How do you drink 8 glasses of water a day??

tigersword · August 2012

Well, first, everything you drink that isn't hard liquor counts toward the water requirement.

As for how much? Drink when you are thirsty, stop when you aren't. Simple.

RenfieldX · August 2012

The 8 glasses of water should be treated as a rule of thumb, not an absolute minimum. It's one of those diet 'facts' that have become common knowledge, yet most people, even nutritionists, can't tell you where it originated.

I've always treated it like BMI - it's probably a good average for large populations, but doesn't necessarily apply to every individual. Personally, I drink way more than 8 glasses per day. I've always drank large amounts of water as long as I can remember. It's 9am right now, and I've already had at least 6. If I only drank 8 I'd feel dehydrated.

One thing to remember is that when they say '8 glasses' they mean 8 eight ounce glasses (8 cups, or around 2 litres). Most glasses that people use are larger than that.

Try having 1 glass when you get up, 1 before bed, and 1 glass before each meal. Like others have mentioned, keep a bottle on your desk and sip thoughout the day. Spread out over the entire day it's not really that difficult to get 8 glasses. Try it for awhile, and if you still find it to be too much, then don't drink that much. You know your body - maybe 6 glasses per day is fine for you.

jen_bd6 · August 2012

I'm confused by this too- how big (small) is a 'glass' anyway? Do other beverages (that must also contain water) count?
Per day should I drink 1/2/3/4 litres? Ideally.
And when I exercise I sweat a lot and so I drink water to rehydrate but should that water count or not- as I've sweated it off?

Not a natural water drinker - prefer it mixed with something or tea/coffee - but willing to try if I knew what to aim for. Thank you.

*I'm confused by this too- how big (small) is a 'glass' anyway? --8oz

*Do other beverages (that must also contain water) count? --Yes, unless they contain a lot of sugar/sodium

*Per day should I drink 1/2/3/4 litres? Ideally. --Some people argue at least 1/2 your body weight in ounces, at least 64 ounces a day.

*And when I exercise I sweat a lot and so I drink water to rehydrate but should that water count or not- as I've sweated it off? --It can count, however you should look at it more as a "replenishment". Shoot for 64 ounces a day as a start.

*Not a natural water drinker - prefer it mixed with something or tea/coffee - but willing to try if I knew what to aim for. --Crystal light is a way to help get water in... it's how I trained my body to get used to drinking so much. Was able to wean myself off of it and now I now drink just water all day.

Thank you for answering.
And not telling me I was over-thinking it all
They were just questions that kept popping into my head every time I logged in a glass.
I do think I am drinking enough over the day - just that very little of it is as natural water.

coffee, crystal light, sugar free drinks can all be counted as water. It's always best to try to drink as much plain water as possible because your kidneys don't have to work as hard to filter it, but if you absolutely CAN'T drink that much water, you can count some of the other stuff toward your daily total. The "8 glasses" is just a basic minimum and shouldn't be held as a definite rule. Everyone's body is different, but the basic point of it all is that your body needs water, so you should hydrate it. You will find that by drinking enough water, it also helps with appetite, and weightloss/maintaining said loss because it helps your body flush the toxins out.

You are doing fine and it's never a bad thing to ask questions... how else would you get the information?

Best of luck to you

Brandon74 · August 2012

I have no problems drinking eight glasses or more of water during the day. Usually, I drink much more than that.

camrunner · August 2012

I make sure I have 4x 32 oz bottles of water in the fridge every night before I go to bed. I almost always have to refill all of them every day. And that's just on an average day when I'm not spending much time at home.

jodi41086 · August 2012

most bottle water has 16 or 22 ounces. i'll drink 2 reg bottles of water and a 64 oz of walmart flavored water. plus you retain water from food as well if you eat a lot of fruit or lettuce.

njauatin · August 2012

I only drink water. Its easy to get it down when you don't have any other options.

XxSarahKatexX · August 2012

I'm at the computer a tonnnnn so i'm in one place a lot. I just stick 4 16.9oz water bottles in the fridge and take one out, sip on it mindlessly haha, maybe add some crystal light to one c: and when i finish one, i make sure to get another, and i let them collect next to me so i can see how many i drank/have left. It is the only way I can do it. I'm actually drinking 5 a day now : D( that is 10 cups a day!) I used to have a horrible water drinking habit where I wouldnt drink water for days, just because i forget about it, and once i got a certain stomach ache, that is when i'd finally drink some water >.<

XxSarahKatexX · August 2012

I'm confused by this too- how big (small) is a 'glass' anyway? Do other beverages (that must also contain water) count?
Per day should I drink 1/2/3/4 litres? Ideally.
And when I exercise I sweat a lot and so I drink water to rehydrate but should that water count or not- as I've sweated it off?

Not a natural water drinker - prefer it mixed with something or tea/coffee - but willing to try if I knew what to aim for. Thank you.

By "glass" they mean cup, and by cup, they mean 8 oz xD

Some people count coffee and tea and stuff as water, but it is probably better if it is just plain old water. It just depends on your opinion.

RyvreTam · August 2012

I'm sorry for skipping to the end to tell my story.

You just have to find what works for you. I cannot drink water through a straw or a glass glass. It had to be ice cold. It has to go with me everywhere. I started with half frozen water bottles. That was a hard habit to get into but I had about 4 bottles freezing in there at a time. Then they started to sweat everywhere so I switched to cups with ice and looked into the bottles. The only one I've found I like, that suits all my needs, is only sold at wal mart. Double lined, no straw, holds a lot, fits in my car cup holder. My ice machine can't keep up in the summer. It helps there is an ice maker at work. I have 2 and I carry one everywhere. Into stores and people's houses, sometimes restaurants because I don't realize I'm still holding it.

claw0416 · August 2012

water bottles, water bottles, water bottles! It is the easiest way to count up how many cups you have had through the day..I typically go through 8-10 water bottles a day, that is 2 cups/8 oz per bottle. I line them up by the fridge or collect them through out the day so I can keep track of how much I have consumed. I was not a big fan of water before going healthy. So water bottles seemed to be the easiest way I could down one and move on..Now that is all I drink. I feel way better, headaches and blood pressure have gone away..I have more energy and I get alot fuller when I eat.. Skin, hair and nails look way better too. Good luck on you new life style!

BrianSharpe · August 2012

One at a time

Seriously though, most people are able to get most of the fluids they need from the food they eat, coffee, tea, juices etc. You can judge your level of hydration based on the colour of your urine first thing in the AM - if it's very light / almost clear you're adequately hydrated.

If you're exercising, especially in very hot weather, it's more important to ensure you keep taking in fluids. The main reason water is recommended is that it's zero calories, caffeine free and (if you use a refillable water bottle) for all practical purposes free.

Vansy · August 2012

I carry a water bottle with all the time -- a 24 oz water bottle. And I drink off an on all day. By the time I leave work I usually already have at least 48 ounces. I usually finish another water bottle by the time I'm finished with my workout and run for the day. So by the end of the day i finish around 75+ ounces of water. My problem is not drinking TOO much water. It becomes habit after a week or two. I never have to chug water at the end of the day to meet my 8 glasses a day --- maybe that's where the full feeing comes from? Just have a water bottle on your desk and take a couple sips every 30 minutes or so.

WendyTerry420 · August 2012

the mindless constant sipping is what works for me. i have alot of those double walled cups with lids and straws. for some reason the straw is key for me. it makes it less painful (lol) to be drinking so much water in a day. and you kinda have to commit to drinking a ton everyday until it becomes second nature!

This is me too!

I started off with a reminder in my Outlook calendar that I hit snooze on every 10 minutes to remind me to sip some water. Forty days in, it is second nature now, and I feel like the character "Nancy" from "Weeds," always with a cup in my hand and mindlessly sipping on a straw. It takes time. I wasn't used to drinking that much either when I first started.

senyosmom · August 2012

Maybe you wont feel as full if you sip instead of gulp or chug it. I drink teh most in the car - I simply keep the bottle IN MY HAND and automatically sip it while driving - I drink a whole bottle each way to and from work.

At work, I travel with it (you know, if I get up to make copies of something I take it with me) and at my desk I sip it in between tasks - respond to email take a sip, get something ready for the mail take a sip, file away paperwork take a sip, etc.

You will be surprised how much you can drink when you sip it all day!

marniuk · August 2012

It does'nt have to be just plain old water, have squash, tea, coffee, (although specialists recommend drinking a cup of water to every cup of caffiene) but hey it's still water. If your s till finding it hard to consume the recommended amount, maybe freeze flavoured sugar free water and suck cubes once in a while. Hope this helps x

doinit78 · August 2012

I too cannot easily consume huge amounts of water (and by huge I mean more than about 20-30 oz a day). I very rarely drink any other liquids. I'm not a tea or coffee drinker. I use the Crystal Light ENERGY packs in the morning. But otherwise, I only drink when I'm thirsty, which is not often. I have good intentions. I bring water with me everywhere. I have about 10 bottles rolling around my car right now, and 4 on my desk right next to me.... all full. I eat a lot of fruit, so maybe that's why I'm not thirsty. I too hate that bloated feeling and figure why drink if I'm not thirsty. That's just how I see it....for now.

tashaa1992 · August 2012

For me water bottles are key, otherwise I'll just say I'm too busy to top my glass up lol. I can easily drink 3-4 litres a day, somedays I still drink more. I think maybe try starting your day off with a bottle, I find that helps.

ItsCasey · August 2012

You have to develop it as a habit, like anything else.

I have a 24 oz water bottle (that's three 8-oz servings). I drink 2 to 3 full bottles at work, a full bottle during my workout, a full bottle with dinner, and a full bottle between dinner and when I go to bed. So I'm usually getting at least 15 8-oz. glasses, nearly twice the recommendation.

thebigcb · August 2012

I know I know

Mouth?

TiffersStr1 · August 2012

I haven't reached the 8 a day but I am up to 6. All I can say is I had to work up to what I can consume. Took some time. I do know that my water MUST be as cold as possible..so I usually try to drink at least half of the 16.9 in the first 2 minutes of opening. Good luck!:happy:

thenewkayla · August 2012

Im glad im not the Only one with this problem. I Was able to drink 5 Glasses sunday and thats all i drank no soda or juice!

FitBunnyEm · August 2012

its a habit, i have two big bottles on my desk at work. i just keep 'downing' glasses...have about 16 a day...i drink loads after my workout...the weekends i find it hard to remember lol

rlmadrid · August 2012

I had trouble at first too, mainly because it just didn't cross my mind. Now I find myself craving water! Seriously, I know when I haven't had enough. The way I count it on MFP is that 8oz (250 ml) = a glass. So I have a water bottle that is 750 ml (3 "glasses"). I try to drink at least 3 of these a day, but on days when I work out, I drink way more.

I've also found water to be great for curbing my appetite. I work a desk job and used to snack all day. Now I drink water or herbal teas.

MAGCo3 · August 2012

The best way to do it is to keep a bottle of water with you all day. Take sips of it frequently. Keep it cold and if it starts to warm up put it in the fridge and get a cold one out. Try it out for a few days and see if that helps.

mfpseven · August 2012

8 CUPS a day, so 8oz. you are closer than you think I'd imagine. I try to have about 2 cups(one large glass) with every meal and another 2 before bed at some point more than makes up my quota.

Stpjudge · August 2012

I drink 8 oz when i get up in the morning -- has to be done before I can have coffee or anything else. Then I carry my 20 oz cup with me wherever i go. I do a lot of mindless *water* drinking while I'm driving ... it keeps me occupied in the car.