Heading Healthy Essentials – Water Bottle

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When you begin your journey, there are a few essential components that will maximize your chances of success.

One of the first things I suggest you get, is a water bottle. Any water bottle will do really, but I suggest getting a new one that you can dedicate to a lifestyle of Heading Healthy. Cheap ones (around $1) are okay, but a modest investment will subconsciously motivate you to follow through on your efforts. You want to be proud of taking the first step towards Heading Healthy!

Keep your water bottle with you at all times! By having it available 24 hours a day, it’ll be the first thing you grab when you need to hydrate or feel a bit of a craving coming on. Within a few days, having your water with you will form into a habit, and the money you save from going to the soda machine will more than payoff the cost of a good water bottle.

Some things to consider when shopping for a water bottle:

Consider the material. “Plastic” has proven to be the most versatile for me, but make sure it’s Bisphenol A (BPA) free. BPA is an industrial chemical used in plastics and have been known to leach into the food or beverage they are holding. Studies have linked BPA to brain and behavior problems, heart problems, hormonal issues and cancer. [1] More to come on this topic.
Make sure it has a large enough opening to make cleaning it easier. A larger opening will also allow you to put lemons, limes, or other fruits in there much easier.
Consider your drinking method. Wide mouth “Nalgene” bottles are a dime-a-dozen and have been proven to work well, but drinking from them can be less than graceful (especially when there’s ice involved). You can get “splash guards,” straw style bottles, or you can get multi-drink bottles that give you the option of guzzling down your drink or sipping from a straw.
Get a spare. It’s nice to have a backup in case your primary water bottle is in the dishwasher or gets “left behind” at the office or forgotten in the car. We cycle through no less than half-a-dozen in our house. This guarantees we always have one ready to take with us.
Accessorize. Customize your bottle so that it fits your style and function. Neoprene insulators can keep your water fresh and cold on hot days, carabiners can make it easy to attach your bottle to a backpack or shoulder bag, and (as I previously mentioned above) splash guards can make all the difference when using a wide-mouth style bottle.

So, here are a few suggestions to get you going, but there are plenty on Amazon. We either use these products personally, or have used similar ones in the past. Feel free to pick whatever brand, color, style you prefer! Remember, this will be one of your tools that will keep you on the path to Heading Healthy.