How much water do you drink?

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 12:56 pm

When I was at Uni, I randomly started drinking 6 pints of water a day - almost 3 and a half litres. A week later and almost the entire floor in the hall of residence started doing the same, after noticing the good it was doing me. Several years later, my mate and I did it again, but it was slightly less at 3 litres - it made such a difference. I'd wake up feeling as fresh as a daisy.

I'm planning on doing it again. Anybody fancy doing it too?

Spijed · Post by **Spijed** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 1:00 pm

Water helps to keep your blood anti-coagulated as well.

quoonbeatz · Post by **quoonbeatz** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 1:01 pm

i drink at least 3 litres every day during the week, probably a bit less at the weekend.

this is why i stay looking so young and beautiful.

KateR · Post by **KateR** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 1:03 pm

I certainly should do!
I do not like water, have drunk next to nothing in its pure form over a very long period, however some tests on 2nd of Jan revealed a few issues and was told it was essential I started drinking more, more is relative of course. I have started drinking more pure water but again don't enjoy it, tests a month and 6 weeks later saw an improvement so obviously something in it, as I have been told my whole life but ignored.

I will try to drink more but that is a huge amount to me!

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 1:06 pm

It's important not to drink a lot all at once, but spread it out over the day. 3 litres isn't too bad if it's spread out over 12 hours.

No Ney Never · Post by **No Ney Never** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 1:21 pm

KateR wrote:I certainly should do!
I do not like water, have drunk next to nothing in its pure form over a very long period, however some tests on 2nd of Jan revealed a few issues and was told it was essential I started drinking more, more is relative of course. I have started drinking more pure water but again don't enjoy it, tests a month and 6 weeks later saw an improvement so obviously something in it, as I have been told my whole life but ignored.

I will try to drink more but that is a huge amount to me!

Are you the individual who plays Fr. Jack in the Fr. Ted programme?

Sidney1st · Post by **Sidney1st** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 1:25 pm

Just plain water or with added squash?

I drink a lot if it's allowed with squash, just not on it's own.

WestMidsClaret · Post by **WestMidsClaret** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 1:29 pm

I drink bottled water (around 4 x 500ml a day) with a decent bicarbonate level. Helps neutralize heart burn for me.

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 1:34 pm

Sidney1st wrote:Just plain water or with added squash?

I drink a lot if it's allowed with squash, just not on it's own.

I drink plain water.

Quickenthetempo · Post by **Quickenthetempo** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 1:50 pm

I drink two litres of sea water a day. It gives you a great feeling inside.

Sidney1st · Post by **Sidney1st** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 1:50 pm

yTib wrote:you were at uni???!!

Weren't you?
All the best people went I heard, which explains why I didn't.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 1:53 pm

quoonbeatz wrote:i drink at least 3 litres every day during the week, probably a bit less at the weekend.

this is why i stay looking so young and beautiful.

I'll give it a miss, obviously doesn't work.

Seriously, I drink quite a lot of water and have increased that from today having been put on some new medicine for my diabetes and been told I'll need to drink more. I've got through around 2.5 litres today so far.

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 1:55 pm

The downside to drinking so much is you spend half the day in the bathroom. But it definitely makes a big difference in how you feel. It can help with losing weight too as often you mistake hunger for thirst.

tim_noone · Post by **tim_noone** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 1:56 pm

FactualFrank wrote:When I was at Uni, I randomly started drinking 6 pints of water a day - almost 3 and a half litres. A week later and almost the entire floor in the hall of residence started doing the same, after noticing the good it was doing me. Several years later, my mate and I did it again, but it was slightly less at 3 litres - it made such a difference. I'd wake up feeling as fresh as a daisy.

I'm planning on doing it again. Anybody fancy doing it too?

So are you knocking the 12 cans of super strength lager on the head now frank?

LoveCurryPies · Post by **LoveCurryPies** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 2:03 pm

If you drink 8 pints of beer, how much of that is water? Must be over 7 pints with the rest ingredients like hops???

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 2:05 pm

LoveCurryPies wrote:If you drink 8 pints of beer, how much of that is water? Must be over 7 pints with the rest ingredients like hops???

Haha, I wish it worked like that.

'They' say that drinking tea and coffee counts as part of your water count, but I'm not convinced. I only feel better if it's plain water.

LeadBelly · Post by **LeadBelly** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 2:10 pm

I take a mug of water upstairs with me at night time, have a drink before I sleep, likewise have a mouthful or two in the morning. Otherwise I drink mugs of tea (c 8 per day). I think that'll be about 2-2.5 litres.
I eat a lot of fruit and veg which adds further (and helps with the roughage of course).
If you're dong a lot of exercise (especially in hot climes) you'll need more but I just take long walks nowadays and spend my time in Blighty so I'm pretty satisfied with that level of intake.
I think there have been quite a few myths about how much water you need- probably spread by bottled water companies and sports drink companies.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 2:11 pm

FactualFrank wrote:The downside to drinking so much is you spend half the day in the bathroom.

Tell me about it

edlass · Post by **edlass** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 2:11 pm

This might be a bit disgusting, or weird, or both but I like to see the difference in my wee after I drink a few waters, especially from when I wake up to late morning.

Its clearly doing me some good because the change in colour is drastic! (I wont go into detail).

My problem is pepsi max. Whilst everyone in my office has brews ill have 4 or 5 cans in a morning alone. I can easily drink three litres a day. If I try and stop I get caffeine headaches.

But as well as my pepsi habit I will try and do three litres water a day, I recon I have done three pints so far today

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 2:14 pm

edlass wrote:This might be a bit disgusting, or weird, or both but I like to see the difference in my wee after I drink a few waters, especially from when I wake up to late morning.

Its clearly doing me some good because the change in colour is drastic! (I wont go into detail).

Anything but disgusting, I check mine all the time and that's been since I had some health issues back in the summer of 2012 when tests pointed towards liver cancer, I went to the docs after my wee had gone dark brown, looking something like Irn Bru concentrate. Thankfully, things went right very quickly and it turned out to be gall stones that were causing the problem but I've checked it ever since. Just been and it's clear.

Rowls · Post by **Rowls** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 2:14 pm

I drink 6 litres per day.

Scientists recommend that you drink 12-15 gallons of bottled water as a bare minimum. It has to be the expensive stuff and sold in a plastic bottle. If it comes out of a tap and is transported efficiently through a system of pipes then it won't do.

Anything less than the recommended 3 and 4/7ths of a firkin of water a day and you might shrivel up and die like a slug in a desert.

FACT

quoonbeatz · Post by **quoonbeatz** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 2:18 pm

edlass wrote:My problem is pepsi max. Whilst everyone in my office has brews ill have 4 or 5 cans in a morning alone.

edlass · Post by **edlass** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 2:19 pm

ClaretTony wrote:Anything but disgusting, I check mine all the time and that's been since I had some health issues back in the summer of 2012 when tests pointed towards liver cancer, I went to the docs after my wee had gone dark brown, looking something like Irn Bru concentrate. Thankfully, things went right very quickly and it turned out to be gall stones that were causing the problem but I've checked it ever since. Just been and it's clear.

Good to know! Even the very last bit!

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 2:21 pm

edlass wrote:Good to know! Even the very last bit!

I'd keep off the Pepsi Max though unless you need a laxative.

edlass · Post by **edlass** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 2:34 pm

ClaretTony wrote:I'd keep off the Pepsi Max though unless you need a laxative.

Do you think it works like that? It's been something I have been trying to shift for a while (no laxative pun intended). But its easy to convince myself I'm not doing any harm, I don't smoke, do drugs and barely drink so it hardly seems like an evil compared to them. I usually cut down but then it comes back in a big way.

I expect that all of the caffeine and the carbonated water aren't good but I did some research on the sweeteners and there isn't anything about them that causes cancer (like once suspected) and I've not seen anything about the laxative effect!

Herts Clarets · Post by **Herts Clarets** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 2:53 pm

ClaretTony wrote: my wee had gone dark brown, looking something like Irn Bru concentrate.

Was that in honour of the Lying Scotsman?

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 3:22 pm

FactualFrank wrote:When I was at Uni, I randomly started drinking 6 pints of water a day - almost 3 and a half litres. A week later and almost the entire floor in the hall of residence started doing the same, after noticing the good it was doing me. Several years later, my mate and I did it again, but it was slightly less at 3 litres - it made such a difference. I'd wake up feeling as fresh as a daisy.

I'm planning on doing it again. Anybody fancy doing it too?

No!

alwaysaclaret · Post by **alwaysaclaret** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 3:34 pm

Bloody hell, can't believe how much some of you drink, I'm in my 6th week post kidney transplant and drink between 2 and 3 litres per day, but 6 litres, that really is pushing it to the extreme lol.

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 3:36 pm

I think he was taking the p1ss

when he said 6 litres.

SalisburyClaret · Post by **SalisburyClaret** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 3:44 pm

FactualFrank wrote:Haha, I wish it worked like that.

'They' say that drinking tea and coffee counts as part of your water count, but I'm not convinced. I only feel better if it's plain water.

Tea and coffee count but only if they have no caffeine- so herbal teas are good but not PG etc.

No Ney Never · Post by **No Ney Never** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 3:49 pm

FactualFrank wrote:I think he was taking the p1ss when he said 6 litres.

Urgh! Are you sure, drink 6 litres of p1ss?

Hipper · Post by **Hipper** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 3:50 pm

I drink mostly weak black tea - no milk or sugar. A variety of teas from leaves. Two Thermos flasks a day which is around three litres in total. Because I have it weak there isn't a caffeine issue. Indeed I once experimented by just drinking hot water for a week or so in the same volumes and found no difference one way or the other.

Of course strong tea or coffee, and with milk or sugar will make a difference.

Hipper · Post by **Hipper** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 3:56 pm

No Ney Never wrote:Urgh! Are you sure, drink 6 litres of p1ss?

Some people do drink their own urine:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urine_therapy" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Indian Prime Minister Morarji Desai famously drunk his own urine and lived to 99.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 4:00 pm

Herts Clarets wrote:Was that in honour of the Lying Scotsman?

No, but I would happily have thrown it at him.

NottsClaret · Post by **NottsClaret** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 4:14 pm

You can probably find a doctor or report to back whatever you want to believe so who knows.

There was a feature on the radio about the modern office obsession with drinking gallons of water - the doctor they had on that day said you can drink loads of water if you like, it won't do you any harm unless you take it to extremes. But it won't do much either, other than make you wee and sweat more. Apparently you'll know when you need more water, you'll be thirsty. But if you reckon it's working, it's a cheap placebo if nowt else.

Wile E Coyote · Post by **Wile E Coyote** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 4:14 pm

Out of interest, does tea/coffee count ? i drink several brews a day.

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 4:17 pm

NottsClaret wrote:You can probably find a doctor or report to back whatever you want to believe so who knows.

There was a feature on the radio about the modern office obsession with drinking gallons of water - the doctor they had on that day said you can drink loads of water if you like, it won't do you any harm unless you take it to extremes. But it won't do much either, other than make you wee and sweat more. Apparently you'll know when you need more water, you'll be thirsty. But if you reckon it's working, it's a cheap placebo if nowt else.

It's been shown that when you're thirsty, you're already dehydrated, so not sure who the doctor was, but he can't be very good to not know basics like that.

I know for a 'fact' that drinking water makes me feel better. It makes me much more alert in the mornings and improves mood. So drinking it definitely makes a difference.

Vegas Claret · Post by **Vegas Claret** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 4:26 pm

there's a reason some bloke turned water to wine all those years ago !

In all seriousness I don't drink enough water

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 4:27 pm

Get on it VC! Try 3 litres a day and see how it goes.

Just keep your bathroom door open, to save you time.

Rowls · Post by **Rowls** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 4:40 pm

alwaysaclaret wrote:Bloody hell, can't believe how much some of you drink, I'm in my 6th week post kidney transplant and drink between 2 and 3 litres per day, but 6 litres, that really is pushing it to the extreme lol.

To stop joking around for a moment, if anyone was daft enough to try and drink 6 litres a day they could very seriously damage their health. They'd be risking falling in to a coma. You'd be very, very ill and in bad shape.

Wile E Coyote wrote:Out of interest, does tea/coffee count ? i drink several brews a day.

Yes it does. Watch your caffeine intake but swig it down.

Vegas Claret wrote:In all seriousness I don't drink enough water

You probably DO drink enough.

The best way to tell if you've drunk enough is to ask yourself, "Am I thirsty"? If the answer is 'yes' then have a drink. If the answer is 'no' then don't have a drink.

You can confirm how well hydrated you are by the colour of your pee. If it is light yellow or straw coloured you are well hydrated and don't need anything extra. It'll likely be darker when you pee first time in the morning but that's natural.

This myth about needing to be constantly drinking water is rubbish propagated by bottled drinks companies. Drink when you are thirsty, don't drink or stop drinking when you are not thirsty.

It's that simple.

The only exception to that should be on the advice of a medical professional like your GP.

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 4:47 pm

Being thirsty and needing water - it's not that simple. When you're thirsty, it's too late - you're already dehydrated.

Rowls · Post by **Rowls** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 4:48 pm

FactualFrank wrote:It's been shown that when you're thirsty, you're already dehydrated, so not sure who the doctor was, but he can't be very good to not know basics like that.

It hasn't been "shown" at all.

It has been purported by drinks companies but there is no good evidence to support this claim whatsoever. None at all.

There is perhaps one or two studies that possibly suggests this but these were funded (wait for it!) ... by the drinks companies themselves and are disputed by less partisan reports.

Military organizations and armies around the world have researched it without them having a vested interest in drinks that come in plastic bottles. In fact, given the weight of liquids, the military have a vested interest in not having to carry around excess water.

They have come to the conclusion that (as long as water is freely available, ie. you're not in a desert and dying of thirst) then the best thing to do is drink when you're thirsty and don't drink when if you are not thirsty.

Your body is the result of millions and millions of years of evolution. It has not evolved with a flaw as basic as not knowing whether you are thirsty or not.

Drink if you are thirsty, don't drink if you are not thirst.*

It is as simple as that.

* Unless you have a medical condition, in which case seek advice from your GP or medical professional.

Firthy · Post by **Firthy** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 4:48 pm

No water but gallons of tea all day and my pee is clear most of the time so obviously doing the job.

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 4:50 pm

Rowls, it isn't as simple as that.

Rowls · Post by **Rowls** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 4:51 pm

FactualFrank wrote:Being thirsty and needing water - it's not that simple. When you're thirsty, it's too late - you're already dehydrated.

Not true.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24464774" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Rowls · Post by **Rowls** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 4:51 pm

FactualFrank wrote:Rowls, it isn't as simple as that.

Unless you have a medical condition, it really is as simple as that.

Read the BBC article.

Rowls · Post by **Rowls** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 4:54 pm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/article ... e-drinking" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

How to make an "isotonic" sports drink:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/article ... rts-drinks" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Rowls · Post by **Rowls** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 4:55 pm

Everybody* can stop worrying about how much water they're drinking and get back to drinking when they're thirsty and not drinking when they're not thirsty.

* everybody without a medical condition.

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 4:56 pm

If I drink 8 pints of lager, I won't be thirsty. But I'll be dehydrated. Because that's what alcohol does.

I need water because I'm dehydrated - but I won't be thirsty.

Rowls · Post by **Rowls** » Tue Feb 20, 2018 4:58 pm

FactualFrank wrote:If I drink 8 pints of lager, I won't be thirsty. But I'll be dehydrated. Because that's what alcohol does.
I need water because I'm dehydrated - but I won't be thirsty.

No, you'll only become dehydrated later on as your body works to process the alcohol out of your system. Mid-session you'll be well hydrated and peeing clear pee.