I’m glad you are addressing this not only as a runner but also just in general. I suspect most of your readers drink a fair amount of water but in general people do not.

I drink at least 80-100oz daily but usually more. I know when I’m dehydrated when I start feeling sluggish & headachy. I also use my Tanita in the afternoons to check hydration levels. If it’s not over 50% then I’ve not had enough to drink.

And the best test is just as mentioned already…the color test 😉

Like most everyone else, I carry a big water bottle with me during the day and try to fill it up at least twice. I definitely get lethargic and cranky when I’m dehydrated, but my biggest indicator is probably my skin! I can really tell in the morning if I didn’t drink enough the day before, I look pale and tired.

I work at a desk (blah!) so everytime the phone rings (which is often) I take a drink of water. It helps a lot!

i was able to drink about 64 oz of water a day for a good period of 3 months, on and off for years. it doesnt last all year round though. sometime i’d leave a bottle of water in most of my purses (i changed my purses sometimes) so this way i’d drink it! i’d drink water when my lips/mouth are dried! i’m not great at keeping myself hydrated. maybe i could write an OB note and post it on the mirror to remind me! and incl. “you are beautiful!”

I don’t have trouble drinking enough water to stay un-dehydrated as I LOVE water, but I sometimes can’t get it to “stick.” It’s also important to consume enough salt or electrolytes or whatever so that the water doesn’t just go through you. I think I have a higher sodium threshold than other people or something and sometimes when I get headaches I have to eat a little bit of salt while drinking water to get them to go away.

I don’t measure ounces or any of that numbers jazz. I just use the pee test. If I don’t have to visit the ladies’ room at least twice by lunch time, I need to focus my attention on water. Color is critical too for ensuring good hydration. So I keep a very tall mug on my desk and drink throughout my day. When I get home, we mostly drink water and occasionally my husband will remind me to drink more water. On weekends, we take at least three tall bottles of water with us before leaving the house.

I get dizzy and light headed if I don’t drink enough water. And I’m hungrier.

I drink a TON of water in different forms (plain, with lemon, Sparkling …) during the week (at least 8 glasses a day) but on the weekend, I’m out and about more and find I drink a little less. I’ve been trying to chug water in the morning too, Caitlin!

A much better more accurate way to do this, and what collegiate runners do sometimes, is to weigh yourself before the run AND after the same run. If the number is significantly down, you need to hydrate!

Since I was a kid, I have always loved drinking water. I normally don’t have a problem staying hydrated and always keep a bottle with me so it is within arms reach–especially when working outside.

I also just use the pee test. But I drink so much water that I’m never at risk for dehydration, apart from long run days. Sometimes I worry I drink TOO much water lol. Well over 100 ounces.

My metal water bottle is my constant companion. However, if a headache starts to creep into place, I know I’m running low on water and make myself drink more. Also, my tounge gets itchy before the headache appears, so the more signs you recognize, the more chances you have of being on top of proper hydration! Great blog by the way! I found it only a couple days ago, and I’m hooked!

i keep huge batches of iced green tea in the fridge!

I tend to drink tons of water anyway, so don’t often get dehydrated. However, I find that if I start to get a headache then there is no recovery! No amount of water can save me once a headache sets in.

I’m constantly drinking water because I find that I’m prone to feeling lethargic if I don’t. I may run to the restroom more often than not but hey, even that’s some exercise for the day!

i have a giant 64oz mug(?) at my desk. i always make it a point to drink it before noon. then refill it and drink it again by the time i leave work at 4. yesterday i was extra thirsty and drank almost 3!
drinking ice cold water with a straw is what really helps me drink a lot, it tastes so much better, plus a straw is fun 🙂

I make sure I do at least 8 a day, and if by the end of the day I haven’t hit that mark I drink up to get there. I try to remember to do the assessment right after dinner though, otherwise if I drink too late my sleep is interrupted by having to go to the bathroom all night!

Halfway through this post I chugged 3 cups of water haha!

Water definitly helps me stay alert and helps me to think clearly.

I can tell by looking at my hands. If I can see my veins at all, I know I’m in need of some serious water. I also get dehydrated very easily, so I constantly have to watch myself.

Like a lot of people, I carry a water bottle pretty much everywhere. When I’m at work, I’ve got a couple different methods. If I’m really slacking, I schedule a reminder on my calendar to pop up every hour. Otherwise, I make an effort to take a drink every time I get up from my desk (which most days, is quite often)!

I never stop drinking water. I carry a cup around with my everywhere. I bring one in my car before I go anywhere, I carry one around the house, I bring one to work. It’s not just a tiny dinky cup either I carry a BIG plastic cup around with water!

I can feel when I’m getting dehydrated and I hate the feeling. I get really irritated and my stomach starts to hurt.

Ugh, I get so sluggish when I’m dehydrated. You just don’t feel RIGHT.

Huge fan of raw oats right here! I love pouring green monsters over em and mixing it all up. Although it feels like more of a summery thing for me – I think I’ll be switching to all hot soon.

ha, I just look at my pee! 😀 I also know if I’m dehydrated when I don’t have to run to the bathroom often throughout the day. Also, I’m really picky about waterbottles, so I don’t usually like drinking water unless it’s from a really big cup or my camelbak bottle that has this little straw thing that I bite to suck up the water. It’s definitely not the average water bottle, and it was kind of expensive, but hey, I love my agua 😉

I’m not a big fan of water (it’s just boring to me) so I always drink a full water bottle before or during my workout, and chug a 64 oz Nalgene after. I figure that + all the herbal tea I drink has to be enough…and I never feel thirsty, so I guess that’s a good sign!

I’ll often put 8 jelly beans or yoghurt raisins or something small into a dish on the kitchen counter, then I just eat one every time I have a glass of water. Visual reminder. 🙂 And you get a reward for chugging your water, hee.

I drink A LOT of water throughout the work day too. I work in an office and try to refill my water bottle three times a day. This results in many trips to the bathroom throughout the day though, which means I have to pass my work’s business office and circulation desk, like, 5-6 times per day on the way to the bathroom. I used to be embarrassed about that, but now I don’t care. I’m healthy — if they think I have a bladder infection, so what!

I also love that quote at the top of your post re: scales. I’ve posted it at the scale on my gym.

🙂

Thank you for dinner. After I read your yesterday post this morning enchiladas popped into my head. I did add things that you wouldn’t eat (chicken, cheese), but they were delislh, and the kids LIKED them!!!1

I’m terrible at remembering to stay hydrated! I think my thirst signals are out of whack because I don’t really get thirsty that often, so I always forget to drink! 😛