Water! Water! Water! or... not?

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Lots and lots of posts of people drinking amazing levels of water per day. Certainly the intent is a good thing and I encourage everyone to stay on the water path for your health. But, don't do it blindly. Hyponatraemia and other forms of water toxicity can occur and can be fatal very fast. Too much water, too soon, can completely dilute the delicate balance of your body's chemistry. Here are some articles to read to be sure you're not hurting yourself, including one tragic example of how it goes wrong.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16614865/ns/us_news-life/t/woman-dies-after-water-drinking-contest/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1770067/
http://chemistry.about.com/cs/5/f/blwaterintox.htm

Good luck on your journeys. Be safe. What's the point of struggling for fitness if we're damaging the goods along the way?

Peace and Light.

Replies

  • tjradd73
    tjradd73 Posts: 3,495 Member
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    agreed!! they say a good amount to drink is half your body weight (in lbs) in ounces...plus 8oz for every 20min of working out that you do!! I weigh 127 so 63.5oz and I only did 10min stretching today which is another 4oz...so 67.5oz for the day!!
  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
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    I generally aim for 80-100oz a day. I feel better, my skin is clearer and I don't feel bloated when I drink this amount. Much more and I'd be up ALL night peeing. lol.
  • bluecutipy
    bluecutipy Posts: 35 Member
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    Great post! I'm glad to see someone on here who actually has proof to back up what they are saying.
  • Arizona_JR
    Arizona_JR Posts: 275
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    As long as you are eating with that water intake then it gets even harder to run into hyponatremia. Essentially you need to make sure you take in minerals/ sodium along with that extra water intake.
  • elaina_m
    elaina_m Posts: 16 Member
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    I'm sure you all know this but don't drink the majority of your daily water in one sitting thats where people get into trouble. You are more likely to deplete your electrolytes. Drink your water throughout the day.
  • raven1114
    raven1114 Posts: 115 Member
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    i believe that hyponatremia happens when a person drinks large amounts of water in a short period of time.
  • Mommawarrior
    Mommawarrior Posts: 897 Member
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    If you are drinking your water throughout the day and working out regularly, you will be totally fine drinking a gallon or more a day.
    I work outside all day 5 days a week and workout hard at least 5 days a week. Sometimes I actually push a gallon and a half or more.