We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Water question

Posts: 9 Member
edited December 2024 in Food and Nutrition
When they, Dr's and MFP, say that you should drink 8 cups of water a day, do they mean 8 measuring cups or 8 drinking cups? The cup I drink out of could hold at least 4 measuring cups of water.

Welcome!

It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.

Replies

  • Posts: 410 Member
    Typically a cup means 8 fluid ounces.
  • Posts: 9 Member
    If it does go by exact measurement and not the "cup" that you drink out of, I am drinking 30 or more cups of water a day! So, I guess I'm good. lol
  • Posts: 632
    When they, Dr's and MFP, say that you should drink 8 cups of water a day, do they mean 8 measuring cups or 8 drinking cups? The cup I drink out of could hold at least 4 measuring cups of water.
    i usually drink 15-20 16 oz glasses
  • Posts: 79
    I drink 1.5 liters every day. Is there such thing as too much water? Its the ONLY thing i drink
  • Posts: 882 Member
    If it does go by exact measurement and not the "cup" that you drink out of, I am drinking 30 or more cups of water a day! So, I guess I'm good. lol

    You do not need that much water.
  • Posts: 85 Member
    I drink 1.5 liters every day. Is there such thing as too much water? Its the ONLY thing i drink

    Yes there is a thing as too much water. If you drink lots and I mean loads of water you can die.
  • Posts: 10
    Actually there is such a thing as too much water. I drink no less than 240 ounces a day, more on a work day. I've done some web research and as long as it's spaced out through out the day you should be alright. Depends on a number of factors though, like body weight. Do some research for yourself though.
  • Posts: 114
    My trainer has us working on drinking a gallon of water a day...I never drink that much but I'm working on it! The minimum amount we are supposed to drink is 8 cups which is 64 oz.
    I have a 20 oz container that I drink out of. I have to drink 128 oz which is about 6.5 of my bottles/containers.
    1 gallon = 16 cups
    16 cups is twice the required amount, but minimum is not optimum, the more you drink the better.
  • Posts: 294 Member
    I aim fror 2 litres a day but often 1.5 bear in mind you get fluid from other means too, and other drinks but water is great for keeping you full and making your skin look fantastic!! :drinker:
  • Posts: 233 Member
    What about flavored water, such as tea? Does that count as water intake?
  • Posts: 40
    I've gone by a cup is 8 ounces. I typically drink 15-25 cups daily. :)
  • Posts: 1,154
    What about flavored water, such as tea? Does that count as water intake?

    Flavored water, as in water with some flavor and most likely aspartame/sweetener in it is debatable. Tea is not considered water intake.
  • Posts: 40
    Tea is not considered water intake.
    I disagree with this. I drink herbal tea throughout the day and could the cups with my intake. I do not count Propel, for instance, with my water intake.
  • Posts: 255 Member
    FYI Herbal tea which is decafinated and unsweetened DOES count as water intake. Check the label - if there is no calorie information it counts toward your water.

    Also, my Herbalife peeps usually recommending drinking half your body weight in fluid ounces of water if you can do it. It sounds like a lot, but really it's not bad. For me it works out to about 15, 8oz glasses a day.
  • Posts: 1,154
    I disagree with this. I drink herbal tea throughout the day and could the cups with my intake. I do not count Propel, for instance, with my water intake.

    Technically herbal tea isn't even tea since it contains no actual tea leaves so that's a whole other ballpark.
  • Posts: 166 Member
    Wow! If I drank as much water as some of you I would not have room to eat anything, and I would get nothing done for going to the bathroom!
  • Posts: 255 Member
    Wow! If I drank as much water as some of you I would not have room to eat anything, and I would get nothing done for going to the bathroom!

    I thought that, too, but your body gets used to it. And because you are well hydrated all the time, your body doesn't store water and hence no "water weight."
  • Posts: 410 Member
    There is so much conflicting advice on this subject but the one I like is - divide your weight in pounds by 2 and drink approximately that many ounces. So if you weight 140lbs you would aim for 70oz/9cups/4-5 500ml bottles, more depending on the climate, activity level and consumption of caffinated or alcoholic drinks!
  • Posts: 2,644 Member
    stay hydrated...the end...
  • Posts: 9 Member
    I have been researching and some of what I've read scared the crap out of me but I don't want to get dehydrated. I don't know how much I sweat out when I'm exercising and it's all a little confusing. So, I decided I'll just drink to my thirst!
  • Posts: 2,644 Member
    I have been researching and some of what I've read scared the crap out of me but I don't want to get dehydrated. I don't know how much I sweat out when I'm exercising and it's all a little confusing. So, I decided I'll just drink to my thirst!



    dingdingdingding!!! i am not trying to sound like a sarcastic *kitten*...but YES!!!!!!!!
  • Posts: 477 Member
    Wow! If I drank as much water as some of you I would not have room to eat anything, and I would get nothing done for going to the bathroom!

    Yeah, that's me, too. I am not a big water drinker, but I don't drink pop or juices either.
    I usually drink skim milk , water or an occasional drink of O.J. I have never been dehydrated, either.
  • Posts: 1,131 Member
    What about flavored water, such as tea? Does that count as water intake?
    Can't tell if you are kidding or serious
  • Posts: 121 Member
    Wow! If I drank as much water as some of you I would not have room to eat anything, and I would get nothing done for going to the bathroom!

    It seems to be the case for me and I get up several times during the night it is so aggravating but I am loosing weight , I am not hungry and I have not had a blemish in months.
  • Posts: 516 Member
    The UK National Health Service says:
    *********************************************
    http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/water-drinks.aspx
    The Department of Health recommends that we should drink about 1.2 litres of fluid every day to stop us getting dehydrated. This works out to be about six 200ml or eight 150ml glasses, cups or mugs. In hotter climates, the body needs more water than this.
    ...
    All drinks count, but water, milk and fruit juices are the healthiest. It is best to avoid alcoholic drinks.
    *********************************************
  • Posts: 9,248 Member

    Interesting read, thanks.

    I'd also suggest people read a book called "The Runners Body" (Tucker, Dugas & Fitzgerald) there's a very interesting section on hydration (trust your thirst) and the funding of much of the so-called hydration research.

    Personally I try to drink about 2 litresof fluids daily (more in hot weather) but I'm also running 40 to 50km per week and am more concerned with the performance degradation that results from dehydration than anything else.

    Yes, endurance athletes have died from hyponatremia and for those of you drinking a gallon or more daily I'd be concerned about electrolyte levels (remember the concept of osmosis from biology class?)
  • Posts: 10,477 Member
    stay hydrated...the end...
    Amen.
  • Posts: 1,719 Member
    i usually drink 15-20 16 oz glasses
    You must like using the bathroom. Unless you're that thirsty then maybe its another problem. When my dad was drinking a lot of water like that and was always thirsty he turned out to be diabetic. Not that drinking water will cause diabetes but excessive thirst is a symptom of high blood sugar.
This discussion has been closed.