We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

water consumption

angella_jacobs93
angella_jacobs93 Posts: 54 Member
edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
I have heard people say they try to drink 2 or more gallons a day. Others say 8 cups a day is to much water and that is not healthy because you could get water intoxication. I have been drinking 4 cups a day over the course of 1-2 hrs in the morning to start my day. How much water do you think is healthy to drink in a day? and per hr? Thanks!

Replies

  • Shelle58704
    Shelle58704 Posts: 25 Member
    2 gallons seems like a lot! I've heard that one fluid ounce per pound of body weight is a decent bench mark to strive for. I get right around one gallon.
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    I drink a glass of water with each meal and then just drink to my thirst level. My urine is very pale so I'm plenty hydrated.

    I wouldn't worry about it too much. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/27/dehydration-myths_n_3498380.html
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This content has been removed.
  • TaylorGilbert1315
    TaylorGilbert1315 Posts: 7 Member
    I was always told you should drink half of your body weight in ounces. I'm 250 pounds, so I should be drinking 125 ounces
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    I just drink when I feel thirsty. I've added it up and I drink quite a bit of water (north of 128 oz per day.) (Yes, I've been tested to be sure I don't have diabetes.) As @Lounmoun wrote, I wouldn't worry about hitting a specific goal.
  • amandabeaulne1
    amandabeaulne1 Posts: 7 Member
    If you're thirsty- you're dehydrated.

    I drink 8 cups a day. I find that I'll only drink water if it's out of a bottle.... I always drink a bottle before my meals. To right there that's 6 cups (since a bottle is 500mls). I drink the last bottle usually throughout the day, or in the evening.

    I'm never thirsty, and my urine is also pale- so for me this seems to be doing the trick. Plus it's pretty easy once you get in the habit of doing it. :) I have over 90lbs to lose, and I think the two cups before a meal is helping with my overall hunger throughout the day too.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    I drink between 2-3L of water a day and that's not including milk or the water that's present in food.
    It's summer here now, so I'm drinking more. I probably only get around 1-1.5L a day in winter.
  • cassandranken
    cassandranken Posts: 129 Member
    amandabeaulne1 wrote: »
    If you're thirsty- you're dehydrated.

    Another sign of chronic dehydration is NOT being thirsty though. Like me. I know I'm not drinking nearly enough, but I'm just not thirsty. I'm trying really hard to drink more water but I have no desire for it. :/
  • ngasto
    ngasto Posts: 1 Member
    You should drink 2litres per day and you shouldn't drink during the meals. It is better to drink after o before meals not during.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    There's no set amount. Drink enough water to satisfy you. 8 cups is fine, 2 gallons...that's a bit overboard unless you train religiously, IMO.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    ngasto wrote: »
    You should drink 2litres per day and you shouldn't drink during the meals. It is better to drink after o before meals not during.

    Unless there's a specific medical condition to watch out for, it does not matter when a person drinks. Many people need to wash down a meal so they don't dry-choke.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    jgnatca wrote: »
    ngasto wrote: »
    You should drink 2litres per day and you shouldn't drink during the meals. It is better to drink after o before meals not during.

    Unless there's a specific medical condition to watch out for, it does not matter when a person drinks. Many people need to wash down a meal so they don't dry-choke.

    And just see if you can convince a server you don't need a glass of water with your meal.
  • klove808
    klove808 Posts: 346 Member
    ^this. I just let me give me one. Then they look all puzzled when they come back to refill.
  • xo_laurajane
    xo_laurajane Posts: 8 Member
    2 gallons sounds outrageous. I second that comment that said have your body weight in ounces. I also weight 250 and aim to drink 125oz a day. That does the trick while I'm in weight loss mode. Once I'm maintaining I will be happy with about 64oz a day.
  • Pawsforme
    Pawsforme Posts: 645 Member
    edited December 2015
    The overwhelming majority of people will be perfectly fine trusting their thirst. We have it for a reason. ;)

    I find self-imposed water intake goals, especially the downright outrageous ones (two gallons?) to be very similar to eating disorders. It's mostly about a need to feel in control.

    If I felt the need to monitor my fluid intake (I never have and barring a medical condition that necessitates doing so highly doubt I ever will), I think some formula of "x amount of water per pound/kilogram of body weight" makes the most sense. Blanket recommendations of "x amount per day" make no sense, given that it's highly unlikely that a 100 pound female needs anywhere near the fluid intake that a 250 pound male needs. Even a formula based on so much water per pound of body weight is just a rough estimation. Fluid intake needs will vary with activity level, heat and humidity.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories