Why drink a gallon of water?

iheidibefitt
iheidibefitt Posts: 80 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I can barely get my 64 ounces in..how in the world do people drink a gallon?

Seriously though. why do people feel they need to drink that much water? Even if you're very active, a gallon?

Body builders...a gallon for all those muscles?

For me, I believe a gallon of water would leave my sodium levels too low.

So, anyone that drinks that much a day...what's the reasoning?

Thanks!
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Replies

  • violasmith85
    violasmith85 Posts: 274 Member
    I guess maybe if you're constantly consuming far too much sodium it would be helpful.
  • sbjmorgan
    sbjmorgan Posts: 158 Member
    I'm bigger than you, I require more water. It's not hard for me, but I like ice water.

    Edit: it took me a while to drink enough water. 100 oz is my minimum if I take a walk. It really helps me to drink a lot, I don't really over consume sodium either, I don't really understand it myself except that it's just what I personally need.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I guess it depends on their weight, but yeah... I think it's way overkill.
  • iheidibefitt
    iheidibefitt Posts: 80 Member
    I'm bigger than you, I require more water. It's not hard for me, but I like ice water.

    I can see that being a possibility. But for those that aren't much bigger than me drinking that much. I try to drink a glass of water every hour or every two hours. I just couldn't do it. Unless it was hot and I was working a lot outside.
  • h7463
    h7463 Posts: 626 Member
    You don't need to drink 'a gallon', but you should drink enough to keep your body hydrated. Clear to light urine=good, dark urine=bad. It's this simple.
    I drink a gallon most days, but I also train a lot and sweat a lot. It's not difficult to drink that amount, because everything counts, not just water.

    :drinker:
  • vismal
    vismal Posts: 2,463 Member
    I can barely get my 64 ounces in..how in the world do people drink a gallon?

    Seriously though. why do people feel they need to drink that much water? Even if you're very active, a gallon?

    Body builders...a gallon for all those muscles?

    For me, I believe a gallon of water would leave my sodium levels too low.

    So, anyone that drinks that much a day...what's the reasoning?

    Thanks!
    There's actually very little research supporting the "Everyone should drink a gallon a day" rule. I think people picked a gallon because it isn't likely to harm them and it's a nice round number. Since it's water people feel drinking more then is needed is better then drinking not enough. There is some merit to that line of thinking. I personally don't track water. I drink when I'm thirsty. If I find that I'm hungry and I shouldn't be (just ate a meal, next meal isnt for a while) I drink water. Sometimes thirst/dehydration can be mistaken for hunger. But just like not every person needs the same calories, not every person needs a gallon of water.
  • sbjmorgan
    sbjmorgan Posts: 158 Member
    Well, I also live in a house with no AC (not really a strange thing in the Bay Area but it does get hot here) so I probably drink extra thanks to that since we're in warm weather.
  • iheidibefitt
    iheidibefitt Posts: 80 Member
    You don't need to drink 'a gallon', but you should drink enough to keep your body hydrated. Clear to light urine=good, dark urine=bad. It's this simple.
    I drink a gallon most days, but I also train a lot and sweat a lot. It's not difficult to drink that amount, because everything counts, not just water.

    :drinker:

    I like to keep my urine light or clear. If my urine is clear and I still feel like I have cotton mouth, I sip water. I don't want to have too much.
  • Chief_Rocka
    Chief_Rocka Posts: 4,710 Member
    Because drinking from a gallon jug makes me feel hardcore
  • iheidibefitt
    iheidibefitt Posts: 80 Member
    I can barely get my 64 ounces in..how in the world do people drink a gallon?

    Seriously though. why do people feel they need to drink that much water? Even if you're very active, a gallon?

    Body builders...a gallon for all those muscles?

    For me, I believe a gallon of water would leave my sodium levels too low.

    So, anyone that drinks that much a day...what's the reasoning?

    Thanks!
    There's actually very little research supporting the "Everyone should drink a gallon a day" rule. I think people picked a gallon because it isn't likely to harm them and it's a nice round number. Since it's water people feel drinking more then is needed is better then drinking not enough. There is some merit to that line of thinking. I personally don't track water. I drink when I'm thirsty. If I find that I'm hungry and I shouldn't be (just ate a meal, next meal isnt for a while) I drink water. Sometimes thirst/dehydration can be mistaken for hunger. But just like not every person needs the same calories, not every person needs a gallon of water.

    Agreed. As long as my urine is clear and I'm not thirsty, I'm good.

    Trying to hit a gallon a day when not thirsty and urine is clear, I just couldn't do it.
  • iheidibefitt
    iheidibefitt Posts: 80 Member
    Because drinking from a gallon jug makes me feel hardcore

    hahaha I thought body builders because that's who I'm used to seeing with jugs of water.
  • iheidibefitt
    iheidibefitt Posts: 80 Member
    Well, I also live in a house with no AC (not really a strange thing in the Bay Area but it does get hot here) so I probably drink extra thanks to that since we're in warm weather.

    Well like you said, you're bigger than me and that might contribute to it. I guess since I can barely get 64 ounces in it just seems like a TON of water. Like I'd be drowning.
  • vismal
    vismal Posts: 2,463 Member
    Because drinking from a gallon jug makes me feel hardcore

    hahaha I thought body builders because that's who I'm used to seeing with jugs of water.
    Bodybuilders do it because a guy at the gym that is bigger then they are told them do. Bodybuilders do a lot of things because a guy at the gym who was bigger then they are told them to....
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    I don't even bother with the 8 glasses a day thing.

    http://www.snopes.com/medical/myths/8glasses.asp
  • prettychelly
    prettychelly Posts: 112 Member
    The simple answer I love water. I only hit a gallon on workout days.
  • iheidibefitt
    iheidibefitt Posts: 80 Member
    Because drinking from a gallon jug makes me feel hardcore

    hahaha I thought body builders because that's who I'm used to seeing with jugs of water.
    Bodybuilders do it because a guy at the gym that is bigger then they are told them do. Bodybuilders do a lot of things because a guy at the gym who was bigger then they are told them to....

    I figured it was because with so many muscles they require more water...that when they're in competition they dehydrate so their muscles will pop.
  • iheidibefitt
    iheidibefitt Posts: 80 Member
    I don't even bother with the 8 glasses a day thing.

    http://www.snopes.com/medical/myths/8glasses.asp

    Each person is different, that is for sure. I guess 8 is an estimate for people to hover around.
  • VryIrishGirl76
    VryIrishGirl76 Posts: 1,167 Member
    Because I'm just that thirsty....
  • jrline
    jrline Posts: 2,353 Member
    I drink 2-3 gallons a day It makes me feel better and helped me to lose weight

    29509743.png
  • baconslave
    baconslave Posts: 7,021 Member
    I don't even bother with the 8 glasses a day thing.

    http://www.snopes.com/medical/myths/8glasses.asp

    Each person is different, that is for sure. I guess 8 is an estimate for people to hover around.

    Precisely. People just need to drink more water. It's an average as much as anything. I drink between 8 and 12 glasses a day. Just depends on activity level, whether or not I'm sweating bunches (hard workout or just out in the hot weather), or general thirstiness.

    The point really should be: drink mostly water and stay well hydrated. They always have to get anal about numbers. :yawn:
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    Because drinking from a gallon jug makes me feel hardcore

    hahaha I thought body builders because that's who I'm used to seeing with jugs of water.
    Bodybuilders do it because a guy at the gym that is bigger then they are told them do. Bodybuilders do a lot of things because a guy at the gym who was bigger then they are told them to....
    Ha! Love it.

    I drop a kid at high school. The football players all arrive at school carrying a gallon jug of water, because their coach told them to, in order to drink that much over the day. I would much rather carry a quart bottle and fill it 4 times but I guess this minimizes the counting for kids.
  • PrizePopple
    PrizePopple Posts: 3,133 Member
    If I've been active it's not unheard of. My normal daily water consumption is right at 12 cups. I also live in a desert, so when I'm active outside it's HOT, and I sweat buckets. When I get back from "jogging" I will down 2 of my water bottles, which would be 6 cups.

    Speaking of... I need to refill my water bottle. :drinker:
  • iheidibefitt
    iheidibefitt Posts: 80 Member
    I drink 2-3 gallons a day It makes me feel better and helped me to lose weight

    29509743.png

    Goodness!!
  • shabaity
    shabaity Posts: 792 Member
    I hit a liter to a liter and a half not including the 15 oz energy drink in the morning daily. Mostly because my water bottle is .5 L so I can measure that easier. This being said you don't need to you get fluids from everything you drink and a lot of what you eat as well and this helps with hydration.
  • suremeansyes
    suremeansyes Posts: 962 Member
    So, anyone that drinks that much a day...what's the reasoning?

    I'm thirsty?
  • _lyndseybrooke_
    _lyndseybrooke_ Posts: 2,561 Member
    I think it's overkill as well.

    Since all fluids, not just water, count toward your intake, I'd say I drink about 90-100 oz per day. That's about 3/4 of a gallon, which is super easy (a 16 oz bottle during my workout, another between breakfast and lunch, another between lunch and dinner, and another between dinner and bedtime...along with my daily protein smoothie and coffee every morning), but if I tack on another bottle, I'm usually up all night peeing. I did this for a long time and my body never adjusted like they say it does - I felt like I was in the bathroom every 10 minutes. Even if I cut off my fluid intake 2-3 hours before bed, I still got up to pee in the middle of the night at least twice per night. No thanks - this girl needs her sleep!
  • iheidibefitt
    iheidibefitt Posts: 80 Member
    I don't even bother with the 8 glasses a day thing.

    http://www.snopes.com/medical/myths/8glasses.asp

    Each person is different, that is for sure. I guess 8 is an estimate for people to hover around.

    Precisely. People just need to drink more water. It's an average as much as anything. I drink between 8 and 12 glasses a day. Just depends on activity level, whether or not I'm sweating bunches (hard workout or just out in the hot weather), or general thirstiness.

    The point really should be: drink mostly water and stay well hydrated. They always have to get anal about numbers. :yawn:

    I try to pace myself...a glass every hour to two hours maybe. After a run when it's warm, I drink a glass or two within 30 minutes.
  • iheidibefitt
    iheidibefitt Posts: 80 Member
    So, anyone that drinks that much a day...what's the reasoning?

    I'm thirsty?

    You tell me. If you're thirsty, you're thirsty.

    I guess I mean those that aim to drink that much ahead of time.
  • iheidibefitt
    iheidibefitt Posts: 80 Member
    I hit a liter to a liter and a half not including the 15 oz energy drink in the morning daily. Mostly because my water bottle is .5 L so I can measure that easier. This being said you don't need to you get fluids from everything you drink and a lot of what you eat as well and this helps with hydration.

    That's very true about getting hydrated from food.
  • iheidibefitt
    iheidibefitt Posts: 80 Member
    I think it's overkill as well.

    Since all fluids, not just water, count toward your intake, I'd say I drink about 90-100 oz per day. That's about 3/4 of a gallon, which is super easy (a 16 oz bottle during my workout, another between breakfast and lunch, another between lunch and dinner, and another between dinner and bedtime...along with my daily protein smoothie and coffee every morning), but if I tack on another bottle, I'm usually up all night peeing. I did this for a long time and my body never adjusted like they say it does - I felt like I was in the bathroom every 10 minutes. Even if I cut off my fluid intake 2-3 hours before bed, I still got up to pee in the middle of the night at least twice per night. No thanks - this girl needs her sleep!

    I have to pee about twice between each glass...having a desk job and having to let the other secretary know I need to go so she can cover for me, gosh...I bet they wonder if I have a bladder infection lol

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