I have increased my water intake since last Sunday...I'm enjoying drinking all this water but was wondering if there is such a thing as too much water.

I have consumed 128oz already today (my container holds 64oz and I drink that in one sitting) I have just filled the container for a third time...is there a point at which I should not drink more?

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A general rule of thumb is to drink at least half your body weight in ounces. There are others who advocate at least one gallon per day.

Too much water can result in an imbalance of electrolytes in your system and can cause serious problems even death. Personally, unless you are doing extremely strenuous exercise or live in and very hot dry climate I would say that a gallon (128 oz) per day is more than enough.

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Libby

2004 174/142/138

Begin Again 2007

164/159/142

Hi shygirl,
Welcome to LCE! We're glad you're here.

I agree with Libby. A gallon a day is plenty. If you work out vigorously, some folks advocate adding 8 oz of water for each 30 minutes you work out to replace the fluids you lose in perspiration.
Be sure and space your water intake out over the course of the day. Where folks get into trouble with *washing* out their electrolytes is large quanities of water in a short period of time(over 1-2 gallons in say 30 minutes...not good).

HTH
Shelley

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Shelley
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Visit Kassie's Korner



Life deserves a treat now and again, but life also deserves being healthy[with required disipline] to make it worth living!

Thanks guys, I will keep it to 128oz daily once in the morning and once early afternoon (then maybe it can be out of my system by bedtime...lol).

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Shygirl, maybe I'm misunderstanding you, but if you are planning to drink 128 ounces of water once each morning and once each evening, please do not do this. It is not wise to even be drinking 64 ounces at a time. Water should be spaced out throughout the day, not drunk 128, or even 64 ounces at a time.

Remember, Atkins suggested at least 64 oz per DAY, and the way Atkins put it was "8 eight ounce glasses".

Many people go by one ounce for each two pounds that you weigh. So if you weighed 250 lbs, you'd aim for 125 ounces.

But not all at once and not in two servings. Your body needs hydration throughout the day and, as Shelley explained, drinking large amounts in one sitting can disturb your fluid/electrolyte balance. How much that would take in any given individual depends on a great many variables, but the smartest way to drink your water is in divided quantities, spaced out over the course of a day.

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Oh, shygirl,
I did not mean drink that much(128 oz) twice a day and all in one sitting. Yes...like Maggie said, and I said previously, S...P...A...C...E... it out over the entire day. Here's how I do it: I buy bottled water in 16 oz bottles. I drink one 16 oz bottle on my drive to work. Refil and drink another bottle through out mid morning; refill and drink another throughtout the afternoon, or on my drive home. Then I get in the last bottle while I am *surfing* on my favorite web site...LCE! So I get in 4 bottles or 64 oz; on my exercise days I drink an extra bottle after my work out.
Hope this clarifies the issue.

Shelley

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Shelley
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Life deserves a treat now and again, but life also deserves being healthy[with required disipline] to make it worth living!

I also have 64oz containers. (3 to be exact).
I use them to keep the water cold, but I have a big plastic cup that I pour it into throughout the day. Finish 1 cup, wait a bit, have another.

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Mary Kay
2009 - 223
Valentines day goal - 214

From the Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2005Mar22.html

I only post this to suggest caution is in order when you force yourself to drink too much. There is no suggestion that Ms. Schiavo was on a low-carb diet, and some speculation that she might have had an eating disorder.

You need to drink plenty of fluids when low-carbing. Use common sense.

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"And so, in my State of the—my State of the Union—or state—my speech to the nation, whatever you want to call it, speech to the nation—I asked Americans to give 4,000 years—4,000 hours over the next—the rest of your life—of service to America. That's what I asked—4,000 hours."

Guys there is a learning curve here...remember that.

No I am not drinking 128oz twice...I am drinking 128oz total. I now understand it is not so much how much you drink (128oz is fine for me I weight 238lbs) but how quickly I drink it...I'm not in anyway forcing myself to drink the water, I usually don't even feel full when I finish the 64oz container. I will, however, space it out during the course of the day from now on.

I'm not sure what that Terri Schiavo stuff was to teach...it really has noting at all to do with my question and there is no way for anybody to even know if any of that is true...lets let that dear woman rest in peace please.

Thanks for all the input...I'm learning and will do well with all of your guidance.

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Dr. I was pointing out that it has been suggested that Ms Shiavo may have been drinking excessive quantities of liquids in her zeal to lose weight, which may have lead to her extremely low potassium levels which was the cause of her heart failure. It actually has quite a lot to do with your question, "Is there such a thing as too much water? "

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Libby

2004 174/142/138

Begin Again 2007

164/159/142

I can't imagine why you chose the name shygirl. You haven't hesitated to criticize our members posts. You'll find yourself without friends and without answers to your questions if you can't be less abrassive.

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my blog

I don't believe I've criticized anybody...unless libaki is related to that young lady what he states is just gossip...I have never based my life on gossip, nor do I wish to be associated with that dear young lady in any way. My drinking water has nothing to do with my desire to lose weight, the question was posed because it has been making me feel better (well I actually can't tell if it is the diet or all the water). I say just let her rest in peace...

I think the people here have been very friendly and have been wonderful in helping me understand both the diet as well as the other questions I have had...I can't see a shortage of friends just because I've been called crazy by someone that knows nothing at all about me and compared to a woman that none of us really knows anything about...I'm not sure I understand your concern. I've been very pleased with the responses I've received and appreciate all the feedback.

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Thanks Dr. for the article and the link. I found a wealth of knowledge in reading it and a new insight into her husband's plight..

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196/135-135

Shygirl I think you are reading way too much into what is being posted here. No was was suggesting that you were using the water in your weight loss journey. The point was that excessive water intake by anyone can screw up ones potassium level, which can result in heart failure, regardless of why the water was ingested in the first place.

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Libby

2004 174/142/138

Begin Again 2007

164/159/142

Ummmm....OK.....lets take a breath and step back for a minute...gather our thoughts.
Shygirl, your questions about water have been answered, yes?
And Dr. I gave us an article to ponder on...and that's good.
We need to remember we are all here for support and encouragement, which is also a good thing
Hopefully this thread will get back on the right track and any hurt feelings will heal.
If not, then perhaps Andrea will choose to go ahead and close this thread. I truly don't want this to sound like a lecture or a threat, so I'm sorry if it does, but we really don't want any misunderstandings or hurt feelings.
Feel free to PM me for any clarification if needed, OK?

Shelley

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Shelley
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Visit Kassie's Korner



Life deserves a treat now and again, but life also deserves being healthy[with required disipline] to make it worth living!