Counting Water

Caroline244
Caroline244 Posts: 56 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hi! Do you count whatever water you intake during and after your workouts towards your 64-oz/day "goal"? I feel like if I'm dehydrating myself during cardio, just replenishing what I sweat out brings me back to neutral again and shouldn't really count towards my daily intake. Thoughts?

Replies

  • melsinct
    melsinct Posts: 3,512 Member
    Don't worry about counting water by ounces. Needs vary by person and depend on what you are doing to exert yourself on that particular day, climate, etc. If your pee is dark yellow, you are dehydrated. If it is light yellow/clear, you are properly hydrated. The US military has a useful hydration chart that shows what color your pee should be:

    http://www.al.ngb.army.mil/PublishingImages/Safety/258_Urine Color Test_Poster.pdf
  • mschicagocubs
    mschicagocubs Posts: 774 Member
    The only time I really like to make sure I am drinking enough water is if I know I am going to eat a lot of sodium. Just because I hate to bloat.

    Otherwise ... just keep hydrated.
  • laurelthistle
    laurelthistle Posts: 145 Member
    Don't worry about counting water by ounces. Needs vary by person and depend on what you are doing to exert yourself on that particular day, climate, etc. If your pee is dark yellow, you are dehydrated. If it is light yellow/clear, you are properly hydrated. The US military has a useful hydration chart that shows what color your pee should be:

    http://www.al.ngb.army.mil/PublishingImages/Safety/258_Urine Color Test_Poster.pdf

    Not everyone can go by color as many vitamins, nutritional supplements, and medications can alter the color. Take me for instance, I have to take a very high dose of B complex vitamins daily due to a genetic condition. For a couple hours after I take each dose, my pee looks like Mountain Dew, but I am perfectly hydrated.
  • Caroline244
    Caroline244 Posts: 56 Member
    That's really handy - thanks!!
  • melsinct
    melsinct Posts: 3,512 Member
    Don't worry about counting water by ounces. Needs vary by person and depend on what you are doing to exert yourself on that particular day, climate, etc. If your pee is dark yellow, you are dehydrated. If it is light yellow/clear, you are properly hydrated. The US military has a useful hydration chart that shows what color your pee should be:

    http://www.al.ngb.army.mil/PublishingImages/Safety/258_Urine Color Test_Poster.pdf

    Not everyone can go by color as many vitamins, nutritional supplements, and medications can alter the color. Take me for instance, I have to take a very high dose of B complex vitamins daily due to a genetic condition. For a couple hours after I take each dose, my pee looks like Mountain Dew, but I am perfectly hydrated.

    Obviously you can't go by the chart then, but the vast majority of people can. For those who aren't peeing out odd colors due to medications or genetic conditions, it is a great way to determine your hydration without using arbitrary liquid measurements that are supposed to apply to everyone.
  • shellbatronic
    shellbatronic Posts: 193
    I fill a gallon jug with water mixed with a little lemon juice and have it empty by the end of the day, not including water I drink at the gym. It gives me a minimum and I don't worry about counting anything. I do have to lug a gallon jug to work though, so there's that. :tongue:
  • Pirate_chick
    Pirate_chick Posts: 1,216 Member
    I drink 2 gallons per day. (I have a cup that holds a gallon of water, makes it easy. Sometimes I log, sometimes I don't.

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