Drinking 8 Cups of Water a Day??

Honestly, I think it's become a mindless habit, regardles of thirst level. I don't always hit the 8 though. I have a glass at my desk at work, with a lid and a straw. it only holds about 12 oz, so I end up refilling it a few times a day. I count the walk to the dispenser as exercise. :laugh:

I drink 12-15 glasses a day, but I have always been a water drinker. It is basically the only beverage I drink. LOVE IT!! Maybe try with lemon or lime, some people say that works for them, personally I like plain ol' tap water, but my city has excellent water. Do you eat a lot of water loaded fruit (oranges, grapefruit, grapes, melon, etc) because that could be were your body is getting its water from (yes you can get water from food)

I would still make sure you at least drink 2-3 cups before-during-after a workout.

I never used to drink any water at all, but drank a ton of iced teas. Since I started my weight loss journey, I have cut the iced teas down to two per week and brought my water consumption up to 2000 ml's or 64 oz per day. The more water I drink, the more water I feel I need.

For me, out of sight, out of mind is what happens. So I keep a bottle in front of me so that I'm reminded to get enough water. If you remember to keep water with you, you'll be more likely to drink it because it's there.

I have the same problem - Its not that I'm replacing the water I'm supposed to be drinking with any other liquids - I'm just not thirsty so I don't drink, and when I am thirsty all I drink is water. Another reason I think I don't drink the recommended amount daily is that I just don't want to take that many bathroom breaks...I need to smarten up I know.

I keep a bottle on my desk and sip throughout the day. I rarely just drink a whole glass at once.

Yeah, I go the reusable water bottle route myself. However, I also try and set goals of when I need to have finished the water bottle by. I have a 32oz water bottle that I fill up at home and drink on the way in to work. First goal is trying to finish it before I get to work (I have an hour commute) and I usually end up taking the last few swallows in the parking garage or at my desk. And then when I get to work I fill it up again and I have to finish the second fill up before lunch, although again sometimes I am drinking it during lunch. After that, I fill it up once more but just let my thirst or lack thereof dictate whether I finish a third bottle.

It's easy now, but when I started, I had to constantly remind myself to take a drink every so often. Now I do it almost automatically and I get 64-96 oz of water a day--on weekdays at least. Haven't worked out a routine for weekends that I can stick to yet, though.

You get about 20% of your water requirements through the food you eat. "8 glasses of water per day" should include this amount, so really, you don't need to drink 8 glasses, more like 6 or 7. It also doesn't need to specifically be water. All liquids contain water (don't count alcoholic drinks in this because they actually dehydrate you) and count towards your daily intake. That said, some of how much you need is also based on your activity level and the climate where you live. Someone in a cool, humid climate wouldn't need to drink nearly as much water as someone who lives in a hot, dry climate, like I do. I'll probably get jumped on by the "drink water" fanatics here, but all of this is in line with the recommendations. More water might, or might not, make it easier to lose weight, help to flush excess sodium, etc. but for bottom line body functioning you don't need to drink a gallon a day.

All of that said, it still sounds like you aren't drinking enough water. Whether or not you think you need it, you do. I used to be like you. I'd drink a couple of cans of Diet Coke each day and that was it. I rarely drank plain water and didn't drink enough, period, and as I mentioned, I live in the desert where we actually need MORE water than the average.

I thought I was fine, but once I actually started drinking plain water, and more of it, I realized I hadn't been "fine" at all. My skin is now less dry and I generally feel better. I'm less "hungry" because my body now can tell thirst from hunger since I'm not perpetually thirsty. When I urinate, it's usually nearly clear which, by the way, is the best sign that you're getting enough water. If what you're leaving in the toilet is really yellow, you're not getting enough water. It should be no darker than the color of straw when it leaves your body.

I guess this all boils down to: you need to drink more water. Don't make excuses that you don't "need it" because you do. Add some flavoring to it if you don't like it plain but try to keep a bottle or glass on hand all of the time. You'll find yourself drinking it more and once you do, you'll realize how much better you feel.

I keep a glass of water with a straw between me and my laptop. I don't even need hands to drink it. Plus, straws are fun. Especially the bendy kind.

I usually fit a 2 quart pitcher of water and drink out of that all day - that way I hit my 8 glasses and dont have to remember where I am.