"Just drink more water" isn't viable!!

[Blackbird1234]

I feel like I'm missing something here. Everyone is told that they should be drinking more water for their health, but every time I do it I end up running back and forth to the loo every 20 minutes. I can literally only drink an "adequate" amount of water when I'm sure to be at home for the entire day. I've always had a weak bladder but it really is ridiculous and some of my friends experience the same thing. Am I doing something wrong?!

@ABitOfAShitShow

Some people's bladders don't just get used to it. It's not just a muscle to train - there are nerves and elasticity at play too. Also - we don't all have the same bladder capacity and while bladder training is a thing, a lot of that is really about the mind, not the body and not everyone is starting from the same point physically - or can get to the same place.

OP, I agree with PPs about not fixating on a certain amount each day but I also hear you in that you've identified you aren't getting enough hydration. I guess you can only try to find a happy medium that works for you. You might also want to look at your salt intake - loads of water with no electrolytes is more likely to go straight through you.

Great reply. I've been having issues with my bladder lately and what you've just said makes more sense than all the doctors and urologists I've seen!

@AlphabetStew

Your bladder is not a muscle. It does have muscles in it.

The bladder is literally comprised of interwoven smooth muscle fibres. This is why it can stretch in every direction.

I think it’s mildly amusing when posters ask for tips on the best skin care and people say “just drink loads of water!”

It makes a very very small difference to your skin to be hydrated, certainly not enough to drop all face creams / Botox for

Your bladder is not a muscle! 😂

We need 2 litres of water per day, most of this comes from our food. You do not need to drink 2 litres of liquids to stay hydrated unless you are working in a very hot environment where you sweat a lot.

If your urine is a pale straw colour then you're fine. If it's a bit dark you can look at other ways of increasing your intake - google 'Eat your Water'.

I drink a 500 ml bottle while getting ready in the morning, once I got used to it, I now wake up thirsty and really want it. Then another bottle throughout the day, I just sip on it, plus a coffee and a couple of teas, it doesn't feel much over an 8 hour working day at all. Another large glass before dinner and I'm sorted for the day.

I don't think I'm dehydrated as in it's a matter of urgency that I need to drink more - I just don't think I'm hydrated enough as I already drink very little and my body could probably do with having some more. My wee starts as darker in the morning then gradually throughout the day it lightens.

I'm not saying it's a huge issue I'm trying to solve, but absolutely everyone says "drink more water" as a solution to everything from dieting, having headaches, sleeping badly, having bad skin to feeling tired, having indigestion, annoying neighbours and speeding, so I thought I'd give it a try

Will look at salt intake and "eat your water", thanks guys!

Your drinking plenty if your wee is normal by the afternoon time.

It really is easy to drink water though, I don't understand how people struggle. I tend to drink more than I should.

@RockAndHardPlace1

Your drinking plenty if your wee is normal by the afternoon time.

It really is easy to drink water though, I don't understand how people struggle. I tend to drink more than I should.

Some people struggle because their bladders are different to yours. Everyone is different.

I don't know where all this "everyone's dehydrated" thing came from (well, I have my suspicions - bottled water industry), but the human body has a very refined system for telling you when you're dehydrated. Seems unlikely that after a million years of evolution it's all of a sudden fucked to the point that everyone needs to force pints of liquid down their throats when they're not thirsty.

I get the same, OP. Mostly at night. So I stopped drinking a lot of water between late afternoon and night.

I don't obsess about water in general though.

Urine colour is supposed to be a good indicator of how hydrated you are. Google 'urine colour chart', eg:
www.healthdirect.gov.au/urine-colour-chart

It will be darker first thing in the morning (assuming you've been asleep for hours). Sometimes I find it better to have a large amount of water in one go and then have a full bladder, rather than small amounts throughout the day and keep nipping to the toilet.

I am a bloke, Urologist said "A glass of water about every hour" just sip as you work. No need to overload your self.
Should need to pass water about 7 times a day
That was after an operation.

This might be varied for a smaller bodied woman.

I thought most people these days understood that the "you must drink two litres of water day" thing was total tripe.

Don't be dehydrated. Beyond that drinking excess water isn't going to benefit you.

And even the NHS will tell you it doesn't have to be plain water, it can be tea, coffee etc.

I used to drink 4 litres+ per day, then ended up hospitalised for sodium deficiency and was given a mighty bollocking for drinking so much when it wasn't necessary 😬😬

It's true though, your body does adapt to increasing water intake, although I used to down tons of it at work so I could skive off in the toilet!

Ditch the coffee!

Could be a bladder issue OP?

When you start drinking more (and agree it’s sounds like you need to 1.5-2ltrs a day) can you not manage how often you go.

So DONT go the moment you feel you need to. Wait 5-10 mins. Then extend that to 15-20 mins, etc.

Also, you need to cut out the diuretics like coffee.

If you drink coffee and water you will pee more as your body uses the water to clear the caffeine from your system.

Give up the caffeine and drinking more water will be easier. And being more hydrated means there less ‘need’ for caffeine.

You get used to it and stop peeing as much! I used to pee all the time but after about 3-4 weeks it was fine. I drink about 2.5 litres a day.

If you drink coffee and water you will pee more as your body uses the water to clear the caffeine from your system.

Yes, caffeine has a diuretic effect but not enough to cancel out the effect of drinking more liquid. That’s why tea and coffee count towards your intake. It a misconception that coffee leads to a net dehydration effect.

It's the same if I drink too much coffee, a cup of tea or a glass of orange juice - it just goes straight through me.

All of these things (caffeine and orange juice) are bladder stimulants and will make you want to pee more! Orange juice is one of the things you're advised not to give children in the evenings if they are having bed wetting issues.

You sound fine. Nothing in your description of yourself or your routine suggests you need to drink more other than a vague idea of "more water is healthier".

I generally only drink tea, coffee and beer. I usually only need to supplement that with water when in a warm country or doing something particularly strenuous.

If your wee is dark you need to drink more, if its very pale youre fine.

I agree.

It’s also good to wee frequently as that’s how we get rid of toxins in our bodies.

You can strengthen your pelvic floor muscles to stop leaks but as a PP said you could just have a small bladder.

I find when I drink fizzy or tea/coffee I need to pee more frequently than when I drink water/squash.

It is a bit of a faff but collect and measure the typical amount you pee, make a note. And no of times you go in a day.
If you speak to Dr or 111 for advice they might ask.
A sign of a problem is if it is cloudy and not clear.