Today we're going to talk about eating disorders, fluid restriction, chronic dehydration, and diet culture.

Buckle up.

There's a common misconception that in people who have eating disorders, they're dehydrated because they aren't getting the fluids that would come from eating a nourishing amount of food, or they're purging without replacing that water.

This! Isn't! Always! True!

If someone with an eating disorder is dehydrated, they may actually be engaging in fluid restriction, meaning they're limiting their water intake, knowingly or unknowingly.

This might happen for a few different reasons.

Some folks find the feeling of fullness triggering, so drinking water in larger quantities can feel overwhelming or anxiety-provoking.

Some folks are so out of practice with nourishing themselves regularly that they aren't thinking about drinking water.

Some folks may reject the taste (or lack thereof) of water as a bargaining mentality, "if I'm going to drink something, it better be worth it." So they replace water with less hydrating things like coffee, nutritional shakes, or something they consider "more valuable."

Some folks have been dehydrated for so long, they've literally stopped having thirst cues. They don't notice they're thirsty because their bodies have decided those cues are no longer useful.

Personally, I wasn't drinking water because of a combination of all of the above. I had anxiety about how full I felt when I drank a proper amount of water, I lost my thirst cues, and water was underwhelming as far as taste goes, so it didn't feel "worth it."

There's a lot of shame attached to the idea of people not enjoying water. That's kind of what I want to hone in on here.

Because let's be real for a second... water can be refreshing on a hot day, but it's not necessarily flavorful or exciting. But diet culture tells us that it's the only acceptable liquid to drink.

For some folks with mental health issues, drinking water without flavoring can actually be really fraught. You might be hypervigilant and anxious, testing it. ("Is this water too old?" "Is this water from the tap... kind of weird?" "Can you taste the plastic-y taste in this?")

Folks with eating disorders especially have some challenges here, whether it's not wanting to consume something that is "neutral" (if I'm going to nourish myself, it better be ~amazing~), or an "all or nothing" mentality (I can't drink X ounces, I give up, this is too hard).

Which is to say, if drinking water is causing someone anxiety, it makes sense that they would actively avoid drinking water.

And I'm suggesting here that the anxiety is stemming from, you guessed it, diet culture. Which tells us it's the only acceptable liquid to drink.

Personal story time: I've struggled with chronic dehydration.

I started having early onset hypertension (water is important for helping our blood flow smoothly, hence the uptick in blood pressure!), an elevated heart rate (the heart works harder in the absence of water!).

I finally got the cherry on top of the dehydration sundae this last week when I ended up with a uric acid kidney stone, usually caused by chronic dehydration.

Let me tell you, it's not a kind of pain that I ever want to experience again.

I knew I needed to be drinking water. When I was in eating disorder treatment, they would take my blood pressure and heart rate before and after a glass of water... the difference was shocking.

I KNEW I needed it. But the shame around it was preventing me from doing anything.

All this time, it had never occurred to me that water wasn't the only fluid that could hydrate me.

There was so much of an emphasis placed on ~~WATER~~ that I had rejected juices, teas, and the like because they didn't feel like "legitimate" options.

It wasn't until I was in urgent care with a kidney stone kicking my ass that it fully dawned on me.

The doctor told me, "Lots and lots of fluids. Some favorite juices will do, maybe try some new flavors of tea..."

I. FORGOT. OTHER. DRINKS. CAN. BE. HYDRATING.

Because here's the real deal. Diet culture says to avoid ~sugary~ drinks, only drink green tea if you're going to drink tea, and all these absurd rules... all in the name of health.

But here I was, being told that I might need to go to the ER for imaging... like, uhhhh?? Health?

If water isn't your thing, try this on for size: RADICAL ACCEPTANCE. It may not, for all kinds of reasons, be your drink of choice.

But hear me out: Being hydrated by any means is *always* going to be healthier than NOT being hydrated.

We, the chronically dehydrated of the world, need to reclaim juice. Reclaim sweet tea. Reclaim mocktails. Reclaim lemonade as more than just a refreshing summer "treat."

Reclaim the drinks that bring us joy AND keep us hydrated. Because water isn't the only liquid that "counts."

Yes, our bodies super appreciate water. And if you're adamant about drinking it, no problem! Get some lime sparkling water and a favorite juice and mix them together. Find some flavoring packets that you *genuinely* (not begrudgingly) enjoy to add some variety. Iced tea anyone?

Because I can try another water reminder app, I can try putting post-its all over my house, I can try getting yet another fancy new water bottle.

But none of those kept me hydrated and my kidneys did not give a flying fuck about the new water bottle.

Diet culture doesn't want you to believe that good enough is good enough. You're supposed to do the best and the most! Your very life depends on it!

...But here in real life, good enough IS good enough. And good enough is often the best and kindest choice for ourselves.

The funny thing is that you may even find that your cravings for water return after you've added more variation into what you're drinking. It's almost like our bodies are wired to seek out variety!

(But it would be okay if that didn't happen, too. I promise.)

For most of us, forcing ourselves to drink a bunch of water every single day is not realistic or sustainable as a goal.

And that's actually okay, because bodies are resilient and adaptable, and that means that our mindset and approach can be, too.

So if you're restricting fluids, knowingly or unknowingly, please know that it is absolutely okay if you don't want water, don't like water, or have anxiety about water.

You can still have other fluids and you'll still be honoring what your body needs.

And since we're 100% reclaiming juice now, credits to Lizzo for making it trend again (you can listen to this the next time you grab a glass of whatever-drink-you-freakin'-want):

Good enough is good enough. In fact, good enough is terrific, it's perfect, it's rad.

If you need me, I'll be enjoying some apple juice because it's FALL and I'm feeling festive.