How important in water?

Have to admit that the water goal each day is getting me down and I don't even come close to making it. So how important is the water goal each day?
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Replies

  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    It is important to stay hydrated - your body needs water for lots and lots of different functions. The goal suggested by MFP is just a general recommendation and might not apply to everyone - it depends on different variables like what climate you live in and how active you are. If your urine is a pale straw colour then you're probably not dehydrated. If it's dark in colour, you should probably try to drink more.

    It doesn't have to be plain water though. Your body can just as easily use the water that is part of other fluids, including decaffeinated tea. (The caffeine does not dehydrate you enough to negate the hydration from the water in the same drink). So, if you're struggling with plain water, but drink plenty of other drinks, then that's ok. I get my water from plain water, tea, fruit/herbal teas, milk and nut milks.
  • SorchaRavenlock
    SorchaRavenlock Posts: 220 Member
    For me it makes all the difference. I retain water very easily, and if I don't drink enough or eat too much sodium my weight can go up by 3 to 5 pounds.

    Now, there are different opinions on this, but if you don't like drinking water you can drink (and count) other liquids as well. Herbal teas, water with a few slices of fruit, water with a little bit of fruit juice, water with some flavoring, milk, tea and coffee, and so on.
    The only thing I wouldn't count is anything with sugar or alcohol.

    I started by drinking herbal teas and water with a drop of Ribena (sugar free version) and now I drink about 10-13 glasses of plain water a day because I got used to it.
  • mjnov
    mjnov Posts: 31 Member
    i thought it was hard too! but water is so important to your body, so you should try to make it a priority.

    to help me, i bought a large 32 oz water bottle that helped me keep track of the exact amount of water i was drinking per day. i made it my goal to have at least two full water bottles a day (8oz = 1cup, 64 oz = 8 cups). before i knew it, i was getting more than enough water.

    it also helped me to add lemon juice to my water, makes it taste better and curbs that juice craving.
  • DaveC29
    DaveC29 Posts: 232 Member
    Probably just as important as eating healthy...

    If you are not hydrated properly, a couple of things happen- it is harder to eliminate all the toxins from your body, so they stay in your tissue longer and can cause a multitude of problems long term. Your body will recognize this and retain a lot of the water you do drink, so you gain weight.

    Get a bottle and drink the water, it is really good for you to do this. 8 cups is only half a gallon...

    I add Mi0 ti mine or I drink iced tea, pure water is good too- gotta drink it if you expect to benefit from a healthy lifestyle later!
  • tas3980
    tas3980 Posts: 93 Member
    It's very important..! I went from not being able to drink it (physcological thing from contracting a water borne virus a few years back), to adding no added preservatives/no sugar cordial to it and now I am able to drink it "straight". Although some days, I do struggle to reach the recommended daily intake but the next day, I just try to do better.
  • Adara13
    Adara13 Posts: 50
    Thank all for the replys! I drink a lot do the, Rooibos and fruit tea's. But from what I am reading I will have to make a bigger effort!
  • sarahrbraun
    sarahrbraun Posts: 2,261 Member
    I didn't drink a lot....until I ended up with a 14mm kidney stone 13 months ago. Apparently it was caused by chronic dehydration :( Now I drink an average of 3-4 liters a day...
  • CassieReannan
    CassieReannan Posts: 1,479 Member
    I find my water intake really easy to hit.. This is because I drink like a camel on a hot day. I can easily drink 3 -4 L a day and drink as much as I can handle. If you are worried you are getting too little then assess why you dont drink enough (little time, dont like the taste, ect). I know putting some lemon juice in my water makes it taste better. Great suggestions here about drinking teas and other drinks. Every drop counts.
  • newmooon56
    newmooon56 Posts: 347 Member
    I truly believe many health issues comes from chronic dehydration that most ppl dont know they have. At home when my kids complain about small issues I will often ask if theyve drank a lot of water yet today and that includes complaints of : head ache, muscle ache, fatigue, sore throat, constipation, and even digestive issues. A tall glass of water often fixes these issues as often its lack of water that brought them on.

    Its great for your skin- keeps you full in between meals and is what your body is mostly made of - it should be the main drink of your day.

    No other drink should be for thirst quenching- not soda, or tea- those are foods (treats) if there are calories- I dont count drinks as a drink- its food to my body. Water is necessary- soda/juice/etc are not. By the time you feel thirsty you are already partially dehydrated. Sometimes we mistake hunger for thirst. If we all drank the 8 glasses a day - some of that noise would go away- and we'd all be better for it in so many ways.

    Water isnt just important- its absolutely necessary- every single day - in large quantities. - shouldnt be a goal- should be a way of life getting 64oz min. a day.
  • RealWomenLovePitbulls
    RealWomenLovePitbulls Posts: 729 Member
    water is important, keep a bottle with you all the time, that way u can see exactly how much u are drinking, and since it's right there, u will find yourself reaching for it without even thinking about it
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    Drinking is important. It doesn't have to be water. I only drink water when exercising, and get the rest of my fluids from tea and peppermint tea.
  • sana66
    sana66 Posts: 54 Member
    wow its great that u all drink soo much water...my problem is rushing to the loo within 5 minutes of drinking a whole glass ov water..lol...v irriating,,does that mean my body isnt using/needing the water?
  • thrld
    thrld Posts: 610 Member
    It is important to stay hydrated - your body needs water for lots and lots of different functions. The goal suggested by MFP is just a general recommendation and might not apply to everyone - it depends on different variables like what climate you live in and how active you are. If your urine is a pale straw colour then you're probably not dehydrated. If it's dark in colour, you should probably try to drink more.

    It doesn't have to be plain water though. Your body can just as easily use the water that is part of other fluids, including decaffeinated tea. (The caffeine does not dehydrate you enough to negate the hydration from the water in the same drink). So, if you're struggling with plain water, but drink plenty of other drinks, then that's ok. I get my water from plain water, tea, fruit/herbal teas, milk and nut milks.
    This.
  • Fasbold
    Fasbold Posts: 29
    Good topic and great advice! Water keeps things working and moving like they should - general health & fitness; and water helps us with our weight loss goals. Listen and watch the signals from your body to know if you are getting enough.
  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    I truly believe many health issues comes from chronic dehydration that most ppl dont know they have. At home when my kids complain about small issues I will often ask if theyve drank a lot of water yet today and that includes complaints of : head ache, muscle ache, fatigue, sore throat, constipation, and even digestive issues. A tall glass of water often fixes these issues as often its lack of water that brought them on.

    Its great for your skin- keeps you full in between meals and is what your body is mostly made of - it should be the main drink of your day.

    No other drink should be for thirst quenching- not soda, or tea- those are foods (treats) if there are calories- I dont count drinks as a drink- its food to my body. Water is necessary- soda/juice/etc are not.

    Whether you count other drinks as water or not has no effect on whether or not your body can use the water in those drinks. No one is saying that soda or juice are necessary for good health, or that they don't have other reasons that you might not want to drink them. The body can still use them for hydration though. If some sugar or sweetener is added to water, the water is still there.
  • slim104
    slim104 Posts: 160
    wow its great that u all drink soo much water...my problem is rushing to the loo within 5 minutes of drinking a whole glass ov water..lol...v irriating,,does that mean my body isnt using/needing the water?

    I'm interested to hear the answer to this question. I drink about 3 litres a day and am always popping to the loo.
  • kingofcrunk
    kingofcrunk Posts: 372 Member
    Have to admit that the water goal each day is getting me down and I don't even come close to making it. So how important is the water goal each day?

    Just drink more?

    I'm not sure what you want people to say to you on this?
  • alasin1derland
    alasin1derland Posts: 575 Member
    http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/jenheath4.htm

    this article explains how water aids in burning fat, it has to do with organ function.
  • Adara13
    Adara13 Posts: 50
    Elcollins, For me the biggest question was can I get away by not drinking so much water. I am sorry if I didn't put it in the correct wording for you to quite understand it,

    I drink about 4 cups of coffee a day and arouse 2 cups of tea with honey. But water self.... Not unless it snows or rains or some major even takes place.
  • you could also drink crystal light. every now and again when im really craving the flavor of juice but know i kneed to drink water i grab a water bottle and just add a to go packet. one packet helps me drink almost two bottles. they have a wide verity of flavors and boosters. there is even a green tea one.
  • you could also drink crystal light. every now and again when im really craving the flavor of juice but know i kneed to drink water i grab a water bottle and just add a to go packet. one packet helps me drink almost two bottles. they have a wide verity of flavors and boosters. there is even a green tea one.
  • Adara13
    Adara13 Posts: 50
    Thanks Monigibson! I don't know the product that you are talking about but am making a note and wil go look for it.
  • kirsty_mc
    kirsty_mc Posts: 35 Member
    For me, if I dont drink water I end up really tired and unwell. Even if I drink half water and half juice I still end up a bit "fizzy" in the head.

    I just keep a 75cl bottle on my desk and aim to have to refil that every 40 - 60mins.
  • sarahrbraun
    sarahrbraun Posts: 2,261 Member
    Elcollins, For me the biggest question was can I get away by not drinking so much water. I am sorry if I didn't put it in the correct wording for you to quite understand it,

    I drink about 4 cups of coffee a day and arouse 2 cups of tea with honey. But water self.... Not unless it snows or rains or some major even takes place.

    you may *think* you are getting away with not drinking much, but one day it may come back to bite you in the *kitten*. I was like you for ages---lucky if I drank 4 glasses of ANYTHING a day. I just couldn't be bothered to get up and fill a glass that the whole damn family was going to try and drink out of. Then one day I woke up in horrible pain. When I went to the ER ( A&E) I was told that I had a kidney stone. The doctor said that it was 14mm. Over a 3 week period I had 3 surgeries ( a stent placement, lithotripsy, then a scope/laser combo). I now have to take a daily potassium supplement, and have an x-ray and do a 24hr urine collection every 6-12 months. When I did the first 24hr collection I was told that I was chronically dehydrated!
  • RhonndaJ
    RhonndaJ Posts: 1,615 Member
    It is important to stay hydrated - your body needs water for lots and lots of different functions. The goal suggested by MFP is just a general recommendation and might not apply to everyone - it depends on different variables like what climate you live in and how active you are. If your urine is a pale straw colour then you're probably not dehydrated. If it's dark in colour, you should probably try to drink more.

    It doesn't have to be plain water though. Your body can just as easily use the water that is part of other fluids, including decaffeinated tea. (The caffeine does not dehydrate you enough to negate the hydration from the water in the same drink). So, if you're struggling with plain water, but drink plenty of other drinks, then that's ok. I get my water from plain water, tea, fruit/herbal teas, milk and nut milks.

    this.
  • deviantcupcake
    deviantcupcake Posts: 136 Member
    I find it really difficult to drink enough water. Usually that's because I have a cup of coffee in my hand, instead.

    I've got a 1L bottle now, which I try to fill twice a day to get all my daily water intake. The biggest problem I have with drinking water is that it makes me pee like crazy. So if I'm not at home, I find it very difficult to drink lots because I'm always looking for the nearest toilet. At home... Like I said, I usually have a coffee in my hand.

    I'm getting better, very slowly. I hear the ridiculous need to pee all the time goes away once the body gets used to the new water intake, but because I have so many days where I slip up and don't drink enough, I don't think my body's reached that point yet.
  • cramernh
    cramernh Posts: 3,335 Member
    Well..I can share this with this thread.

    One of the women that works with me (we work for a 300+ physician organization), was attending an exercise class that was held last Friday.

    She dropped in the middle of class. Was rushed to the hospital (thank goodness our own hospital network), and almost 3 bags of saline later, was totally dehydrated, had placed a great deal of stress on her cardiac function, neurologically she could not communicate for the first 24 hours and had to be a direct admit once she arrived.

    Water is vital......
  • jimbo_a_logo
    jimbo_a_logo Posts: 26 Member
    "Function
    Water plays an essential role in almost all bodily functions. Water acts to transport nutrients and gases throughout the body, and also enables cellular reactions to take place. Water carries waste products out of your body in the form of urine and feces, helps lubricate your joints, and cushions your organs. Water helps you maintain a stable body temperature during exercise and environmental heat stress. Water is so essential to human life that you can expect to live only a few days without it."
    Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/287683-water-as-a-percentage-of-human-body-weight/#ixzz226aftXPC

    Drinking enough water is very important.
  • kaotik26
    kaotik26 Posts: 590 Member
    Water makes up a huge part of your body's composition. It helps your muscles, joints, circulation, even brain function. You are just going to function better if you're hydrated. 8 cups of water a day is ideal if you are not sweating and working a lot. The more you sweat, the more you need. My whole life I have downright hated water. Just got out of the military where they made us CHUG a quart at random parts of the day and then use beads to keep track of it. Now I found that if I use a 20oz water bottle and fill it with ice I can easily meet my water goal. Ice makes it taste better to me. Everthing has water in it but nothing can replace it, plus no calories!!
  • Adara13
    Adara13 Posts: 50
    Thanks all for the replys so far, and I must admit that it was, at least for me, bit of a wake up call! It's 14:00 here and I can happily report I have had two glasses of water. Not ideal, yet, but for me a start. I find it difficult thou finishing a glass .... Trying the bottle idea.

    What works best for everyone?