Healthy Eating / Healthy Living

[Disneyphile]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

If you've seen that keeping hydrated has benefits for you, then that's good, but don't bother worrying about "8 glasses a day", it's bogus.

That's why I put it in quotes. I only drink when I'm thirsty. I don't believe in forced hydration or eating. In fact, some people have poisoned themselves by doing that, throwing off their electrolytes, etc.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

If you've seen that keeping hydrated has benefits for you, then that's good, but don't bother worrying about "8 glasses a day", it's bogus.

Bogus it may be, but studies have also shown that your body needs water before it sends the signals of "thirst." Better to drink a little more water than you need (I'm not talking gallons here, I'm talking a cup or two) than too little.

[Morrigoon]

Originally Posted by LSPoorEeyorick

Bogus it may be, but studies have also shown that your body needs water before it sends the signals of "thirst." Better to drink a little more water than you need (I'm not talking gallons here, I'm talking a cup or two) than too little.

This is true. Another thing I've learned is that many of us receive the "hungry" signal instead of the "thirst" one. So when you get hit with the munchies, it's a good time to drink a cup of water. THEN decide whether you want to grab a snack. That little trick has saved me from hunger many times when in the office and nowhere near things to munch. I'd say about 50% of the time the water satisfies.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by LSPoorEeyorick

Bogus it may be, but studies have also shown that your body needs water before it sends the signals of "thirst."

Sorry to continue to be contrary, but this one goes right along with 8 glasses as being commonly accepted with no scientific support. If you know of studies otherwise, I'd love to see them.

[katiesue]

I just got a cup thingie that has a camelback tip on the top you drink out of. I've been drinking a ton of water with that. I also like my water cold. A couple of years ago I got a britta cooler on clearance at target. It's definately helped up my water intake. I leave a glass next to the cooler and fill it up whenever I'm passing by and drink it.

[katiesue]

Drinking lots of water does tend to make me feel fuller, therefore eating less. And of course it's calorie free.

[Morrigoon]

So I'm at the store the other day, and there's these beautiful sun dresses all over the "normal size" section. (Usual litany of ugly stuff in the "me size" section). Anyway, there was this one style, in a light lavender that was uber cute. They went up to 18, so Sohrshah talks me into trying it on because I'm kinda squeezing into 18Ws these days. Whaddya know, it fit! (It'll fit better in 5 lbs, but it fit )

Then the other day I stepped on a scale, and I'm down to 215. Not a huge accomplishment, as dieting goes, except that I'm not dieting. This is just from little changes (like reducing grease) and an increase in physical activity. For the past few years I maintained a weight of about 225, and at some point bumped up close to 240 and was flirting heavily with size 22. Haven't seen a size 18 since I was in the USC Band in 2004.

I still don't think I'll be browsing the aisles of the regular sizes any time soon, but it's nice to know the occasional novelty item can be found there

[alphabassettgrrl]

I have one of those Camelbak bottles! It's purple. I drink more water (and less things with calories) if I have a big bottle with me. I drink mindlessly sometimes, so better it be water than something else.

I definitely feel better when I'm "better than hydrated". I normally don't drink much unless I take steps, so I don't care what studies say: I drink water, I feel good.

[BDBopper]

Since February 19th I have had a goal of doing at least 30 minutes of some sort of physical activity every day until September 19th (26th Birthday). So far I have only missed one day (last Wednesday). Lately I have been walking with my dad and Great Uncle. We are up to walking a mile each time we walk. I am feeling better than ever! If I keep this up you'll be seeing a leaner, and meaner BDBopper!

[blueerica]

Actually - GD - Here's the British government telling teens this... Read here. It's up to you whether it's scientific enough.

While I do think that a minimum is kind of arbitrary, it's there for those that tend to ignore these 'rules of thumb' - particularly children and teenagers, who exert themselves without paying much attention to rehydration, and adults who suck down Coca-Colas and coffee all day long. I think that most feel comforted with some sort of number to go by. Probably a human nature kind of thing.

At any rate, there's little sense in 'debunking' it as some god-awful myth... Though it's been put on a pedestal of sorts, it's better to think of it as the aforementioned rule of thumb.

With the thirst thing, I'm not going to bother doing anything more than typing it into google and putting up the most official looking link with the terms "by the time you're thirsty, it's too late." But, it stands to reason that since thirst is a signal of dehydration... not anything incurable or so awful... you could have prevented such thirst by drinking plenty of water to begin with.