Hydration. How serious are you about it?

norahwynn

I'm very guilty of not drinking water like I should. Yesterday I had 1 cup of coffee and 2 glasses of water. All day long. I go through spurts of being very aware and drinking more, but that only lasts a day or 2. Then I'm right back to 1 or 2 glasses a day at the most.

faith_76

I have noticed on my run days I end up with huge headaches a couple hours after my run so yesterday I decided to up my water. I drank a lot the night before, the morning of, brought water to drink halfway through my run, and drank a lot afterwards. Guess what happened? No headache! Yes, it was my slowest 6 miles ever do to having to stop and use a bathroom, drink my water while running, and dealing with it swishing around but I felt much better the rest of the day. So, in the words of Tony Horton "drink your water people!"

ChasingStarlight

Hydration is just 1 of the primary components... here is a few a couple reasons why

1. tissue quality: We need hydration for the tendons to work well, nerve beds to seat properly, sliding surfaces of the underlying fascia use water to function properly. This all needs to be optimal for good adaptation, recovery, and performance. Junky interstitial tissue leads to tremendous tightness, soreness and weakness which greatly impedes the movement function of the skeleton
2: Nervous system: you are a nervous system made of electrical currents( think schwann cells, oligodendrocytes, myelin sheathing ects)... this is why ELECTROlytes are so important, especially sodium( although magnesium, potassium and many other elements are excellent conductors of electricity. if you just flood your kidneys with some big water bolus and no sodium than the body will just purge it out since it has no means of utilizing it.

But this just tells me I need some water- it does not explain why you are saying I have to drink heaps of water.

Where is the evidence I need to drink more? Here is some saying it is a myth:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/8-glasses-of-water-a-day-an-urban-myth-1.1196386

_Zardoz_

There are so many myths about hydration that everyone seems to accept. The 8 glasses a day is just a made up number (there is no science behind it)and everyone seems to forget it is meant to count water in food. Also why this weird idea that a 300 pounds man needs the same water as a 130 pounds woman. It makes no sense. Over hydration is a serious issue and some doctors see this as a more dangerous and serious issue than under. Endurance athletes had it pounded into them in the 80s and 90s that they should drink before thirsty and often. This advice has now been withdrawn due to the serious issue of hyponatremia which is what your sodium is too diluted.

So by all means make sure you drink enough but don't get silly about it as some people seem to get

This is an interesting read

http://www.bmj.com/content/343/bmj.d4280

Bluizflame

I've been told by several people (dr's included) that you should drink half your weight in water a day. I don't drink any juice, coffe, pop, or tea...so other than my smoothie in the morning all i drink is water. I usually drink a bit more than half my weight...getting easier to reach the goal the more weight i loose lol

TruckersWifeTruckersLife

I drank 14 glasses yesterday but I try to drink 8 or more glasses a day then I have my coffee on top got to have my caffeine

Lemongrab1

I take it seriously, but I can't believe people are still living by that '8 cups a day' rule.
It's already been debunked, yet fitness sites still tout it endlessly.
They (they being doctors or some such) said that the 8 glasses of water was also counting in liquid from food. So if you eat fruit, certain vegetables, drink tea, etc. that counts in to the 8 cup rule.