Not a thirsty person

Grimmerick

Is it that bad that I don't drink glasses and glasses of water all day ? I mean I drink when I am thirsty and I do drink 2-3 cups of oolong tea (plain nothing in it). But I don't push water all day long. I have read so many different opinions about it. I even read one that is supposed to be a new study that said drink when you are thirsty there is no reason to over drink water your body will tell you when you need it. Which actually makes sense to me cause my body lets me know everything thing else, ie hungry, tired, bathroom........and so on. Shouldn't my body be the best indicator of my thirst?

Hernandezedw

Yes. There's water in everything you take in.

joyr1982

I don't care for water but tea is excellent for hydrating yourself.

drobb821

I don't know the science behind it, but drinking water is definitely good for you. That whole 8 cups a day thing is good for a few reasons. Number one, it'll help boost your metabolism a bit by aiding in the breakdown of the foods that you eat. It also helps to keep your body hydrated and functioning properly (i.e. blood flow). I actually drink about 10-12 cups a day. It makes you use the bathroom a bit more, but that obviously helps to get the waste out of your body. I don't think you should overdo it and jump immediately to what I do, but adding a cup here and there will probably help. Just one man's opinion.

nyctraveler

i have to say i was the same but as I started drinking more water, my body has adjusted and is now more thirsty lol

I have to drink water before bed, when i get up, after morning coffee, etc. I didn't before. Now, I feel better though and my skin is more hydrated ...i'm pretty happy with the H20 effect haha

StartingOver4Me

When I get on the kick of being healthy (hope it lasts this time) I have to force myself. But then it's almost like the more I chug the more I want.

lynnmarie60

I feel exactly the same way so I typically drink about 2-3 (8 ounce) cups a day and I'm fine.

attcute

Yes, that is correct ,that your body will let you know when you are thirsty, however, you also need to get in the 8 glasses per day because water also purifies your body, for example, eliminating toxins. I used to have a hard time gettin my water in too, but I find it easier to drink water when i drink from a sport water bottle or through a straw...try it and see if it works for you. Hope this helps!

mommiedawn

i clicked on this because I'm not naturally thirsty. my mom and I would always split drinks growing up so I know she isn't either. but i have noticed that since kicking the level up on purpose, my allergies aren't as annoying and I get less headaches.

i think you make sense about listening to your body. and i think i have misinterpreted some of what my body was saying when it was saying 'i need water' in the past, hahah!

i agree with bouncinback4me, the more I drink the more I want!!

kaitimae

I drink lots of water to PREVENT myself from getting thirsty. The way I see it is if I'm feeling thirsty, my body has been lacking water for a few hours. I'd rather give my body plenty of water and not make it tell me that it needs it. It's not like it's full of calories or anything... hahaha.

attcute

TOTALLY AGREE WITH DROB821, AND I DIDNT SEE HIS POST UNTIL AFTER I POSTED MINE!

skinnyme125

tea can actually dehydrate you since it is a diaretic. so be careful with that. I was not much of a drinker either before MFP I was lucky to drink 3 cups of water a day. Now i drink up to 16 cups a day. I pee all the time but I am not near as bloated as I was and I feel better. I am not near as hungry and my skin and hair look better. I have more energy also. I actually crave my water now and love to drink it. Getting a big water jug that hold about 6 to 8 cups of water will help you to drink more. Mine has a sippy straw that i love since staws for some reason make me drink more.

arwensb

i have to say i was the same but as I started drinking more water, my body has adjusted and is now more thirsty lol

I have to drink water before bed, when i get up, after morning coffee, etc. I didn't before. Now, I feel better though and my skin is more hydrated ...i'm pretty happy with the H20 effect haha

Exactly.
I end up refilling my 32oz water bottle at least two (often three) times during the work day. I also usually drink another 32oz bottle in the car on my commute (40 miles each way) and probably one more 32oz bottle at home in the evening. I do not force myself - I just am thirsty a lot.

FatUncleRob

Unfortunately, there is evidence that your body sometimes gets confused and tells you that you are HUNGRY or LACKING ENERGY when you are dehydrated. (So we sometimes eat when we should be drinking.)

I didn't used to drink more than about 32 oz of water a day.

Last couple of weeks I've been drinking four times that much.

I've never felt better! A lot of my persistent aches and pains are gone - especially my headaches!

If I were you I'd try to increase my water intake - but do it gradually and see how it goes.

Forensic

My problem was that, because I didn't drink a lot of water, my body would instead demand more food. Instead of thirst, I'd feel hunger and eat.

And if you FEEL thirsty, you're already dehydrating...

lexlundin

A person 170lbs can drink 7-8 Liters of water a day. It's called water loading.
The idea behind it is that you train your body into thinking that there is no shortage of water or drought.
This will release any water retention and start a reaction to flush body fats as well. Fats are stored in a sea of water.
Very good for your skin.

Nanconet

I read somewhere that when you are thirsty it means your body is already dehydrated. So you shouldn't let yourself feel thirsty. Not only is water a good for you, it helps you fill up too. I love to snack, especially when I'm at work. I keep drinking water and it fills me preventing me from all the un- necessary snacking I would do otherwise. I'm supposed to only be consuming 1200 calories a day. Really hard to do. Water is a big help.

callielizabethrocks

One of my doctor friends let me know that it takes 3 molecules of water to break down 1 molecule of fat. I try to keep that in mind everytime I fill up my water bottle. But I have to say that everyone else is right, skin improves, headaches lessen, I don't get tired at 3:00PM, my allergies aren't very bad this year, and my pee is clearer than it has ever been.

I was a huge diet coke-aholic, but I quit that because I was nervouse about all of the chemicals and I was taking in WAY too much caffine. So now I keep a water bottle with me at all times and it is pretty easy to get your 8 glasses.

I think that increasing your intake will only benefit you so give it a try and see what you think.

jldemoss

If I drink the recommended amount of water daily I find myself craving it more & more.

mommiedawn

oh yeah I do remember reading that by the time we 'feel thirsty' we have killed brain cells. hate saying that because I might be incorrectly saying it. so i thought i'd take a minute and google some things to see if i can find whatever it was i read. then i came across this interesting page http://songweaver.com/info/thirst.html
then this! http://www.sfn.org/index.aspx?pagename=brainBriefings_thirst

i guess i'll stick to drinking water as often as i can, haha

Grimmerick

Thanks everyone for all your great advice..........gotta go, gonna fill up my water bottle!!!

LilChickPea

Tea is a great way to get in your water. Just make sure it is decaffeinated.

Kellee_76

Unfortunately, there is evidence that your body sometimes gets confused and tells you that you are HUNGRY or LACKING ENERGY when you are dehydrated. (So we sometimes eat when we should be drinking.)

I didn't used to drink more than about 32 oz of water a day.

Last couple of weeks I've been drinking four times that much.

I've never felt better! A lot of my persistent aches and pains are gone - especially my headaches!

If I were you I'd try to increase my water intake - but do it gradually and see how it goes.

Uncle Rob is right.

I am not a naturally thirsty person. But before I used to drink enough water, I had dry skin and frequent headaches and mysterious aches and pains. Also, I've recognized, now, that I crave sweets or fresh fruit when I am actually THIRSTY. I don't recognize thirst in the same way other people do until I'm truly dehydrated.

KJ7777

Hi,

Iv always had the same problem.
When ever i push to be healthier i aim to drink more water.
This site has helped as i can track my water intake.
Today in the UK they have been talking about water & the effect on your body. Its talking mainly about children as they are the ones that have done the tests but there are some interesting things on there.

http://www.itv.com/daybreak/lifestyle/health/drinking-more-water/

SLaw4215

I am a self professed Diet Coke/coffee junky. I like my caffein! Consuming 8, 8oz of water a day is a task that requires a great deal of committment on my part. It's just not a habit I learned growing up. I once read that by the time your mind is concious of the fact that you are thirsty you are already in a state of being partially dehydrated [or something to that affect...don't quote me]. Last week I made drinking the 64 oz of water a mini goal of mine and while I practically had to set reminders on my lap top to get myself to do it -- I finally did it. I did everything I needed to do to make it happen. I commented about it on MFP to my "friends" because if I said it outloud I felt obligated to not cop out. I tricked my mind by "prettying it up"...I recycled a 32 oz iced coffee cup (that familar cup & straw), I used Crystal Light (pretty colors/flavor) and I made sure to add ice or frozen lemon slices (a step I normally skip). Aside from the obvious side affects I thought I'd have to cope with --- around the the 3rd day I started to realize my energy was increasing and I actually wanted to exercise. I have been in a better (lighter/happier) mood in general. I don't seem to notice [as much] that foggy (can't seem to focus cuz I want to take a nap) feeling I used to have every day after lunch. For me the difference in how I am feeling is noticeable enough that I have kept my mini goal committment and am going for week #2!

Shirley61

As we age we need more water to protect joints and arthritis.
Sometimes when we eat we really are thirsty.
Just a thought.

Bviera

I was the same way, only drinking water when thirsty, but when I started working, I decided to keep a 16 or 20 oz bottle on my desk. I sip at it all day long while I work and refill it when I run out. I make sure to refill it at least twice a day (sometimes three). Then I have another 20 oz at the gym (and I make sure to consume the whole thing before I get back home). Once I get home, I usually have two or three more 6 oz glasses of water with dinner or as I'm watching tv or whatever. If it weren't for the bottle of water I keep at work, I probably wouldn't reach my goal, because I wouldn't otherwise get up to get water throughout the workday. Ever since I started doing this, I noticed I've retained way less water than I used to, especially during my time of the month.

RadicalCharlie

I don't really drink all the time, but I make it a game for myself to see how much water I can actually drink in a day.

I typically just make a schedule of when to drink a glass of water and stick to it the best that I can.

Mtsidad

Take this with your grain of salt substitute, but if you wait until you are thirsty, you are waiting too long.

Have a bottle at your desk and drink regularly. There are apps you can install on your PC or SmartPhone to remind you to take a drink.

Unless you are drinking gallons and gallons of water or you have certain rare diseases where your electrolyte balance is seriously out of whack, you won't go over the top just drinking water on a regular & consistent basis.

Others have listed the health and emotional benefits, so I won't go into it. I'll just remind you that water is free, cheap, and a great resource for your body no matter your physical condition.

whiskey9890

from what i have read in various sources over the years if learned (rightly or wrongly you decide i am not a doctor or nutritionist):
1) the body doesn't send out a thirsty signal it only sends out a hungry signal, which is why when we feel hungry a lot of weight loss programs tell us to drink a glass of water, wait half and hour and see if we are still hungry, cos we may have actually been thirsty.
2) when we feel thirsty, we aren't, we are actually dehydrated already and its an alarm bell sounding
3) yes some fluids will come naturally from the food we eat
4) tea and coffee are diruretics, yes, but you won't loose all of the water you used in the tea and coffee just some of it