How much water to drink?

**Cyndie32** · 07-08-2011 02:11 PM

I have read numerous ideas about the correct amount of water to drink. Recently, my chiropractor said that you take your weight and devide it in half and that is how many ounces you need throughout the day.

So thats what I have been doing. It seems like alot of water and I go to the bathroom a lot. Will my body get use to drinking so much water so that I am not in the bathroom so much?

**chaya** · 07-08-2011 02:22 PM

As a type 1 diabetic, nutrition and hydration is very important to me. I was taught that if my urine is clear, I am fully hydrated. So I make sure that at least once a day I drink enough water to make my urine clear. There is no set amount for me, it depends on environment and activity.

**KMonte85** · 07-08-2011 02:37 PM

Your chiropractor is right! I never knew this either, until I started working with a nutritionist who told me the same thing to use as a general rule: divid your weight in half, and this is the # of fl.oz. of water you should be drinking in a day. Sometimes even more depending on the day (the climate, your activity level, you sodium intake, etc...) It's weird to think that this is really the NORMAL amount of water your body requires, and just how dehydrated most people really are then.

I don't think you ever stop peeing... at least in my year of drinking that much water diligently, I go to the bathroom quite a bit and frequency never really stopped. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Honestly you're not in the bathroom so much, you're just not used to drinking the amount of water that your body needs and the after effects of that. If anything, you just get used to it as a normal thing in daily life because it is.

**Mes T** · 07-11-2011 03:45 AM

I know everyone says this but to be honest... I'm not so sure I agree! For a while I upped my water intake because I was told it was healthy for me, and ended up spending my life peeing in the bathroom. Surely that's not "normal." As for hydration... I have never felt dehydrated in my entire life, except after the gym or hike or something like that.

People carrying huge water bottles in their purses everywhere they go... I don't understand.

If someone can point me to a concrete study that shows that peeing all day in the bathroom is beneficial to your health, then I will definitely be open to changing my mind.

**KMonte85** · 07-12-2011 07:34 AM

Originally Posted by Mes T

I know everyone says this but to be honest... I'm not so sure I agree! For a while I upped my water intake because I was told it was healthy for me, and ended up spending my life peeing in the bathroom. Surely that's not "normal." As for hydration... I have never felt dehydrated in my entire life, except after the gym or hike or something like that.

I suppose to each their own! I drink well over the 1/2 my body weight in water number, and I pee pretty often too (guess that's subjective to what "often" is). I think a person's unique physiology, their health condition, the weather, the daily environment, etc all will impact how much water they should be drinking in a day. I would say (at least in my experience) that most people are walking around at least somewhat dehydrated, and the 1/2 your body weight in water is a good general guideline (not so much a hardfast rule) to get people to at least *think* about drinking more water more often. Can't hurt right?

**Beautiful Disaster** · 07-12-2011 07:55 AM

It's not the "peeing" that's the healthy part of it, though that plays a role in healthy kidney and bladder function. The water flushes out the system, helps rid of toxins, and most importantly keeps the body hydrated.

I add mint to my water to give it a little kick and make it a bit different at times. I also think drinking something like decaf green tea (I make mine ice tea) is pretty comparable. As long as what you're drinking is decaf and doesn't contain sugar.

I say, it can't really do much but help, so drink drink drink.

**KMonte85** · 07-12-2011 08:17 AM

Oooo I love me some fresh brewed iced tea! Especially with lemon squeezed into it on a hot summer day... Yumm-o!

**Cyndie32** · 07-12-2011 10:01 AM

thanks to everyone! I appreciate the input. as always you are very helpful.

**Seeker_Advice** · 07-30-2011 12:11 PM

A simple rule of thumb and target to shoot for... Half of your current body weight in ounces between 6 AM and 8 PM (drink much fluid later than 8 and you increase the chances of urinating during sleeping hours).

The idea that drinking enough water to make your urine clear is somewhat flawed because the body can only process 16 ounces of fluid per hour.