It's a Water Revolution

I heard today that one needs to drink 1/2 ounce of water for each pound that you weigh.  For me that would be 142 ounces per day.  That's a lot of water!  But then I remembered hearing that drinking too much water can be bad for you.   So I just spent some time on Google trying to get the facts.

The jury is still out.  They all say you need a certain amount of water per day, but some schools of thought suggest you get the water you need from a lot more sources than just water.  They contend that juices, sodas, coffee and even prepared food help provide sufficient hydration.

They even go as far as to suggest that you run the risk of water intoxication if you drink more water than your kidneys can handle.  This can lead to dizziness, unconsciousness and even death. (Harsh!)

It's all more than a little confusing.  I know I have had a lot of trouble with constipation, even though I have a high fiber diet.  This would suggest that I need more water, because a key symptom of dehydration is constipation.  Your body begins to pull hydration from other areas, including the digestive symptom. 

Also pointed out in one source I found suggests without drinking enough water you cannot metabolize fat properly.  This can slow down weight loss and lead to water retention, which also keeps those numbers up on the scale.

So what to do with these conflicting reports?

Well, I think in my case, with slower weight loss and constant issues with constipation, I am not getting enough water.  I'm not sure I want to commit to 142oz per day, goodness knows I don't want to drown standing up, but I think maybe an extra bottle per day capping at 100oz for a while to see how it helps those two issues. 

Today I did all my exercise when I got up, just to get it out of the way.  I rode the bike, did Pilates and even went for a mile long trek at the park (Winston nearly jumped out of his Puggy skin).  So with all that activity and the fact West Texas is hot as blazes, I have already gotten up to 84oz.  It's helped so far with the constipation issue, which, considering I'm dealing with the dreaded horrible Captian H as well, was a welcome relief.  It makes me think I tend to run dehydrated than overhydrated.  Especially since I've been so exhausted lately, and I tend to get headaches rather frequently. 

Here are the links so youcan check them out yourselves:

Are You Drinking Enough Water?
How Much Water Are You Drinking?
Discovery Health :: News in Focus
Water Intoxication:

DAILY AFFIRMATION:  Each day my determination brings me a step closer to my goals.

Calories: 1847 / 22%
Sodium: 3137mg
Calcium: 1080mg
Water: 96oz
Exercise:  Walked 1 mile, rode 15 mins, Pilates

RED means I didn't meet goal
* Projected