Lesson Learned

Well I learned a lesson the hard way today.  Spent some time in the hospital this afternoon after blacking out and nearly fainting due to dehydration.  I was dizzy, unable to see (scariest part!), it became hard to hear, and I got all cold and pale. I’m absolutely fine now, but it certainly was not a fun experience.  I’m going to make it a point to remember to drink more water. It’s been a goal ever since I learned about the consequences of not drinking enough, but it’s been easier said than done. I guess sometimes it takes little events like this to get us to realize the consequences are real.  I’m thinking maybe I’ll try keeping a liter sized bottle where I tend to be the most,  like my desk, and sip it through the day.  I’m hoping if I see it in front of me and within easy reach, I’ll be more likely to drink it, and that maybe drinking 2 liters of water will be easier to remember than 8 glasses of water.

Are you good about staying hydrated? Any tips you want to share?

image credit: Virginia Galvez tiavir flickr discovered via dress design decor
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  • http://livecreateinspire.blogspot.com Urska @ Live.Create.Inspire

    Glad to hear you’re felling better now <3 hmmm… never had problems with water… I drink like a minimum of 3-4L of water a day… but I do know many people who have "problems" with it..

    This might help you – try to carry a 0.5L water bottle instead of the whole liter sized one – it's less painful to see, more pratical to carry and you can still re-fill the half liter when you drink all. The other think that may help you is to drink tea without sugar. When I'm tired of water, I'm often making myself a big cup of green tea, add lots of ice and then simply pour it in a tall, stylish glass – it's perfectly cold for summer, looking super good & tastes as heaven :) try it! Xoxo

    - Urska @
    Live.Create.Inspire

    • http://ariannabelle.com/blog Arianna Belle

      Wow 3-4L? That’s awesome! That’s something I want to work towards. I like your idea of a 0.5L definitely more practical for when I’m out and about!

      • Terri Borden

        please do not use bottled water. if you have a problem with the taste of your tap water get a filter. it would probably surprise you how many bottled waters are just taken from the tap of certain cities around the u.s. if you are buying forein water the carbon footprint is enormous. get a good stanless steel thermous to cary around with you. at home buy a pretty glass glass that feels good in your hand and always remember a coaster. keep your freezer full of ice trays you have filled with your filtered water and your set to go. please lets stop using our precios fossil fuels to make PLASTIC for anything!

        • http://ariannabelle.com/blog Arianna Belle

          I agree with you. The enormously large number of plastic bottles that are produced and discarded are definitely cause for environmental concern. I very rarely buy water packaged in plastic bottles. A filter and reusable stainless steel or glass bottles are definitely the way to go!

          • http://livecreateinspire.blogspot.com Urska @ Live.Create.Inspire

            I’m not buying bottled water at all ;) I’m just re-using my old one and fill it with fresh water from home ;) much more Eco and cheap. A beautiful glass one would definitely do the same work, plus looks much better than plastic. <3 there are plenty online, just need to find my favorite.

            - Urska @ Live.Create.Inspire

  • Bryn

    Oh no that is horrible!! I highly recommend this: http://www.amazon.com/Camelbak-Better-0-75L-Bottle-Blue/dp/B002YWKYEO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1313669695&sr=8-1

    The water bottle has a valve that you have to bite.. it’s genius. It triggers something in you that makes you want to keep doing it haha. I drank two entire bottles in a matter of 2 hours when I tried it out.

    • http://ariannabelle.com/blog Arianna Belle

      Hadn’t heard of that before -very cool! I love that it comes in large sizes and it’s BPA-free. I think I might just have to get one. Thanks for the recommendation Bryn!

  • cate emond

    So sorry to hear that!! I know I have to force myself to drink water because I’m not a huge fan. Also keeping water based fruits and veggies (like cucumber and watermelon) on hand will help! :) I also like to add limes to my water for a bit of flavour.

    • http://ariannabelle.com/blog Arianna Belle

      That’s something I hadn’t thought about. I love cucumbers -great snack! I’m going to make an effort to eat them more often :) Thanks Cate!

  • http://www.katie-belle.blogspot.com Katie*Belle

    Oh, how scary! I hope you’re feeling better now. I like to add a few slices of lemon and cucumber to my water and sometimes I opt for fizzy water to switch things up.

    • http://ariannabelle.com/blog Arianna Belle

      Love the idea of putting cucumber and lemon in the water. Sounds yummy and added bonus that it looks pretty :-) Thinking of keeping something like this in my fridge: http://pinterest.com/pin/122054586/

  • Ginny

    I carry around the insulated cups from Starbucks and fill it with water as I’m out and about..

  • http://www.thepantrydrawer.com Christine @ The Pantry Drawer

    I used to be really REALLY bad about drinking water. As in, go weeks without drinking any. But I started to get pains and the like so I started drinking the recommended amount and all my pains went away! I started carrying around a refillable water bottle (buying water bottles can get costly) and just told myself to drink a sip every so often.. I guess it was more will power than any trick.

  • Moms little running buddy

    I love those individual crystal light packs. You drink your water but get a little flavoring too. That helps me stay motivated to keep drinking.

    Glad you’re feeling better.

  • http://www.inspiredeventsbynycia.blogspot.com Nycia Emerson

    OH NO! I’m glad you are okay! I always try to carry around a one of those sports bottles filled with water. Especially on these 103 temp days in TEXAS! I recently started to garnish my water with lemons or oranges for a much more refreshing taste,, Xoxo

  • kc

    This may sound like it makes no sense but eat breakfast. My sports med teacher was a first responder for any time of medical emergency at school and he said that if the person fainted, 90% of the time, the student hadn’t eaten breakfast. Another one time, I didn’t eat a good breakfast before going out in the heat (I think it was like, 3 oatmeal pies or something) and I ended up getting some form of heat exhaustion. It wasn’t as bad as yours but it was still pretty bad.

  • Leesa Gentry

    I had weight loss surgery two years ago and found out the hard way how important water is. My solution to the problem is finding something that tasted better than water and I found the crystal light individual packs count as water. I have to drink 64 fluid ounces a day to be healthy and found that Sam’s water bottles are 20 ounces and mixed with crystal light aren’t as strong as mixed with 16 ounce bottles. I have to drink three 20 ounce bottles a day not counting meals. May favorite are the citrus drinks. Give them a try beside a 20 ounce bottle is going to be less challenging than staring at a liter bottle all day.

  • http://marcusdesigninc.blogspot.com Nancy@marcusdesign

    I am so sorry that you had to go through such a terrible episode like this Arianna!! I’m so glad that you are ok. I don’t think I even realized that those things could happen from dehydration. I don’t really have any tips as I am much like you, I struggle to have enough water everyday as well!!! This is a good reminder to us all!
    Nancy xo

  • designstiles

    Oh my goodness, Arianna, I had no idea. Glad to hear you’re better. That’s definitely scary. I know I don’t drink as much water as I should either. Evan’s really great at it. I think he drinks enough for the both of us. Always has water by his side of the bed at night. Keeping it by your desk is a good idea. I should do that too.

  • Honeywerehome

    Scary! Thank God you’re okay!! I do fill up my insulated cup when I first get to work each day and drink throughout the day. It’s hard to remember to slow down and take care of ourselves sometimes! :) p.s. I love the look of your new site!

  • laura cattano

    so scary!! glad you’re alright :O)

  • Little0619

    I feel your pain! I’ve passes out multiple times over the past few years from being dehydrated. By being out in the summer heat, not eating enough, standing for long periods, and even rushes of adrenaline combined with dehydration is a recipe foe me to pass out. So under those conditions it is especially important to be aware of your water intake. Like others have suggested, drinking crystal light makes drinking water a lot easier. I usually make a 2 liter pitcher at least every day and drink that when I’m not eating a meal. Also, be aware of foods that can dehydrate you, such as salty and sugary foods and anything that gives you diarrhea. Sugary drinks can also dehydrate you. Hope this helps!