I know….you have read 100 articles and blog posts about drinking lemon water. Well….welcome to number 101.
If you are like me, when you read these articles you realize immediately that lemon water is the answer to all things wellness. You may even pull out a large water bottle, slice up enough lemon for a week and drink one glass. One. And that’s it. The lemons shrivel up waiting to be used and you return to your 3 cups of coffee morning habit in 24 hours.
Well, my friends. I am happy to share that I am now on my 3rd week of 20+ ounces of lemon water daily. Does it really make difference? Hell yes!
I’m not going to bore you with the obligatory lecture about what you already know. That stuff about better digestion, improved immunity, optimal pH balance, plumper skin, a boost in metabolism, improved mood….and the list goes on. (ok…sorry…I did have to sneak it in a little….)
Instead, I am going to tell you that I have found a way to make sure I start each morning with 20oz of lemon water. And I have Cameron Diaz to thank for it.
Cameron Diaz’ book “The Body Book” fell into my lap….sort of. My husband and I were in Arizona a few weeks ago. After moving our middle child into her college apartment, we enjoyed a few days in beautiful Sedona. I finished all the books I had with me so I ran into a local store. Cameron’s book was the first one that caught my eye. It had been on my list and I completely forgot about it. A pleasant surprise and an easy purchase.
I’m not going to review the book in this post other than to say I really enjoyed it. I wasn’t expecting it to be such a nice blend of practical advice and the “science” behind it.
When it comes to staying hydrated, Cameron shared that every night before she goes to sleep, she prepares a large bottle of water and places it on her bathroom counter. First thing in the morning, she begins to drink it just after brushing her teeth. I love how she compares it to a wilted plant being rejuvenated by the rain. As soon as she finishes the bottle, she refills it to enjoy over the course of her morning. She calls this first bottle of water her “wake-up call”. Wake up and drink, drink, drink.
Hold on. Could it really be that simple? Prepare a large water bottle in the evening, place it in the bathroom and drink it while getting ready for the day? I’m willing to give that a try. It seems simple enough. My husband even decided to join the latest attempt to improve my water intake.
We returned home from Arizona excited to start our new morning routine. We went to HomeGoods and purchased the red and black (20 ounce/600mL) tumblers you see above. What a better way to get motivated than to purchase matching drinkware! (hey…this is how 50 year olds get excited about health maintenance)
At the end of the night it was time to prepare for our new morning ritual. We filled each tumbler with fresh lemon water and placed them on a decorative dish at the corner of our bathroom vanity. (let me be honest…although not required, the decorative dish did make this feel more spa like) The next morning, I drank the entire tumbler while getting ready for work. Wow. That was pretty easy. “It’s only Day One”, I said to myself. “Let’s not get too excited.” Day One was followed by Day Two, then Three…..then 10….then 16…you get the point. Truth be told we missed 2 days. And those were the 2 days that we were too tired and lazy to prepare our tumblers the night before. Those are the ONLY 2 days we have missed.
Do I feel any different? Without question I have more energy throughout the day, my digestive system definitely seems to have benefited and I believe the texture of my skin looks better. It looks dewy and hydrated. On more days than not, I refill that tumbler at least 2 times. I can tell you I have never ingested this much water on a regular basis. I am really happy about it.
So, my friends. Try this tonight. If you struggle to drink enough water like I did, prepare your lemon water before you go to bed. Begin your day with hydration and let me know if YOU feel like a wilted plant coming to life tomorrow morning.
Best,
Donna
