition to your nutrition brings an elevation to your condition!

I look forward to reading the comments on THIS one. ;)