Upping My Water Game

Congratulations, you have officially met the world’s worst water drinker. It’s true. I have gone for hours, even days, without a single sip of water, only sustaining myself on coffee, soda, or juice. Gross, I know.

Friends and family would frequently go on about the benefits of staying hydrated: better skin, weight loss, promotion of cardiovascular health, and the list goes on. I just was never motivated to drink water. It was never exciting enough, and I would always pass it over for a nice cold Diet Coke or iced tea.

This spring, I promised myself I would take the plunge (see what I did there?) and up my water game. This isn’t going to last long, I thought to myself while painfully forcing another sip of water down. I started researching ways to make my water more exciting. Believe it or not, these products actually made me start enjoying the water! Let’s say I’ve been in hydration heaven ever since. 

If you live under a rock and still haven’t heard of Swell bottles, I’m here to help introduce you to one of the best water bottles I’ve ever owned. I remember when my friend waltzed into work with her first Swell bottle. “I’m obsessed,” she declared as she placed the bottle in front of me. Between the cool designs, shape, and ability to keep drinks cold for 24 hours, I was intrigued.

I felt myself craving more water because it stayed nice and cold all day long. Soon, I found myself reaching the bottom of the bottle and going in for refills (what was happening?). While I mostly use my Swell for water, I also bought the tumblers, which have larger mouths and are perfect for keeping your coffee hot for hours!

Then I started checking out new fruit-infused water options. I chose the “Infusion Prol” There are so many things I love about this bottle, including the “cage” that holds the fruit, so you never have to worry about peels or seeds getting into your water, the insulated sleeve that doesn’t leave sweat marks on my desk or hands, and the ability to lock the top, so I (or my kids) don’t spill it all over.

Some of my favorite concoctions have been strawberry kiwi, blueberry peach, watermelon lime, and lemon mint. My family started to ask for sips of my new and improved water. Growing tired of everyone taking my water, I bought a fruit infuser pitcher, so now even my family has upped their water intake with new and fun flavors my kids love coming up with!

Now I was really feeling hydrated and craving more water as the day went on! Forget about the frequent trips to the bathroom. I felt lighter, my skin was looking better, and I was actually losing a lot of bloat. Could there be one more thing that piqued my interest in water?

I’ve used water enhancers in the past but always got headaches from all the artificial sweeteners or thought the taste was too sweet. I was pleasantly surprised to see all the new, all-natural options now out! While I loved my fresh fruit infusions, I would sometimes forget to make them the night before work. Waking up with barely enough time to get myself dressed, let alone cut up fruit for my water, I had to come up with a plan B.

Here’s when I stumbled upon Stur, the all-natural liquid water enhancer. The flavors are delicious, and some of my favorites include Strawberry Watermelon and Freshly Fruit Punch. This is precisely what I needed to boost my water intake, and one squirt is all that’s required to make my water delicious and flavorful.

Now that I’m drinking almost 4-5 cups of water a day, I’m feeling happily hydrated. I’m happy to say that I’m down 13 pounds (okay, this may be due to the Bikram Yoga studio I joined, but I still like to think the extra water has helped boost the weight loss!). Most importantly, I’m feeling better, I’m less tired, and I don’t even remember how I went so many days, only sustaining on coffee or sugary drinks.

Any water tricks I missed or products I can’t live without? Share them with me!