[Dog on a Tree]

Hello everyone, I am inconsistent when it comes to both drinks and food.

But then there's this, which is from the the MayoClinic website:

ow much water should you drink each day? It's a simple question with no easy answers. Studies have produced varying recommendations over the years, but in truth, your water needs depend on many factors, including your health, how active you are and where you live. Although no single formula fits everyone, knowing more about your body's need for fluids will help you estimate how much water to drink each day.

Every day you lose water through your breath, perspiration, urine and bowel movements. For your body to function properly, you must replenish its water supply by consuming beverages and foods that contain water.
So how much fluid does the average, healthy adult living in a temperate climate need? The Institute of Medicine determined that an adequate intake (AI) for men is roughly about 13 cups (3 liters) of total beverages a day. The AI for women is about 9 cups (2.2 liters) of total beverages a day.

It's true, no one seems to be able to agree how much water is the "right" amount.

My antidepressant causes some dry mouth symptoms, so that prompts me to drink more water than I probably would otherwise.

I'm also lucky to live somewhere where the tap water tastes good enough to drink straight from the tap. If it didn't, I'd probably get a water filter. Since I haven't had a car and have to transport my groceries on the bus, I have pretty much given up buying bottled water.

I drink lots more water during the summer when it's hot. I'm probably easily drinking 4 liters per day at the moment, but as it gets colder, I'll drink less.

I don't think it's really anything to worry about too much. If you find yourself feeling hungry or tired at a time of day when it's not expected, though, drinking some water will often help. It can help if you get a slight headache, too.

Is a person's water bottle "fashion gear" in the UK like it seems to be these days in the US? I have a re-used plastic bottle that originally contained water, but I see lots of people with BPA-free plastic bottles or stainless steel containers that cost around $40.

[lizardlady]

LOL at myself! I thought the question in the subject line referred to alcohol!

Every morning starts with two cups of coffee. The world does not want to deal with me (or me it!) until I have that coffee. After that depends on what I'm doing. If I'm working outside at the barn or in the yard I chug Gatorade like crazy. If I'm at the office I usually have something to drink sitting on my desk and I sip it through the day.

[everythingsworld]

Certain meds .. seems to help when I drink more water or they dry me out.

[Dog on a Tree]

jo thorne: As far as I know, water bottles here in the UK are not fashion gears or should I say that the trend to make them fashion gears hasn't happened, but who knows, it could do.

A lot of mine depends on my sugar level and how much pain I am in. If I am running in the 600`s, I will drink over a gallon of water no matter how bad it hurts my gut, if I am running in the 50`s, I hardly drink anything.....

[*Laurie*]

I've been drinking bottled water for 30 years. I'm almost never without a bottle of water...so about 40 oz./day. I really enjoy water, it tastes good to me. I am often thirsty - I'd never thought of it before, but maybe meds play a part in my thirst. I do drink more in the heat of summer than in cooler weather. The tap water in the town where I live is extremely hard &tastes like a mouthful of salt, so I stick with bottled water for drinking.

And I cherish my 2 cups of coffee in the morning - coffee with milk, and the occasional half-caf cup in the afternoon.

[Sabrina]

I have started drinking lots and lots of water since giving up alcohol. I hug my water bottle at night instead of my glass of whiskey! I have also started enjoying chocolaty malty hot drinks. Got to watch the calories on those!

[BlueEyedMama]

It depends on my kidney function and how much fluid I'm holding but I learned the hard way that getting severely dehydrated can throw you into acute kidney failure.

[beeutterfly]

The basic guideline is 8-12 8 oz glasses of water per day, though it varies based on many factors. Weight, specific health issues, activity level, personal preferences, etc. I say aim for that and see how you feel. I notice that on days where work is super hectic, I drink less, and I can totally tell because I can feel the dehydration in my body. I do my best now but the physical location of my water has to be away from my work (medical) areas so I don't have water right by my side, like I do everywhere else!