Help! I hate water!

[boucheresq]

I'm not kidding when I say I really hate it - it doesn't matter if it's tap, bottled, sparkling, mineral, whatever, it always leaves a bad taste to me. Does anyone have any recommendations so I can get those 8 glasses in me each day? thanks!

 

[DisneyGirl]

I'm with you!! I absolutely *hate* water-- it honestly makes me sick to drink it!!!

The good news is, there are a *ton* of new studies that show that water is not the miracle drink that it has been made out to be in diets everywhere. These studies show that the key to health is keeping hydrated, not necessarily drinking water. It's actually very dangerous for athletes to drink too much water (flushes out electrolytes-- you need to keep them in, and being dehydrated is actually better than being low on electrolytes)

So, the bad news is, you have to consume some fluids. I think the easiest thing to drink is crystal lite-- it does have aspartame in it, but it is good. I tend to water it down more than the instructions say because I think it is too sweet. You can also try mixing some fruit juice in it as well.

Going back to the studies above (have you noticed I've researched whether or not I truly have to drink water to be healthy?? ), some of them say it doesn't matter whether there is caffeine or not in them (ones that don't say it don't say anything). A lot of the pro-water folks talk up no-caffeine because it is a diuretic, but apparently the studies have shown that it still hydrates you (I guess you can decide for yourself with this

Just so you don't think I'm making this up , here's a report from Dartmouth Medical School:

http://www.dartmouth.edu/dms/news/2002_h2/08aug2002_water.shtml

 

[njcarita]

i usto dislike drinking water too
but now its my bevererage of choice after coffee-

i suggest you slowly start replacing what you are presently drinking with water- start off with just adding 8oz in aday and going up from there.

also try adding a lemon or orange slice for flavor-

i fill a 24oz bottle in the morning and take a swigs through out the day-
i avg 48oz of water a day

 

[got2travel]

I do like water, but want some variety at times. I use Crystal Light, sugar free KoolAid and even cafeine free iced tea (sometimes I don't even care about the cafeine).

Like a previous poster said, it really comes down to keeping your body hydrated. Just be careful of regular sodas and juice because the calories can really add up.

 

[cobbler]

I was a big water hater too but this really helped me. My problem was I didn't like the taste, or lack thereof. So I started to buy Propel in the flavors I liked. Also some Fruit2O in good flavors. I tried to drink 2 bottles a day (or four 8oz glasses) and so on. Once I started drinking these fairly regularly I began to crave water and now I drink plain water and it isn't as gross as I thought it used to be.

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

If you put some lemon juice or lime juice in there it adds just enough flavor.

 

[swilphil]

You might try herbal tea--that's nice in the winter. I also try to drink a lot of water when I work out--before, during and after. I also try to take a bottle of water with me in the car and with meals.

 

[MickeySP]

I hate it also but I have to drink between 48-64 oz because of surgery.

I do drink Propel, it is flavored water which I like way better than Fruit2O. I like the berry flavor.

Also other things have liquid if this is for dieting purpose. Try Sugar free Jello, SF Popsicles(lifesaver brand are best), black tea and coffee too, they are great easy ways to add liquid to any diet.

 

[wiskband]

I hatED it too. But I forced myself to drink it.
What I do is, I line up 6 24 oz. bottles next to the sink.
And before I eat, I draink one in about 2 gulps! (pretned your guzzling beer! lol) then I eat no after taste.
when I am done eating I drink another bottle (FAST) and then eat whatever sweet I have choosen that day ( almost always a LC choclate treat!).
See, I dont linger with my water, I get it over with quickly.

My method is good for a few reasons.
No bad aftertaste. It makes me full. I almost never need anything to drink when I am eating (cause I just drank 24 oz of water). so theres very little soda I want with my meal. and leaving it set up by the sink, assures me that I will get it all in.

good luck, I swear before you know it, you NEED (crave)water.

renee

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

I only like water that is really cold. I started going to the little restaurant in the store where my office is and I fill my Disney mug with about 1/2 ice and 1/2 water. The first few days I was good and drank it, but this past week I was busy and forgot about it after filling up.

At home, I sometimes buy the small (8oz) bottles in the summer. They're great for DD's lunch too. Recently I bought flavored water (the equivilent of Fruit2O) that Giant sells with their Acadia label. I've been drinking about half a day when I get on the treadmill.

 

[SnackyStacky]

Keeping yourself hydrated is the key!

You can count ANY beverage towards your water consumption as long as it is both caffeine free and non-alcoholic.

Watch the acidic beverages (coffee, and tea) - and while lemon is okay, it is a diuretic, so while it tastes good, it's doing the exact opposite of what you want it to, so try and limit that.

Propel and Fruit2O are GREAT to get in water.

 

[BabyTigger99]

I have found that I have a hard time drinking cold water. It is much easier for me to drink it when it is room temperature. That way I drink my 100 oz a day.

 

[kayeandjim00]

When I first started changing my eating habits I knew I'd have to drink more water and I hated it. I have to say now I love it. I hardly ever reach for a coke anymore as I'm so in the habit of drinking my water. I promise if you continue to drink it you will get used to it and might even start to like it. We buy bottled water (Ice Mountain is my favorite and usually can be gotten in a case for a reasonable price.) I justify the cost by remembering how much I spent on 12 packs of cokes every week before. The bottles help me get it down easier. Maybe try doing it slowly. Commit to drinking 16 oz every day this week and then add a bottle every week until you are drinking the right amount.

 

[moonfleck]

I used to drink nothing, but sodas and now I'm a big water drinking. I'm not sure why, but it really helps me to drink the water with a straw. Plus I have some light fruit punch that I love and it's my incentive as long as I've had my ten glasses of water.

 

[wilderness01]

I love it now too but some days I still have a hard time. On those days I eat a little more salt, I know, I know salt is supposed to be limited, and that really helps me down even more water than needed.

 

[tmatthews]

I buy the smaller bottles so I feel like I have accomplished something more often! I had to put lemon in mine in the beginning. Now I carry a water bottle around with me everywhere.