Originally Posted by LLV:
Seriously, I don't 'force' myself to drink more water than I want.

I don't force the water, either. However, I've read (and recently confirmed this in a quiz about water in the 300+ section!) that the average body loses up to 10 glasses of water a day just through things like urination sweating, etc. Since there's no way for me to measure the amount of maoisture I get from my foods, I figure the least I can do for my body is replenish what it loses naturally :^:

Of course, I go above and beyond with 4 liters a day, but I don't always do it intentionally (I do focus on it more if I know I've been taking in a LOT of sodium lately). I just keep a 1-liter bottle on my desk at work and 1 in the fridge, so I keep switching them out throughout the day and sip constantly while I'm working. I never chug a bunch just to get in a certain amount or anything like that :dizzy:

Originally Posted by jillybean720:

Of course, I go above and beyond with 4 liters a day, but I don't always do it intentionally (I do focus on it more if I know I've been taking in a LOT of sodium lately). :dizzy:

Yep, me too. I definitely drink lots more water if I know I've taken in a lot of sodium.

I rarely ever feel TRULY thirsty, so I'm probably getting the water I need. I'm in the bathroom quite a bit as well. So what I'm taking in simply because I WANT to take it in is most likely enough. I can always tell when I haven't had enough water on a particular day because I get that uncomfortable feeling in my feet, which means I'm retaining water. I also get charlie horses in my calves and cramps in my toes. That happens rarely these days. It used to happen a LOT. Before I started my weight loss journey. Because I know for a fact that I wasn't getting enough water then. I was walking the earth every day dehydrated and didn't even know it. In fact I was dehydrated so bad once, they stuck me in the hospital for 4 hours hooked up to an IV to replenish my fluids.

If you ever have a kidney stone, you will become a water drinker! :stress: Some people have more of a tendency to form these than others, but not drinking enough water is part of it. I almost never feel thirsty, much to my detriment. I have to track my water intake. I try to drink 8 oz. every hour during the day--that means I usually get my 8-10 glasses in. If I'm exercising I drink more.

My kidney dr. says water means water--not fruit, not juice, not soda, not coffee or tea. Water.

Jay

Originally Posted by Tisha___:
Going from having water maybe once a week (no, seriously.) to having that much every day, has really helped me a lot. I feel better. I'm not as tired. It helps me with cravings. It's been great. :)

Same here--I used to literally almost NEVER drink water. Growing up, I drank lots of juice, soda, and milk, but would never drink water. Never. Now I drink water more than anything with maybe 1 can of diet soda a day and the occasional glass of skim milk (maybe 2 a week).