does anybody else struggle to drink the required amount of w

pixie_mills

It is one of my main worries - I can't seem to drink enough water. If it were tea, I'd be fine! I only seem to be able to drink 4-5 glasses of cold water a day. Any tips on how to make it more "interesting" or how I can force myself to drink more?

ta!

tabi26

I usually only drink 4 glasss a day. Sometimes less, and very rarely more, and I'm still losing weight. I don't have much to lose so you would think that not drinking the full 8 cups would hinder my progress, but it doesn't. If I'm not thirsty, I don't drink. Many people may disagree, but it works for me!

81Katz

Sometimes, but I never drink water to just drink it. I'd be full and miserable otherwise, I drink when thirsty.

I find it helps me to drink some of the Crystal Light packets which helps when I am thirsty and helps jazz up just plain water. (It says the serving is 1/2 packet, well I always drink the full packet, it's only 10 calories) Too little it tastes watered down to me, plus the water bottle I use and prefer is at least 16 1/2 ounces and I believe the 8oz of water per day that is recommended is approx. an 8oz size glass which really is not that big so I suppose 8 glasses a day is quite do-able. I also count my coffee as water intake as well.

Basically drink when thirsty, but don't force yourself to drink water 'just because'.

momof3boys090808

I use to have that issue where I'd go all day without drinking and now that's where I focus more on. I have a large 32oz cup that I use all day everyday. So I know two full ones I reached my amount. I use mi0 liquid to flavor my water. It helps. I carry my cup everywhere I go and drink little at a time

bitterfusion

YES!! I used to think I drank lots, but since keeping track, I've realised it's not so much. Most days, I struggle to get over 5, especially with drinking other drinks like tea and coffee throughout the day. On days that I exercise, I find it easier, but that's obviously due to the fact that it makes you thirsty! My mum used to start her day by drinking 2 glasses of water in the morning, so maybe that would help...

ariant23

I wouldn't sweat it. i maybe drink one glass of water in a day. the rest of my liquid is *gasp* diet soda, occasionally crystal light, and some almond milk. the rest of the liquid i consume comes from my food: juicy apples, grapes, cucumbers.... you get teh idea. If you aren't dehydrated. dont' sweat it :-) you'll find tons of people on here who see drinking ridiculous amounts of water as a panacea (cure for all ills) it's not. hydration is important, but it won't cure cancer. for me, i have enough goign on in my day. every time i have to pee I bring an audience with me (my 2 little kids). it's not my favorite thing to do. i'm not going to drink so much water that I pee every hour and it's totally clear... but that' s just me

zafferFL

It is one of my main worries - I can't seem to drink enough water. If it were tea, I'd be fine! I only seem to be able to drink 4-5 glasses of cold water a day. Any tips on how to make it more "interesting" or how I can force myself to drink more?

ta!

Tea contains water doesn't it?

Drink more tea..no problems. It counts!

kardsharp

I can't destinguish thirst so, I keep a bottle on my desk and sip every 15 minutes or so. If I haven't drank enough water, I fill my bottle up for the drive home and sip everytime I am stopped. I manage to drink about 6 glasses now.

BrianSharpe

Also keep in mind that while MFP pushes water (cheap, 0 cal) it's really your total fluid intake. Tea counts too, as does coffee, juice etc - you just don't want to go overboard on caffeine (mildly diuretic), sugar and sodium.

Judge your state of hydration by the colour of your urine - if it's dark you're dehydrated; and trust your thirst.

9jenn9

I chug 16oz of water as soon as my feet hit the floor in the morning. At first, it seemed like a lot, but I've gotten to where I crave it. I'm not much of a sipper, so I chug a few times a day and that takes care of it. When I do want to sip, it drink carbonated water (no flavoring unless it's a twist of lemon). It's pretty refreshing. I don't count coffee or diet colas. I've heard over the years that caffeine is dehydrating.

privatetime

I never really bought into the "8 glasses per day" thing.

Then I read the studies about how much water our bodies generally need, and how most of that volune is contained in the food we eat, and was really not swayed by the claims we need TO DRINK eight 8oz. glasses of water a day.

Myself, I did try to increase the amount of water I drink, and found above around 1.5L, I felt ill, bloated, and loagy. But, I am a water drinker by nature (barely touch carbonated drinks or alcohol, and only drink low GI juices). I STARTED drinking coffee when I started trying to lose weight, because of the purported benefits. I drink black tea maybe 10 times a year. I have increased the amount of green tea I drink, as well.

Maybe it's my plant-based diet, but I know that it is uncomfortable (nauseating, really) to drink more than about 1.5L of liquid water per day, for me.

I remember an unscientific challenge ("study" would not be accurate) of two twins who lived by the 8/8 thing. One continued drinking eight 8oz. glasses of water per day, while the other twin wasn't allowed any beverages at all. The second twin's water needs were to be met wholly via her food consumption. At the end of a week, they tested both, and both were perfectly hydrated and healthy looking.

jonski1968

i put 2 scoops scivation xtend (grape flavour) in a litre of water and have no problem drininking 2-1/2 ltrs a day.

tigersword

It is one of my main worries - I can't seem to drink enough water. If it were tea, I'd be fine! I only seem to be able to drink 4-5 glasses of cold water a day. Any tips on how to make it more "interesting" or how I can force myself to drink more?

ta!

There is no "required amount of water." The only requirement is to stay hydrated. Drink tea if you like tea, it hydrates you just the same. It is 99% water, after all.

Buckeyt

It is one of my main worries - I can't seem to drink enough water. If it were tea, I'd be fine! I only seem to be able to drink 4-5 glasses of cold water a day. Any tips on how to make it more "interesting" or how I can force myself to drink more?

ta!

There is no "required amount of water." The only requirement is to stay hydrated. Drink tea if you like tea, it hydrates you just the same. It is 99% water, after all.

I too was unaware of any "requirement"! Drink when you're thirsty, that's what I do.

keependuring

Tea, diet sodas, flavored drinks all count. They all have water and should not have sugar for best results.

monih10

It is one of my main worries - I can't seem to drink enough water. If it were tea, I'd be fine! I only seem to be able to drink 4-5 glasses of cold water a day. Any tips on how to make it more "interesting" or how I can force myself to drink more?

ta!

I agree!! Drink as much tea as you like!!

Tea contains water doesn't it?

Drink more tea..no problems. It counts!

juresch

this may sound wierd, but I have found an alarm at www.kukuklok.com
and I set it for an hour at a time while I am at work. When the alarm goes off
I try to drink as much water as I can and then I reset it for another hour.

SInce I have been doing this, I find that I drink alot more water during the day.
When I don't have the alarm set, I tend to go MANY hours and then remember,
"oops, I haven't been drinking my water today, and the day is half over!!"

It works for me! give it a try!

PlanetVelma

Add some vodka to your water w/ a slice of lime. :laugh:

Just teasin'!

During the summer I tend to drink more iced tea than water. I do try to drink at least get 32 oz of just water, but don't worry about it too much.

Aegelis

"I want you to drink until your pee is clear, is that understood?" "Sir yes sir!"

Maybe it's just a military thing, but it works for me. After you're clear, it just seems like your making you're non-muscular organs do unnecessary work. The big danger is if you do exercise a lot or are sweating from the heat and you're not clear, you can run into some dehydration problems.

apapandrea

It is one of my main worries - I can't seem to drink enough water. If it were tea, I'd be fine! I only seem to be able to drink 4-5 glasses of cold water a day. Any tips on how to make it more "interesting" or how I can force myself to drink more?

ta!

There is no "required amount of water." The only requirement is to stay hydrated. Drink tea if you like tea, it hydrates you just the same. It is 99% water, after all.

But don't forget that tea and coffee (and many sodas) have caffeine in them, which does have a dehydrating effect! Try caffeine free teas and sodas if that is the route you so choose. (I personally am a huge advocate for drinking lots of water, but I'm not here to preach, just to offer some advice!)

lady_in_weighting

i force myself to drink water through the day at work but i hate it. im drinking when im not even thirsty, makes me feel quite sick after a while :grumble:

meadowmail77

I add some fresh squeezed lemon to mine when I'm struggling to drink enough. It helps

MissAnjy

I don't have a "required amount". I drink when I feel I need to or should and that's about it. I don't worry about pounding back that extra 4 glasses before bed because I haven't made the 8 glass quota. I just do what feels right for me. Some days, I dont drink any water.

HauteP1nk

I have been focusing on drinking a lot more water. I think the actual recommended amount is half your body weight in ounces... and for every tea/pop/coffee you have to drink 2 additional glasses...

Anyways...there are lots of ways that you can do it....make it taste good by adding fruits like lemons/limes/berries... Drink it ice cold! Drink it with a straw!

Always carry a bottle with you.

Or, drink down a glass every hour on the hour...like clock work....

And if all else fails then just force yourself. For me I find that once I increased my water intake and forced myself to make a habit of drinking more that it just started to come naturally. After a week or two I really noticed a difference.

holthaus30

Just to add flavor when I get tired of water I use the Mio liquids, spices things up a bit. Plus they are 0 calories.

iuew

i don't drink the 8 glasses of water a day. but when you count decaf / tea / etc, i certainly do.

it's almost entirely H2O.

zafferFL

It is one of my main worries - I can't seem to drink enough water. If it were tea, I'd be fine! I only seem to be able to drink 4-5 glasses of cold water a day. Any tips on how to make it more "interesting" or how I can force myself to drink more?

ta!

There is no "required amount of water." The only requirement is to stay hydrated. Drink tea if you like tea, it hydrates you just the same. It is 99% water, after all.

But don't forget that tea and coffee (and many sodas) have caffeine in them, which does have a dehydrating effect! Try caffeine free teas and sodas if that is the route you so choose. (I personally am a huge advocate for drinking lots of water, but I'm not here to preach, just to offer some advice!)

Tea contains less than 70mg of caffeine, often WAY less.
You need to exceed 500-700mg of caffeine for it to have a diuretic effect.

So tea and coffee essentially have the same diuretic effect as water itself.

Carry on with the tea. Just don't overload with sugar (nothing to do with the liquid, just hidden calories)

abhishekbansalinWECHANGED

It's a habbit, initially i was drinking 3-4 galss of water, now i am talking atleast 11-12 glasses of water daily. Make it a habbit to drink a glass every hour, it may be difficult initially, but slowly it becomes a habbit and then if you don't drink you will feel thirsty.

juresch

I found an alarm clock for my computer at www.kukuklok.com
I set it for the top of the hour while I am at work. When the alarm goes
off, I drink as much water as I can, then reset it for another hour.
I have found that I have been drink ALOT more water with this
little reminder.
When I don't have the alarm set, I find that the day is half over and
I have consumed very little water.
This little trick works for me.

paleojamie

It is one of my main worries - I can't seem to drink enough water. If it were tea, I'd be fine! I only seem to be able to drink 4-5 glasses of cold water a day. Any tips on how to make it more "interesting" or how I can force myself to drink more?

ta!

How about squeezing a small amount of fruit in Squeeze of lemon or lime perhaps.

vartanfan71

I love the mio flavors! I drink 12-14 cups a day of water, sometimes more