FitSugar

What's Your Favorite Water Bottle Brand of 2011?

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 01:26:42 PST

You've voted for your favorite brand of sneaker and your favorite gym. Now I want to know about your water bottle. Which brand do you prefer to hydrate with? And after you vote, don't forget to check out all of our other best of 2011 coverage!

Why You Should Hydrate Up During Winter Months

Anna Monette Roberts — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:43:45 PST

Colder Winter months can sometimes make you neglect your daily water intake. You might assume you need less water than you do during Summer because you don't feel parched and aren't sweating like you do in warmer weather. Not true! Here are three reasons to keep your water cup filled during Winter.

Hydrate Despite the Chill
You need to drink the same amount of water year round - and maybe even more in the Winter. Even though it feels like you aren't sweating as much as you do during the Summer, your body still loses a lot of water during the Winter from day-to-day activities like breathing, staying warm, and urinating. Read more on calculating your recommended daily water intake here.

Winter activities like skiing, sledding, and even snowball fights can also lead to dehydration. Know the signs of dehydration so you can respond accordingly. If you are experiencing dizziness, headaches, constipation, or dark eye circles, quickly guzzle up some water.

H20 Beauty
Dry, nippy weather can leave skin cracked and flaky, but water does promote skin circulation and can help plump up your skin. While applying a hydrating moisturizer can help make skin smooth and supple, adequate water consumption is key for flake-free skin.

Keep reading for the health reasons to keep water handy in Winter.

Your Bottle Size May Be Helping or Hindering Your Water Consumption

Heather Dale — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 11:18:24 PDT

It doesn't matter if I'm in a power cycling class or walking on a treadmill, the smaller the water bottle, the less water I drink. Similar to tricking your mind to eat less by using smaller plates, I guess the effect is the same with bottle size. Don't be fooled by a small bottle. Here's how to make sure you're drinking enough water while working out.

Drink up before you work out. One to two hours before you hit the gym, you should be drinking 15 to 20 ounces of water (one cup = eight fluid ounces) - roughly an ounce of water for every 10 pounds of body weight. Then 15 minutes before you work out, you should drink between eight and 10 ounces of water . . . I know this seems like a lot, so potty breaks are understandable!
Forget about the size of your bottle. If you love using your small water bottle at the gym, you'll also need to love trips to the water fountain as well. During your workout, you should be drinking another eight ounces every 15 minutes to keep yourself hydrated. Being well hydrated helps to keep you energy levels up, even when lifting weights. If at any point you feel thirsty, you're already dehydrated - so make sure to drink up. And don't forget that water bottles come in all shapes and sizes! Here are some of my snazzy top picks.

Keep reading for another important tip.

Reasons to Drink Water: It's More Than Just Hydration

Leta Shy — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 01:21:27 PDT

Given this Summer heat, it's likely you don't need anyone telling you to drink more water. But here's a quick reminder of all the benefits of H2O.

Proper hydration is always important, but this is especially true before you exercise. Studies have shown that dehydrated people do fewer reps and tire more quickly. Sounds obvious, but the reason why it happens is interesting: dehydration lowers the hormone levels necessary for building muscles. So make sure you drink enough - find out just how much water you should be drinking here.

Another reason why you should keep that water bottle handy: people who drink enough water end up eating fewer calories than those who don't. If you're looking to quench your thirst, opting for water is better than drinking high-calorie (and high fructose corn syrup laden) sodas. Think diet soda is a good water substitute? Think again - studies have found that people who drink diet sodas actually weigh more - and have waistlines that are 70 percent larger - than those who don't. So reach for the water, and drink up!

Don't Drink Bacteria: How to Disinfect Your Reusable Bottle

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 03:06:08 PDT

The beauty of the reusable water bottle is that it's just that - reusable. You can repeatedly head to the water cooler or faucet to fill 'er up, but when your bottle continually stays wet, you know what that means? Yep, bacteria loves a moist, dark environment. Along with your dinner dishes at night, it's good to get in the habit of cleaning your bottle every night, or at least every three days. Here are some ways you can get rid of the germies and grime.

Throw it in the dishwasher: Some bottles are dishwasher-safe, so check the bottom of your bottle or the brand's website to make sure. Kleen Kanteen Classic and Wide Mouth stainless steel bottles are dishwasher safe, as well as some products from Nalgene, although it's recommended to clean SIGG water bottles by hand.

Wash it with warm soapy water: Pour out any leftover liquid, add a few drops of dish-washing soap and some warm water, screw on the top and shake for a minute or so. It's smart to invest in a bottle brush so you can scrub deep inside your bottle, especially if it has a narrow mouth. Thoroughly clean the cap and straw as well and allow to dry overnight.

Use a weak bleach solution: If you're really worried about germs, nothing stands a chance against a little bleach. It's perfectly safe to drink from a bottle that's been cleaned with a weak bleach solution. Just empty the contents of your bottle and fill it with room temperature water. Add one tablespoon of Clorox bleach per gallon of water (other brands may not be safe for food containers), screw on the top, and allow to sit for two minutes. Then drain and allow it to dry out completely. Give it another rinse and you're good to go.

Use water bottle cleansing tablets: Many companies make this type of product, including SIGG ($8 for 20) and Camelbak ($12 for eight), or you can also get away with using effervescent denture cleaning tablets such as Efferdent. Just fill your bottle with water, drop the tablet in, and allow to dissolve and sit for 15 to 30 minutes (depending on the product's directions). Then rinse and enjoy your clean bottle.

Source

Gear to Keep Your Water Cold When Exercising in the Heat

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 04:24:36 PDT

Thermos sponsored a recent study with leading fitness researchers and discovered that cold hydration increases performance when exercising. Sipping down cold water (40° F) has been shown to keep a person's core temperature down, and drinking enough water will help you exercise longer and harder. I'll drink to that! Depending on the length of your workout, whether it's a 30-minute run or a 6-hour hike, here are some items you'll need to keep your water frosty cold in the Summer heat.

5 Handheld Water Bottle Favorites

Leta Shy — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 17:47:34 PDT

Spring is practically here, and that means it won't be long until we trade in our treadmill runs for some outdoor exercise. If you run outside for more than a few miles, handheld running water bottles are a great solution to ensure you stay hydrated. Their molded shape and adjustable straps ensure that you won't have to concentrate on holding on, and their compact size make it a breeze to carry your H2O along on a run. Check out some of our favorite handheld options and let us know what you think of them!

You Know You Need to Drink Water When . . .

Heather Dale — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:30:57 PST

I need to drink more water. It's evident throughout my day that I'm not properly hydrated because I get thirsty a lot - and that's without eating salty foods or taking part in midday exercise classes. Did you know that once you hit the point of being thirsty, you're already dehydrated? Our bodies are 2/3 water, so once you're dehydrated, the amount of water in the body has already dropped below what's needed for normal body function. We offer a nifty calculator to tell you how much water you should be consuming daily, but what are signs that tell you it's time to re-hydrate? Read on to find out!

5 Ways to Be Healthy During Your Commute

Leta Shy — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 03:30:41 PST

Don't walk or bike to work? Then you may think that your time spent on your commute is the least healthy part of your day. And while you may spend hours every day sitting, in your car or on the bus and then at your desk all day, you can still find ways to be active and healthy during your travel time.

Whether your trip to work is a short hop on the light rail or a start-and-stop ride down a congested freeway, you can use the empty time to sneak small healthy acts into your daily routine. Here are five things you can do to be healthy during your commute.

Do your exercises. Yes, you can work out those muscles during your commute without careening off the road or causing fellow passengers to stare. If you're driving, target and tone with steering wheel isometric exercises, ab work, or glute moves. If you're on the subway or bus, get creative with props like the strap hanger, your briefcase, or your bag to (discreetly) work different areas of your body.
Walk the distance. It may be convenient to have a bus stop right outside your apartment or a prime parking spot at work, but if you find that you're not moving as much as you want to, start building time into your commute to walk to the next nearest bus stop or to park further away.

See more of my suggestions after the break.

5 Reasons Your Diet May Be Failing You

Michele Bell — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 04:00:00 PST

Having trouble losing those five pounds you've been swearing off since the start of the new year? While you may be working tirelessly to rid yourself of that last pesky weight, you may be duping your own body into failure without even knowing it. Come check out these five reasons why you may not be meeting your weight loss goal.

Your H20 level: Are you drinking enough water? You may not be getting enough to keep your body burning the calories and fat you've been trying to get rid of. Keeping hydrated will help you to keep your metabolism going and the calories burning.
Don't forget breakfast: While you don't need to load up on flapjacks and sausage, you should eat a healthy breakfast to get your day started. If you get going without any fuel in the tank, your tummy may trick you into snacking on the wrong things or eating an over-sized lunch.
Empty calorie sips: Check the nutritional data on your coffee or sodas to make sure you're not taking down too many empty calories. An easy fix? Switch to plain old water. See point number one!

Ready to see points four and five? Just