drinking water

april522
april522 Posts: 388 Member
edited November 2 in Food and Nutrition
Water is my choice beverage at meals. For breakfast, I drink 2 cups of coffee, and the rest of the day, it's water. I've been that way for YEARS. However, I don't usually drink enough water. And when I do strive to drink 6-8 cups of water a day, I get so discouraged because of the constant bathroom trips. After drinking 2 6-8 oz cups of coffee in the morning and just 2 cups of water, I have to pee what seems like at least once an hour. One day a while back, I managed to get all 8 cups in, and while watching a no-commercial TV show on Netflix (run time was 42 minutes), I couldn't make it through the entire 42 minutes without pausing it for a bathroom break - and that's after going right before we started watching it.

I know I need to drink lots of water, especially if I do eat higher sodium foods (and also because it helps with weight loss), but when I'm out and about Monday - Friday now because of school, I get discouraged and don't drink as much. I'm always wondering if I'll make it to school before my bladder busts (40 minute commute); will I make it through my 1 hour and 15 minute class; etc.

Is it normal to go to the bathroom this much, having drank 2 cups of coffee and perhaps 4-6 cups (8oz each) of water in a day? I'm just curious if my bladder is over-active.

Replies

  • nilima7
    nilima7 Posts: 8
    I don't know if it's 'normal' but I know that if I drink the recommended intake of water during a day I have to run to the bathroom probably as much as you. Since coffee a hydragogue substance those cups probably contribute to the issue as well.

    Regarding the fact that we're suppose to drink x amount of water each day to be healthy (and help weightloss) I believe it's very individual. If I manage to drink 1 cup (8oz) of water each day I see that as a good day. I'm horrible at drinking water and I'm usually not thirsty. Some days all I have is coffee, 2-3 cups, and I'm not dehydrated and I've still lost weight.
  • Carolyn_79
    Carolyn_79 Posts: 935 Member
    I'm like you. I just can't drink 8 cups a day or I'm peeing non-stop. I wasn't drinking nearly enough before though so now I'm making an effort and drinking around 5 cups a day.
  • Charlene_91
    Charlene_91 Posts: 323
    I'm like you. I drink 8 - 10 cups a day and im stuck to the loo. Every hour!!!!
    I drink all mine whilst at work so i get a few funny looks keeping going to the bathroom every hour (ish) lol. I do feel better for it though, so it looks like my trips to the loo will still be happening. :)
  • angiesteele
    angiesteele Posts: 366 Member
    after a while your bladder will stretch some and you wont have to go as often. But I am like you and am in the beginning phase of it and have to go ALL the time. Even in the night which is so frustrating. I feel like an old lady LOL
  • firstnamekaren
    firstnamekaren Posts: 274 Member
    I just WENT to the bathroom for like the 15th time today and came back and saw this thread. I am not a water person, I literally have to force myself to drink it. I have to consciously choose it, every time. I have a camelbak that when filled up twice gives me my amount for the day. But man I'm sick of having to pee so much too!
  • laneybird
    laneybird Posts: 532 Member
    I started out with 8 cups a day and not I generally get between 12-16 a day. I still go to the bathroom a lot, but not as much as when I started. I'm not sure if my bladder stretched or what. I know a lot of people who struggle to get in 8 cups a day because of the bathroom problem, many women have bladder issues after having a baby too.
  • MommyTKD
    MommyTKD Posts: 61 Member
    Funny.... I JUST posted my status on this very subject. First of all, I am not a fish. I don't LIKE water. If there's a fish that can survive in Diet Coke, I'm probably that one. BUT I do know that drinking water will help me lose weight. I just can't stand drinking anything cold... so my solution is a lot of really weak decaf tea with splenda. It warms me up and makes it palatable. Otherwise I feel like I'm punishing myself by having to drink the cold clear liquid that would otherwise just be the first ingredient in something yummy! ;)
  • poopoomonkey1978
    poopoomonkey1978 Posts: 108 Member
    I drank 15 cups yesterday and let me tell you I was in the washroom every 15-30minutes. Good thing I work at home (watching my daughter) or I have no clue what I would do
  • 12skipafew99100
    12skipafew99100 Posts: 1,669 Member
    Dr. Oz said on TV that 4- 8 oz glasses a day was enough. I think you're doing fine.
  • aa1440
    aa1440 Posts: 956 Member
    If you are going to the bathroom a lot that is good. Water is helping your body flush out all the bad things in your system. Water is your friend.
  • mellynat
    mellynat Posts: 345 Member
    I'm the same way, i drink 2 cups of coffee each morning and water the rest of the day. I've always have to go to the bathroom A LOT if I drink my 8 cups of water. if I drink more am up at night too.
    It's not fun, but I think its just your body telling you, your in good shape and ur system is working. I'd be worried if I wasn't going after drinking all that water. .. Or if their is anything unusual.
  • TeeferTiger
    TeeferTiger Posts: 136 Member
    I found this article interesting about water http://calorielab.com/news/2006/05/28/8-glasses-of-water-a-diet-urban-legend/
  • szqnva
    szqnva Posts: 52 Member
    Drinking water is something I struggle with, also. I rarely even feel thirsty! But I've been making a real effort to get as much as possible into my day. I really like the Mio because it's 0 calories, convenient to take with me, and the flavor makes the water much more tolerable. And I'm glad I'm not the only one running to the potty! I've tried to actually make it a positive thing...if that's at all possible...by telling myself each time, "There goes another pound!" :wink:
  • KathieElisa
    KathieElisa Posts: 38
    I also drink water with every meal and have been drinking about 10-12 cups a day. Good thing im in a office because i usually have to go to the bathroom almost every hour which is very annoying...
  • mlachance9
    mlachance9 Posts: 49 Member
    I drink 8 cups of water every day plus have a small cup of diet coke at some point and I also go to the bathroom a lot. I try to spread it out to help with that though. I do 4 cups by noon and the other 4 cups over the rest of the day. I'm a runner though and I know my body needs the water to keep me hydrated so I just deal with all the bathroom breaks.
  • shybelle
    shybelle Posts: 254 Member
    Dude..for real. It's annoying how much I go to the bathroom, but I feel so much better when i drink at least 100oz of water. My body just responds better. Good thing I work at an office, however I do think my coworkers think I have a problem. haha
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    Here comes my obligatory copy paste....

    Take it or leave it...

    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/


    As for coffee being a diuretic, so many people just spout that word as a reason, without actually understanding what "diuretic" means.

    di·u·ret·ic (d-rtk)
    adj.
    Tending to increase the discharge of urine.
    n.
    A substance or drug that tends to increase the discharge of urine.

    Neat water is also a diuretic. The diuretic effect of caffeine is far, far outweighed by the actual water in the tea/coffee. Also, regular consumers of caffeinated beverages will build up a tolerance to said effect, eventually reaching the point where caffeinated drinks provide practically the same amount of hydration as a cup of neat water will.


    http://www.divinecaroline.com/22178/46361-coffee-makes-dehydrated-say-what

    http://worldofcaffeine.com/2011/06/14/caffeine-does-not-dehydrate/

    http://advance.uconn.edu/2002/020722/02072207.htm

    http://nomoredirtylooks.com/2011/04/surprise-caffeinated-tea-does-not-dehydrate-you/

    http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/health/nutrition/04real.html

    http://www.sharecare.com/question/does-caffeine-dehydrate-not

    http://www.artofdrink.com/2009/12/caffeine-in-coffee-does-not-increase-dehydration-during-hangovers.php

    http://www.caring4cancer.com/go/cancer/nutrition/questions/do-caffeinated-beverages-cause-dehydration.htm

    http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=5552790&page=1#.TrQWc0O5_oo
  • paleojamie
    paleojamie Posts: 191
    I *think* the body gets used to the increased water after about a month
  • tiffanyja
    tiffanyja Posts: 3
    I drink so much Ice water at home its intense. But sometimes I get bored with it. So I get my water bottle and throw in a package of Crystal light. Its only 5 calories and the lemonade is YUMMY.
  • Gt3ch
    Gt3ch Posts: 212 Member
    It's really very simple. If your urine is dark and stinky you need to put down the coffee, soda or tea and have some water and/or something healthy and juicy like a piece of fruit or some veggies. That's it.

    People get caught up on rules and think they are dogma. There's a rationale for the guidance. It's all about dehydration. If your diet is mostly dry processed foods and cooked animal products with sodas and coffee or tea it's easy to frequently be mildly dehydrated. If you go on a restricted diet where you just eat less of that same or similar stuff your risk of dehydration goes up.

    There are no weight-loss miracles from forcing yourself to drink lots more water than you need. In fact it can be dangerous.
  • ATT949
    ATT949 Posts: 1,245 Member
    http://www.snopes.com/medical/myths/8glasses.asp

    http://www.dartmouth.edu/~news/releases/2002/aug/080802.html

    http://ajpregu.physiology.org/content/283/5/R993.full
  • ATT949
    ATT949 Posts: 1,245 Member
    Here comes my obligatory copy paste....
    Holy Smokes!

    Another heretic!

    :-)
  • april522
    april522 Posts: 388 Member
    Well, for those who think the 8 oz of glass is a myth, I'm not doing it because it's taken as the truth. There are times when I don't feel as good, and after drinking water, it helps. My boyfriend was overseas in Iraq in 2003, and they drilled that into their heads - water, water, water. Everytime I complained about not feeling good, being dizzy, having a headache (years ago), he would say, "Drink water," and I'd just roll my eyes at him because that was ALWAYS his solution. It does help in most instances, so that's why I try to drink at least 6 cups a day, knowing water does come from other sources. And if my pee is darker, I will try to drink more as well.

    I'm glad I'm not the only one that pees so much! My boyfriend often says, "You have the smallest bladder in the world," and as long as there's a bathroom close by, I don't mind. I just hate when commuting more than 30 minutes, and then the urge strikes. I'm getting to where I try to time out the water intake so I don't have to go when I can't go.
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