Waaaaaaateeeeeeer.

Water. My weakness, and not in a good way.  Growing up I have never been much of a "drinker".  Only when I felt like I was going to die, did I ever request something to drink.  I would also only use the bathroom like twice a day..maybe.  I always knew water was important, but I never seemed to get enough of it.  It wasn't until..yesterday that I actually tried to drink the GALLON you are supposed to be drinking on prep for a competition.  Let me tell you, I felt like I drank water ALL THE TIME.  If I wasn't talking, I felt like I had a cup or a water bottle to my face.  The sad part is, I only got 3/4 of the way through the gallon!  So, if you are like me and never drink enough water, let me take a second to tell you why it is so important!

"According to H.H. Mitchell, Journal of Biological Chemistry 158, the brain and heart are composed of 73% water, and the lungs are about 83% water. The skin contains 64% water, muscles and kidneys are 79%, and even the bones are watery: 31%."

1. Drinking water helps maintain bodily fluids!
When your body is made up of mostly water, it is no surpri

se that you will need it to survive.  Water helps regulate digestion, absorption, saliva production, secretion, transportation of nutrients, along with other things. 

2. Water helps energize muscles.
The American College of Sports Medicine says that you should drink 17 ounces of water about two hours before you exercise to prevent fatigue.  Cells that do not have enough water shrivel up causing fatigue.

3. Water helps skin look good.
Dehydration causes your skin to look dry and wrinkled, which water can help cure to an extent.

4. Water helps your excretion.
If you drink little water, over long periods of time, you might be prone to kidney stones.  Water transfers toxins and wastes in and out of cells by using the kidneys.  You can tell when you are getting enough water because your pee will be light yellow and free of any odor.  When you pee is dark yellow and has an odor, your body is saving water for it's bodily functions and discreating only toxins.  Water also helps your bowels.  When you are properly hydrated your gastrointestinal track stays moving and helps  prevent constipation.

Along with these, water can help you lose weight by boosting your metabolic rate which helps your body burn fat.  Dehydration slows the fat-burning process.

Need to drink more water?
--Try drinking a glass of water with breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
--Drinking a glass of water before you eat is also a good idea, it makes you think you are more full than you really are, so you aren't tempted to over eat at that buffet you went to for lunch.
--Try bringing a gallon of water around with you and set a goal.  Tell yourself you are going to drink at least a quarter of it by 12:00, another quarter by 3:00, and another quarter by dinner time.  That is plenty of water for the day.










http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/6-reasons-to-drink-water?page=2
http://www.caloriesperhour.com/tutorial_water.php
http://water.usgs.gov/edu/propertyyou.html