Let's talk hydration

How many ounces of water does your body need? Do you know the answer to that question???

Until a year ago, I was never much of a water drinker, and rarely drank much of anything other than my coffee in the morning and a can of soda. So I made it a goal to increase my water intake, which has helped me to stay fuller longer and have more energy to get through my day. With proper hydration, your stress levels stay down, and you can exercise harder and longer before "hitting a wall," which I have found to be true!

Here are a few tips to make sure you get your day started off right:

**Drink 8-10 ounces of water first thing after waking up. Then, drink at least half your body weight in ounces, adding more if you sweat heavily or on hot/humid days.

**Not a water drinker? Flavor your water with fresh or frozen fruit, lemon juice, mint, or Stevia for a little extra sweetness (You'll get used it and your body will crave it, I promise!)

**Have a craving? Drink a glass of water and wait 15 minutes. More often than not, the craving was just because you were thirsty, and will go away.

Not only does water keep your body hydrated, but it also works to prevent muscle cramps and lubricate your joints, as well as rev up your metabolism to burn more calories. If you drink your water cold, your body has to work that much harder to heat it up to body temperature, burning more calories in the process.  Who doesn't want that?!