Fluids...and how to get them in!

I am someone who needs to drink a lot of water. Or, really, anything. As many of you know, I am a diabetic. I also have an eating disorder and that has made getting in the food and fluids that I need difficult. And, recently, I have been nursing a relapse instead of recovery. I am going to begin posting to the threads about food, but I also feel like a discussion about fluids would be helpful - especially when it comes to water and hydrating liquids.

I have been working on the water angle for years and, try as I might, I can never bring myself to take in what I need. The only time I drink without obsessively thinking about the amount of fluid I am getting in is when I am in diabetic ketoacidosis or lactic acidosis. My glucose gets so high that I will drink anything within sight because the thirst is impossible to quench. But, being sick isn't exactly a good way to ensure fluid intake. So, what else can I do?!

One thing that I am working on is having water bottles on hand wherever I go. I don't want to use plastic bottles that need to be thrown away after a single use, but I am very picky about water and the way is tastes. I have municipal city water where I live and it isn't awful, but I am not able to tolerate the taste for more than a sip or two. And, the water fountains/faucets at work are city tap water as well. And, believe me when I tell you that I can smell the chlorine a mile away! Therefore, I have been trying to find water bottles that have a filter. That way, the water is being filtered as I drink. I have a Brita water pitcher in my refrigerator, but that doesn't help me when I am out of the house. I also have a Brita water bottle, but it tends to leak and they are very expensive. Right now, money is an obstacle, but dehydration is a worse fate than an empty wallet, I suppose! I have also used the Bobble brand of water bottle. They, too, are expensive, but their website is cheaper and they offer free shipping with a $20.00 purchase. I love my Bobble bottle and if I had the money, I'd buy a couple more, but it isn't in the cards in this moment. And, my current bottle is small - 12 ounces, I think? I definitely need at least one more, but it will have to wait. The bottles, though, do help me get more fluids in. Just not enough...

So, I guess I'll ask this: How do you all get in the liquids you need? I'm open to suggestions and pointers. I have tried some things, but definitely could use more support and advice surrounding the issue.

I can't drink more than a little tap water either, and I haven't found a filter that improves the taste enough, so I buy water at the store (39 cents a gallon from the Culligan reverse osmosis dispenser, you can get 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-gallon jugs) and fill my reusable bottles. Of course you'd have to fill enough bottles to get you through work, you couldn't just fill it at the tap. When I have to drink tap water, I keep a bottle of Minute Maid lemon juice and put a squirt in to hide the taste. But I figured it out, and that actually costs more than the dispenser water :tongue2:.

I don't normally have trouble drinking enough. But when I'm sick and drinking too much at once makes me nauseated, I try for a half-cup every half hour, because that little amount doesn't hurt my stomach. Now, that might be a bit much for when someone isn't sick (it would add up to a gallon total if you were awake for 16 hours), but maybe a half-cup every hour?

And you can get those little drink flavor powder packs and add a bit to tap water, too. I hate to consume artificial sweeteners and colors, so I usually get the natural ones with sugar, but that might not be great for a diabetic .

Fluids doesn't necessarily have to be water.  Some examples of fluids:

Water

Herbal tea

Fruit or veggie Juice

Milk

Popcicles

Ice cream

Jello

Ice cubes

Soda pop (diet for those who have diabetes) - Should not be the sole source of your fluid intake

Sparkling water

Kool Aid
Crystal Light

Pudding

I love water, but even I get sick of drinking it. So I buy Crystal Light and add a bit of that to my water.

I used to make an "elixir" using water, apple cider vinegar, stevia, and cinnamon. That's how I would drink my water! 

You might get used to drinking water after a while. I hardly ever drank it most of my life but I started a year and a half ago for better health. Now I'm used to it and I really like it. I usually drink it plain but sometimes I add a little lemon or lime juice. When I'm tired of that I like flavored  seltzer water because it's bubbly and doesn't have artificial sweetners OR sugar.

Veggies like cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes and celery really help keep you hydrated too.

Maybe you could buy a few bottles of spring water once and then refill them with your Brita water from home and take them to work.

Yes, as you drink more water you will get used to it. It happened to me when I used to do the keto diet (might do it again soon.)

Also, since people are talking about tap water...

I have prior experience as an analytical technician at a water facility (my specialty is drinking water, actually) so if any of you all have questions let me know and I'll try my best to answer!

Some things that have helped me and my family:

sparkling water (love that stuff!),

a small splash of clear juice in the water or sparkling water adds a little flavor (apple or grape are good),

drinking through a straw really increases the amount you take in and paper straws are being sold again now if you don't like plastic  (also good if you or someone has a fever and need to increase water intake),

We like steel water bottles and they last forever, but some people aren't fond of them, saying there is a taste.

Our daughter keeps track of her water intake on a card on the fridge; she was really surprised at first how little she was drinking!

Having soups for snacks is another healthy way to up your liquids.

We love coconut water and we've all found it's super-easy to knock back a litre of that stuff!

Good luck, I know how difficult it is to deal with this type of thing. 

pinkman said:

Also, since people are talking about tap water...

I have prior experience as an analytical technician at a water facility (my specialty is drinking water, actually) so if any of you all have questions let me know and I'll try my best to answer!

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I understand that tap water is generally safe, that's not my problem. . .it's the taste! Why does tap water always taste so bad? Well, not always--I've been in some places where it was bearable, but most places, ugh.

Yeah, coconut water is great! Expensive, though. I don't like carbonation so I didn't think of sparkling water, but that's a good idea for those who like it. Maybe one of those soda machines would even be a good investment, if that really helped.

Also, keeping it the temp you like best. I don't like cold water--room temp only, so if all I had available was cold water I'm sure I wouldn't drink as much. So if you like it cold, be sure to always have some stashed in the fridge.

Willowy said:

I understand that tap water is generally safe, that's not my problem. . .it's the taste! Why does tap water always taste so bad? Well, not always--I've been in some places where it was bearable, but most places, ugh.

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I was gonna go to bed, but I'm struggling with hives right now so I'm wide awake to answer this question. Also, this question is a common one.

Basically the taste of tap water is determined by three factors:

1. Chlorine levels
2. Micro organic materials
3. Plumbing

A lot of people complain about the taste of chlorine. Chlorine is used to treat water. The amount of chlorine used depends on the season and the source of drinking water. Chlorine also dissipates quicker during summer months. During warmer seasons drinking water is treated with more chlorine to negate the dissipation. For those who dislike the flavor of chlorine, put your tap water in a pitcher overnight before consuming.

But also...

When water is treated, depending on the source the untouched water can contain many micro organisms. Micro organisms multiply at a faster rate during warmer months. Although water facilities do their best to get rid of these organisms, treated water can leave traces of "organism flavors" as I call them. Micro organisms are often the culprit when water tastes moldy.

What happens after water is treated? Well it goes through pipes of course. Eventually, the treated water ends up at your tap. If you find that your water tastes metallic, there might be pipe debris. Do leave your tap on for a while before you decide to drink from it, it may help.

If your tap water tastes like cucumber or petroleum, call your water company immediately!

Phone typing is hard. Phew.

OK, I can guess why you wouldn't want water to taste like petroleum :tongue2:, but what's up with the cucumber taste? LOL

The smell does not bother me much except when I shower.  I hate the smell right in my face.  Only thing that helps me get any straight water in is to have a gallon jug next to the bed.  I mostly have beer with dinner.  Stopped drinking soda so only other drinks I like are those starbucks bottled fraps and the ssips boxed iced tea. 
 

Willowy said:

OK, I can guess why you wouldn't want water to taste like petroleum

, but what's up with the cucumber taste? LOL

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Cryptosporidium and giardia, I believe. It was one of the things written on a huge poster in our lab.