Dare to Drink More Water

By ResilientWoman on November 18, 2009 at 11:13 PM

Congratulations on the work out, sorry about the foot. Z-Health helps me correct even old injuries. You might want to check it out. http://www.zhealth.net/

By ResilientWoman on November 18, 2009 at 11:11 PM

Welcome Eric,

I weigh around 300 pounds and have to lose another 160 before I'll be at my healthiest weight. I don't only look at the 160, but also set mini goals...297 by my birthday at the end of the month. Water is the same. I noticed from your profile that you are quitting caffeine. Even moving from caffeinated to non-caffeinated beverages is such a huge switch that you may need the drink mix to be successful. See how you feel and let us know.

Many people get headaches and increased insulin resistance from "diet/sugar-free" drinks. Some get other problems. I have found one add-a-powder to your water type drink mix that no one seems to have any concerns about...decaf Green/non-caf herbal tea sweetened with Stevia. Celestial Seasonings makes this and there are supplement style powdered green tea tubes as well. Look for caffeine free, though, to support your other goal. Beware temptation to drink juices instead of eating whole fruit. Both help with hydration but juice is murder on insulin levels. I'm morbidly obese and don't want to die, therefore my goal is 88 ounces of water per day with other fluids on a moderate basis.

Glad to have you aboard our dare and, just curious...since you're in corrections, have you heard about the crazy cool results that law enforcement/corrections/military folk are having with Kettlebells in weight and performance goals? Anta is 51 and impresses me, check him out at

http://www.martialartsandfitness.typepad.com/kettlebells/

I started with an RKC certified Kettlebell instructor in June and it has transformed my body. Jen Waak of www.movefitfun.com is helping me reach my health and fitness goals by July 31, 2011. I've accomplished about 25% of my ultimate goal in the last 5 months with her guidance.

Keep us posted as to how you're doing and don't hesitate to ask for support, LiveStrongers seem really good at that.

By ResilientWoman on November 18, 2009 at 10:47 PM

Your doctor or nutritionist would have a more qualified opinion than mine. Still you asked, so...I would say if it's a choice between not drinking at all and SF drink mix in your water than do what it takes to keep you drinking. Coffee, tea, alcohol and other diuretics do not count as water for most of us because they reduce hydration.

You mentioned in your previous post that your main goal is to lose weight. Studies have shown that water is much more powerful in helping people lose weight when unadulterated (other than lemon water which is just as helpful for some goals and more for others). The standard goal is 8-10 cups/64-80 ounces for a 100-150 pound person. Taller, larger, more active, obese, hot climates all are factors that increase our need for water.

By andrea86andrea on November 15, 2009 at 02:40 PM

my goal is 64oz, 12 cups...

By ResilientWoman on November 17, 2009 at 08:53 PM

Please site your references. Diverse opinions are welcome here at LiveStrong but since your opinion is counter to both Naturopathic and conventional/Western Medicine, I'd be interested in how you formed it.

Most people eating a typical American diet consume 2-5 times the recommended amount of sodium in relationship to their potassium intake. With chemistry numbers like that, most care provider recommend 64 ounces of water per day as a minimum with more for those trying to lose weight, living in hot climates, participating in sweat inducing activities and for nursing moms, like myself.

If you have research references that show that water is inferior to other sources of hydration, please share. I, for one, would welcome it as I work very hard to heal my body from the toxins of industrialized civilization, years of mindless eating and the obesity that resulted from lung damage due to air pollution. I've fought my way back from medical death sentences 3 times in my life and I have no intention of wasting one moment on giving my body less than the best chance at healing, recovery and thriving.

By Anonymous on November 17, 2009 at 11:13 PM

i said 32 oz as well just because i can hardly even meet that goal so im starting slow. But if anything i think more water would be good for your kidneys, clean and flush everything out. I've ALWAYS heard 8 cups a day, i think thats the standard goal :\ Not sure though

By ResilientWoman on November 17, 2009 at 08:39 PM

Pu-erh is tea, if memory serves. Tea is good for health but also a diuretic...it aids in ridding the body of fluids. Tea (actual tea as opposed to herbal tisanes) and Coffee may be liquids but they are not water and do not usually count toward "Dare to drink more water" unless your health care provider says differently.

In fact most care providers I've consulted have suggested that for every 2 cups of tea or 1 cup of coffee I drink, I add 1 more cup of water. So, for example, I'm trying to drink 88 ounces per day because that is what is necessary due to breastfeeding. If I drink a 16 oz mug of coffee in the morning, a cup of tea in the afternoon and my 88 ounces water - 14 cups of liquid - I still need to drink 2-3 cups/16-24 extra ounces of water JUST to prevent dehydration.

This is not an exaggeration as I have never known thirst in my life like I've known since I started breastfeeding. One would think as thirsty as I am that I would simply drink to thirst and be alright but I actually don't like the taste of water and only tolerate it because the consequences of dehydration can be quite dangerous with my medical issues and my daughter's needs.

By ResilientWoman on November 17, 2009 at 08:12 PM

Usually, one liquid cup equals 8 ounces. I'm not sure whether that's a global standard or just here in the United States. I believe several people track in liters on other sites I've visited. Here at LiveStrong, we track ounces.

Does that help?

By ResilientWoman on November 17, 2009 at 07:58 PM

Had a hard time giving up sodas in 2003, but when I finally decided I liked being healthy even more than drinking my favorite soda, I dropped over 40 pounds primarily from quitting soda.

I have had a half dozen or so sodas in the last year. I no longer miss them.