It’s that time again! Time to kick off good, healthy habits with our third #drankmowater challenge and this time, we’re upping the ante… literally!
Spill the Tea… I Mean, Water
If you know me, you know I’m a woman on a mission to be better than I was yesterday in all areas of my life. As a Christian, wife, mother, friend – I’m always looking to improve. Part of that quest for self-improvement is my health journey. I am pretty good about getting to the gym, getting in a tough sweat session thanks to my awesome trainer, Donald Alexander aka @dathetrainer, and I tend to eat healthy balanced meals.
However, I do struggle with my water intake. It’s something I’m always working on. Three years ago, my esthetician told me my skin was dehydrated and that was contributing to my skin issues – lookin’ at you adult breakouts. You can read all about that here. So it may have started with a little bit of vanity, but once I started drinking more water, my body rewarded me tremendously! It was like, “THANK YOU, ASIA! You’re FINALLY giving me what I need!” Sorry it took me so long, bod.
Water: The Grown-Up Drink
I recently saw a Tweet floating around that summed up my (reluctant) evolution on water consumtion—and it could not be more accurate! Water is the ultimate grown-up drink. It takes maturity to take care of your body, and water is a big part of caring for yourself!
We all know that water is the most essential drink there is, but so many of us struggle to drink enough of it. Why is that?! Here are some fun facts about water that have me very dedicated to upping my water intake.
Wild Water Facts
Our bodies are mostly water and that is just wild. We literally need it to exist and function properly. It is vital to every single cell in our bodies!
Get this: the brain is 73% water! The lungs are 83%… the skin is 64%, muscles are 79% and even your bones are 31% water. This is mind-blowing to me! (Source)
Water also makes so many body processes actually happen. Think kick-starting digestion, regulating body temperature, delivering oxygen, flushing waste, and more.
It is a crucial piece of the brain being able to manufacture hormones and neurotransmitters. Plus, it is a shock absorber for the brain and spinal cord. Like, I knew that water was important but at nearly 30 years old, this is almost all brand new information to me. Water is the grown-up drink for sure!
If you’re not already on board with drinking more water, get this. Water intake decreases addictive urges, including caffeine, alcohol, and certain drugs. Plus, as little as 2% — that’s right two-percent – dehydration can impact your attention, memory, and other cognitive skills. Y’all, we could all be so much smarter, better people with proper water intake! So, let’s do this!
My Why
I stay hydrated to treat myself the way I deserve to be treated. Drinking my water is my way of showing up for myself. Show up for me like I show up for everyone else in my life.
I struggle with adult ADHD and when I’m dehydrated, I feeeeel it. I feel it on a mental level. Seriously, I find myself so foggy-brained and forgetful when I’m not staying on top of my water intake. I did a little digging and I’m not nuts — it’s a real thing! Even just mild dehydration is tied to a lot of subtle effects, including mood changes and muddled thinking. So, if you’re like me and find yourself forgetful or losing things (including your mind!), pick up that water bottle and chug! (Source)
I’m In! Now What…?
In order to succeed in creating a new habit, I need a few things. First, I need someone to keep me accountable – that’s all of you! Second, I need to go all-in and commit to doing it day in and day out, or it never sticks. And finally, I need some skin in the game! This challenge has all of those elements to help make me, and all of you, successful!
Kicking off on August 5 – that’s this coming Monday! – we launch the third #drankmowater challenge. I’ll be hosting 4-week long challenges, a new one starting each Monday via this amazing challenge app, Spar.
It’s super simple. We will be committing to drinking 64 oz. of water per day. Really, it’s not even that much! At the start of each week, each participant pledges $5 to the challenge. Drink your water, do your daily check-ins and at the end of the week, winner(s) split win the pot!
Here’s a little info on Spar if you’re not familiar. Spar holds you accountable by requiring daily check-ins on the app. Do one check-in each day (or get penalized five bucks for each check-in you miss!), and you’ve completed the challenge and could very feasibly take home all or part of the pot! How easy is that!?
Talk about a win-win! Potentially win some cash while also cementing in a healthy habit. And with bite-size challenge periods of only 7 days, we keep it easy, fresh, and fun!
<<CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE CHALLENGE>>
Hack the System
Since this is my third go-around at upping my water intake, I do have a few tips and tricks for completing the challenge successfully and making drinking water a habit that sticks. So here it goes…
Fill it up :
Get a sweet water bottle that is refillable. Not only is this better for you and the earth, but you’ll actually be more likely to drink water if it’s cold (or whatever your preferred water temp is) and on your body at all times! No excuses!!
Here are a few of my faves:
Cupanion. This water bottle is ridiculously amazing. There are several types of bottles to choose from, I personally have the bottle, but there are so many options to choose from and in tons of different colors. The coolest part is their Fill it Forward promise — every cup you fill up (and scan on your app), a cup of water goes to someone in need. Funding clean water projects around the world while hydrating? Heck yes!
Hydroflask is a fave for a reason. Free of chemicals, fun colors to choose from, keeps your drinks cold, and it’s 32 oz.! That means you only have to drink two of these each day to hit your 64 oz.! So, so easy. I bet you’ll drink at least three daily.
Another Hydroflask with all the same awesome features that I just mentioned, only this one comes with a straw instead of an open-mouth. I know some people prefer to have a straw, so do whatever works best for you! I like to switch it up, personally.
How cool is this Hidrate Spark 3 Smart Water Bottle!? It tracks your water intake and glows to remind you to stay hydrated. This world is amazing and wild, folks. A water bottle reminding us to drink! This bad boy is 20 oz. and comes in a ton of fun colors to suit your mood.
This lil number has 1977 5 star reviews. Wild. The Cactaki Water Bottle with Time Marker is 32 oz. and keeps you accountable by showing you how many oz you should have consumed by each hour marker of the day. It’s cute, it’s functional, people are wild about it, and It’s so reasonably priced… Excuse me while I go add to cart…
In my personal quest to be healthier, I am also trying to help keep the world my children will inherit healthier, too. That means saying no to plastic whenever possible and opting for glass. Plus, glass is better for my body than anything that may be lingering in plastic. I love this 32 oz. glass bottle with a fun colored sleeve. And before you worry that glass is easy to break, I swear this is durable.
Prep ahead of time :
I love to fill up my water bottles for the day in the morning, or even the night before. I’ll fill up a few of my faves (see above) and pop them in the fridge. Then when I’m running from one place to another or behind, I have no excuse. Grab the dang thing and jet out the door. Then drink up!
Morning routine:
I find it super helpful to have water next to my bed so the moment I wake up, it’s on. I try to get in at least 8 oz. before my feet even touch the ground. It’s so refreshing, it helps me get my healthy habit started, and it’s great for digestion. Highly recommend.
A variation on this is having warm water with some lemon as the first thing you consume all day – it helps aid digestion and can feel like a fun little self-care moment that takes about zero effort. Plus, our bodies thrive when there’s a little bit of a curveball thrown in. Keeps our minds agile!
In addition, I try to be sure I have 20 oz. of water in me before I have my cup of coffee. It helps in a few ways—it makes sure I’m prioritizing water before getting busy for the day with the kids or whatever else is on my never-ending to-do list, and it honestly just makes me feel good. Plus, I’ve noticed if I dive right into coffee without water, I’m always playing catchup that day. I never seem to really get ahead of the water intake for whatever reason.
Fancy water:
I am the first to admit that I don’t really like water. It’s something I’m trying to change by brute force (heyyyy, #drankmowater challenge!) and also with my mindset. Our minds are powerful, so I’m trying to tell myself that I DO like water and hopefully it will become the truth. But I digress.
A way to make my water more fun is to jazz it up with infused water. It’s super simple, there’s pretty much no wrong way to do it, and it makes me drink a tonnnnn more water. You can truly just drop fruit or herbs into your water pitcher, or you can get an infusion water bottle or pitcher. This is a great pitcher (with insane reviews) that helps me keep my fancy water in the fridge to share (and is awesome when hosting!) or I like this one for taking on the go.
Lemon is a classic, simple choice. Cucumber is delish and makes me feel like I’m at the spa even if I’m running around like a madwoman. Watermelon is so summery and refreshing. Strawberries and mint feel like a mojito… ohhh! I just thought of a new one! Basil and blueberry… adding that to the list. But seriously, toss in basically whatever you’ve got at home and love and you’ll be so happy you did.
Lime & Cucumber 
Strawberry & Blueberry 
#drankmowater
Are You Ready to #drankmowater?
I’m so excited for us to be on this journey together! A few simple steps and you’ll be on your way to #drankmowater and crushing this challenge (and maybe winning a few bucks while you’re at it!):
- Click here to get started on the challenge. This page will help you download the app and make sure you’re joining the right challenge group.
- Invite your friends and family by sharing this blog or the direct challenge page in step 1! Help them create new healthy habits, and have fun taking their money 😉
- Get psyched because the first challenge kicks off on Monday, August 5 with a new challenge starting each week!
- Cheer each other (and me!) on by checking in on social media with the hashtag #drankmowater
BONUS!!! Comment on this post + on my Instagram to be entered to win a Cupanion! If you share this picture on your IG Stories or Profile (your page must be public) you’ll get an additional entry!
I cannot wait for this challenge! I love a competition and one that has the benefits that this one does is my favorite kind. Thanks for keeping me accountable and coming on this #drankmowater journey with me. I can’t wait to hear how we’re all feeling throughout the month – be sure to connect with me on Instagram and leave your comments on this post!
