The water intoxication thread reminded me of this... It would be helpful to me to know how much water a day the average person drinks. Due to recent medical problems, I've had a hard time figuring out how much water I should drink. The doctor just says "8 glasses" but how many people actually drink 8 glasses of water a day? (btw, 1 glass = 8 oz) thanks
Posted by SoaPiNuReYe (Member # 9144) on :
I do.
Posted by MidnightBlue (Member # 6146) on :
I don't, but my doctor always tells me I need to drink more liquids, because right now I barely drink any. Generally just milk in my cereal at breakfast, some soda a lunch (no more than a can), and a cup or so of something with dinner. I'll drink from water fountains throughout the day, but that can hardly add up to much.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
The 8 x 8 rule includes all liquids you take in, not just glasses of water. Fruits and vegetables have a fair bit of water, and other foods may have a little (or like soup, a lot). You should also include all non-caffeinated drinks (juice, milk, etc.), not just water. (Caffeinated drinks don't really count toward your total because caffeine is a diuretic, so you lose as much as you gain, approximately.)
Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
I drink approximately 7 gallons a day.
Posted by Euripides (Member # 9315) on :
I drink about 8 glasses a day, or if I'm at uni, maybe ony 3.
I remember a teacher once told me that 6 litres (about 1.6 US gallons) was optimum for health, but that could be wrong. That's an awful lot of water. But then again, on camps we carried 2 litres of water each, and refilled a couple of times a day. On a hot day with a lot of marching, 6 litres is easy.
Another guide as to how much one should drink was, 'until your urine is clear'.
Posted by dawnmaria (Member # 4142) on :
I drink at least 64oz a day right now but I am pregnant and trying not to gett gestational diabetes again so I am trying VERY hard to be healthy.
Posted by kojabu (Member # 8042) on :
I try to get at least 4-5 a day.
Posted by Eaquae Legit (Member # 3063) on :
I usually get about 8. Most of it's straight water, but sometimes it includes my herbal tea, clear pop, and maybe soup.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
I drink a minimum of 3 litres a day, which is around 12 cups. Keep in mind, though, that a. I'm overweight b. I live in a tropical country c. I sweat a lot d. I'm prone to heat stroke and the like. I have to be very careful about keeping myself hydrated. Also, that's the water and doesn't include liquids from non-beverage sources.
I also use Peditral, the infant rehydrating salts, to make sure I have enough of the electrolytes roaming around my system. It makes a difference, especially on very hot days.
Edited to correct what I wrote. My brain was confused - it's that dang headache. *sigh*
[ January 16, 2007, 09:48 PM: Message edited by: quidscribis ]
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
I usually drink more than 8 glasses of water a day, frequently 12 or more.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I probably get around 5. When I'm good and actually working out I drink more like 10.
Posted by Liz B (Member # 8238) on :
I don't drink enough. On a good day maybe 30-40 oz.. That's not counting coffee and food sources. I do eat a lot of veggies. I'm just not that thirsty.
Posted by Olivet (Member # 1104) on :
I usually drink about a liter and a half, but I suck at conversions.
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
I probably dring 4-6 between plain icewater and hot tea. I usually have a can of Coke with my lunch, and then whatever is included in food.
Posted by Frisco (Member # 3765) on :
I'd say on an average work day I drink about 12 glasses of water. Granted, I work 10-hour shifts on my feet and am constantly moving (bartending). On my days off, oddly, I tend to drink about 15-18 glasses. I guess I just like water. I'll have an occasional iced tea or, more often, add a splash of lemonade to my water, but I'd say it's plain water 90% of the time.
It helps that I drink out of a 32oz mug. Aside from feeling totally cool, it keeps me from having to make constant trips to the fridge. Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
I've found that keeping a large container at my desk, and filling it every morning, makes me drink an adequate amount of water every day.
Keeping cookies and salty snacks at my desk ensures that I get my junk food requirements, too.
Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
Nice to know I am dead. The only liquids that I drink regularly are ~1litre/~34ounces of coffee, ~0.4litres/~13ounces of broth*, and ~0.6litres/~20ounces of hot water for a total of ~2litres/~67ounces of liquid per day, with half as strong(ly caffeinated)coffee which apparently doesn't "really count...because caffeine is a diuretic..." so I'm only drinking 1liter/per day of water that "really count"s toward the total.
Add off&on binges of another quart/litre or 32to34ounces of milk per week for cereal as breakfast or midnight snack and an occasional splash of half&half in my coffee.
On hot days when I am outdoors, I tend to additionally drink some iced tea with lemon or iced coffee -- neither being decaffeinated or sugared -- or less often, sugary caffeinated soft drinks. During and after extended strenuous work or sports(like)activity is about the only time I drink cool/tepid water, as supplement to my normal amount of soft drinks / iced tea / iced coffee for hot days outdoors. On the ski slopes, I drink lots of hot coffee and hot cocoa: usually mixed together in equal proportions.
* from soup, ramen, osoba, etc
[ January 17, 2007, 07:52 AM: Message edited by: aspectre ]
Posted by Euripides (Member # 9315) on :
While technically correct, the 'o' preceding soba is usually reserved for children.
Just sayin'.
Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
What can I say? While adept enough to easily pick up anything from a large steak to a single poppy seed, I still wield hashis using three fingers "like a child" instead of using the two-fingered technique of an adult.
[ January 17, 2007, 07:58 AM: Message edited by: aspectre ]
Posted by zgator (Member # 3833) on :
And caffeinated drinks do count towards the total if you are keeping track. You might not absorb as much from a Coke as you do regular water, but it doesn't work against you.
Posted by martha (Member # 141) on :
I figure I usually get about 50 oz of liquid a day including food. If I exercise (bike 13 mi. or dance 1 hr), it's 16 oz more. Yesterday when I was sick I really concentrated on drinking a lot of liquid and I got up to about 70 oz.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
"Another guide as to how much one should drink was, 'until your urine is clear'."
This is what I go by.
Much water in the diet can come from food. If you eat a fruit-and-vegetable heavy diet, you would be surprised how hydrated you will feel.
Posted by zgator (Member # 3833) on :
Someone left free Twinkies out in the break room this morning. How many glasses of water do you think is in one of those?
Posted by Euripides (Member # 9315) on :
Don't you know those are made of polystyrene?
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
quote:Originally posted by Olivet: I usually drink about a liter and a half, but I suck at conversions.
Why? Do conversions have a lot of water in them?
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
quote:Originally posted by zgator: Someone left free Twinkies out in the break room this morning. How many glasses of water do you think is in one of those?
I think each Twinky absorbs 24 ounces of water.
Posted by zgator (Member # 3833) on :
Cool headband you're wearing, zgator. Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
zgator, The question is, which of you would have longer shelf life? The mummified zgator-skeleton, or the Twinkie?
Posted by Nighthawk (Member # 4176) on :
quote:Originally posted by Elizabeth:
quote:Originally posted by zgator: Someone left free Twinkies out in the break room this morning. How many glasses of water do you think is in one of those?
I think each Twinky absorbs 24 ounces of water.
And, if you leave them in water, they expand to the size of a bus.
Posted by Dead_Horse (Member # 3027) on :
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)