But there are some advantages to drinking water for dieters. One as you mention is replacing high calories drinks with zero calorie water. Another is keeping full with water so you don't feel as hungry.
To lose weight you need to maintain a calorie deficit.
Your body needs a certain amount of water each day, but what is not typically considered is that water contained in the foods you eat counts towards that (which provides about 20% of your fluid intake, more or less).
Here are some references, but yeah, I think the straight out "8 glasses a day" thing is a bit overblown:
http://www.snopes.com/medical/myths/8glasses. asp
Hey, I feel the same as you do. But I have decided that I might not be able to drink 8 glasses a day. So if I only get in 5, it's better than none. Water is suppose to be healthy for you so it's has to be a good thing. Good luck!!
I suppose get about 1 extra litre of 'fluid' from lots of cups of tea, decaff and the occasional glass of water. Eat lots of watery fruit and veggies. Never felt better!
It may be a myth, but I know that when I am mindful about my water intake, getting in around 65-80 oz a day (and do it over a period of time), my skin looks and feels better (I have issues with acne on my face and dry skin everywhere else). I also think that when I have excess sodium in my diet, drinking more water helps flush it out. It is a bit of a chore, and I have to think about doing it--it doesn't come naturally--but it's a fairly easy thing to do, it makes me feel better, and as someone who sits at a desk all day, I feel like at least it gets me out of my seat a few more times, refilling my 28 oz-cup and then going to the bathroom ;-).
A doctor on the air for this report said that actually if you consume a lot of water your kidneys function a tiny (almost inconsequential) bit less effectively, so you aren't flushing more toxins out. It was interesting but I'll continue drinking my 8-10 glasses because I have seen benefits. My skin is healthier and I never get headaches anymore.
I've heard that drinking alot of water melts fat. Anybody ever hear of that? They say it helps break it down...So I figure since water is considered a neccesity of life it can't hurt.
I saw this story on CNN today too. They said that there is no evidence that drinking lots of water helps you lose weight, decreases appetite, burns fat, helps your skin, or just about anything else. They said just drink when you're thirsty and that's about it. They also mentioned that drinking too much water can actually hinder your kidneys' ability to remove toxins. I've also heard that it will flush the potassium out of your body if you drink too much. I suppose it's all about finding a happy medium and not forcing yourself to drink more than you need.
I didn't used to drink the 64 oz of water a day until about a month ago. Since I started, I've had a noticeable difference in my skin, like sophcesca! Much softer and even. I've also noticed that it helped me a little with muscle soreness. Hey, maybe it is all a myth, but I'll keep drinking. Feels good & who doesn't like peeing 15 times a day?
Original Post by bfinley8:
I saw on TV this morning that this whole idea that you need to drink 8 cups of water a day to lose weight is a myth. I get that trading out soda or beer for water will obviously make a difference, but am I wasting my time trying to slam down eight waters a day? Personally I'm drinking water even when I'm not thirsty and i don't have to, I'd like to stop. Anyone got an opionion on this?
I believe it is not a myth. I have watched tons and tons of stuff on tv and read lots and lots of stuff regarding weight loss...your body needs to be hydrated...you only need 64oz a day...the 8 glasses are 8 oz glasses. your system needs to be flushed. i you have ever drank alot of water for a long period of time and stopped you can feel it. i am a water drinker, not because of weight but because i like it and when i am not drinking it like i should i can really feel it. my body is sluggish and i swell/retain. i definately feel better when drinking. Best wishes to all!
I watched the same newscast today and found it odd.
I try not to drink alot of juice because its so high in sugar, or i'll make sure i only drink 1 glass for dinner or something.
For breakfast i always have a glass of milk.
my philosophy is , if you're thirsty - drink. if i get hungry by mid day i'll usually drink some water, wait 30 minutes, if im still hungry i'll have a snack.
No point in drinking if you dont really feel like it I think, but if you're not drinking any water and only pop, coffee and unhealthy artificial juice, then you probably should switch to some water :)
every hear that too much water can kill you? they had an on the air radio contest back a while ago -- about who could drink the most water in one hour.
a woman won it....and blah blah blah...
on the way home she called her husband and said she was feeling sick and weird, and he said, well go home and lay down (she was suppose to go to work) - -she did just that and died in her sleep....
end result: her body couldn't handle the WATER she drank. she basically killed herself by drinking a copious amount of water in short period of time. she flushed out ALL her electrolites and potassium supplies (had she just had a banana that morning....) and she died of cardic arrest or something.
SO. for anyone who doesn't realize that -- keep EVERYTHING, including your water consumption, in moderation.
Here's the link to the article that was posted in the Chicago Tribune about the water drinking "myth". http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/featu res_julieshealthclub/2008/04/water-sustains.h tml
It is important to note that the scientists making the claim about the 8 cups a day "myth" published an editorial NOT a clinical study. This means that the "facts" presented by the scientists in question are simply opinions. True, the the authors of the editiorial in question are probably smarter than I am, but nonetheless they are not basing their opinion on rigorous clinical trials or scientific study. In fact, the article itself states that there is no evidence to either prove or disprove either side; to quote the article, "And what they ultimately concede after reviewing the literature is that there's not enough evidence for either side: No clear data exists for a lack of benefit, either."
In light of the lack of clear scientific studies demonstrating problem of water drinking, I am going to continue my practice of drinking about 2 liters water daily. My body is infinitely happier when I do and is what has been recommended to me by numerous sources. For more information about proper hydration check out the Mayo clinic's article:
nobody is saying "don't drink water." go ahead - drink water. if you're drinking two liters a day or more, you're probably drinking more than you need, but other than spending more time in the bathroom, you're not going to suffer for it.
mgosie, it's very difficult to die from overhydration. entering water-drinking contests is an exception (and i'd be willing to bet that more people die after eating contests than water-drinking contests); ecstasy users are another exception. but it's still extraordinarily rare.
The average person needs to replace approximately 2 liters of fluids a day, and a good portion of this replacement is gotten through food, depending on the person. The average person doesn't need to drink much more than a liter of fluids a day, unless they're living in extreme temperatures or working out for an extended period of time. (and of course if you're eating a very low calorie diet you may need a bit more since your food sources may be fewer) If you workout for over an hour at a time you might need to rehydrate with electrolytes as well.
i tend to believe it (the need for water) is individual.
i have an aunt who is incredibly fit (amazingly, she was not when sha got married about 40 years ago. she lost the weight soon after, started exercise, and when i last visited her, she was more fit than me - we took a bike ride somewhere and i was not able to keep up with her. she was 65 and i was 28!) and she says she has a problem to keep up with the huge amonts recommended in the media - she is not able to drink that much and is feeling uneasy when she does. so she is drinking as much as she feels is right for her. hel health is fantastic and she is 70 now. so i would say do what you feel is good:)
While it may be rare, its not out of place to mention in a WATER issue thread, where most people are terribly uneducated about it.
here is an article quickly pulled from wiki: you can see it relates to contests and fitness as well:
Water intoxication (also known as hyperhydration or water poisoning) is a potentially fatal disturbance in brain function that results when the normal balance of electrolytes in the body is pushed outside of safe limits by water.[1] Normal, healthy (both physically and nutritionally) individuals have little to worry about accidentally consuming too much water. Nearly all deaths related to water intoxication in normal individuals have resulted either from water drinking contests, in which individuals attempt to consume more than ten litres over the course of just a few minutes, or long bouts of intensive exercise during which electrolytes are not properly replenished, yet massive amounts of fluid are still consumed.
Notable cases
- On January 12, 2007, Jennifer Strange, a 28-year-old woman and a mother of 3, from Rancho Cordova, California, was found dead in her home by her mother hours after trying to win one of Nintendo's Wii game consoles in KDND 107.9 "The End" radio station's "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" contest, which involved drinking large quantities of water without urinating. No criminal charges were pressed.[6] The Federal Communications Commission has launched its own investigation to determine if the station violated the terms of its operating license.
- On October 12, 2002, 3-year-old Rosita Gonzalez died of water intoxication when her babysitter Nancy Gayoso punished her by forcing her to drink three quarts (2.8 liters) of water in a four hour period.[7][8] Gayoso was charged and arrested for murder in the first degree on March 10, 2003. After being declared incompetent to stand trial in 2004 and 2005,[9] Gayoso was found competent on March 26, 2007.
- Leah Betts[10] died on the 16th of November 1995 after taking an ecstasy tablet at her 18th birthday party and subsequently drinking too much water; the case received mass media coverage throughout the United Kingdom, which focused on the dangers of ecstasy and rather overlooked the actual cause of death.
- In a much-publicized case of fraternity hazing, four members of the Chi Tau (formerly Delta Sigma Phi) House at California State University, Chico pleaded guilty to forcing 21-year-old student Matthew Carrington to drink excessive amounts of water while performing calisthenics in a frigid basement as part of initiation rites on February 2, 2005.[11] He collapsed and died of heart failure due to water intoxication.
- On September 12, 1999, US Air Force basic trainee Michael J. Schindler died of heat stroke, severely complicated by water intoxication, two days after becoming seriously ill during a 5.8 mile march. The Air Force changed its recruit training procedures as a result.[12]
- New Zealand race-walker Craig Barrett collapsed during the last kilometer of the 50 km walk in the 1998 Commonwealth Games in a non-fatal case of water intoxication.[citation needed]
- Other notable fatalities due to water intoxication include Andy Warhol, Anna Wood, [13] 2002 Boston Marathon competitor Cynthia Lucero,[14] and Washington, D.C. police officer James McBride.[15]
additionally, only deaths make headlines, and even then not all deaths associated with water intoxication do. most people who drink to much water simply get sick, pass out and start convulsing, due to the lack of potassium. a friend in the past put herself in the hopsital for 2 weeks due to water intoxication (diet) and flushing her system out.
i'm not trying to scare anyone, i'm trying to educate people, if they are not already educated about it.
With Groups - you're not alone.Get the experience and support
of others who succeeded.
