Fit Fare

Adequate hydration is crucial for everyone, and there isn’t any fare more fit than a clean and crisp glass of water.  “Water flushes toxins out of vital organs, carries nutrients to your cells, and provides a moist environment for ear, nose and throat tissues” says the Mayo Clinic.  That’s a small list of the health benefits of water. 

I think the adage “8 and 8″ (eight ounces of water, eight times per day) is something everyone has been told or has heard, but actually, how much water each person should drink on a daily basis is affected by a number of variables.  For instance, taking in too much water is hazardous, as well.  Dehydration is dangerous, yes, but water intoxication is also a known and dangerous condition.

Still, Weight Loss Surgery post-ops, like me, are instructed to “sip, sip, sip” water all day, every day. It becomes particularly important for us to hydrate because we are not only taking in reduced amounts of food, but the fluid which was in that food, as well.   We are in constant danger of dehydration. 

What are the symptoms of dehydration?

~Mild to excessive thirst
~Fatigue
~Headache
~Dry mouth
~Little or no urination
~Muscle weakness
~Dizziness
~Lightheadedness

Nutritionists tell us to divide our body weight in half and drink that many ounces every day.  Using that calculation, a 150 pound woman would need to drink at least 75 ounces of water each day, or, nearly five 16 oz bottles of water.

To avoid dehydration which comes more easily to me now, and to make the new routine more pleasant and easy to follow, I’ve developed a routine which I borrowed from my travels to health spas and resorts.  I call it “drinking with my eyes” and it becomes both a healthy and beautiful ritual when I practice it. 

After the jump, how to create beautiful spa water.

You’ve heard the term “eyes too big for your stomach”, and everyone can be tempted to over eat from a platter full of appetizers, or a tempting basket of bread on the table, or  portions which are simply too large.   While that’s not a smart way to let your eyes eat for you, there is a smart way.

I drink with my eyes, first.  I make serving water — spa water — a pretty event.

This ritual started many years ago after I visited a day spa.

The dressing table had two pitchers of water — one with just a few orange slices floating in it, and another with a few cucumber slices.  Each had a tray of crystal stemware presented on a white napkin.  It sparkled in the sunlight and was beautiful, and I immediately walked over and poured a tal glass of icy cucumber water.  It tasted as refreshing as it looked.

As my visits to spas on travel assignments increased, I found that every time I saw a display of fresh water with a garnish or infusion of fruits and herbs, I’d reach for it immediately.  I was drinking with my eyes.

That started my long-standing habit of making my daily water consumption a thing to be enjoyed, visually, rather than a chore to be counted or checked off a list. 

I purchased a beautiful glass pitcher, a single beautiful piece of stemware, a small silver tray, and a white napkin. I set up my spa water daily on this tray, using just a few pieces of fruit which last all week, in the freezer or in my desk.

As I see that beautiful pitcher of garnished water throughout the day, I refresh my glass.

Sip, sip, sip.

When making and drinking spa water, only a piece or two of fruit is required — it’s the infusion you are looking for, and not the added carbs from fruit juice.  More heavily fruited drinks, such as Aqua Frescas, are delicious and healthful, but more caloric. 

You are looking for fruit as garnish, so some days I may slice one small key lime into my pitcher — others a lemon. 

A small kumquat is very pretty when sliced thin and floated on your cubes.  A long stem of slightly crushed mint, and even rosemary, is a fresh addition, and looks beautiful when paired with frozen cranberries or grapes, which float on their own as ice cubes.

If you prefer sparkling water instead of still, you can use that — mineral water holds its carbonation for quite a number of hours. 

Coworkers used to tease me when they saw my crystal pitcher and glass and say “Well, lah tee dah”, but you know what?  It wasn’t long before they wanted some of MY beautifully presented water, instead of something from the hallway fountain or kitchen sink, or worse, the soda machine. 

I now walk down corridors and see several offices with a pitcher of water with floating fruit, sitting on a credenza.

When drinking water every day is important to your health — drink with your eyes.

Resources:

How Much Water Should You Drink?
Mayo Clinic

Water Intoxication
Wikipedia

Herbal Spa Water
Sunset Magazine and SpaIndex.com

Citrus Cucumber Aqua Fresca
Indian Springs Spa and SpaIndex.com

Photographs courtesy of Kelly Cline and Spa Index Media