5 Ways to Teach/Trick Yourself Into Drinking More Water

(Disclaimer: The following post contains affiliate links. I have received the ….. water bottle for free in return for an honest review. See Disclosure page for details)

I used to hate drinking water. I’d rather drink anything but, ranging from soda’s to coffee, to my beloved tea, just to avoid
drinking the cold stuff pure. While some of those count toward your daily needed water intake, pure water is still the best
for staying hydrated, so I decided to learn some tips and tricks on how to get more of that stuff I avoided into my system.

Here are 5 tips and tricks to help you drink more water on a consistent basis:
1. Post it notes
I am a believer in creating notes for myself – even if that sometimes means, I am getting weird looks by my family members, and those who have not been properly warned, but they are effective.
You can write simply “drink more water” on your favorite sticky notes, and tape it to your computer screen, your fridge, and your bathroom mirror – any of the place you might frequent, and glance at throughout the day.

2. Get a fancy, sporty or funny water bottle.
Having the water with you at all times minimizes your potential excuses, and making the water bottle something special makes it also a trendy accessory. From a stylish silver thermos water bottle, to the individually designed bottles from Zazzle, you can find something that fits your style and your needs.

3. Write down your water intake
may it be by using  apps such as Hydro Coach, or via an old-fashion journal, keeping track of how much water you take in is a combination of a reminder, as well as your own accountability partner. It also makes it easier for your to see when you have a harder time to keep up with your needed intake, and make adjustments to your routine, or add something to make keep drinking that good stuff easier.

Mason Jars With Straw Lid available on Amazon now!

4. Get yourself a straw
believe it or not, when you are drinking through a straw, you drink automatically more. You do not have to invest in these fancy glass ones , but if you use mason jars to increase your water intake, you can add these straw lids to them. I think they are cool!

5. Begin and end your day with water
Make drinking water the first thing you do in the morning and the last thing you drink at night. Centering your water intake around your already established routines makes it easier for you to remember – and create the habit of drinking water. Your body will thank you!

Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle from Steady Doggie Sports available on Amazon now!

 

Check out my favorite new 20 oz stainless steel water bottle from Steady Doggie Sports and Outdoors. Keeping my water cool and fresh for hours, while being handy and light enough to keep close. It is easy to clean (if you are disregarding the lid that includes the inbuilt straw) , versatile (first of al,l it has two lids, one with a built in straw, the other a standard screw cap, and second,  it will also keep my tea hot! ), and it is affordable. With the heat of the Las Vegas summer soon to be upon is, this water bottle  has become my new best friend. Holds 20 oz. I would not recommend it, if you are using it for smoothies, or any drinks that include pulp. As I mentioned, it has the second straw and spout lid, which would be almost impossible to keep clean, if used for a sugary, or thick drink, like juice or smoothies. I prefer to use it only for water, and for unsweetened hot tea. For everything else there are other, more practical bottles out there. On the plus side, there is no metallic aftertaste, like with many other stainless steel water bottles, and the lights are tight – I have had no problems with my water leaking while taking it with me for a walk with the dogs or to the gym.

 

This post is a part of the following blog hops:

What Are You Doing In March – Blog Hop

Frugal Friday Home Link Up

Share With Me Blog Hop

Inspire Me Wednesday

No Rules Weekend Party Blog Hop

 

Tea Detox – Tips, Tricks And Tea Recipes

I am currently partaking in a short tea detox – not a total fast, but a week-long partial detox that includes only water, teas,
and restricted raw vegan meals. For someone who drinks an excess of 4 cups of coffee a day, I make it a point to do this at least twice a year, just to give my kidneys and entire system a break.

There are a few things to consider when thinking about partaking a tea-cleanse:

14 Day Teatox available on Amazon

1. some teas, especially herbal tea, s can have an adverse effect on any medication you are taking, including the pill. If you are taking any medication, always check with your holistic health care practitioner before going through with a detox, or which herbs you should stay away from.
2. Allergies – keep in mind that this is not the time to try out any new herbal or fad teas you have never tried before. As a person with multiple allergies, I highly advise against doing a tea-cleanse with ingredients you do not know how you will react to.
3. Kids should not do a tea cleanse. Don’t make this a mother-daughter experience, or place your entire family on your quest. This is a detox for you, your body has a different level of need, and tolerance than a child.
4. Stay away from artificial sweeteners – if you must sweeten your teas (and some fruit teas are pretty sour without some help) use honey, agave or another natural sweetener.
5. Stay away from teas with caffeine. Even if you have withdrawal headaches, you should really try to stay away from green and black teas as your withdrawal symptoms indicate a physical addiction. If you feel these symptoms, I highly recommend that you should stay away from caffeine for a longer period of time, than just the time of your cleanse, and later on to not drink more than 1 caffeinated beverage per day. The only exception to the rule is if you have chronic low blood pressure, then drinking a stimulating green or black tea can be fine.
Here are some of my favorite tea mixes to make at home for detox:

Tea mix# 1

3 tablespoons of rosehip
3 tablespoons of raspberry leaves
3 tablespoons of dried corn silk
add to 1 liter of boiling water – allow to steep for 5 minutes – strain, and drink warm

Circulon 2 Quart Teakettle – my favorite teakettle now available on Amazon

Tea mix # 2

3 tablespoon of dried dandelion leaves
3 tablespoons of dried peppermint
3 tablespoon of dried nettle

add to 1 liter of boiling water – allow to steep for 5 minutes – strain and drink warm

Tea mix # 3

3 tablespoons of dried lemon balm
3 tablespoons of rooibos
3 tablespoons of linden leaves

add to 1 liter of boiling water and allow to steep for 5 minutes – strain and drink warm

 

If you want to read more about tea-detox check out the following books:

7 Day Flat Belly Tea Cleanse available on Amazon

Tea Cleanse available on Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disclaimer: Always check with your holistic health care professional before undertaking any fasts or diets. The above article contains affiliate links, see Disclosure page for details

 

This blog post is a part of the following blog hops and link ups:

Manic Monday

Balanced And Healthy Living 

Inspire Me Wednesday

Let’s Talk Mommy

 

 

Reading And Taking Action

Many of us have a to-read list for the months ahead. But you merely read or do you implement?

To me, reading lists and book implementation lists are two different things. A reading list is a book list of stories I read to entertain me. They do not necessarily have to be fiction to do so but are more likely to be. Those are the books that I approach with a different mindset than those on my implementation list.

Now, what is an implementation list, and what are these books?

Those books are volumes that I read with the intent not only to learn from them but with the direct intent to take at least one of the points presented and to actively try them out. I seek out these books because I want to learn something, but learning is not enough, it is doing that creates the results. And because I am living in a growth mindset (more on that another time), I am approaching these books with the up-most intend to take an active part from the lessons held within.

For a long time, I was like many people I know – I read, a lot (okay more than the average person), but I never truly followed through on the lessons presented before me. It was easy to say how interesting a particular chapter was but was it enough to change what I was doing, or add a new active perspective into my life? Not really. The truth is, that I meant to take these action, but never followed through.

“Always strive to be better than you were yesterday.” – Tom Bilyeu

But I made a promise to myself that this is no longer an option. If I read a book that has repeatable actions within them, and that I chose to learn something from – may it be because I read a review, found them on a list of a person whom I admire (like this list by Quest Founder Tom Bilyeu), or because its premise leads me to believe that there was value within the covers, I will take at least one of those actions and practice them. Now, I am not expecting to do that if I find myself in the middle of the book and it does not resonate with me at all, of course, but I will do this more often than not, and because I am already picky about what I add on my reading list, which is ever growing, that should not be a problem. Which brings me to my questions for you:

Which book have you read in the last year, and actually implemented something from it – may it be in your personal life, or in your business adventures? What made you take these actions, and why did you pick up this book in the first place?

As we are approaching the middle of January, I am in the middle of implementing some of the goals I have set for the year. I have been lucky to have been encouraged to create some more motivational designs over the last few weeks, and I am especially happy about my notebook collection that ranges from themes of courage to sharing your thoughts with those you love. So check out my truly unique custom notebook collection here. Absolutely, a reason to be grateful. 

It is my pleasure to serve you, so if you have any suggestions about notebooks and journals you want to see in the future, please let me know. I also accept custom orders – and can combine my art with specific messages for you. Simply drop me a line at claudiablanton@live.com or leave me a comment below.

Do It. Motivational Notebooks

I will not be stopped – Notebook

Mom, I want to thank you… Notebook

Meditation Journal

Soulmates – Romantic Notebook

 

 

Have a wonderful week!

Claudia

 

This post is a part of the following blog hops

Thankful Thursday at Pepis Smart Dog

Thankful Thursday Link Up 

No Rules Blog Party 

Reasons To Be Cheerful

Be Inspired

Best of Zazzle: Fitness

Need some extra motivation to stick with your Fitness resolution for 2016? Then you should really stop by Zazzle and check out what I found, that will make this year, your fittest year!

Nothing Tastes As Good As Fit Feels

Fight Like A Girl

Practice Like A Champion

PUSH Fitness Bag

Have a wonderful week!

Claudia

Celebrating The Week With Gratitude – A Celebrate The Small Things Blog Post

“Gratitude” by Allroads
http://goo.gl/xVlNy9

I hope you all had a wonderful week. If you did, why not participate in the “Celebrate The Small Things” Blog Hop and share with us what you are grateful for?

What am I grateful for this week:

I am grateful that I am back on track with my daily exercise. I try to walk a minimum of 12000 steps a day, but when we were all sick that was not possible. Now, thanks to my favorite motivational tool ( the Fitbit Charge) and the fact that we are all well, I am back to my regular routine. At least when it comes to exercise.

I am also grateful that my son has decided to become a vegetarian. That is totally his choice – my daughter switched to a vegetarian diet when she was 12 as well, and now is a vegan – but it makes it so much easier to cook every day, because now instead of cooking for one meat-eater, one vegetarian (me) and one vegan – the only meat I have to cook is for the dogs, unless my husband is home, who is staying on the standard American diet – well, at least for now, there is hope there too.

I am grateful that there is more leakage of the Suicide Squad movie – well, the shooting of the movie to be exact. I can not wait to see Jared Leto play the Joker. As both a Leto and a comics fan (both Marvel and DC), I am so happy for any snippet of info I can get my hands on.

What are you grateful for this week? Is there something you are really looking forward to, or something you experienced that still leaves you in a state of glee each time you think about it? Please share, we all love great news – oh, and do not forget to stop by all of the other wonderful bloggers who are participating in this blog hop.

Blessings

Claudia

P.S The above gratitude poster was designed by Allroads and is available here. Please support independent artists!