Water, water, everywhere!

I used to be a heavy Diet Coke drinker. I was about 15-20 pounds overweight when I got pregnant with my first child and I am pretty sure that I never drank a healthy intake of water at all during her pregnancy (terrible, I know). I also suffered from high blood pressure and an emergency c-section three weeks early...is it all related? Who knows but it is an interesting concept.

I didn't like water. I would drink pop, juice, anything that wasn't plain 'ole water. And that continued on into my second pregnancy as well. Longer bedrest, raging blood pressure and another emergency c-section.

Then I slowly started developing a healthier lifestyle. I cooked at home, we joined a gym so I could shower (and exercise, too, I guess) and I started drinking lots of water. I dropped 70 pounds after the birth of my second child and maintained a good exercise program.

When I got pregnant with my third, BPA hit the media and I ran out and bought a recopmmended Sigg bottle. They are aluminum, they are reusable, they seemed to be a great alternative to plastic water bottles that leech BPA into your body. So I bought each family member two bottles. Last fall, Sigg admitted that the liners in their bottles had BPA and we could trade them for new ones that didn't contain the dreaded substance. So we walked up to Whole Foods with our backpack 'o bottles and exchanged them. Now, a year later, I have grown weary with a company that allowed themselves to be portrayed in every media opportunity as a BPA-free brand when in fact, they did have BPA.

I am slowly weaning the Sigg bottles out of our house and I replaced mine with this really cool ORANGE glass water bottle made by Lifefactory.

It is a 22 ounce glass water bottle and it is protected by a silicone sleeve.  It is dishwasher-safe and the silicone sleeve doesn't have any plastics in it.  The water bottles range from $17-$21 and I love mine.  :)  The company also makes baby bottles, too, since lots of parents are choosing to stay away from plastics in general.    I was talking with a Whole Foods worker and she said that they had tested them out by dropping them on the floor and that none of them broke because of the sleeve.  If you take the lid off and then drop it, there is a spot that is unprotected by the sleeve...and that could break.  So obviously, when you aren't drinking from it, keep the lid in place.

I haven't seen any smaller versions for kids yet from Lifefactory.  I need to do more research since I hope to weed the Sigg bottles out soon and I am not entirely pleased with going to plastic, even if it is BPA-free.  It's a better choice, but I'm not sure it is the best choice.

I now believe that drinking water solves about every ailment--tummy aches, headaches, sleepiness...dehydration does funny things to your body.  And when I am feeling up a few pounds?  I drink an extra bottle or two of water a day and I can drop those pesky pounds. 

I continue to embrace a healthy lifestyle; cooking a bunch at home, excercising daily, drinking water , taking good vitamins and getting lots of sleep.  If you are missing any of these components, try to squeeze them into your life. 

You will feel extraordinary.