The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[FrankieJ]

Hi Everyone,

I'm new and feeling great at the end of Day 2 - drinking lots of water so my hunger has really gone away. That is amazing!

Is it possible to drink TOO much water?

It is about 6 pm and I've so far had 13 eight-ounce glasses of water. I was going to have another glass but my DH said too much is bad for you, that I can overdo it.

I know MF says to drink a LOT of water.... How much is enough? How much is Too Much?

I appreciate any Water tips you can share

FrankieJ

[Pashta]

Yes, you can drink too much water. I will quote a website on it:

Can You Really Drink Too Much Water?

In a word, yes. Drinking too much water can lead to a condition known as water intoxication and to a related problem resulting from the dilution of sodium in the body, hyponatremia. Water intoxication is most commonly seen in infants under six months of age and sometimes in athletes. A baby can get water intoxication as a result of drinking several bottles of water a day or from drinking infant formula that has been diluted too much. Athletes can also suffer from water intoxication. Athletes sweat heavily, losing both water and electrolytes.

Water intoxication and hyponatremia result when a dehydrated person drinks too much water without the accompanying electrolytes.
What Happens During Water Intoxication?

When too much water enters the body's cells, the tissues swell with the excess fluid. Your cells maintain a specific concentration gradient, so excess water outside the cells (the serum) draws sodium from within the cells out into the serum in an attempt to re-establish the necessary concentration. As more water accumulates, the serum sodium concentration drops -- a condition known as hyponatremia. The other way cells try to regain the electrolyte balance is for water outside the cells to rush into the cells via osmosis. The movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from higher to lower concentration is called osmosis. Although electrolytes are more concentrated inside the cells than outside, the water outside the cells is 'more concentrated' or 'less dilute' since it contains fewer electrolytes. Both electrolytes and water move across the cell membrane in an effort to balance concentration. Theoretically, cells could swell to the point of bursting.

From the cell's point of view, water intoxication produces the same effects as would result from drowning in fresh water. Electrolyte imbalance and tissue swelling can cause an irregular heartbeat, allow fluid to enter the lungs, and may cause fluttering eyelids. Swelling puts pressure on the brain and nerves, which can cause behaviors resembling alcohol intoxication. Swelling of brain tissues can cause seizures, coma and ultimately death unless water intake is restricted and a hypertonic saline (salt) solution is administered. If treatment is given before tissue swelling causes too much cellular damage, then a complete recovery can be expected within a few days.

It's Not How Much You Drink, It's How Fast You Drink It!

The kidneys of a healthy adult can process fifteen liters of water a day! You are unlikely to suffer from water intoxication, even if you drink a lot of water, as long as you drink over time as opposed to intaking an enormous volume at one time. As a general guideline, most adults need about three quarts of fluid each day. Much of that water comes from food, so 8-12 eight ounce glasses a day is a common recommended intake. You may need more water if the weather is very warm or very dry, if you are exercising, or if you are taking certain medications. The bottom line is this: it's possible to drink too much water, but unless you are running a marathon or an infant, water intoxication is a very uncommon condition.

So.. as long as you don't drink all your water in one sitting, you should be fine.

[Mike]

13 x 8 oz is only 104oz which is fine. You need to drink at least 64 oz of just water. After that more is great, you can have other fluids as well, just low or no calorie.
Some say if you divide your weight in half and have that many oz, thats a good amount.
I would say you are doing just fine. Just don't go have it all at once as Pashta said.

[FrankieJ]

Pashta and Mike,

Thank you so much for the quick response!

I will be sure to space out the water, but I sure did feel a lot better drinking it. Probably helped me not be hungry.

I really appreciate the advice.

FrankieJ

[blondeangel7782]

I have also been advised that drinking half your body weight is fine but not to go past that many oz...