Am I drinking too much water per day?

since others are much better in explaining than me, I was just searching for information about too much drinking. For me, 1 gallon a day seems way too much. I'm drinking between 1,5 and 2 liters (so up to half a gallon) and I'm fine. with that. During exercise I'm drinking more, of course (during 1 hour of spinning course up to 1,5 liters).

Maybe this link will be helpful: http://thankyourbody.com/drinking-too-much-water/

I'm drinking right about the same amount, but I've been a beverage guzzler my entire life (and pee like one too, pardon the indelicacy). Some people drink a LOT, others don't. I do notice my water retention is better (less) on the days I drink 12+ glasses of water.

I suspect this is not just habit,but rather something in my genetic makeup because I have twin daughters. one of them is a sipper (she can nurse along a sippy cup for 2 hours...provided the other doesn't steal the cup), and the other is a gulper. Has been since the day she was born (okay, the day she came out of the NICU). She can polish off her sippy cup in 5 minutes or less and goes looking to steal her sister's sippy cup to finish that off too. And of course she goes through the expected additional diapers because of it. Hehe. Like Mom like daughter!

On most days, i drink 14-18 glasses so about a gallon. I make sure to get at least 16 cups when i am over on sodium. That way, i see no water retention. Water is all i drink, so no i dont think its too much.

Many trainers (including my former one that I can't afford anymore) recommend drinking 1/2 your body weight in ounces of water per day. For me that's shrinking but it's around 115oz. I don't think stretching it by 13oz more to make it a full gallon will do me any harm, and I used to drink so much more than that (close to 2 gallons). I'm just a big water drinker. I've never had any problems from it.

I'm drinking right about the same amount, but I've been a beverage guzzler my entire life (and pee like one too, pardon the indelicacy). Some people drink a LOT, others don't. I do notice my water retention is better (less) on the days I drink 12+ glasses of water.

I suspect this is not just habit,but rather something in my genetic makeup (snip)

Same here! I'm just a really thirsty person and always have been.

There are two general rules of thumb that I've read about water consumption.

1) drink 1/2 your weight (in pounds) in fluid ounces. For instance, I weight 175 pounds so that's 87.5 ounces or approx 11 cups per day. If you're active, add in at least 2 more cups. The exception to this is if you eat a lot of raw foods as those provide lots of fluid. Which is why #2 can help...

2) urine color. If your pee is darker yellow, especially if it has an odor, you may be dehydrated and need to drink more water. If your pee is pale yellow you're right on target. If it's clear, you may be overhydrated or you could just be drinking your water too fast. Yes, guzzling isn't not necessarily a good thing. It's like overeating after fasting - the body just can't handle that volume and will let most of it pass through unprocessed. Drinking slowly/sipping is better. If you have trouble guzzling, put some ice in that water or keep it in the fridge - the colder it is, the more likely you'll sip as guzzling will be uncomfortable.
One more note on this: if you're on certain meds or take certain vitamins, these may affect urine color. Research or ask your doc to be sure.

Are you comfortable with what you are drinking? Are you forcing yourself to drink this much? How much do you sweat when you work out?

I drink about a gallon a day without forcing or measuring it. That is just what I drink, that is when I feel good. Some days I'll drink more, others I'll drink less, but it does average to right about a gallon a day.

My husband drinks probably half or less of what I do a day. He is perfectly fine at that level. Unless there are specific health reasons to do so, I don't think anyone needs to force themselves to drink more fluids.

You need to drink enough for your urine to be pale yellow. There's no set amount per person and you get a lot of fluids from the food you eat. An apple is 85% water for example. Drinking excess water puts strain on your kidneys and doesn't flush out fat or toxins. The whole 8 glasses a day thing is a myth.

That's right but no1 will understand.

Dark yellow = dehydrated
Pale yellow = hydrated
Clear = overhydrated

Yep this is how I judge it as well. I drink lots of water but I don't feel guilty if I drink iced tea or a pop or two. My body doesn't care as long as I am hydrated.

That's right but no1 will understand.

Dark yellow = dehydrated
Pale yellow = hydrated
Clear = overhydrated

You missed one:

luminous orange/yellow = Berocca much?

Or too much B12 vitamin. I used to take a GNC multivitamin that had more B12 than I needed...it came out florescent yellow! Completely freaked me out.