The Water Battle

Ever since I first got pregnant with sweetP, I have vowed to drink more water. And then I had my first stone during my first trimester of that pregnancy. And I vowed to drink more water. And did I? No.

It was even harder in those days. I was working at a high school with a block schedule, 90 minutes with students. Then five minutes before the next block started. I was geographically as far from a bathroom as you could get. With the increase in bathroom visits that naturally come with pregnancy, the last thing I wanted to do was try to fit in more trips. The teacher next door agreed to watch my students if I really needed to go, but I didn't want to be asking all the time. I was a new teacher and the principal already didn't like me. The last thing I wanted was to get caught in the halls during class.

So I assumed that when I had sweetP, the danger was over. It was a one time thing. But, everyone knows that nursing moms need to drink plenty of water. Did I? I tried, but fell back into old habits. And when sweetP was 7 months old, I had another stone. It was big, it was highly unpleasant. It took 15 days to pass. I spent sweetP's first Christmas in the ER. There is video of me in the morning, already in pain, opening gifts. I held out as long as I could before going to the ER. At least he was little and doesn't remember.

Did I learn to drink more water? Nope. I tried again. Then when I got pregnant with sweetE, I assumed that I would get a stone. No stone! When I was nursing sweetE, I assumed I would get a stone. No stone! I spent almost two years expecting it. And it didn't happen. So I assumed that I wouldn't get one again. Every now and then I would get a twinge in my back and think, oh no. But it didn't happen. Until last weekend.

So for seven years, I have had every intention of drinking more water. It made my new years resolution list most of those years. But I don't.

And here is what I have figured out. I have documented that I am not that interested in eating here. The same seems to be true for drinking. It is just not something I think about. It will be eleven in the morning and I will suddenly realize that I haven't had anything to eat or drink yet. I rarely feel hungry or thirsty. I just don't think about it.

What I do drink, I sip. I am a slow eater and a slow drinker. Also known as a cheap date. When you eat and drink slowly you consume less. Restaurants make a killing on me because I rarely get refills on bottomless drinks. I often pick up my usual (16 oz., single, nonfat, decaf, vanilla latte) on my way in to work at about 11:45. I am usually still working on it when I leave at about 4:30. Thank goodness for travel mugs. Drinking too fast makes me feel ill.

Then there is the whole intimidation factor. That big, old bottle of water is a lot to look at. It seems like I never make any progress and then I get discouraged. I don't enjoy water in the first place and then to see how much I should be drinking. Ugh.

I have packets of Crystal Light and sugarfree Koolaid. But do they have to add dye? My favorite is tropical punch. Do I want a Koolaid mustache like I am still five years old. Straws are not long enough to reach the bottom and still come out the top.

So here is my new plan. I tried it today with some success. I have a cute little mug that holds six ounces. A doable quantity to drink in one sitting for someone like me. So whenever I thought about it today, I went down, filled it up and drank it on the spot. Instant gratification. Today, I think I have drunk five of them. 30 ounces. More water than I usually manage in a week.

So we'll see what happens. Can I stick with it? Even some of the time? Time will tell.