Do you really need 8 cups a day??????

The question: Water for Dieting?

"I have always assumed that drinking extra water while dieting was beneficial to weight loss, but only because water is a healthier option than most calorie filled or even artificially sugared alternatives. My opinion now is much the same. I do not think that drinking amounts of water in excess of your body’s daily requirements boosts metabolism, though perhaps people who did not consume enough water before dieting would see an improvement in metabolic rates. My reasoning is that since water is a necessary reactant in the metabolism of glucose molecules and simple chemistry shows us that a limiting reagent will limit total yield of the products, inadequate water supply could lower metabolism <text>.
However, the real issue is whether drinking excessive amounts of water for dieting purposes could be considered just another fad diet. The bottom line is that the only successful dieting strategy proven by biology and research is that caloric input must be less than caloric output, and this can be achieved through limiting food intake or increasing exercise <1>. A fad diet is often a heavily restricted diet that claims to be a quick or magical solution to weight loss; though most of the initial weight that people lose while dieting is water loss that will be regained when a normal diet is resumed <1>. So essentially, if lowering caloric intake while dieting is slowing metabolic rates enough that the body is flushing out excess water, it does not make sense that drinking extra would serve any beneficial purpose on a cellular level.
Some people believe, such as the man who lost 70lbs on his ‘Before, During, and After Diet,’ that drinking large amounts of water lead to feelings of fullness which in turn makes you eat less <2>. Perhaps some people do convince themselves to feel that way, but our bodies are effective calorie monitors and are well-aware that water contains none. According to diet expert Dr. Ken Fujioka, water is good for health but does nothing for contributing to that feeling of fullness or making you eat less later in the day <2>. A similar fad diet, the Lemon Detox Diet, promotes the concept that flavoring water with special ingredients that aid in a variety of ‘poison cleansing’ ways is an effective method to weight loss and enhanced health <4>. But at the base of this is the reason why fad diets are ineffectual for real weight loss--weight loss by means of starvation are not long term or safe and can even have dangerous side effects like heart disease, bone loss, or kidney disease >. The real key to successful weight loss is making good changes to eating and exercising habits that can be carried on indefinitely >. Drinking water in exchange of high calorie drinks is certainly a component of these healthy lifestyle changes, but should never be the staple."

I read, and will try to find the documentation, that the 8 glasses/day helped kick the liver function into gear which was to process and eliminate fat in your system.

I don't buy into it. Only real study I could find says 8 cups from all sources, including vegetables, fruits, coffee, etc and it wasn't that conclusive. I have hardly ever hit 8 cups and I have lost 75 lbs fairly quickly. I drink enough to stay hydrated and that is all. Just have to keep the pee a light yellow.

I personally drink 6-12 glasses of water a day normally. I live in a hot climate and my body craves it.

My boyfriend who of course lives in the same hot climate drinks almost no water ever. Less than a cup a day. He functions completely fine. He doesn't get sick or dehydrated. He is a healthy weight. He doesn't get sick often ect.

Though I do believe that physically it is easy on your organs to process water to fuel your body and it is a no calorie way to get your fluid intake up there is no magic number. 8 a day for me is about 6 too few during the summer months or if I'm working out. But on a cool day I can drink a few diet sodas and completely forget water intake without my body fretting about it.

We are all different. No one can say water is not good for the body but 8 classes may not be whats right for everyone.

As far as peeing a lot goes. Once you get through the initial getting your body used to a higher water intake you won't pee as often. And on the other side of the spectrum when you start eating healthy and adding FIBER into your diet you poop a lot. :P

If your bladder stretches, yes you'll pee less often. But other than that if your kidneys are working and you haven't had too much salt your body will still get rid of any excess water as excess water in your body causes things like high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, edema etc

The body is really damn good at homeostasis and maintaining the appropriate amount of water. Screw the high volume, drink what you want and check you're not dehydrated using this: http://performance.borgessweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Urine-Hydration-Chart.jpg another good test is pinching the skin on the back of your hand and checking for 'tenting'.
8 glasses is totally unnecessary unless you're living in an exceptionally hot place, or you're very active and sweating buckets, in which case be sure to maintain ions too else you'll flush them all out and be stuffed.

I think some people are missing the point. The question is not, "Should we drink water?" We all know we should. The question is HOW MUCH. I find it hard to believe that a 5'1", 120 lb woman should be drinking the same amount of water as a 5'8", 220 lb man.

We don't say that those two people each need the same amount of iron, calcium, calories, etc. Yet someone came up with the magic number 8 for EVERYONE.

Fortunately, people realize that's an error. Here are some other trains of thought for determining how much water YOU need.

1. Multiply your weight by 2/3 (0.66). That's the number of ounces you need to drink each day. Then divide by 8 to find the number of cups you need. (Some experts believe this "drink" doesn't have to be water. ALL fluids count). "Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid a day," because ALL FLUIDS count toward the daily total. -http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/water/NU00283

2. If your urine is almost clear or very pale, you are probably hydrated.

3. If you are thirsty or constipated, you should drink (duh!)

Well put! I'm 6'3" 313lbs and I try to drink 8-10 cups per day!

5'2 113 lb female; gives me 74 ounces=9 cups. So looks like based on this you need more. Who cares I love water; I'll drink as much as I want. Besides if I am not drinking water I am obsessing for a diet coke; which is probably worse than drinking too much water.

Probably not. As long as my urine is pale yellow/clearish, I consider myself pretty well hydrated.

As far as peeing a lot goes. Once you get through the initial getting your body used to a higher water intake you won't pee as often.

I really wish this happened, but it hasn't for me. I think I have the bladder of a mouse, though.

Actual medical recommendations are about 4 cups a day, and most of it can actually come from food. Drink when you are thirsty, stop when you aren't.

Here's the thing, when you are peeing a lot, and your urine is clear, your body isn't actually using the water. It's just literally going in one end and out the other. It's a 100% waste.

And excess water does not flush out toxins or improve skin tone. those are old myths, those and the "8 cups a day" myth, as well as the ridiculous "everyone is chronically dehydrated" myth are perpetuated by bottled water companies to push more products.

As far as peeing a lot goes. Once you get through the initial getting your body used to a higher water intake you won't pee as often.

I really wish this happened, but it hasn't for me. I think I have the bladder of a mouse, though.

lol I wish that happened to me... I only need to hear a drop and I have to go! ha

I drink anywhere from 6-9 glasses a day. If I only drink 6 and not 8, I NEVER beat myself up about it! I just think, thats all i wanted to drink, why force myself to drink anymore. I do feel like I'm getting enough water when I don't reach 8 glasses, because thats why I didn't reach the 8 glasses. 6-9 suits me and has cut down my want for caffine/sugary drinks A LOT! Infact, I don't drink any kind of soft/fizzy drinks anymore. I still like a cup of coffee every now and then.

It's really an average of 8 cups of fluid (i.e. can be juice, milk, coffee, pop, etc) that you need.
Like you pointed out, why do people want to pee so much? Poor use of environmental resources flushing the toilet all day long, to say nothing about the chemicals used to "clean" the sewage water.

So don't flush every time you pee. Pee is sterile and, unless you're dehydrated or sick, odorless. If this is a genuine concern for you, just dont.

I'm off the water grid at home, being on well and septic, so i'm not concerned. And at work, we have all waterless urinals.

Yes, I'm aware that pee is sterile; however once in the open it becomes a medium for bacterial growth.

I don't disagree about the not flushing, and certainly can do that in my own home.
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However, most worklplaces and public restrooms have toilets (for women anyway) and I would say most people would be grossed out or upset if the person before them didn't flush. Also, I'd guess the majority of people in North America are hooked up to a water treatment facility rather than septic and well.