Do You Know How Much Water You Should Be Drinking?

Taking good care of yourself is the best thing you can do for your baby in the long run. We all know this in our heads, but sometimes we neglect our basic needs to take care of our families.

In my quest to do better by myself, I discovered this short quiz and calculator on about.com that calculates the number of ounces you need each day. You enter in your weight and other factors like whether you are pregnant or breastfeeding and voila you have a number just for you.

Unfortunately, I've never been a big water drinker - 64 oz. was a joke for me. But what isn't a joke is that I need substantially more than 64 oz. based upon my daily activities. No wonder I've been having aches and pains lately. There wasn't enough water to flush out the toxins I try so hard to avoid.

So instead of beating myself up, I grabbed my favorite CamelBak BPA-Free Water Bottle and figured out how many times I need to fill it up each day to meet my goal in ounces. I love this bottle because it has a sipping straw; and I tend to drink more than if I have to turn up a bottle and gulp.

If you haven't already, figure out how much water you need and be good to yourself. Three days in, and I feel like a new person - less thirst, less aches and less pounds! My toddler, who wants to do everything I do, is also drinking more. The rewards are endless!

Note: Beneath the quiz there is a short paragraph about when drinking too much water can be a problem. Be sure and read it and as always consult your physician if you have questions or concerns. Pregnant and nursing women should consult their physician about the amount of water that is appropriate for their bodies.