I cannot fathom how a person can drink 2 litres of water a day! I'm struggling. It's like torture to me. I mean, I love water but I can't force it down when I'm just not thirsty. I gag I usually only clock up about 3 glasses a day on average.

Is there anything you do that helps you drink more water? Exercise helps sometimes, but still not to the point of consuming 8 glasses!

The weird thing is that if it were coke or iced tea, I'd probably have no problem. Don't kow how that works

I know how you feel. It's hard.

Have you ever heard of SmartWater? It's available in the states, and it's really good. It tastes "thinner" than regular water to me. It's yummy!

So drink iced tea.

It doesn't have to be plain water. It's better if it's not loaded with sugar or artificial sweeteners, but you don't have to gag down plain tap water if you don't want (although I love water and can drink a gallon a day, so I just think you're weird! )

Make iced tea. I sometimes make iced herbal tea, which means no caffeine. Or iced green tea to get the benefits of the antioxidants.

Sometimes I drink club soda instead (make sure you get the kind that's sodium free).

Or flavor it with some lemon or lime. Or even a squeeze of fresh orange.

A glass of club soda with a splash of cranberry juice is yummy - just remember to count the calories. (and seriously - a splash is like an ounce or less)

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It's really not necessary to drink that much water. If you're that thirsty and you want to drink that much water, by all means do so, but if it's struggle there's no reason to drink that much. Also, in terms of staying hydrated, just about any liquid counts, even coffee, soda, and alcohol. And all food has water in it too (even bread is about 30% water) and that water also helps you stay hydrated.

There was a great interview in June 2008 Nutrition Action newsletter on this. They interviewed Dr. Heinz Valtin, a physician who authored several widely used medical textbooks on kidney function and water balance. According to Dr. Valtin, there was really never any basis for the myth that you have to drink eight glasses of water per day or the theory that once you are thirsty you are already dehydrated. Dehydration is measured by how concentrated the blood is. According to Dr. Valtin, thirst sets in when the blood is about 2% concentrated; dehydration doesn't occur until the blood is about 5% concentrated. So drinking when you are thirsty is a pretty good way to make sure you are properly hydrated.

And you can drink whatever you want--at least for purposes of staying hydrated. There are other reasons not to overdo it on coffee, soda, sugary drinks, or alcohol, but staying hydrated isn't one of them. The idea that coffee is a diuretic is also disputed in the interview.

Another good article on how much water you need to drink is Fluid Fundamentals on CookingLight.com.

I drink very little straight water. I eat a lot of veggies that are in high in water content and I drink coffee, tea, and non-carbonated diet beverages (like Crystal Light). I don't drink carbonated beverages because I think they cause digestive issues for me, not because I don't think they're a perfectly good source of water. About the only time I drink plain water is when I work out and it's only because I don't want anything but water in my water bottles (they're too hard to wash if I put other stuff in them).

Water was one of the only weight loss ideas I never bought in to. I could care less about drinking water. I drink a glass at lunch, a glass at dinner and a glass if I work out - that's it. I do drink tea (both regular and herbal during the day) but I'll never be one of those folks that has a big quart jug of ice water on their desk they sip from all day. Blech (to me, it's cool if that's what someone likes to do!).

Didn't stop me from losing weight, hasn't stopped me from keeping it off.

Losing weight is hard, there's a lot of stuff to keep a grip on - pick your battles.

You can count coffee or a diet coke as some of your water. There are mix ins that make it go down more easily. I try to drink 5-6 glasses straight and then 2-3 in something else. The important part is to stay hydrated. Drink when you can, as much as you can and carry a water bottle with you. Sometimes just having it in my hands makes me drink it.

true...it is hard. this is what i do. I buy the 16.9 oz. bottles that you can find at the checkouts at walmart and grocery stores. if you can drink 3 of them you are very close to the amount you need. for me it is psychological. I can drink three bottles no problem...don't give me eight glasses. it won't happen. the sodas have acid. i would limit them to one a day. hopefully they are diet. make sure they are sweetened with splenda. the aspertame in the others can make your muscles, joints, and feet hurt. make you feel bad in general. diet coke makes a splenda version. a few years ago i couldn't figure out why the bottom of my feet hurt s bad in the morning. really bad....my sister-n-law sent me an email talking about aspertame. you should google it! it's unbelievable. if you drink tea use splenda. it's an easy way to cut calories. the water really is much easier. just give it a try. i recycle my bottles. i put them in the top rack of the dishwasher. refill them each day. i like my tap water. i can say i've had some tap water that i would not use. thanks and good luck.

Hydration is important, and you do need to take care when in heat or exercising, but Barbara is right. there is no evidence we need to chug down 8 glasses of water (or even liquid). We do need liquid, but as others have noted, that can come from many sources.

Now, if you love drinking water, then drink it! But those of us who don't like it don't need to fret!!

Here's a link to a summary of a research article that summarizes this information. http://dms.dartmouth.edu/news/2002_h...02_water.shtml

At the bottom of that page is the link to the pdf of the actual research article.

I think Snopes did a good take this too. I was about to offer my own wisdom on the topic when I realized Barbara said everything I was going to say. (Thanks! Saved me some typing!)

Snope's Eight Glasses of Water a Day

I have been a bad girl when it comes to drinking enough. I lug a 32oz bottle around with me just so I trick myself into drinking. I can, on a good day, drink 3 or 4 32oz of water.

Water is important for me, I should be drinking enough each day. I've noticed that when I don't keep hydrated I start to feel sluggish.

If you do like water but just find it difficult, why not take baby steps? You say you manage 3 glasses a day? So for a week aim for FOUR glasses, if you find you ca do that and get used to it, aim for Five and so on. I find that having a 1.5 litre bottle that I re fill on a daily basis and carry around with me really helps - but I can drink a lot! so just do what you can to drink more, dont make yourself gag!

For me personally, I have more energy, better looking (clearer) skin, and I am less hungry when I drink enough water.

However, I don't sit and chug water down a glass at a time. Instead, I have a Nalgene bottle that holds 20 ounces (2 1/2 glasses) and I fill it up and carry it around with me. Instead of drinking a glass at a time-I sip on it all day. With little sips all of the time, I end up with a bottle being gone in no time!

(Besides...a bottle that you wash and keep is much better for the environment than disposable plastic water bottles...even if you do recycle them. )

I naturally drink so much much water that I think I cosmically balance the rest of you non-water-slurpers out.

Barbara (BluetoBlue) gave great information on the subject.

I feel exactly the same. It's incredibly hard for me to drink 8 glasses of water a day, but I try very hard to at least get 6. I've noticed a big difference in my energy level, how I feel inside and my skin is better looking also!

I try to drink at least 3 of the 16.9 ounce water bottles a day and then a bottle or two when I'm working out (I don't count that in my daily water intake). I figure I get the other two glasses in my coffee and tea and juice.

I agree that you probably don't really need to drink 8 glasses of straight water a day since you get water from veggies, fruits and other beverages, but fresh water makes me feel really great so I strive to drink it even though it's hard.

I agree with the people who don't feel you have to choke something down if you don't want it. I have read to drink when you are thirsty and you should get what you need.

That being said, since I've been exercising lately, I don't feel like I am always as hydrated as I could be, and it's definitely true that to be a fat-burning machine, you need to be as hydrated as possible.

I have been trying to drink a little glass of water before I eat each meal. That way, I get in some extra, and it helps to fill me up before I eat. I'm not talking about gagging down a big glass, just a couple big swigs. Then drink your other low cal choices throughout the day. Just an idea!

Good luck!