Not enough. We have wonderful well water, and I used to make sure I drank a lot of it. I was happy to do so. But no more. Like many older people, I don't experience thirst the way I used to. I need to push this. Thanks for the reminder.

PS: I'm a big fan of the book Your Body's Many Cries for Water, by F. Batmanghelidj, MD. Every time I notice it on my book shelves I go straight to the water faucet. Maybe I should keep it on my desk.

I have been making a concerted effort to drink more. Ever since I saw the below article. Wow! Just drank more water? What an amazing difference. My skin is obviously angry with me for not drinking enough water was my only thought, but seeing her pictures makes me realize, there is more than that getting neglected.

Here is a link that might be useful: How drinking 3 litres water day took years off her face

Not enough and I know I should consume more water. Like Alisande said, being older, I'm just not thirsty. I do drink coffee, but have even cut down on that.

Thanks for that link, Rob. Yikes!! I have not been happy with my face lately, and I headed for the faucet immediately.

It is all about forcing it down, isn't it? For me, using ice in the water helps. Sometimes, I'll put a fresh lemon or lime slice in the water. I have some tall insulated plastic glasses that hold over 10 fluid ounces and I fill it at least 7 times a day.

Be sure to stock up on TP before you start drinking lots of water, lol. And start slow in order to let your body adjust. I don't pee nearly as often as I did at first but it seems like my bladder has become more accomodating, if that makes any sense. I also have my last big glass with my evening meal so that I don't have to get up three times at night.

If you have any health concerns, talk to your doctor first.

P.S. I just saw the before and after pictures and THAT'S IT! Those are the differences I've noticed, along with a smooth as a baby's bottom feel.

This post was edited by rhizo_1 on Tue, May 6, 14 at 11:30

6-8 8oz bottles of water a day.
I

Rhizo, you are doing great in my opinion. Drinking water is a goal of mine but also a struggle. i think I read that there was an actual formula depending on your height and weight. I think mine came up as 7 glasses a day. I just can't do it.

An added incentive is that is it helps you to lose weight. My understanding is that it aids your kidneys so they can do their job effectively and not rely as much on the liver to help purify your system.

Monica, how do you have the time to drink all that water? What kind of schedule are you on? I have heard that your body does get used to all the water and you don't have to run to the bathroom constantly, which is my fear.

rob -- Thanks for the great *reinforcing* link. Vanity to the rescue!

I have no excuse for not drinking more water. Our town has excellent tap water. Our freezer has an ice/water dispenser. We have glasses and pitchers.

Shall we all try the experiment and report back?

I hope I can count water-based drinks. I drink two 12-oz. mugs of coffee each morning; three 12-oz. glasses of water with meals; two quarts of decaf tea.

I have always been a "thirsty" person, so consuming liquids is not a problem for me.

I drink about 8 glasses a day. I just keep a filled 8 oz glass of water on the counter. I drink it and then fill it up again.

I also have about 4 cups of coffee a day, with respect to that there have been a number of theories. The current one is that count a cup of coffee or tea as a half glass of water.

As mentioned, as you get older, you do lose your sense of thirst. Water is proving to help stave off dementia. As your brain is 75% water it is incredibly necessary for brain health.

In older people muscles will start to atrophy because of lack of water. Your muscles are 80% water and water is necessary to build and maintain muscle mass because it works with the proteins to build them. Strong muscles help to prevent falls.

Drink your water, please!

I drink lots of water, I get UTI's easily and can feel it right away if I am slacking off. I go to an Ayurvedic counselor and she has cup of water or herb tea by her side always, where ever she is at always sipping it. Flavor your water or make a pitcher of a weak herb tea and drink that all day~

I am never with out my big insulated water bottle. It is always with in hands reach, I never leave home with out it. It is really an essential for me now. With Sjogren's syndrome you need it much more than normal. If I don't have water with me I at times get so dry I can not speak which is why I never leave home with out it.
It is also why I can no longer wear my contacts unfortunately, lack of tear production.
It is so true how much of our body functions are affected by the amount of water in our body.
I have to drink several times during the night so my bottle is always beside the bed.

Just the flip side..... I "thought" I would go on a diet...so started drinking a lot of water...BUT, what I did not realize that if you are taking a water pill for blood pressure, drinking excess water is the wrong thing to do.....why? It flushes out the sodium in your system....which landed me at the Cardiologist and a hospital stay until they got the sodium built back up.....needless to say, I now drink to thirst!

Yes, you can count water based drinks. Including, milk.
:)

Alisande, thanks for mentioning "Your Body's Many Cries for Water". I previewed it on Amazon and it looks like a very interesting book. I do wonder about the author's contention that drinking enough water lowers BP. I have to pester my husband to drink water and he does not even drink close to recommended amounts, but his BP is quite low. I, on the other hand, drink a lot, but my BP tends to run higher than his. Maybe that means there isn't a set ideal amount of water intake for everyone and some people just need more than others to function optimally. So I will increase a bit more and see what happens.

No doubt it's an individual thing, Petra. I suspect I'm leaning toward being a little dehydrated these days (I will fix that!), but my BP is still low.

Here's the Amazon listing for "Dr. Bat's" book. He says coffee and tea, etc., do not count as water. Considering that tea is a natural diuretic, that would make sense.

I don't drink much water at all. I do drink iced and hot tea day and night though, A couple of times lately I have brought iced water in the car with my running errands. Other than that, I can't remember the last time I had a glass of water. That can't be good! I also have noticed in my family of 5 that 2 of less drink quite a bit less liquids than the others. Just don';t seem as thirsty!

I gave up pop a couple of years ago when I got my fridge with ice and water in the door I drink a glass of ice water as soon as I get up in the morning and try to keep drinking all day and evening. I don't mind getting up 3 times in the night because I don't turn on any lights and go right back to sleep. It is harder for me to drink ice water in the winter when it is so cold out.

Not nearly enough; it's something I've been working on.

I had problems with my parotid glands (the largest set of salivary glands). I was told to give up caffeine and alcohol (yeah, right), and drink a minimum of three 16oz waters per day. I should drink even more water on days of heavy exercise (like golf).

I still drink too much coffee and beer, but also always try to drink the required amount of water. Otherwise my glands and I know about it! :p

I go through phases. I'll go a while and drink 1 to 2 litres a day. Then I'll go days and only drink coffee and pop.

I never go with out a glass or bottle of water near me at all times, even now at 11:30 p.m. I will drink a full glass so I have about 8 to 10 huge glasses of water in an 18 hour day and then I sleep six hours, get up and do it all over again. I never tire of water.
Been doing it all my adult life.

Thanks to you rhizo, I have made a conscious effort to brink actual water!.I had my coffee as usual (decaf) but made sure to measure out 4 oz of water for my supplements. Coffee is considered half. So, that is one glass.

The I had a cup of tea mid morning. With lunch I had a glass of water. I never do this!
I'm going to do a half hour on my lifecycle, and will bring down a glass of water.

From what my eye doctor has told me (I have dry eyes) you are suppose to drink the after gradually. It needs to have a chance to absorb, so downing it in a hurry really doesn't produce the desired effect.

i still don't understand how people drink 8 glasses a day.

I usually sip on water all day long.... and probably drink at least a couple of quarts a day.... I did drink lots more, but my doctor told me to cut back because I was washing too many nutrients away.... sheesh.. can't win fer losing... LOL

Ellendi, drinking water, when you're not used to doing so will require that you change your routine.

I start every day by sitting with a couple of big glasses of water while I'm catching up with the early morning news.

I'll have another with my breakfast. When I go through my day, I always have my big glass with me. It becomes a habit. It's not that hard to drink 60 or more ounces a day. It certainly doesn't take any time away from my day. I drink water while I'm doing what I do.

I can tell you one day I won't be drinking much water: On Sunday I'll be sitting through my granddaughter's 2.5-hour graduation. :-)