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!

How much water?

cath1646
cath1646 Posts: 27 Member
edited December 2024 in Food and Nutrition
I tried online calculators for how much water I should drink per day and because I have a lot of extra weight (they are weight based) they gave me results varying from 6.5 litres to 9 litres. Isn't that excessive?
Is there a maximum of healthy water consumption per day?

Replies

  • cath1646
    cath1646 Posts: 27 Member
    I am not very good at knowing that, because I have been consuming way less than I should when left to my own devices.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    The best way to find out if you're drinking enough is to judge your urine color. If it's light or pale yellow, you're good.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    edited April 2016
    cath1646 wrote: »
    I tried online calculators for how much water I should drink per day and because I have a lot of extra weight (they are weight based) they gave me results varying from 6.5 litres to 9 litres. Isn't that excessive?
    Is there a maximum of healthy water consumption per day?

    It's hard to believe but drinking too much water can actually kill you (hyponatremia) but how much is too much is a moving target and it has to be over a fairly long time period.

    Most adult humans need to take in about 2 litres of fluid a day and that includes water in fruits & vegetables, juice, coffee etc etc etc If you're taking in 6.5 litres per day I'd expect you'd be spending an inordinate amount of time in the bathroom and be at risk of upsetting your electrolyte balance (remember when they talked about osmosis in grade 10 science?) and there's no good reason to drink that much unless you're doing hard physical labour in extremely hot conditions..

  • cath1646
    cath1646 Posts: 27 Member
    cath1646 wrote: »
    I tried online calculators for how much water I should drink per day and because I have a lot of extra weight (they are weight based) they gave me results varying from 6.5 litres to 9 litres. Isn't that excessive?
    Is there a maximum of healthy water consumption per day?

    It's hard to believe but drinking too much water can actually kill you (hyponatremia) but how much is too much is a moving target and it has to be over a fairly long time period.

    Most adult humans need to take in about 2 litres of fluid a day and that includes water in fruits & vegetables, juice, coffee etc etc etc If you're taking in 6.5 litres per day I'd expect you'd be spending an inordinate amount of time in the bathroom and be at risk of upsetting your electrolyte balance (remember when they talked about osmosis in grade 10 science?) and there's no good reason to drink that much unless you're doing hard physical labour in extremely hot conditions..

    So it doesn't have to do with how much you weigh?
  • GaleHawkins
    GaleHawkins Posts: 8,159 Member
    edited April 2016
    I shoot for a gallon a day to better clean my blood and lube my joints.

    fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/healthy-eating/5-immune-system-benefits-of-drinking-water.html
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    I shoot for a gallon a day to better clean my blood and lube my joints.

    fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/healthy-eating/5-immune-system-benefits-of-drinking-water.html

    Hate to say it but that "article" is a load of twaddle.........

    https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/the-water-cure-another-example-of-self-deception-and-the-lone-genius/

    OP the amount of fluid you need does vary from individual to individual but it's based more on activity levels, sweat rates etc etc rather than just a simple if you weigh x you need y. Much of the so-called hydration research has been undertaken by companies trying to sell sports drinks and grossly overpriced bottled water.
  • GaleHawkins
    GaleHawkins Posts: 8,159 Member
    edited April 2016
    I shoot for a gallon a day to better clean my blood and lube my joints.

    fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/healthy-eating/5-immune-system-benefits-of-drinking-water.html

    Hate to say it but that "article" is a load of twaddle.........

    https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/the-water-cure-another-example-of-self-deception-and-the-lone-genius/

    OP the amount of fluid you need does vary from individual to individual but it's based more on activity levels, sweat rates etc etc rather than just a simple if you weigh x you need y. Much of the so-called hydration research has been undertaken by companies trying to sell sports drinks and grossly overpriced bottled water.

    Brian do you have any links that are germane to the link I posted or the title of this tread?

This discussion has been closed.