Why drink a gallon of water?

2

Replies

  • stacyjh1979
    stacyjh1979 Posts: 188 Member
    Before I started trying to lose weight I was drinking anywhere from 44-132oz of Diet Mt Dew a day. I stopped drinking the pop completely and now I drink probably at least 100oz of water per day, sometimes more. I don't do this for any particular reason other than I like water, I like to be drinking something most of the time and I know it's good for me. It is one thing I don't log accurately because I figure it really doesn't matter (in terms of no calories anyway). I have noticed that I drink almost all of this while at work and when I get home in the evening I barely drink anything from then until bedtime. I also drink far less on the weekends. Not really sure why. This article influenced my decision somewhat but it's really not any certain goal I strive for in terms of water consumption.


    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2480491/How-drinking-litres-water-day-took-years-face.html
  • I don't drink a gallon personally (maybe 3 cups of tea + 1 cup of plain water right now) but I'm friends with a two piece (couple) band and they usually have a gallon of water with them at their shows. They're full time musicians and living out of a van though so they may be drinking just to help keep themselves full?
  • 365andstillalive
    365andstillalive Posts: 663 Member
    I drink anywhere between 100-120oz of water per day (more, if I go for a long hike or something). Why? I like water. I don't drink any other liquid besides tea (which is literally flavoured water).

    I drink it because I feel significantly better when I'm drinking 100oz or more, my skin looks clearer and feels firmer, and because it helps with suppressing appetite.
  • bohoT
    bohoT Posts: 37 Member
    I felt way better when I started drinking more water – I drink about 80 oz. Since I was used to sipping coffee or pop all day I just switched to sipping water all day. I sweat a lot when I workout and tend to be naughty when it comes to sodium so I don’t think I can overdo it. If my pee is clear I ease off a little.

    I agree that sometimes when I feel hungry, I’m actually thirsty. So I always try to drink some water first.
  • AmigaMaria001
    AmigaMaria001 Posts: 489 Member
    I worked for nephrologists (Kidney doctors) for many years and any doctor worth their salt will tell you that the body only needs 2 oz of water per hour for optimal hydration of healthy tissue. When people drink tons of water all day they run the risk of flooding the kidneys causing them to overwork, which isn't good! You will also be flushing out needed electrolytes from the body.
    Just sip water during the day so that by bedtime you have consumed about 32 to 64 oz and you'll be fine! I personally drink about 64 oz a day because I love iced tea and sip that all day long. Any liquid will hydrate you (except alcohol) caffeinated drinks will cause you to pee more but your body is still getting the use of the fluids!
    cheers! "Clink"
  • gobonas99
    gobonas99 Posts: 1,049 Member
    I aim to drink roughly half my body weight in ounces of fluid each day (most of that is water, but that also includes my morning cup of tea, and anything else I might happen to drink that day). I will drink more if it is hot out, or I have a particularly long workout (ie on Saturday I am doing a 62 mile bike ride - I'll probably drink 40-60 ounces just during the ride, and I'll drink my normal 80 ounces on top of that throughout the rest of the day).

    That has worked for me over the last 18 months. I find when I drink less, my weight loss stalls, even when my food and exercise remains the same.
  • Da_Big_Kahuna
    Da_Big_Kahuna Posts: 117 Member
    Probably a gallon a day for you is too much. I use an app (Water my Body) to keep track of how much I drink. It calculates a recommended amount based weight, etc. At ~270 lbs, it recommends 137 oz. which is a little more than a gallon. I've slowly ramped up my water intake from 75 oz. to 120 oz. over several months. so I'm still not hitting that gallon mark.
  • LadyBirdGo
    LadyBirdGo Posts: 39 Member
    I worked for nephrologists (Kidney doctors) for many years and any doctor worth their salt will tell you that the body only needs 2 oz of water per hour for optimal hydration of healthy tissue. When people drink tons of water all day they run the risk of flooding the kidneys causing them to overwork, which isn't good! You will also flushing out needed electrolytes from the body.
    Just sip water during the day so that by bedtime you have consumed about 32 to 64 oz and you'll be fine! I personally drink about 64 oz a day because I love iced tea and sip that all day long. Any liquid will hydrate you (except alcohol) caffeinated drinks will cause you to pee more but your body is still getting the use of the fluids!
    cheers! "Clink"

    good point. Drinking too much water can flush out needed electrolytes. and besides this, I knew someone who once got water poisoning from drinking too much water because their couch was pushing them to lose more weight.
  • cdoesthehula
    cdoesthehula Posts: 141 Member
    Horses for courses. I have drunk more than a gallon of water today, but then I spent three hours digging the foundations for my new shed today.

    I drink about 3 litres when I have a sedentary day.

    I feel fine, mostly.
  • iheidibefitt
    iheidibefitt Posts: 80 Member
    I worked for nephrologists (Kidney doctors) for many years and any doctor worth their salt will tell you that the body only needs 2 oz of water per hour for optimal hydration of healthy tissue. When people drink tons of water all day they run the risk of flooding the kidneys causing them to overwork, which isn't good! You will also flushing out needed electrolytes from the body.
    Just sip water during the day so that by bedtime you have consumed about 32 to 64 oz and you'll be fine! I personally drink about 64 oz a day because I love iced tea and sip that all day long. Any liquid will hydrate you (except alcohol) caffeinated drinks will cause you to pee more but your body is still getting the use of the fluids!
    cheers! "Clink"

    I can understand and believe that.
  • iheidibefitt
    iheidibefitt Posts: 80 Member
    I aim to drink roughly half my body weight in ounces of fluid each day (most of that is water, but that also includes my morning cup of tea, and anything else I might happen to drink that day). I will drink more if it is hot out, or I have a particularly long workout (ie on Saturday I am doing a 62 mile bike ride - I'll probably drink 40-60 ounces just during the ride, and I'll drink my normal 80 ounces on top of that throughout the rest of the day).

    That has worked for me over the last 18 months. I find when I drink less, my weight loss stalls, even when my food and exercise remains the same.

    Makes total sense for you. 62 miles, that's awesome!
  • MityMax96
    MityMax96 Posts: 5,778 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....

    :huh: :huh:

    Well I for one, usually carry around a gallon jug of water.....

    Especially if you are prep'ing for a competition......You are trying to keep yourself pissing during your prep week that way when you start cutting your water out, your body doesn't hold onto it for a few days....

    That way when you do your carb reload, the glycogen stores in your muscles are re-filled.....and hopefully any subcutaneous water will be pulled into the muscle.
    Because the carbs will soak up the water.

    And plus I have my gallon jug, that way I don't have to keep running to the water fountain to refill my bottle.
  • MississippiMama87
    MississippiMama87 Posts: 204 Member
    Because drinking from a gallon jug makes me feel hardcore

    :laugh: My boyfriend does this when he goes to the gym and I always give him a hard time!

    I definitely drink a good bit of water...probably 9-12 glasses or 5 16.9 oz. bottles per day. I'm a little crazy about the urine color thing though.

    Personally, I feel better when I drink a good amount of water and I don't tend to get that sleepy feeling in the afternoon at work. I like the 1/2 your body weight in ounces rule myself as a good go-by.
  • 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....

    :huh: :huh:

    Well I for one, usually carry around a gallon jug of water.....

    Especially if you are prep'ing for a competition......You are trying to keep yourself pissing during your prep week that way when you start cutting your water out, your body doesn't hold onto it for a few days....

    That way when you do your carb reload, the glycogen stores in your muscles are re-filled.....and hopefully any subcutaneous water will be pulled into the muscle.
    Because the carbs will soak up the water.

    And plus I have my gallon jug, that way I don't have to keep running to the water fountain to refill my bottle.

    I've always heard body builders dehydrate..and I figured that many muscles needed more water anyway.
  • MityMax96
    MityMax96 Posts: 5,778 Member

    I've always heard body builders dehydrate..and I figured that many muscles needed more water anyway.

    More muscles, more water...can't hurt...
    Their lifting style lends to one where they are trying to draw as much fluid into the muscle so it swells up.

    But the drinking is also a strategy as well, as I mentioned above.
  • iheidibefitt
    iheidibefitt Posts: 80 Member

    I've always heard body builders dehydrate..and I figured that many muscles needed more water anyway.

    More muscles, more water...can't hurt...
    Their lifting style lends to one where they are trying to draw as much fluid into the muscle so it swells up.

    But the drinking is also a strategy as well, as I mentioned above.

    Thought it had something to do with that.
  • Joannah700
    Joannah700 Posts: 2,665 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.

    This makes perfect sense.

    I bet there is a youtube video of this happening.

    I also finished my liter bottle while reading this because it made me thirsty...so thanks for getting me closer to my daily goal!
  • 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.

    This makes perfect sense.

    I bet there is a youtube video of this happening.

    I also finished my liter bottle while reading this because it made me thirsty...so thanks for getting me closer to my daily goal!

    Anything to help! lol
  • sccet
    sccet Posts: 141 Member
    Can't hurt, might help.

    I follow the body weight in lbs/2 = h2o in ounces per day rule, plus I add water on running days (4 cups) and lifting days (2-3 cups).

    Works for me and I feel great.
  • sweetbamaTLC
    sweetbamaTLC Posts: 170 Member
    Can't hurt, might help.

    I follow the body weight in lbs/2 = h2o in ounces per day rule, plus I add water on running days (4 cups) and lifting days (2-3 cups).

    Works for me and I feel great.

    ^^I was just about to ask if anyone had heard of this formula^^ I've seen it from time to time, and use that as a target for myself, but really never knew the basis for it.
  • iheidibefitt
    iheidibefitt Posts: 80 Member
    Can't hurt, might help.

    I follow the body weight in lbs/2 = h2o in ounces per day rule, plus I add water on running days (4 cups) and lifting days (2-3 cups).

    Works for me and I feel great.

    ^^I was just about to ask if anyone had heard of this formula^^ I've seen it from time to time, and use that as a target for myself, but really never knew the basis for it.

    I've never heard of it.
  • I learned in my exercise biology classes that general rules like "# of glasses of water/day" are largely unfounded, especially considering how people have vastly different energy expenditures/body sizes/calorie intakes. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but the WHO (world health organization) uses a sliding scale that recommends about 1 mL H2O/kcal of energy expenditure, which can usually be increased to 1.5 mL H2O/kcal of energy to cover for activity/sweating.

    I don't like doing math, so I kind of (squeamish people don't keep reading!!) look at the color of my pee and make sure it's not too yellow or too clear lol.
  • iheidibefitt
    iheidibefitt Posts: 80 Member
    I learned in my exercise biology classes that general rules like "# of glasses of water/day" are largely unfounded, especially considering how people have vastly different energy expenditures/body sizes/calorie intakes. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but the WHO (world health organization) uses a sliding scale that recommends about 1 mL H2O/kcal of energy expenditure, which can usually be increased to 1.5 mL H2O/kcal of energy to cover for activity/sweating.

    I don't like doing math, so I kind of (squeamish people don't keep reading!!) look at the color of my pee and make sure it's not too yellow or too clear lol.

    I'm with you!
  • kmsnyg
    kmsnyg Posts: 100 Member
    Water is all I drink, so I regularly drink about 12-15 glasses a day. I have a brita bottle and I fill it up all day. One it keeps me full (I'm way less hungry when I drink alot) and two, it helps when I eat more sodium than I should (which is somewhat often).
  • CoachJen71
    CoachJen71 Posts: 1,200 Member
    I don't even bother with the 8 glasses a day thing.

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

    Same here, for the same reason. And because I really just don't like drinking water.
  • sbarella
    sbarella Posts: 713 Member
    I don't even bother with the 8 glasses a day thing.

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

    Same here, for the same reason. And because I really just don't like drinking water.
    Same. My hypothalamus works just fine, so if my body needs more water it never fails to let me know.
  • 0torque0
    0torque0 Posts: 362 Member
    I thought in addition to hydration, it helps flush toxins from your body which helps prevent kidney stones and UTI. Is that wrong?
  • iheidibefitt
    iheidibefitt Posts: 80 Member
    I thought in addition to hydration, it helps flush toxins from your body which helps prevent kidney stones and UTI. Is that wrong?

    Both true. I never really took in account people's sizes, etc. But that makes total sense. You hear "8 cups a day" but sometimes don't really think more into it, I never did.
  • Charisma_Black
    Charisma_Black Posts: 87 Member
    I'm the exact same whereby I would drink alot of water during work. However, fail to do so as much when I get home. When I'm at the gym I could easily go through 2 litres. At the weekend I don't drink as much and I really need to!!
  • 0torque0
    0torque0 Posts: 362 Member
    I thought in addition to hydration, it helps flush toxins from your body which helps prevent kidney stones and UTI. Is that wrong?

    Both true. I never really took in account people's sizes, etc. But that makes total sense. You hear "8 cups a day" but sometimes don't really think more into it, I never did.

    moral of the story: if i just drink 7 cups a day doesn't mean that I'm unhealthy....