How important is it to drink lots of water?

[echodivine]

I see a lot of people who are trying to lose weight drink lots and lots of water. Is there a reason to do this, other than filling up your stomach?  I don't get it. It doesn't seem "natural" that we'd constantly be consuming so much liquids. Is there a medical benefit? I probably drink about 5-6 cups of water a day without thinking much about it.

[carl669]

it's not necessarily that you have to drink "lots" of water, it's just that you need to drink enough water.  i probably drink 5-6 cups of water a day as well.  in addition to that, 2 cups of coffee, which i count as water (others may disagree).  on days where i have more activity, i'll probably drink more.  on days with low activity levels, i might drink less.

my take is, when you're thirsty, drink some water.  your body has a pretty good system of letting you know when you need it.

[Spang]

40 oz coffee am, 50 oz water, when cycling 30 to 60 oz of powerade. I drink before I am thirsty especially when riding the bicycle.  Of you have enough you body will flush excess dead fat giving weight loss.

[jezabell]

Make sure you drink the required amount of water, water boosts your metabelism-and this is good! You can get water thru soups, watermelon, and jello too!

[debbiedell]

i find that the more water i drink the easier it is to lose weight. i drink twelve cups of water each day and it makes a noticeable difference in the way that i feel and the weight that i lose. obviously, since our bodies are mostly water, water is important for a variety of functions, but the primary importance is in no way just to fill you up. actually, the breakdown of fat in your body takes place through disassembling the hydrogen bonds in the lipids (fat), and in order to do this at a rapid enough pace to lose weight, there must be a plentiful source of hydrogen and oxygen atoms in your body. you get those atoms, obviously, from water . basically, if you don't drink enough water, you won't burn fat, and you won't lose weight! as a general rule, the more water you drink, the easier the process of breaking down fat is for your body.

and also, it is much easier on your body if you drink just plain old water to meet your liquid needs, because with other liquids, such as powerade, coffee, etc., there are more chemicals that slow down the process of making and breaking bonds! 

[Mary]

Most of what you read on the internet about water intake is outdated info and just plain myth and misunderstandings.  It is no magic weight loss panacea, there is no magic level.  You can drink NO water and be as hydrated as a water guzzler.  You need a certain fluid intake but it can come from any non-alcoholic beverage and even from the water in your food.  

Your thirst level is your best guide.  If your urine is dark and cloudy, drink more.  If it's pale and clear, you're fine.  

Studies have shown that people can't 'fool' the stomach with water, as in drinking a lot with food leaves you feeling more full.  Strangely, though, eating more water-rich foods like soups and fruits does make people feel more full than eating the same foods with less water content and with the water on the side.  

[Heybales]

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@debbiedell wrote:

 actually, the breakdown of fat in your body takes place through disassembling the hydrogen bonds in the lipids (fat), and in order to do this at a rapid enough pace to lose weight, there must be a plentiful source of hydrogen and oxygen atoms in your body. you get those atoms, obviously, from water . basically, if you don't drink enough water, you won't burn fat, and you won't lose weight! as a general rule, the more water you drink, the easier the process of breaking down fat is for your body.

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Where did you find that ..... huh .... shall we say, info at?

For your level of hydration to be so bad and low that it starts interfering with the body's ability to metabolize fat (which actually produces water and CO2) - you would have been dealing with a whole lot of much more serious issues that would likely be preventing you from even moving such that fat metabolism is even needed.

Your heart and brain would be giving it out long before fat metabolism is being effected in the least.

Because your electrolyte levels would be so screwed up.

Don't drink enough water you WON"T burn fat - that's a pretty bold claim that requires some research to back it up.

[elbos]

Can drinking way to much water be bad for your weight loss? During the week, I drink like +30 more ounces than what Im suppose to drink according to my fitbit. Thank you!

[Heybales]

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@elbos wrote:

Can drinking way to much water be bad for your weight loss? During the week, I drink like +30 more ounces than what Im suppose to drink according to my fitbit. Thank you!

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For weight loss no.

For other reasons it can be bad for you, especially with sweaty intense exercise.

Mentioned a little ways down, but other reasons given here.

www.scientificamerican.com/article/strange-but-true-drinking-too-much-water-can-kill/

[elbos]

Cool, thanks!

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@Heybales wrote:

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@elbos wrote:

Can drinking way to much water be bad for your weight loss? During the week, I drink like +30 more ounces than what Im suppose to drink according to my fitbit. Thank you!

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For weight loss no.

For other reasons it can be bad for you, especially with sweaty intense exercise.

Mentioned a little ways down, but other reasons given here.

www.scientificamerican.com/article/strange-but-true-drinking-too-much-water-can-kill/

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Cool, thanks!