Drink water till your urine runs clear.

[DangerAardvark]

You can outdrink your kidneys

Outdrinking my liver sounds like more fun.

 

[destrekor]

People die by drinking too much water.

It's really hard to do, as in, you have to be a dumbass. If you drink a gallon or two throughout the day, at the upper end you might not feel all that well, but to kill yourself you'd have to chug water like mad over a short period of time - think two gallons in an hour or two. That would cause a critical electrolyte imbalance, quite likely... but of course, it's different for each person, based on individual variables.

As for the "drink to your pissing clear" approach, well, a lot of people push it as an important guideline - hell, it's basically preached in the military, and signs are in almost every bathroom. And on the hottest days, especially humid ones, they stress basic trainees drink about 12qts or more.

I don't agree, but it's a close-enough ideal to rarely be seriously dangerous. Honestly, clear imho is bad - that means you are no longer pissing out impurities and excess nutrients, but are shedding a large amount of excess water. Problem is, this excess water tends to carry electrolytes. The body tries to filter them back into the body but the water loves to hold onto some.

The danger with the "it's definitely clear now" route is that at that point, you're likely even more hydrated than simply pissing clear. If it's already clear when being pushed out, note the fact that you have likely drank even more water between the time the body started collected excess and pushing that out.

I use color as a reference, and have rarely ever had trouble. And I'm pretty good at listening to my body, so I rarely have to use my urine color as a reference - it's usually a fact-checking session if I'm paying attention: "My body said I was thirsty earlier, so I drank until I felt good, and now my urine confirms I'm near ideal hydration."
A rough night will often lead to dark urine in the morning. That, and the general feeling of malaise, tends to properly alert my typical morning foggy brain that I am in need of water and electrolytes stat.

What I consider the best urine color: a light yellow. It means you're not consuming water in large excess, and it means your water balance and electrolytes are most likely in good order.

I'm rarely hurting for water, as I typically sip on a bottle all day long, and refill it numerous times. Most days I most likely consume a gallon of water, but I also try and keep active and fit. Plus, consuming water when you have that confusing "am I thirsty or hungry?" feeling is a good food moderator, even if the body wasn't asking for water.

 

[Locut0s]

too much thirst = diabeties

Nah as I said it's a nervous habit. Also I have a cold right now so I'm more thirsty than normal.

 

[Balt]

As for the "drink to your pissing clear" approach, well, a lot of people push it as an important guideline - hell, it's basically preached in the military, and signs are in almost every bathroom. And on the hottest days, especially humid ones, they stress basic trainees drink about 12qts or more.

Yeah, that's true. Also important to remember, though, that they also make sure everyone is eating every single scrap on their plate. It's not just because they don't want scrubs wasting food.

Basically your water intake needs to be in proportion to your intake of food (and exertion of course) to some extent.

 

[Joseph F]

Drink beer till your urine is all over the bathroom wall.

:thumbsup:

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

As for the "drink to your pissing clear" approach, well, a lot of people push it as an important guideline - hell, it's basically preached in the military, and signs are in almost every bathroom. And on the hottest days, especially humid ones, they stress basic trainees drink about 12qts or more.

Another related guideline I always found strange was the drinking 2L of water a day thing.

I don't agree, but it's a close-enough ideal to rarely be seriously dangerous. Honestly, clear imho is bad - that means you are no longer pissing out impurities and excess nutrients, but are shedding a large amount of excess water. Problem is, this excess water tends to carry electrolytes. The body tries to filter them back into the body but the water loves to hold onto some.

Not quite true. Functioning kidneys will always excrete waste products, regardless of the dilution. This includes electrolyes (they count as wastes too). And the most dilute urine produced by the kidney I think is in the area of 50-100mOsmol/L. This is pretty low compared to body osmolarity, and unless you're absolutely gorging yourself on water, it's pretty hard to outstrip it.

 

[SSSnail]

The only time you should do that is right before you take a piss test, otherwise, never.

 

[Born2bwire]

These pretzels are making me thirsty!

 

[Bateluer]

No. When you feel thirsty it's because you're thirsty.

I was always told that once you're thirsty, you're already dehydrated.

Clearly, you guys aren't runners. No runner with half a brain would wait until their thirsty to drink water while training or in an event. Waiting until your thirsty pretty much means your dehydrated. And since thirst is easy to kill in a number of ways that don't involve drinking water or other liquids, you'll just dehydrate yourself further.

Urine color is a pretty good indicator of hydration, but if its clear as water, you're over hydrated. Should be the color of pale lemonade.

 

[moshquerade]

beer works too

 

[Locut0s]

beer works too

Beer will just make you piss all the more.

 

[oogabooga]

The only time you should do that is right before you take a piss test, otherwise, never.

I forgot to drink a lot before a piss test and had to put some effort into it =\ Lesson learned, anytime I gotta do one I drink like it's going out of style now.

 

[Drako]

LOL, this thread is win.


My advice is just to drink Vodka until you can't see the color of your piss. After that, everything should be OK. :thumbsup:

 

[Bateluer]

No Bear Grylls comments in this thread either. Disappointed.

 

[Locut0s]

LOL, this thread is win.


My advice is just to drink Vodka until you can't see the color of your piss. After that, everything should be OK. :thumbsup:

Done that before. Things weren't all that OK afterwards. Though it was still fun.

 

[JPS35]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_polydipsia

 

[SirStev0]

You should try for 6-10 glasses of water a day. Just spread it out.

Yes there is a thing called water intoxication. It is rare and you have to drink a fuck load of water or not be eating at all. Idiots.

Over Hydrated > Waiting till you're thirsty to drink.

The "drink till you pee clear" is usually recommended when people have UTI's or Kidney Stones.

Gatorade is Sugar water. Salty Sugar water.
Pedialyte is liquid gold. In that it costs roughly its weight in gold. Carnation Instant Breakfast (or the walmart version there of) has vitamins and the electrolytes you need and you don't pay $15 for a 6pack.

You are all welcome.

 

[RelaxTheMind]

water? you mean like from the toilet?

 

[Ponce]

Locut? the color in your urine is a GOOD indication that you are getting rid of the bad chemicals in your body......specially when is yellow and it smells.

 

[l0cke]

Just a reminder to drink more water when you are at a higher altitude

 

[nageov3t]

I was hospitalized for dehydration once (I actually had a blood clot, but the dehydration was what kept me in the hospital for 36 hours, since the clot was in a superficial vein)... since then, I just try to stick with my 64 ounces/day and use dark urine + dry mouth / cracked lips as my dehydration warning signs.

I tend to almost always drink from my 16-ounce usable water bottle... figure I'm good if I can empty it out once in the morning on my way to work, twice while I'm actually at work, and then again after I get home.

 

[KaOTiK]

These pretzels are making me thirsty!

sob, I was gonna post this

 

[preslove]

Take some vitamin c to turn it orange or the pee lady might reject your sample.

 

[WelshBloke]

They say to do this often. That it's good for your kidneys and body in general. I often do at works simply because I drink so much water there, nervous habit I've long had. However if I do this I'm going to the bathroom every 20 mins! WTH.

Who is 'they'. I'd like to punch 'they' in the face.

Pretty much any time theres something well known but wrong, with no supporting evidence its 'they's fault. 'They' needs to STFU IMHO.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Locut? the color in your urine is a GOOD indication that you are getting rid of the bad chemicals in your body......specially when is yellow and it smells.

Who is 'they'. I'd like to punch 'they' in the face.

Pretty much any time theres something well known but wrong, with no supporting evidence its 'they's fault. 'They' needs to STFU IMHO.

I think we found of "them".