Water make a difference?

mrsamyhicks
mrsamyhicks Posts: 63
edited October 5 in Health and Weight Loss
I have the hardest time drinking 8 glasses of water a day. It has nothing to do with needing flavor because I prefer pure water over flavored water. However, I dont drink anything else other than water (except the occasional diet coke or sprite zero every blue moon). So my question is: If i want to lose more weight or lose faster than currently (currently average approx 1.7lbs per week) does this mean i have to buckle down and get that 8 (minimum) glasses in a day? Im sure there is a difference do what difference does "plenty of water" truly make?

Replies

  • kegonzales
    kegonzales Posts: 75
    try drinking a cup of water ever hour.
  • NoAdditives
    NoAdditives Posts: 4,251 Member
    Drinking more water will only help you lose some water your body may be retaining. It won't actually make you lose more weight.
  • karenhs2
    karenhs2 Posts: 197
    I do find that it helps. For me, it takes working it into a routine and making it almost automatic. Having it readily available (like a bottle near where you work) can help.
  • GINAvsGINA
    GINAvsGINA Posts: 270 Member
    Yes ma'am 8 glass or more. What I do is drink a 16oz bottle water with breakfast, lunch, and dinner and when I workout I drink at least another 16oz.
  • rfarinha
    rfarinha Posts: 388 Member
    Try drinking the equivalent of 2 glasses or 1 bottle of water with each meal. That just leaves 2 more glasses for the whole day, and you've got your 8!
  • mrsamyhicks
    mrsamyhicks Posts: 63
    try drinking a cup of water ever hour.

    I've tried that, sometimes I can but most times I give up after about 4 glasses, I start to feel nauseated
  • rfarinha
    rfarinha Posts: 388 Member
    247 Diva... Great minds think alike! :laugh:
  • sjtreely
    sjtreely Posts: 1,014 Member
    My opinion is, yes, drink the 8 cups a day. But remember it's 8 cups. One cup is only 8 ounces. Typically speaking, if you have a "glass" of water you're drinking 12 ounces since most kitchen glasses are larger than a cup.

    Water is my drink of choice as well (other than the required coffee). When I pass a water fountain, I take eight huge gulps - like fill my mouth gulps. That helps, even though I usually don't have too much of a problem getting in the suggested amount.
  • mrsamyhicks
    mrsamyhicks Posts: 63
    Drinking more water will only help you lose some water your body may be retaining. It won't actually make you lose more weight.

    This is sort of what I figured...
  • surfrgrl1
    surfrgrl1 Posts: 1,464 Member
    I challenge myself to drink 4 eight ounce glasses at work each day. I believe you get hydration from foods and other beverages, so for me personally, if I can get the 32 ounces in I call it good.
  • LeonaB17
    LeonaB17 Posts: 304
    Drinking pure water is good for you - no doubt about it - but I drink very little. Maybe 8 oz a day, 16 on a good day - give or take. Has it hindered my weight loss? Nope.
  • sbb4406
    sbb4406 Posts: 65
    What's really helped me with my water intake is buying a large bottle (1L http://www.amazon.com/CamelBak-BPA-Free-Better-Bottle-Valve/dp/B0019DCD7U) and having the bottle with me throughout the day. If you use a 1L bottle, you only have to drink 2 of them to get the recommended 8 glasses... it's easier to keep track of than trying to drink 8/16 ounces at once if you're not really in the mood. I've started drinking just out of habit rather than need. lol
  • mrsamyhicks
    mrsamyhicks Posts: 63
    Drinking pure water is good for you - no doubt about it - but I drink very little. Maybe 8 oz a day, 16 on a good day - give or take. Has it hindered my weight loss? Nope.

    Lol that's how it seems with me. Don't want to force myself to do something that makes little to no difference in my loss!
  • keddabee
    keddabee Posts: 81
    I've heard that this is the way for your body to flush out the unwanted fat that you are loosing.. it makes sense cause where else would it go? I've noticed that when I drink lots of water, the following day I do feel much slimmer..

    I guess its each to their own! I struggle drinking lots of water too.. I even have an app on my phone which reminds me but I forget to get off my butt at work and walk to the water cooler!
  • mrsamyhicks
    mrsamyhicks Posts: 63
    I've heard that this is the way for your body to flush out the unwanted fat that you are loosing.. it makes sense cause where else would it go? I've noticed that when I drink lots of water, the following day I do feel much slimmer..

    I guess its each to their own! I struggle drinking lots of water too.. I even have an app on my phone which reminds me but I forget to get off my butt at work and walk to the water cooler!

    Lol, hmmmm what app is this?
  • thankyou4thevenom
    thankyou4thevenom Posts: 1,581 Member
    No you do not have to drink 8 glasses of water a day. IT IS A MYTH!!!
    You need the equivalent of 8 cups of water a day on average, from any source. These sources can be pure water/tea/coffee/juice/soda/milk/fruit/veg etc. It does NOT have to be pure neat water!

    http://www.snopes.com/medical/myths/8glasses.asp

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/jul/13/myth-eight-glasses-water-day

    http://junkfoodscience.blogspot.com/2008/07/wellness-water-8x8-myth.html

    http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2010/12/08/the-myth-behind-drinking-8-glasses-of-water-a-day/

    Completely stolen off another MFP member who is frankly awesome.

    It can help you lose weight by simply stopping you drinking your calories and of course if you're dehydrated then drinking anything (as long as it's in your calorie count) will help you lose weight.

    Don't fall for the diet myths. Challenge everything.
  • KristysLosing
    KristysLosing Posts: 683
    I have a friend at work who takes a 64 oz juice bottle and fills it with water. She drinks throughout the day and once it's gone, she knows she has gotten as much water as she should. :-) Otherwise, I agree with others, that it does help with losing weight, even if it's just water weight.
  • larsfromars
    larsfromars Posts: 88 Member
    I think water maybe just as important to give you that full feeling than actually loosing weight. However I'm
    sure being super hydrated helps keeps me from leg cramps during workouts.

    I couldn't sip 8 cups of water a day. However, I have no problem chugging them like a beer. Made a bad
    old habit into something good !
  • mrsamyhicks
    mrsamyhicks Posts: 63
    No you do not have to drink 8 glasses of water a day. IT IS A MYTH!!!
    You need the equivalent of 8 cups of water a day on average, from any source. These sources can be pure water/tea/coffee/juice/soda/milk/fruit/veg etc. It does NOT have to be pure neat water!

    http://www.snopes.com/medical/myths/8glasses.asp

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/jul/13/myth-eight-glasses-water-day

    http://junkfoodscience.blogspot.com/2008/07/wellness-water-8x8-myth.html

    http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2010/12/08/the-myth-behind-drinking-8-glasses-of-water-a-day/
    WOOOWW Good stuff


    Completely stolen off another MFP member who is frankly awesome.

    It can help you lose weight by simply stopping you drinking your calories and of course if you're dehydrated then drinking anything (as long as it's in your calorie count) will help you lose weight.

    Don't fall for the diet myths. Challenge everything.
  • DaniellePF
    DaniellePF Posts: 308 Member
    These facts are repeated everywhere I have looked in the past. Knowing these facts sure makes drinking lots of water every day a PLEASURE:

    4. Benefits of Drinking Water for Weight Loss Dieters
    If your goal is to lose weight, water is your bestest friend in the whole world. Here's how water can help you lose weight:

    •increases your body's metabolism by as much as 30% (drinking an extra 10 glasses of water per day will burn about 5 pounds a year according to the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism)

    •prevents overeating by reducing hanger pangs
    •gives your more energy so that you'll be able to workout longer and harder, which equals more weight loss
    •enables the kidneys flush out waste without the help of the liver (this means the liver can spend it's time metabolizing body fat, which again translates into even more weight loss)
    •lose water weight via eliminating water retention

    I verified the kidney / liver thing with my doctor. Sooooo suck it up and drink up! :drinker:
  • fiberartist219
    fiberartist219 Posts: 1,865 Member
    I don't know how much of a difference it makes in weight loss, but it makes a huge difference in my overall health.
  • mrsamyhicks
    mrsamyhicks Posts: 63
    These facts are repeated everywhere I have looked in the past. Knowing these facts sure makes drinking lots of water every day a PLEASURE:

    4. Benefits of Drinking Water for Weight Loss Dieters
    If your goal is to lose weight, water is your bestest friend in the whole world. Here's how water can help you lose weight:

    •increases your body's metabolism by as much as 30% (drinking an extra 10 glasses of water per day will burn about 5 pounds a year according to the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism)

    •prevents overeating by reducing hanger pangs
    •gives your more energy so that you'll be able to workout longer and harder, which equals more weight loss
    •enables the kidneys flush out waste without the help of the liver (this means the liver can spend it's time metabolizing body fat, which again translates into even more weight loss)
    •lose water weight via eliminating water retention

    I verified the kidney / liver thing with my doctor. Sooooo suck it up and drink up! :drinker:

    Uuuuugghhhhh lol
  • thankyou4thevenom
    thankyou4thevenom Posts: 1,581 Member

    •enables the kidneys flush out waste without the help of the liver (this means the liver can spend it's time metabolizing body fat, which again translates into even more weight loss)


    I verified the kidney / liver thing with my doctor. Sooooo suck it up and drink up! :drinker:

    If you are dehydrated then yes drinking water will help the function of the kidneys and liver. However 8 glasses of water is unnecessary on a daily basis if you are getting enough hydration from your food.
  • ImNotThatBob
    ImNotThatBob Posts: 371 Member
    You will always find rabid believers on both sides of any issue. Do I eat my exercise calories, or not? Do I need to wear shoes when I run, or not? Do I need to drink XX glasses of water per day, or not?

    I think of it like I think of changing the oil on my car, changing the filters, flushing the radiator, changing spark plugs, buying higher octane fuel, etc.

    What percentage of our body is made up of water? How long can you live without eating? How long can you live without water?

    By the same token, I also believe in moderation and that you can get too much of a good thing. Listen to what your body tells you.

    Some days mine wants more water than others. Other days my body tells me I want a shake from Sonic.

    Lastly, it's about getting permanent results over the long term and developing habits and a lifestyle that you can live with.

    That's my two cents.
  • mrsamyhicks
    mrsamyhicks Posts: 63
    You will always find rabid believers on both sides of any issue. Do I eat my exercise calories, or not? Do I need to wear shoes when I run, or not? Do I need to drink XX glasses of water per day, or not?

    I think of it like I think of changing the oil on my car, changing the filters, flushing the radiator, changing spark plugs, buying higher octane fuel, etc.

    What percentage of our body is made up of water? How long can you live without eating? How long can you live without water?

    By the same token, I also believe in moderation and that you can get too much of a good thing. Listen to what your body tells you.

    Some days mine wants more water than others. Other days my body tells me I want a shake from Sonic.

    Lastly, it's about getting permanent results over the long term and developing habits and a lifestyle that you can live with.

    That's my two cents.

    And that makes TOTAL sense which is prob why some days, even though they are few and far between, I can do 8 -10 glasses easily. Thanks for ur 2 centavos. :-D
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member

    •enables the kidneys flush out waste without the help of the liver (this means the liver can spend it's time metabolizing body fat, which again translates into even more weight loss)


    I verified the kidney / liver thing with my doctor. Sooooo suck it up and drink up! :drinker:

    If you are dehydrated then yes drinking water will help the function of the kidneys and liver. However 8 glasses of water is unnecessary on a daily basis if you are getting enough hydration from your food.
    ^^This

    Most of us get quite a bit of water from our food. We need about 64 ounces (depending on climate, exercise and other factors) including that water in our food. If you don't feel like drinking all 64, then don't. It's not going to help you lose fat to do so.
  • Josteen06
    Josteen06 Posts: 20 Member
    I challenge myself to drink 4 eight ounce glasses at work each day. I believe you get hydration from foods and other beverages, so for me personally, if I can get the 32 ounces in I call it good.

    Congrats on the 100 plus loss. If you dont drink water, what do you drink?
  • AmandaR321
    AmandaR321 Posts: 68 Member
    I drink a gallon a day, at least. I cannot lose weight without it.
  • Schmoopy11
    Schmoopy11 Posts: 20
    For me the more I drink the more I want. Don't make yourself nauseous but try to up your intake a little at a time.
  • LeonaB17
    LeonaB17 Posts: 304
    I challenge myself to drink 4 eight ounce glasses at work each day. I believe you get hydration from foods and other beverages, so for me personally, if I can get the 32 ounces in I call it good.

    Congrats on the 100 plus loss. If you dont drink water, what do you drink?

    Not sure but I think your question was directed towards me, even though the above quote isn't mine. I drink diet soda - gasp! Poison in a can/bottle. Occasionally I'll drink water w crystal light in it or tea made with Stevia. I can usually tell when my body wants pure water - and I give it what it wants - but I don't force it. I've tried the drinking a gallon a day thing - and I hated it. It was sheer torture. Even if it did make me lose 5 more pounds in a whole year, 5 pounds is not worth 365 days of agony. But that's just my opinion- everyone is different and different things work for different folks! :)
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