How much water should you drink per day?

[Kirnwaffen]

This is all based off of Army training and experience, but for what it's worth...

Three to five liters definitely isn't too much. The rule at BCT in Fort Benning, GA is supposed to be 1 QT (about a liter) every hour, not to exceed 12 QT per day. As trainees, we got reemed if we hadn't gone through at least 4 QT by noon. Mind you, this is for pretty intense training in very hot weather.

The same principal applied in Iraq, but the rule of thumb there was that for every two quarts of water, you needed to drink one quart of Gatorade to maintain a healthy electrolyte balance.

At the end of the day, it mostly depends on you. I found at Fort Benning that I was often able to get by with as little as 4 QT in a day, depending on what we were doing. In Iraq, I had to have way more than that. I've also seen guys who aren't okay if they don't put down at least 10 QT in a day when they're working hard.

So, as long as you're happy, hydrated, and not going into seizures because you've had too much water, I wouldn't worry about it too much

[Jon Miller]

Isn't too much water mostly a problem relating to electrolyte imballance?

JM

[alva]

You don't need to drink all that extra water, it's a myth, just drink enough to keep you from dehydration of course.

[Wernazuma III]

This whole discussion is pointless without regarding where you live.

When I stayed in Seville in August, with 45°C in the shadow you bet I drank 3 liters and up to 5.
Here in Austria in winter, one liter is definitely enough.

[GePap]

From the always trustworthy folks at CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/NU/00283.html

[Maquiladora]

2 litres of coke a day. Which is roughly 10ml of water.

[Dinner]

I always heard 8 X 8 oz glasses.

[Snotty]

it depends what you are doing and what temp it is. winter gardening i struggle to hit 2 liters a day, summer gardening I need 3-5 liters minimum

[Zopperoni]

Re: How much water should you drink per day?

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
I've found I tend to drink anywhere from 3 to 5 liters a day. Is that too much?

Yes, for your own benefit, I'd consider building a few extra bathrooms.

[Pekka]

Kuci, not too much, quite ideal amount.

[Arrian]

I've never really bothered to track it, but in comparison to almost everyone I know, I drink lots of water.

-Arrian

[Spec]

Re: How much water should you drink per day?

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
I've found I tend to drink anywhere from 3 to 5 liters a day. Is that too much?

There is no such thing as drinking to much water....unless you explode.

If it were sodas or juice though, that would be a whole other matter.

Spec.

[Arrian]

Um, Spec, you can die from overhydrating.

-Arrian

[Spec]

Oh really?

I imagine that if Kuci drinks that amount of water is because he feels thirsty...and if he does, there must be a reason...other than the fact that he could be diabetic...no?

Spec.

[Arrian]

Every year some small number of marathon runners die b/c they drink too much water. Hell, CSI even did an episode based on it.

-Arrian