How much water do you drink each day?

[HappyMommy2]

I know many of us are trying to drink plenty of water every day as part of our healthy lifestyle/weightloss plans, but how much is "plenty" for you?

I'm doing Body for Life, which recommends as much as a gallon of water per day. I've been managing to drink about 90 oz. daily, which is a LOT for me--I think I was always kind of chronically dehydrated before I started doing this.

So how much water do you try to drink daily, and do you have any good tips for getting it all down? Do you drink huge amounts all at once or sip throughout the day? Also, do you try to cut down on water at the end of the day to avoid having to use the restroom 3 times during the night? (That's been a problem of mine!)

Any input is much appreciated. I'm new here and am gleaning SO much help and encouragement from this board!

Janet

 

[ZerasPride]

Hi Janet!

I try to drink as much water as I can. I drink 5 or 6 12 ounce mugs at work and an additional 1 or 2 litres at home at night before bed. Plus I keep a glass of cold water on my night stand so that when I get up in the middle of the night for those bathroom runs, I can take a quick gulp.

I don't have any real advice as to how to get it all in except to say that the more I drink, the more I crave water and that the colder the water the better for me. When water gets lukewarm I can't drink it and I find I "go" much more often after drinking very cold water than if I drink water that has been sitting around for a bit.

I'd love to hear what other WISHers are doing to ensure they get their daily allotment of water.

 

[wiskband]

I drink 144 oz a day!
And i love it, if I miss one I miss it..........
I used to hate water..

renee

 

[LittleMissMickey]

Wow! You all drink a LOT of water. Overachievers... I drink the required/recommended 64 oz. I have two water bottles, a 16 oz. and a 32 oz., so it makes it very easy to measure. I will drink water at virtually any temperature, because I often find myself feeling parched. I would definitely suggest finding a water bottle and committing yourself to a certain amount per day, it helps me stay on track.

One thing I like to do is drink a (16 oz.) bottle before lunch and a bottle before dinner (I sound like a baby!), this way I don't overeat at those meals!

While you may feel like you are "going" all the time now, I think that your body adjusts somewhat and you will "go" less once it is used to it...either that or you go the same amount, and you have adjusted...Hmm....Questions to ponder. I know I feel normal now after a year or so of this water drinking routine. It really does make you feel good!

Keep it up!
Ashley, aka
LittleMiss

 

[Bobump]

CANNOT DRINK ENOUGH !!! HAHAHAHAHA

Seriously, my wife and I started Body-for-life/Eating-for-life 5 weeks ago. We are on C1W5D4. HAHA Pretty good !! I am drinking over a gallon a day. My wife who never liked water is averaging almost a gallon a day. Myself, I have got to the point I drink a quart before the morning workout and another quart right afterwards. My wife is drinking 16 oz before morning workout and 16 more after. We have at least 16 oz with every meal and as you know with 6 meals that is 96 oz right there. We are also doing the food exactly by the book and the water just becomes part of the whole deal. My wife did not have as much to lose as me, but she has already dropped a size. I am becoming the incredible shrinking man. HAHA Also, we are cooking, cleaning and planning together. It is like we are newlyweds. And as you can see by below we are not. The Water becomes addictive. The meals are awesome! Hope this helps!! Have you looked at any of the BFL sites. GOOD LUCK

 

[Desiree]

I try to drink between 80-100oz a day. Seems to be working for me!

 

[DoomBuggieDriver]

Wow, you guys REALLY down that water. Although I have switched over from Coke and Crystal Ice, I can see I have to up the amount of water I drink-I get grouchy and feel like dirt when I don't drink enough. I have found I do better with cool water rather than cold. I can drink more of it and it goes down easier. Like some of you, I also found the more of it I drink, the less I crave other choices. I went away last weekend and was surrounded by soda, and didn't have any interest and wasn't tempted at all.
Kathy

 

[catherine]

The recommended guidelines for drinking water are to drink approx. half of your body weight, for example if you weighed 200 lbs you would drink 100ozs. of water.

It is important to note that drinking too much water is NOT good for you.

Personally I stick to the recommended guidelines. I try to spread my water out over the day. I usually have my last glass at around 5pm. That's another good thing about losing weight, if like me you don't like drinking water, you get to drink less as you lose weight

 

[kayeandjim00]

I have always heard what Catherine mentioned - 1/2 your body weight in ounces is optimal for weight loss. In fact this morning they were talking about water on The Early Show and said that the numbers that they have recommended in the past (64 oz) have changed.125 oz for men and 91 for women. Here's a link Right now I drink more than 1/2 my body weight but I actually WANT water now - and I was a 5 or 6 cokes a day person last August. I drink one 16 oz bottle in the morning before breakfast, one during lunch, one with afternoon snack, two with dinner, and one last one during the evening. I'm a routine person so always doing things the same help me to remember to get it all in!

 

[Auggietina]

I drink 128 oz of ice cold water a day.

I love ice water!

 

[MelanieC]

I try to get in 6-8 cups a day.

Something that I read from Bob Greene, Oprah's trainer is that you shouldn't down all your water, or even several glasses at a time. That causes your body to get rid of it, hence the running to the bathroom. He says to drink one glass prior to working out and two after. Then drink the rest throughout the day, but not all at once. He also says to stop early evening so your not waking up at night.

I guess if your body is triggered to get rid of it quicker, some of it won't be absorbed by your body.

 

[KathyTX]

Wow! Some of you really drink a LOT!

I'm at around 64 oz per day (2 liters).

I'll drink a little water in the morning while getting dressed. Then I get a 1 liter bottle that I keep at my desk, and I'll finish that during the workday. I fill another 1 liter bottle at home, and try to drink that before bedtime.

 

[HappyMommy2]

Thank you so much, everyone, for the great input--that was exactly what I was looking for!

I have a 32-oz Rubbermaid water bottle that I keep handy and each day I try to fill it/drink it all 3 times per day. That is working well. It's funny how some of us do better with ice cold water and some of us with not-so-cold water. For me, room temperature water tastes best and goes down easiest.

Bobump, it was wonderful to read your enthusiastic words about Body for Life. Congrats to you and your wife on your excellent progress! I'm on C1W4D5 and LOVING it! I would like to lose some weight but my most important goals are to become physically fit and to gain self-discipline. After just 4 weeks I'm noticeably stronger, and my endurance is much improved. My self-discipline is growing every day! Plus, I've lost 9 pounds. What a great program BFL is for all-around health and well-being.

Thank you again everyone for the water tips!

Janet