How much is too much?
 

Just wondering how much water is too much. I try to drink at least 6-8 bottles (16.9oz) at work and then have 1 or 2 once I get home. Is that too much? I drink more than that in the summer time too. I haven't had a diet dr pepper in 3 days and I haven't had a coke since Sat. Amazing for me. Infact, I brought a diet dr pepper to work the last 3 days but never touched it. I kept taking it back and forth from home to work. LOL! Anyway, I went to put it in the fridge at work and I dropped it. It exploded everywhere. Do you think someone was trying to tell me I don't need it? I thought it was too funny.

So, is there really TOO MUCH water. Is it going to make me gain weight? I know a gallon is like 7 pounds or whatever but as much as I run to the bathroom I think I'm ok.

Yes, it is possible to drink too much water. Try to keep it to 8 to 10 8-oz. portions a day. So that would be 64 to 80 ounces in a day. Some people count other beverages besides water in their total--others only count water.

Jay

I only count water. I have 1 cup of coffee every morning with some fat free cream and then start in on the water right after that. I guess I should slow down though huh.

I believe the concern is that you can dilute the sodium levels in your blood by having too much water intake, and that can be fatal. Remember the guy pledging for a fraternity a couple years ago who drank too much water and died? I think they had replaced the alcohol consumption with water for the pledge, thinking it would be healthier. I don't honestly know what the upper limit is, but I have read the current recommendation is 64-80 ounces, like Jay said, not counting replacing fluids from exercise.

Hope that helps!

Kara

This thread made me want to look up hyperhydration, and it looks like there won't be any risk for drinking as much water as you feel like though out the day as long as you're also eating regularly.

Search for "water poisoning". The articles I found said there was no clear cut guideline for how much is too much, but that is generally ranged in 3-10 liters in a very short period of time (one said 10 minutes, another said 30 minutes). All said that a normal person on a normal day didn't have to worry about it.

So...by the modest number I found...that would equate to at least 100 ounces of water in 30 minutes - or 6 16-ounce bottles. I think you're safe. :)

Well, are you forcing yourself to drink more water than your body is telling you it wants? If so, then yes, you are drinking too much. Are you drinking because you are thirsty and are enjoying the process of drinking that much water? If so, then no.

Drinking extra water than your body wants won't help you lose weight, except for the calories burned off in running to the bathroom. Forcing yourself to drink too much extra can lead to water intoxication. Overdoing it somewhat probably won't hurt you, but I don't see the point.

I aim for 2 liters a day. It helps me curb snacking big time, but I do use the bathroom all the time!

I think you might be drinking a bit too much in my opinion. I think after you over saturate it looses its health benefits anyway.

I drink it because I run my butt off at work and I'm thirsty. Before it was a diet dr pepper or a coke. Now it's water. Also, since I chew a lot of gum my mouth tends to get kinda blah so it helps that too.

If you're on medications, particularly blood pressure medications (even low dose), you may be much more prone to water poisoning or intoxication at smaller amounts of liquid than someone not on those meds. My mother was hospitalized with water intoxication, and she had been drinking only about a gallon of liquids a day (spread out, not close together).

She was drinking the 8 - 10 glasses of water Weight Watcher's recommended, plus 2 glasses of milk, and then 2 - 5 cups of coffee.

The kidney specialist called in said that he is seeing more water intoxication in healthy people that he attributes to popular myths about how much water people need, and that only plain water counts, and that coffee doesn't (or worse needs to be "compensated for" with extra water).

So, if you're on any meds or have any health issues whatsoever, talk to your doctor before drinking more than 3 quarts a day (including all beverages and soups).