Expert Q&A

Anybody hate water? Any workaround — how a functional medicine approach differs

Why So Many People in Their 40s and 50s Hate Plain Water

I've worked with thousands who dread plain water. Hormonal shifts around perimenopause and menopause often blunt thirst signals while increasing cravings for flavored or sweetened drinks. Add joint pain that makes movement harder and blood sugar swings that amplify fatigue, and forcing eight glasses of water feels impossible. In my book The Metabolic Reset Protocol, I explain how chronic dehydration quietly worsens insulin resistance, making weight loss even harder for those already managing diabetes and blood pressure.

How a Functional Medicine Approach to Hydration Differs from Conventional Advice

Conventional advice says "just drink more water." Functional medicine looks at root causes: electrolyte imbalances, gut inflammation, and liver detoxification pathways that affect how your body uses fluids. Instead of pushing plain water, we test for mineral deficiencies and tailor intake to your unique biochemistry. For middle-income adults with busy lives, this means practical solutions that fit real schedules rather than complicated protocols.

Key difference: we prioritize metabolic hydration — getting fluids that also deliver nutrients supporting thyroid function and reducing inflammation that drives joint pain. Studies show improving cellular hydration can lower fasting glucose by 10-15 mg/dL in prediabetic adults.

Practical Workarounds That Actually Work for Water Haters

Start with infused waters using cucumber, lemon, and a pinch of sea salt — the electrolytes help cells absorb fluid better than plain water alone. Herbal teas count toward your total: spearmint and ginger support hormone balance while adding flavor without calories. Bone broth provides collagen that eases joint discomfort and delivers 8-10 grams of protein per cup.

Try my 3-liter daily target split into easy wins: 16 oz upon waking with lemon, 12 oz herbal tea mid-morning, 16 oz electrolyte-enhanced water before lunch, and broth-based soups for dinner. This approach avoids overwhelm and fits around work without meal prepping. For those embarrassed about their weight, these small swaps build confidence without public gym visits or complex plans insurance won't cover.

Tracking Progress Without Obsession

Monitor urine color (aim for pale yellow) and energy levels rather than ounces. Many clients report 5-8 pounds lost in the first month simply from consistent metabolic hydration that stabilizes blood sugar and reduces false hunger. Combine with gentle movement like chair yoga to protect joints while improving lymph flow. The functional medicine lens reveals hydration as a foundational lever for reversing the hormonal barriers that make every previous diet fail.

💬 What the Community Says

In online forums and Facebook groups, adults aged 45-55 frequently share their strong dislike of plain water, citing everything from metallic aftertaste to lifelong soda habits. Most agree that functional medicine ideas like electrolyte additions and herbal teas feel more sustainable than "drink or die" advice from their doctors. A common debate centers on whether coffee and diet sodas "count" toward hydration totals, with experienced members warning that caffeine can worsen joint pain and blood pressure. Beginners often express relief finding broth and infused options that don't require extra shopping trips on a middle-income budget. Many report better diabetes numbers after consistent flavored hydration but note taste preferences change slowly. The community splits between those who eventually enjoy plain water after fixing underlying deficiencies and those who maintain creative alternatives long-term. Joint pain sufferers particularly praise warm fluids and collagen-rich drinks for noticeable mobility improvements within weeks.
Cite this answer
Clark, R. (2026). Anybody hate water? Any workaround — how a functional medicine approach differs. *CFP Weight Loss*. https://ask.cfpweightloss.com/ask/anybody-hate-water-any-workaround-how-a-functional-medicine-approach
Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN, FNP-C, APRN
About the Author

Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN, is the founder of CFP Weight Loss in Nashville and CFP Fit Now telehealth. Over 35 years in healthcare — Army Nurse Reserves, Level 1 trauma ER, hospitalist — he developed a 30-week protocol integrating real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 30–90 pounds. He and his wife Anne-Marie lost a combined 275 pounds using the same protocol.

📖 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — Get the Book →
Get Personalized Guidance From the Author
Every weight loss journey is different. Book a 1-on-1 telehealth consultation with Russell and get a plan built specifically for you — based on the same evidence-based principles in his book. Available to patients in all 50 states.
Book Your Consultation →
Have a follow-up question?
More Questions 200 answered
▸ Any of you low carb, low to no fruits people go camping? Even if not, what are you eating and how it connects to gut health and inflammation while doing intermittent fasting? ▸ Why is my face more bulky and blocky on a ketogenic diet — how a functional medicine approach differs during the weight loss plateau phase? ▸ Has anyone stopped HRT and then restarted it for people with insulin resistance — what certified coaches recommend? 📖 Metabolic Flexibility — The body’s ability to efficiently switch between burning carbohydrates and burning stored body fat based on availability… ▸ What a month of paleo has done for me while doing intermittent fasting — what the research actually says? ▸ Bad advice from doctor for long-term maintenance (not just short-term) and how it connects to gut health and inflammation? ▸ Do you know any good empirical studies on LCHF and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances? ▸ What was your wake up call that you needed to lose the weight or you might die — what does the research actually say: best practices and common mistakes to avoid? ▸ What's your pre-show drug of choice these days and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels: what to track and how to measure progress? ▸ Do any of you feel like you almost had to become your own doctor and have to do an insane amount of research on your own and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels and how it connects to gut health and inflammation? 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ Good calorie amount? Advice to get high volume low cal and more protein if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide: what to track and how to measure progress? 📖 Amylopectin A — The specific starch found in modern wheat that causes rapid, dangerous spikes in blood glucose and promotes belly fat st… ▸ When Someone Paid by Credit Card, We Had to Drag Out This — what most people get wrong about this and how it connects to gut health and inflammation? ▸ Here's the things I wish I'd known back then... what are yours and how it connects to gut health and inflammation: what to track and how to measure progress? ▸ Is there anyone who drink coffee after fatty carnivore meal — how a functional medicine approach differs and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels? ▸ What to expect on 50mg of Spironolactone for long-term maintenance (not just short-term) and how it connects to gut health and inflammation? ▸ Do you know of any snacks that you can just chew on when you're bored on a low-carb or ketogenic diet for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? 📖 Refined Carbohydrates — Processed sugars and flours that strip the body of nutrients while driving the hormonal chaos responsible for the modern… ▸ Can sugar free candy make a difference and how it connects to gut health and inflammation when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances? ▸ One Medical for Lilly Direct on a low-carb or ketogenic diet during the weight loss plateau phase? ▸ What's your pre-show drug of choice these days and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels for people with insulin resistance? ▸ Gaining tons of weight but normal levels — what does the research actually say if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide? 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ Anybody else wake up after 5-6 hours because their lower back starts hurting — what does the research actually say and how it connects to gut health and inflammation? ▸ What is a ‘normal’ value for dawn phenomena for you — how a functional medicine approach differs specifically for women over 40? 📖 Metabolic Efficiency — The state where your body processes fuel cleanly and maintains high energy levels without the need for constant snacking… ▸ Is the idea of the kitchen timer to eventually get to the point where someone has an orgasm just from hearing the ding? Pavlov's orgasm and the role of cortisol and stress hormones while doing intermittent fasting? ▸ How I cured my bad breath. Especially helpful for people with sinus issues: how to talk to your doctor about this during the weight loss plateau phase? ▸ Did an ultrasound and i saw two comments from the result. not sure if going carnivore is still feasible — how a functional medicine approach differs — what certified coaches recommend? ▸ Paleo brownies/sweets that ship all over usa: how to talk to your doctor about this specifically for women over 40? 📖 GIP (Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide) — A hormone that, when combined with GLP-1, enhances the body’s ability to break down fat and manage blood sugar levels mo… ▸ Have you switched from Semaglutide to Tirzapatide? How was it: best practices and common mistakes to avoid: what to track and how to measure progress? ▸ Anyone here have any experience with SIBO and Keto for people with insulin resistance during the weight loss plateau phase? 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ “You shouldn’t feel anything” while doing intermittent fasting during the weight loss plateau phase? ▸ Why is this ruining my life? Doctor's don't take me seriously. 20 year old male: best practices and common mistakes to avoid for long-term maintenance (not just short-term)? ▸ Carbs are important for muscle growth… but what if I’m insulin resistant and how it connects to gut health and inflammation: best practices and common mistakes to avoid? ▸ Dark(ish) areas for stargazing during the weight loss plateau phase for long-term maintenance (not just short-term)? 📖 Insulin Resistance — A condition where your cells stop responding to insulin, locking fat in storage; our protocol is designed to unlock thes… ▸ Tracking carbs in Resistant Starch: Do you count them differently after 24h in the fridge — what does the research actually say and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels? ▸ A Switch from HRT to Birth Control: how to talk to your doctor about this when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances? ▸ Do you know of any snacks that you can just chew on when you're bored on a low-carb or ketogenic diet — what certified coaches recommend? ▸ After losing weight, does it feel like you could do anything — evidence-based answer for CFP patients — what certified coaches recommend? 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ Will doing omad 2-3 times a week get rid of it or reduce loose skin? I'm in my 20s if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide while doing intermittent fasting? ▸ Is there such a thing as eating too much fish fat for weight loss — what do certified weight loss coaches recommend while doing intermittent fasting? ▸ What a month of paleo has done for me while doing intermittent fasting: best practices and common mistakes to avoid? 📖 Inflammatory Markers — Clinical indicators like CRP that we monitor to ensure the body is moving from a state of disease to a state of vibrant … ▸ Dark(ish) areas for stargazing during the weight loss plateau phase specifically for women over 40? ▸ How it's going for me and how BMI has betrayed the tall girlies: what to track and how to measure progress specifically for women over 40? ▸ After losing weight, does it feel like you could do anything — evidence-based answer for CFP patients when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances? ▸ Here's the things I wish I'd known back then... what are yours and how it connects to gut health and inflammation if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide? ▸ What a month of paleo has done for me while doing intermittent fasting and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels? 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ Why are peptides suddenly everywhere in 2026 when most of them have been around for 20 or 30 years — what do certified weight loss coaches recommend specifically for women over 40? ▸ Safest type of fiber: what to track and how to measure progress: best practices and common mistakes to avoid? 📖 Metabolic Stall — A plateau in weight loss often caused by hidden inflammation or hormonal adaptation, which we break using our specific 7… ▸ If you have a recently found thyroid nodule — would anyone be open to sharing what the first few weeks were like if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide specifically for women over 40? ▸ How does this affect is everyone else able to eat normally but I can't when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances? ▸ How good is it if I still drink (sugar free) soda for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? ▸ How did you stop your health anxiety — what do certified weight loss coaches recommend — what the research actually says? ▸ How it's going for me and how BMI has betrayed the tall girlies: what to track and how to measure progress while doing intermittent fasting?