One of my customers recently opened up to me about their struggle with hunger. They described themselves as a voracious eater and felt like they weren’t getting enough food in their meal prep boxes each week from us. At first, I was surprised—most of my other customers actually say they have more than enough to eat. So, naturally, I got curious.

I reached out to this customer because I genuinely wanted to understand what was going on. I told them, “I’m concerned to hear that you’re not feeling satisfied with your meals.” Then, I asked a simple question:

“Are you drinking enough water?”

There was a long sigh on the other end of the line. Then they admitted, “You know what? You’re probably right… I run all over the city, but I don’t hydrate after a long run. Actually, I don’t drink enough water at all.”

Problem solved!

So many of us think we’re hungry when, in reality, our bodies are just begging for hydration. We’re mistaking hunger for thirst and reaching for food instead of a glass of water. If you’ve been feeling extra hungry lately, pause for a moment and ask yourself—Have I had enough water today? You might be surprised at the answer.

If we look at the recommendations from the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine for daily hydration, they suggest the following:

• Men: About 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids per day
• Women: About 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids per day

But guess what? These recommendations aren’t entirely accurate!

In reality, the amount of water each person needs varies—not by sex, but by weight. The best guideline for proper hydration is to drink half of your body weight in ounces of water each day.

For example, if you weigh 180 pounds, you should be drinking 90 ounces of water daily.

And that’s just the baseline! If you’re active, pregnant, or breastfeeding, you should add an extra 20 to 30 ounces to your daily intake since your body is losing more water that needs to be replenished.

One of the reasons we need so much water is due to the toxic load our bodies endure daily based on the environments we live in. Many of us don’t get enough fresh air, work in closed spaces, eat processed foods, and are exposed to chemicals—all of which our kidneys have to process. One of the most effective ways our kidneys flush out these toxins is by drinking water. Proper hydration helps filter the kidneys and keeps them strong and healthy.

No need to feel overwhelmed—there’s a simple strategy to ensure you get enough water every day.

Quick Tip for Proper Daily Hydration

Remember the 90 ounces of daily recommended water we talked about earlier? Here’s an easy way to reach that goal:

1. Take your total water goal (90 ounces) and divide it by three—you get about 30 ounces per portion.
2. Fill up three containers with 30 ounces of water each and have them ready for the day.
3. Morning: Keep the first 30-ounce vessel by your bedside and drink all of it upon waking.
4. Afternoon: Sip the next 30 ounces, ensuring you finish by mid-afternoon.
5. Evening: Drink the final 30 ounces, aiming to finish 2–3 hours before bedtime to avoid sleep disruptions.

And here’s a BONUS Tip: If you feel hungry, pause for a moment. Your body might actually be telling you that you're thirsty instead! Try drinking water first before reaching for food.

Address Your Thirst First!

When you stay properly hydrated every day, you’ll actually feel less of a desire to eat solid food because water keeps you feeling full. Plus, it can help with weight loss! Trust me, I’ve been focusing on my hydration, and when I start my day with water, I notice I eat less throughout the day.

I’m thinking of doing a Hydration Challenge to help support many of you with proper water intake. Let me know if you’d be interested in joining by ​CLICKING HERE AND FILLING OUT THE FORM​.

I’d love to hear your thoughts—are you getting enough water in daily? If not, what’s getting in the way? Hit reply and let me know!

WORK WITH US!

Changing your diet and getting on track can be tough. If you are looking to eat and be healthier but not sure where to start, consider scheduling a BE WELL DISCOVERY CALL to get clarity on your next steps. We are looking forward to supporting you.

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Much Love, 

Chef Beee