Water Intake Question...

ambitiousclaire
ambitiousclaire Posts: 72 Member
edited November 21 in Health and Weight Loss
I was looking into how much water I should be drinking per day for my weight class, I realized that 8 cups was just the minimum requirement. Pretty much all the sites told me that I need to drink 24 cups of water. Do you think this is true and is it safe? How much water are you drinking a day?

Replies

  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    Drink enough to satisfy your thirst and ensure you aren't dehydrated. I rarely hit eight cups and I'm fine.
  • madhatter2013
    madhatter2013 Posts: 1,547 Member
    Some would say drink half your weight in ounces. Depends on who you ask. Don't listen to Dr. Oz.
  • MommaBear1977
    MommaBear1977 Posts: 29 Member
    I don't track my water intact, I have a 20oz bottle at my desk and that I fill and drink through out the day.. which is probably 4-5 times..
  • DaddieCat
    DaddieCat Posts: 3,643 Member
    it varies for everyone. Use the color of your urine to determine (should be light/straw yellow... clear is too much water, dark yellow is too little) and use your thirst as a guideline. Some people drink very little water and stay hydrated.... I drink over a gallon a day and that's usually just right for me. It might take some experimentation to find your perfect amount, but a reasonable goal is 1/2 your body weight in ounces. So if you weigh 150, you'd drink 75 ounces.
  • emdeesea
    emdeesea Posts: 1,823 Member
    I agree with malibu927 - I hardly ever get to the 8 cup a day thing. Other than filling up your stomach, it doesn't help you lose weight in and of itself, and additionally (and this is information I was told by a physician while working as a nurse on a nephrology floor) ingesting more water than you need can increase your total blood volume. And since your blood volume exists within a closed system (your circulatory system), needlessly increasing your blood volume on a regular basis puts unnecessary burden on your heart and blood vessels and kidneys.

    So I go by my thirst, and what my urine looks like. As long as it's a light colored straw color, it's fine.

  • grimendale
    grimendale Posts: 2,153 Member
    24 cup (192 oz) is probably too much. I tend to try and stay between 60 and 100 oz, unless I am sweating particularly heavy one day.
  • dcc56
    dcc56 Posts: 172 Member
    I've been advised a minimum of 64 oz up to half your weight in ounces. For me that would be over 100 ounces and I don't think I can make it there without living in the bathroom part time! I shoot for the 64 ounces minimum and even that is hard for me to accomplish. But I keep trying.
  • DisneyDude85
    DisneyDude85 Posts: 428 Member
    Right now, as its summer in AZ, I have upped my intake to 90+ oz. But like others have said, just monitor your hydration levels. As long as your pee is a pale yellow (think a watered down lemonade), you are good!
  • Suzmp88
    Suzmp88 Posts: 48 Member
    OP - Where did you get 24 cups of water? The 8 cups a day hasn't been scientifically proven. Typically people should get adequate water through a normal intake of food and drink throughout the day. Drinking more water over that will depend on your exercise, being outdoors when it's hot, medical conditions etc.

    Personally, I'm satisfied with sipping pure water throughout the day to curb appetite and to hydrate during exercise so about 4-6 cups of pure water, but again my body should be getting more from my other drinks and meals.

    Here is a good explanation on Mayo Clinic: mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256
  • ambitiousclaire
    ambitiousclaire Posts: 72 Member
    Thanks for all the great advice!!
  • Jasmunr
    Jasmunr Posts: 147 Member
    I either drink none or half my weight in Oz. Some say it doesn't matter but I feel much better when I drink water and I notice a faster loss as well.
  • Jasmunr
    Jasmunr Posts: 147 Member
    Jasmunr wrote: »
    I either drink none or half my weight in Oz. Some say it doesn't matter but I feel much better when I drink water and I notice a faster loss as well.

    I should add that if I'm not drinking half my body weight in oz my pee is usually a very dark yellow. I need water through out the day to stay hydrated. But if your body doesn't need as much that's fine too.
  • cristical
    cristical Posts: 126 Member
    I probably drink a couple liters a day, though that is a GUESS. I also pee allll the time.
  • ambitiousclaire
    ambitiousclaire Posts: 72 Member
    cristical wrote: »
    I probably drink a couple liters a day, though that is a GUESS. I also pee allll the time.

    The going to the bathroom so frequently drives me crazy!
  • ambitiousclaire
    ambitiousclaire Posts: 72 Member
    Jasmunr wrote: »
    Jasmunr wrote: »
    I either drink none or half my weight in Oz. Some say it doesn't matter but I feel much better when I drink water and I notice a faster loss as well.

    I should add that if I'm not drinking half my body weight in oz my pee is usually a very dark yellow. I need water through out the day to stay hydrated. But if your body doesn't need as much that's fine too.

    I Agree, I've been drinking between 12 & 16 cups and my skin is glowing and soft and I do notice the pounds coming off which is always a good thing!
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    No, it's not true. People put way too much thought into water. You don't need to measure or count or check your pee.

    Unless you have some medical or psychological condition that affects your sense of thirst, just drink when you're thirsty. That will keep your hydrated. :)
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