ok... so apparently you aren't supposed to hydrate with Absolut...

We all know that while I'm fairly decent with knowledge about exercise,  my knowledge about nutrition generally is not so great.  Remember ... I'm the chick who tried to classify pringles as a vegetable and screwdrivers as a fruit.  That being said,  I do know what works for me ie protein, carbs etc.  And,  I'm EXCELLENT at drinking 120 ounces of water a day.  I have to flavor it with Crystal Light, but at least I'm drinking it.  I have a negative history with water,  so it's definitely something I have to work at.  Due to all kinds of UTI's when I was very very young (I know ... TMI) I associate all that water with being sick and in pain... but I do know that hydration is a necessary evil.  If I don't drink enough during the day,  I usually have a headache.  Interesting.. 

All kinds of stuff out there about how much you should drink. For me,  120 ounces is good.  For some,  that might be too much or not enough.  

Here's a good 'water calculator' to get a good guess at where you should be:

http://nutrition.about.com/library/blwatercalculator.htm

and check this out... 

Why You Need to Drink Water  

Your body is estimated to be about 60 to 70 percent water. Blood is mostly water, and your muscles, lungs, and brain all contain a lot of water. Your body needs water to regulate body temperature and to provide the means for nutrients to travel to all your organs. Water also transports oxygen to your cells, removes waste, and protects your joints and organs.

Good stuff to know ... 

Water

Some people find it easier to drink if it's room room temperature or slightly warm. In traditional Chinese medicine, drinking excessive amounts of cold water could worsen digestive problems. If you drink tap water, you may want to purchase a home water filter. Squeeze lemon, lime or orange wedges into water for flavor.  

Herbal Teas   - Caffeine-free herbal teas are other good options. Peppermint, chamomile and caraway teas in particular are thought to improve digestion and reduce bloating.

Vegetable Juice

Vegetable juice is a great way to boost your antioxidant intake. Avoid canned juices and vegetable cocktails that contain salt. Celery, wheatgrass, cucumber, fennel, parsley and other non-starchy vegetables are excellent choices. If you enjoy the taste of vegetable juice, you may wish to purchase your own juicer.

Drinking Water Briefly Increases Metabolism

Drinking 500 mL of water (a half-liter or about a pint) increased the study participants' metabolism briefly - for about a half hour. In that time they burned an extra 25 calories. That's about a quarter of a piece of sliced bread, or 5 M&Ms. The researchers theorized that most of the effect comes from warming the water in the stomach. In the male participants the calories came mostly from stored fat, in the women it came from stored carbohydrates. The paper was published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, December, 2003. It was conducted by researchers in Berlin.