I drink a lot of water also. I'm not sure how much, I always have a big cup on my desk and I refill it several times a day. I haven't really compared my weight loss with or without water, but it makes me feel much more energetic, and I feel fuller when I drink enough water. If I don't drink enough water, I get the munchies; something I now recognize as really being thirsty.

I've been averaging 2-3 L per day. It's all I drink, aside from green tea. Aside from any weight loss effects (and I do believe there are a ton), my skin is so much clearer and softer. I always keep my bottle filled, and just guzzle it throughout the day. The bathroom runs do slow down after a while.

I have a 32 oz Nalgene bottle which I drink all of at work. Then I drink about the same amount when I come home. Seems to me I forget on the weekends to drink as much...I definitely feel the difference when I don't drink enough. I feel much better drinking water...

through out the day I usually have a mug of tea or coffee, the nalgene, another 32 oz, and most of the time a Sprite Zero too.

I find if I don't carry my water bottle around with me everywhere I go I'll just forget though.

I don't focus on water. I stay hydrated for sure, and try to make sure I get in enough fluids, but I'm not convinced that it has to be pure water all the time based on the research that's been done (link below).

Basically, if you love drinking water, I say keep doing it, but if you're like me and don't love to, you are probably getting in enough from what everything you eat and drink (do stay hydrated after exercise or in the heat). There is no solid research that demonstrates that we must drink at least 8 8 oz glasses of water a day.

Here's a link I give all the time to a great article that discusses research done on drinking water that was published in the American Journal of Physiology:
http://ajpregu.physiology.org/cgi/co...ull/283/5/R993

Here's the abstract:
Despite the seemingly ubiquitous admonition to "drink at least eight 8-oz glasses of water a day" (with an accompanying reminder that beverages containing caffeine and alcohol do not count), rigorous proof for this counsel appears to be lacking. This review sought to find the origin of this advice (called "8 × 8" for short) and to examine the scientific evidence, if any, that might support it. The search included not only electronic modes but also a cursory examination of the older literature that is not covered in electronic databases and, most importantly and fruitfully, extensive consultation with several nutritionists who specialize in the field of thirst and drinking fluids. No scientific studies were found in support of 8 × 8. Rather, surveys of food and fluid intake on thousands of adults of both genders, analyses of which have been published in peer-reviewed journals, strongly suggest that such large amounts are not needed because the surveyed persons were presumably healthy and certainly not overtly ill. This conclusion is supported by published studies showing that caffeinated drinks (and, to a lesser extent, mild alcoholic beverages like beer in moderation) may indeed be counted toward the daily total, as well as by the large body of published experiments that attest to the precision and effectiveness of the osmoregulatory system for maintaining water balance. It is to be emphasized that the conclusion is limited to healthy adults in a temperate climate leading a largely sedentary existence, precisely the population and conditions that the "at least" in 8 × 8 refers to. Equally to be emphasized, lest the message of this review be misconstrued, is the fact (based on published evidence) that large intakes of fluid, equal to and greater than 8 × 8, are advisable for the treatment or prevention of some diseases and certainly are called for under special circumstances, such as vigorous work and exercise, especially in hot climates. Since it is difficult or impossible to prove a negativein this instance, the absence of scientific literature supporting the 8 × 8 recommendationthe author invites communications from readers who are aware of pertinent publications

I too have to have my water at room temp (no ice, ever). But, I will have to say that water makes me nauseated. Really! Especially if I drink it on an empty stomach. I do okay when I drink with my meals (which there is controversy over as well!), but just to drink it all day - it really does make me sick to my stomach. This has been life long so I know that it isn't the water in my town. Of course, most cities put chlorine in it nowadays so that very well could be what I'm sensitive to.

I will mention this - when I was following a program a few years back, one of the directors told me that ALL water counts - in your food, decaf tea, green tea, etc. So, don't think you have to get in 64 ounces IN ADDITION to all the other. That leads to water intoxication - which we are all aware of since it was recently in the news.

I probably end up drinking about 70 oz per day, or so. I've never tried to lose weight without the water, but there are some changes that I feel are directly related to the water consumption.

1. Fatigue. I was tired all the time. As soon as I started drinking a lot of water, before I had begun actually losing weight, the fatigue was greatly reduced.

2. Swelling. I broke my ankle about 4 years ago, and even after it was healed, it was swelled most of the time. In the morning when I would get out of bed it was only swollen slightly, but it was enough that I could see the difference between my two ankles. And by evening, you couldn't miss the swelling, it was drastic. The doctors told me it was a side effect of having broken it, and it would probably always be that way. That's a bunch of hooey. Since I started drinking the water, the swelling went away, completely, and hasn't returned, even if I have a day where I'm on my feet the whole time.

3. It fills me up! I didn't realize in the past how many times I grabbed a snack because I thought I was hungry. Turns out, most of those times I was probably just thirsty. If I think I need a snack, I always drink some water first to see if it's my body telling me I'm thirsty.

I say drink the water if you can!

Yep - I agree with Boaterswife. I swell up something awful and bloat if I DON'T have it. We travel a lot and I try to limit the water when we are driving, and by days end my hands and feet are horribly swollen. (and that is with stopping every couple of hours and moving around - so that isn't the reason)

I do not look for a certain amount to drink, I am just ALWAYS driniking it! I never thought to even add it up until I read this post.

I have a day care and I forewarn all parents when they start here that there are no juices made available, the kids will get water if they are thirsty and milk with their food. All the kids grow up with it and I hope that it will be a lifelong thing with them that water is good!

Since we are talking water, please let me ask this....were any of you water drinkers ever non-water drinkers and if so, how did you get yourself to the point of liking the stuff?

It is not something I like nor crave. I drink a lot of diet green tea and generally a cup of coffee in the am and an occasional diet soda (not everyday) but water is just one I have not yet worked out for myself and I know I need to!

From the reading I've done (see the link I provided earlier in the thread), if you are drinking a lot of other beverages, then you are fine in terms of hydration and do not need to worry about adding water too. Tea is an excellent choice, and in some ways may be better than pure water (because of the antioxidant properties in the tea).

I love green teas. Alot, which is good since my spouse is Half Japanese, his entire family lives on the stuff, and lemme say, they look fantastic for their ages!! They also drink alot of hot water, with lemon. Usually after a meal, they claim it aids in digestion etc. In the 5 yrs or so I've known his family, I've also picked up the habit. Basically, boil water as you would for tea, but serve it plain with a few citrus slices floating on top. I now consider this a treat, lol. As far as green tea, we use authentic leaves, imported from Japan, once a month we get a care package from his great grandma, 97 years young and STILL going strong, every day she runs her 99 pound body, 15 miles and does pilates and yoga, I so want to be her when I grow up.

As far as getting use to drinking water, I've always been a water drinker, my youngest brother, who is 16, half my age, I raised for his first 5 yrs, he's a water drinker now, as are my own kids. I did get away from water for a long time, then slowly started drinking more and more of it. I add citrus slices to a 46 ounce bottle, and let it marinate overnight, it gives it a bit of flavor. In the summer time, I'll make drinks with water, again in my 46 ounce Juicy Juice containers slicing citrus, pineapples etc in and add 1-2 packets of splenda and let it marinate overnight. Be careful doing that, don't use real sugar and let it sit to long, you'll wind up a little loopy from the *wine* it makes, apparently, that CAN ferment enough.

I try to make sure I drink 1/2 my weight in ounces of water so basically around 115 ozs a day. or 3.5 Litres. If I workout hard I drink a bit more. Since doing this I don't seem to get bloated or retain water.(nice bonus) I have a big bladder so I am not going to the bathroom like I was in the beginning, your body adjusts.

My skin looks healthy and radiant, and it has kicked my weight loss into high gear. I have lost 31 pounds so far and when I don't get my water in the scale does not tend to move the next day.

You have read the advice and it is overwhelmingly in favour of high water consumption, but in the end you have to commit to it and do it or make a different choice for yourself.

Good Luck

Holy crap, you just made my evening! I love the diet green tea and can easily drink two gallons a week!

concerning drinking water, I know I should but I have never drank much water. I have diabeties, which is another reason I should drink lots of water.I think it is one of the reasons I am not losing weight fast enough. I am really going to have to keep a bottle with me all the time and drink all day long. I am going to start tomorrow. Joyce

LakeGirl- I never used to drink water - never - and now it's about all I drink. I made it happen by finding a water bottle with a straw...so I drink a lot without even realizing it. Also, I drink it room temperature. I don't like it when it's too cold. Sometimes it is still tough, though. When we're eating Mexican food...I really want a soda! I just switched my attitude to realize that "taste" comes from food and drinking (for me) is merely for hydration. I don't know why but that's what it took for me.

I've always like to drink water, although I used to drink diet sodas with almost all meals instead of water. Even though I liked it, I didn't used to drink enough water. I would eat instead.

I don't like my water as cold as I used to, because I stay so cold since I lost weight.