Water!

I know drinking water is good for me but what exactly does it do for helping my weight loss? And how much should I be drinking in a day!

I try to drink at least half my body weight in water a day. For me... I drink 20 to 30 ounces before each meal and it really curbs my appetite. I am sure others will have more science on it...but for me it is a tool to keep my calories down.

Water helps flush the salt through your body. It helps maximize efficiency for your organs so they can do their job. It helps cleanse your skin and most of all it does help you lose water weight. By flushing out the salt, your body will not hold onto the water weight.

Half your body weight in oz is the rule of thumb (so if you weigh 180, drink 90oz). In addition to what kanan123 says, I've heard that your body stores some toxins in it's fat deposits and as you release those, you need to flush them from your system. And if exercise is part of your plan, it's that much more important to replenish those fluids you lose to sweat! You know you're properly hydrated when your urine is pale yellow- if it's darker, you need to drink more!

I definitely agree that the best way to tell if you are drinking enough for you is not a specific number. But look at your urine when you are done peeing, if it isn't clear...up the water...believe it or not, your urine should be as close to clear as possible...except for when you first wake up...chances are its still going to be yellow. Keep in mind that vitamins and some veggies can change the color

Yikes...gross

Yeah, not the most appetizing thought but anytime your body gives such clear feedback like that, it's good to pay attention.

"clear" feedback...nicely done Natalie

Be aware that the "8 glasses of water a day" that everyone knows is true has been sourced to a non-scientific offhand sentence in an article years ago. That said, *enough fluids* is important and all fluids count including the water in diet soda, coffee, tea and other caffeinated beverages and even FOOD. Yes, caffeine can act as a diuretic but it does not counteract a significant fraction of the water in the drink.

That said, all the guidance posted above about WHY you want enough water flowing is on target. But too much water can be toxic.

As a guideline, you should be on the look out for a very clear indicator that you need more liquids. It is called "thirst" and for most people in most situations, it is the best indicator of needing more liquids.

For more information, google "8 cups of water a day myth".

lmbo! i ditto the "drink till you pee clear" mentality. having some some crazy sports like drum corps that's what they used to SCREAM at us in the middle of the florida/arizona/texas heat. do you have any idea how much water it takes to do that? neither do I...fish can't count.

however normal daily intake now i just carry around a 20oz bottle and fill it as soon as it gets low which generally results in 4 or 5 refills a day plus a glass after meals. i know everyone says to drink before but then i don't eat so i wait till i'm not hungry and chug a glass then to finish my meal off.

Basically, water is "fuel for the engines". We can't live without it. Simple as that. More water, more efficient engines - more efficient weight loss (when you do the other things right)

I'm an advocate of drinking enough water that your wee is clear - so simple

I agree with Marlene's last post - small children will tell you they're thirsty but as we get older the signals can get muddled and we often don't recognise thirst for what it is. It's good to get into a water-drinking habit so that you measure your minimum requirement for the day in advance and work your way through it at short intervals. It soon becomes part of your way of life.

Actually if you are thirsty, your body is already dehydrated. The pee test is the best way to ensure you are drinking enough. Your body may actually give you hunger signs if itneeds water which is a great way to recognize if you are hungry or if your body needs more water. If you drink a glass and you are still hungry...then eat.

I had a friend who overdosed on water and her Dr.said to slow down her water intake so a person can drink to much water so watch for the signs of overdosing.I don't drink enough water and liked this article because now I will drink more than I have been.

Remember when you'd drink when you were thirsty and eat when you were hungry?

Those were the days.

I agree that the color of your urine is a great indicator of hydration, and it has served me well since I began running. However, if I drank enough that my urine was clear when I got up in the morning, I would be up all night. Also, I agree that if you wait until you are thirsty, then you are already dehydrated. I believe that you do have to strike a balance though. Most of these rules are only going to make a significant difference to those who are subjecting their bodies to physical stress. In other words, if you aren't pushing your body to at least the fat burning aerobic zone, then only drinking when you feel thirsty is not going to hurt you at all.
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On another note, quite a few people have died from drinking too much water - especially marathoners who thought it was the right thing to do. Here is an interesting article that I found on the web. It's a little dated; quite a few more have died since this was written. Now, I understand that this mostly applies to extreme runners, but if you are one of those, you might find this interesting.

Overdosing on Water

And yes, I think there is some benefit to filling up on water to curb the appetite. I have to find that correct balance myself. For half my body weight, 110 oz. - wow; not sure I want to go there!

Come on DK...the only certainty in this journey of three million variables is that drinking water is a good thing...now you got me freaking out about that...thought we were buddies!

I drank too much last year... My personal trainer at the gym said my water % was too low - despite drinking 8+ glasses at that time. I upped my water to a minimum of 10-12 glasses and began having dizzy spells - I thought it was my BP going too low and went to the doctors. They said my BP was fine, and just to make sure I had a banana or something before exercising. I wasn't convinced about this, as it wasn't connected with exercise. I did some research on- line and came across the "drowning" yourself issue.... I cut my water down to 8 glasses and started putting salt on my food (not loads - but I didn't use salt before that) I have been fine ever since.

Haha! I have been accused of being the "fly in the ointment" before. It is freaky, but if it's any consolation, there is less danger with men. The article did say that the risk is not in how much you drink before, but during and immediately after. Rpalmst, you probably have enough marathons under your belt that you don't have to worry. I think the article leaned more toward addressing people that weren't in tune with their own bodies, and were biting off more than they could chew, or they listened to people who told them you couldn't possibly drink too much, and more is better. I couldn't stand all that sloshing around during a marathon! Drink as much as you sweat.