Water Before Coffee: A Habit that Works

Triggers, the cues that signal you to begin a new task, are essential when forming new habits. Last year I set a trigger (you might call it an ultimatum), that I was not allowed to drink coffee in the morning until I first drank 1 liter of water.

Photo Credit: laszlo-photo

I now wake up every morning and drink a liter of water while walking my dog, just before I brew my Americano. In this case, as soon as I finish the water, I automatically begin brewing my coffee.

Water Before Coffee

Many people have the same experience after flossing – they just have to brush their teeth immediately. If they didn’t, they would feel incomplete. That’s the beauty of a trigger and the power of a positive habit.

Why Water?

I probably don’t have to tell you that our bodies contain a lot of H2O. The reality is that the more hydrated you are, the healthier you are. People who hydrate and eat foods with a high volume of water (like fruits and vegetables) are thinner, feel better, and constantly have to pee.

Enough said.

How Much Should I Drink?

Lots. 1-2 gallons a day. This doesn’t have to include water only. You can hydrate by eating a tomato, drinking orange juice, or sticking an IV in your arm.

What Kind of Water System Do You Use?

I bought three 5-gallon reusable plastic jugs and a water dispenser. I have used this system at home and work for the last two years and it’s awesome.

I refill the 5-gallon jugs at Whole Foods with de-ionized water, which is pure and tasty. I recommend de-ionized, distilled, and reverse-osmosis for drinking water.

I also recommend you get a 1-liter reusable Nalgene bottle to refill and carry around with you wherever you go. I’m not a fan of one-use plastic bottles (like the one you see in the picture . . . woops). Reusable is key.

Alternatives to Water

1. Fresh Vegetable Juice ::: Do this yourself. Buy the juicer I use, the Hurom Slow Juice, and then get to work with Jay Kordich’s book, The Juiceman’s Power of Juicing.
2. Freshly Squeezed Citrus Juice (Orange, Grapefruit, Tangelo, etc.) ::: Anything from a bottle just doesn’t cut it. Juice it yourself and you can ALWAYS taste the difference.
3. Kombucha ::: Check out how to brew your own sexy chinese tea that will hydrate you, fight cancer, and improve your digestion. Nice!

Top Benefits I Have Experienced from Drinking More Water

1. More Clarity ::: My brain works better on water. It’s like the old commercial that showed your brain on drugs with an egg in a frying pan – only now, picture a newly hatched chick frolicking in a field of sunshine. I know. That’s pretty.
   
2. More Energy ::: Your cells need water to carry the toxins out of them. The more water you drink, the more junk that floats out of your cells and out of your body. The cleaner your cells are the better they function and the better you feel. People who feel good almost always have lots of energy. Moral of the story, hydrate and pee as much as it takes.
3. More Likely to Drink More Water ::: It’s habitual. The more I drink the more I want to drink. Water purifies the body and soul. It’s a good habit to form. I have noticed that the more often I stay hydrated the more likely I am to notice when I’m not. Therefore, I drink as much water as it takes to stay hydrated, which gives me continual clarity and abundant energy. Woo. That’s good stuff.