I have a question about how much water I should be drinking. I usually do get my 64oz a day and usually more. But my question is: I drink about 40oz in the morning while I am working out and sweating (like a pig in blanket in July - sorry for the visual - but its ridiculous). Does that 40oz count or should I just figure that I am replenishing what I am sweating out and don't count it for day?
Hmm, I would say it doesn't count. The 64oz/day are what should be a regular consumption; as soon as you add cardio activity, you need to up that (I think a trainer once told me it was about 0.5 L per half hour of intense exercizing, or something very close).
Does that mean, in addition to the water/liquids you drink all day, you also have to include more liquids for working out? How much exactly (i.e. the # of 8 fl oz cups)?
In general sweat replacement doesnt count, but the only way to know for sure how much "doesnt count" is to weigh naked before workout, and weigh naked after workout and drinking - any difference is either excess sweat or excess water taken in. I would guess that 40 oz is somewhat in excess taken in.. HOWEVER
The whole water thing has been greatly blown out of proportion
Drink water when you are thirsty. Now some of us do indeed have a disconnect in the thirst/hunger mechanism
...try the following
drink when you are hungry and wait 15 minutes to see if you are still hungry (I usually am)
drink when you have a headache or feel lethargic (works quite often for me)
drink when you are bored or tempted to eat (works well- especially in the car)
and if you have a problem getting water, drink before you drink other stuff like pop or coffee.
If you are not thirsty, not hungry, not bored, not feeling poorly, force feeding water is not necessary. (and I AM a water drinker, I drink a ton of water)
I like the way you think ennay, it makes complete sense to me. I know I rarely get enough though.
Anyone else find they have to "force feed" themselves water, even though they are thirsty (and water is my preferred drink btw, its not that I dont like the taste of it)
I find that especially when I'm hungry, which is a bit of a pain. And when I'm cold its near impossible to drink enough.
The rule of thumb for 64oz of water per day is misleading. Don't get me wrong, your body needs water and it is a great weight loss tool but the 64oz number is an arbitrary number. Other foods and liquids also contain water and they do count towards the total water you should be consuming each day.
The general rule of thumb regarding exercise is that you should weigh yourself before and after. For each pound you lose, you should drink 16oz to replace the fluids.
I agree with the recent posters. I think hydration is important, especially after exercise! But the new research suggests that the original recommendations of 8 8 oz glasses were never research-based. I think if you love water, drink it! But if you feel you have to force feed yourself, I'd be inclined not to worry...
timkerbelle, I am not naturally a water drinker, and I have to consciously remind myself to drink it. If I don't, I develop kidney stones, and passing one of those definitely "encourages" one to drink more water!
Water question
