Hydrate... Hydrate... Hydrate

If you follow my blog you KNOW that I stress the importance of staying hydrated at all times but it is especially important when the temperature starts rising outdoors! 

Whether you're spending time on vacation camping or hiking, doing more outdoor activities like biking and walking or simply working in the yard you MUST ensure that you are properly hydrated! 

Here are some tips on how you can stay hydrated during the warm weather months:

• Eat your water - Chowing down on water-filled foods like watermelon, celery, asparagus, green beans, tomatoes, etc is an easy and refreshing way to stay hydrated.
• Swap soda for sparkling water - If you're still trying to kick the soda habit, (the sooner the better!) sparkling water is a healthy but fizzy alternative.
• Hydrate before exercising - Be sure to drink water before exercising as well as during your exercise routine to maximize your workout.
• Drink water on the plane - If you're travelling this summer, don't go for the alcohol on the plane, always get a water! There will inevitably be time for drinking on vacation if that's what you intend on doing!
• Stay hydrated at work - Even when you are indoors it is equally as important (and usually a little easier) to keep water close by.  Sip on water all day to get in the maximum amount daily!
• Drink water before meals - By drinking water before meals, not only will you stay hydrated but you will be less likely to overeat!
• Always have enough on hand - If you plan on spending the day away from home make sure you take your reusable water bottle with you and keep it filled while you run your errands!
• Spice up your water - Don't like plain water?  Spice it up with some natural or sugar free flavoring.
• If you're thirsty, your dehydrated - You should be drinking water all day, every day. If you wait until you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated!

Remember, water is the second most important thing that our body needs to survive, oxygen being the first.  The body could survive for some time without food, but deprive it of water and it would last only a few days.  Virtually every job that the body performs requires water!  It would seem then, pretty logical that a health benefit of water would be to DRINK IT!!!