Really that much water???

For the science loving nay sayers:

Feel Fuller
According to the Mayo Clinic, foods that are low in energy density make individuals feel as full as foods that are higher. For example, a piece of cake will take up the same physical space as a stack of celery, and both foods will occupy the same amount of space in the stomach. Because of the high water content of celery, however, it has far fewer calories than cake. Fruits and vegetables in general tend to have a lower energy density because they contain more water. A grapefruit, states the Mayo Clinic, is made up of 90 percent water, and half a grapefruit only contains 38 calories. Sticking to foods with high water content, like carrots, which contain 88 percent water, is a better way to control hunger than limiting portions of foods that contain lower water content.

Metabolic Benefits
In a study published by Obesity Magazine, 48 middle-aged men and women were divided into two groups of 24. Researchers assigned both groups a diet in which their calories were restricted, but only one group was instructed to consume 16 ounces of water before eating every meal. The individuals in the group drinking the water lost 44 percent more weight overall than the group that was not drinking water before each meal. Because both groups were eating the same calorie-restricted diet, the water group's additional weight loss may lead to more information about the metabolic effects of water and whether or not speeding of the metabolic rate occurs when drinking water before a meal.

For the science loving nay sayers:

Feel Fuller
According to the Mayo Clinic, foods that are low in energy density make individuals feel as full as foods that are higher. For example, a piece of cake will take up the same physical space as a stack of celery, and both foods will occupy the same amount of space in the stomach. Because of the high water content of celery, however, it has far fewer calories than cake. Fruits and vegetables in general tend to have a lower energy density because they contain more water. A grapefruit, states the Mayo Clinic, is made up of 90 percent water, and half a grapefruit only contains 38 calories. Sticking to foods with high water content, like carrots, which contain 88 percent water, is a better way to control hunger than limiting portions of foods that contain lower water content.

Metabolic Benefits
In a study published by Obesity Magazine, 48 middle-aged men and women were divided into two groups of 24. Researchers assigned both groups a diet in which their calories were restricted, but only one group was instructed to consume 16 ounces of water before eating every meal. The individuals in the group drinking the water lost 44 percent more weight overall than the group that was not drinking water before each meal. Because both groups were eating the same calorie-restricted diet, the water group's additional weight loss may lead to more information about the metabolic effects of water and whether or not speeding of the metabolic rate occurs when drinking water before a meal.

Your first paragraph has nothing to do with drinking water.

The second study (here: http://www.nature.com/oby/journal/v18/n2/abs/oby2009235a.html), actually doesn't confirm that just drinking more water before a meal leads to more weight weight loss. In fact, those who drank more water pre-meal felt fuller, and therefore ended up eating less during their meal, which is likely what caused their weight loss.

So, in terms of weight loss, if drinking a ton of water may cause weight loss because water makes you feel full, and your goal really is only weight loss, then sure, by all means, drink a ton of water. But there just is no science in terms of the water itself causing weight loss or drinking more having any overall health benefits.

For the science loving nay sayers:

Feel Fuller
According to the Mayo Clinic, foods that are low in energy density make individuals feel as full as foods that are higher. For example, a piece of cake will take up the same physical space as a stack of celery, and both foods will occupy the same amount of space in the stomach. Because of the high water content of celery, however, it has far fewer calories than cake. Fruits and vegetables in general tend to have a lower energy density because they contain more water. A grapefruit, states the Mayo Clinic, is made up of 90 percent water, and half a grapefruit only contains 38 calories. Sticking to foods with high water content, like carrots, which contain 88 percent water, is a better way to control hunger than limiting portions of foods that contain lower water content.

Metabolic Benefits
In a study published by Obesity Magazine, 48 middle-aged men and women were divided into two groups of 24. Researchers assigned both groups a diet in which their calories were restricted, but only one group was instructed to consume 16 ounces of water before eating every meal. The individuals in the group drinking the water lost 44 percent more weight overall than the group that was not drinking water before each meal. Because both groups were eating the same calorie-restricted diet, the water group's additional weight loss may lead to more information about the metabolic effects of water and whether or not speeding of the metabolic rate occurs when drinking water before a meal.

Your first paragraph has nothing to do with drinking water.

The second study (here: http://www.nature.com/oby/journal/v18/n2/abs/oby2009235a.html), actually doesn't confirm that just drinking more water before a meal leads to more weight weight loss. In fact, those who drank more water pre-meal felt fuller, and therefore ended up eating less during their meal, which is likely what caused their weight loss.

So, in terms of weight loss, if drinking a ton of water may cause weight loss because water makes you feel full, and your goal really is only weight loss, then sure, by all means, drink a ton of water. But there just is no science in terms of the water itself causing weight loss or drinking more having any overall health benefits.

It actually has everything to do with drinking water. If you eat it or drink it, it's still water and still fills you up(not to mention it all goes the same place...). And um....weight loss, isn't that the goal of most people here?

My goal is health. You can lose all the weight you want, be skinny, ripped, and still not be healthy, Health is entirely different. So, yes, if I wanted some quick and easy way to lose weight and convince myself that I must be healthy because I'm skinnier, then yes, I would be drinking a ton of water. I'd also be on some fad diet that last for 10 days, or shoving a bunch of meat in my face because someone says protein is all that matters, or drinking fiber powder and water because a ton of fiber might help me lose weight. If I isolate losing weight as my only goal here, then I'm not doing it right, and I'm not doing anything that is going to keep me healthy for the rest of my life.

This is why I said if YOUR goal is to just lose weight, then by all means.

Surely you don't think drinking a lot of water is UNhealthy, do you? It's far from going for a fad diet or fasting, by a long shot, neither of which I do for the record. That's kind of the message you're sending though...that drinking water is dumb and unhealthy, am I right?

P.S.: I see you're a Seattlite as well

the problem with only drinking when you are thirsty, is that by that time you are already dehydrated. Lots of water is good. But at the same time don't feel pressured to drink 22cups a day. Set up goals and work your way up, and if you dont get it in everyday, i'm pretty sure you'll be okay

The British Medical Journal just published an article that claims to debunk the 8 glasses of water myth. I don't have a strong opinion on the issue, but it does appear to be pushed by large bottled water companies, which makes me wary. It reminds me of Corn Growers (High Fructose Corn Syrup) and Honey Producers trying to covince people of how healthy their products are.

Excerpt:
Dr McCartney explains that “it says on the NHS Choices website, ‘Try to drink about six to eight glasses of water (or other fluids) a day to prevent dehydration’. This is not only nonsense, but is thoroughly debunked nonsense. There is no published scientific evidence to support these claims – we have known this since a review of the evidence carried out in 2002.”

The entire article:
http://www.bmj.com/content/343/bmj.d4280.extract

That doesn't make sense since the recommendation has been around since way before bottled water was the rage. Back when egads we drank from the faucet. Wow I'm getting old, I still drink from the faucet, how outdated and not with it am I? It's best to stay hydrated , everyones different, but we are made up of a lot of water.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/water/NU00283