Honest opinions - does water help at all?

[Todayillbebetter]

I read again and again that drinking water helps skin, hair, energy levels etc

If I drink water I seem to need the loo constantly and I'm in a job where I cannot use the loo often.
Does it get better? Will my body adjust? I really want to experience the benefits of they genuinely exist and will take the pain to gain if it works.
Anyone here converted into a partial goddess/ god by drinking water??

Happy new year.

Yes, I think it does help. My menopausal old skin looks much better when I have drank lots of water during the day.

I feel quite sluggish if I haven't drank enough water too.

Depends how much you’re drinking really. If you don’t drink much at all then yes you will notice a difference if you substitute water for the soft drinks etc that presumably you’re drinking at the moment. But if you’re already drinking a fair amount then there are limits to what even more will do for you.

I really feel it does - it helps me manage my appetite better so I don't want to snack a lot, helps my digestion and I think it helps me avoid headaches in that I notice if I don't drink as regularly when full on in work I get more headaches. I do think it helps my soon look brighter.

How much are you drinking and how often do you need to go to the loo?

I have about 3litres of water a day at work plus coffee and decaf and wee about once an hour. I probably have less at the weekend but still nearly that.

It’s good for all the things you mention and every time you wee you’re flushing stuff out of your system.

Skin, not soon.

I'm going to try to drink water too.
I currently drink one coffee in the morning and have a mouthful of Pepsi max out of the bottle at tea time. I'm not sure how I'm alive to be honest but I'm expecting to see huge benefits.

I hate water. I actually intensely dislike drinking it, it tastes horrible and makes me feel bloated - and then yes, I end up having to wee all the time.

It'd actually have to make me look 20 years younger and 2 stone lighter before I'd drink more of the revolting stuff.

Anne, 3 litres??? I’m lucky if I manage one, and they would include anything like a tea or coffee during the day...

My skin looks desiccated though. I look like a mummy not a Mummy. So I’m going to try and drink more too. Don’t think I have a great thirst mechanism. As for the kids....

Glad it’s not just me.

I have a mostly desk job and keep a bottle on my desk that holds 2/3 litre and it’s always close at hand. I fill it up every time I make a coffee and don’t even notice I’m drinking it most of the time.

I’m pregnant and thirstier than usual and also weeing more often but I’ve been on about 3 litres a day for years and it’s just a habit. Still got some dry winter face skin but could be worse

I definitely find it makes a difference - I've been drinking around 2l.5 litres per day (at work) for a good number of years now.

The main difference for me is my complexion, I get spots if I eat too much junk (or cheese!) and the water really helps. Also not eating crap in the first place is also good, but... I also live in a hot climate, so like to give my body a good start by keeping it hydrated - particularly when out and about.

I find if I am dehydrated, I can drink a lot and it doesn't get peed out much at all - ie, my body seems to be using it and storing it. If I drink say half a litre per hour, then yes, I probably have a pee every hour also.

It's definitely worth sticking too but no promises on frequency of peeing

Argh! That should be 2.5 litres not 21.5... that would mean I definitely have to move my desk into the ladies WC.

At the moment I don't drink any cold drinks unless it wine! I only drink tea or coffee.
If I try to drink lots of water I would need to prepare every 30mins - 1 hr. It's pretty impossible so I will increase water over a couple of weeks and find the balance.
I think I need it to help stop snacking and clear my skin a little.
Thank you for sharing!

If you’re not drinking any water at all then wow yes you will benefit from doing so. I’d suggest starting with a big glass first thing in the morning, a glass at lunchtime and a big glass when you get home from work. If you’re in a job where you’re tied to the desk then sipping throughout the day is probably not going to suit you but three glasses a day should fit into your routine.

What do you drink at lunchtime ?! Surely you have something with food ?

Jenny - three big glasses is manageable! It's more my bladder capacity. I have no problem holding it but feel I need to go all the time when I drink. Definitely not a UTI

I still only have a coffee at a push at a lunchtime....I don't really get thirsty ever unless I've had a salty takeaway or restaurant food.

I'm probably just a dusty husk of a woman ....but an overweight one....

Drinking water is very good for your body in every way. However, drinking so much you have to wee al the time is a bit excessive if you are travelling to and from work and at work. Keep your big water drinking for at home! Good for your organs, hair and skin and anything else you can think of.

I wish you an acquatic new year, from someone who drinks a fair amount of water, even if I don't feel like it; I don't go out to work any more so can manage it :-).

a nice thought but somewhat dehydrating...... may be more appropriate.

meant 'all the time' first para, second sentence.

Our bodies give very similar signals for hungry and thirsty, so if you don't drink enough water, you can easily misinterprete 'thirst' signals for hunger and overeat. I find myself eating more if I don't drink much water.

It's not some sort of miracle anti-ageing, weight-loss potion. It keeps you hydrated, of course, and if you are dehydrated you will struggle with concentration and will probably feel a bit bleurgh generally. But I think it's a myth that you have to drink just water to stay hydrated - other soft drinks are just as good, provided they don't have sugar or caffeine in them.

I am more concerned that you seem to have restricted access to toilet facilities at work. It is a basic requirement for your employers to provide you with welfare facilities and to allow you to use them when you're at work. Why can't you go to the toilet when you need to?

One way to increase water intake is simple - big glass with every meal! And actually finish it :-)

If you are a medic or in education (where other people rely on your presence) it can prevent you going to the loo.

But what if you absolutely cannot cope with the taste of water? It actually makes me gag...
I have tried bottled, filtered tap, unfiltered tap, with lemon in, with cucumber in. No difference.

I'm guessing adding a glug of organic squash will negate any hydrating benefits?

hippipotamiwantstoloseapound I am almost entirely sure that adding a bit of squash to some water won't cancel out the benefits of drinking it in the first place! Your body can extract and use water from food, and from any sort of drink - it doesn't affect its hydrating capabilities at all.

I think the advice about drinking 2 litres of water per day has become a bit confused, as people now seem to think that it has to be 2 litres of pure water and that other types of drink don't count towards the total. They do, and the health issues that might come from drinking a lot of sugary or caffeinated drinks are entirely separate from the issue of having an inadequate intake of fluid.

Of course adding squash won’t negate the benefits. It’s not nutritionally good for you but it’s not poison.

I have to add a splash of something to water - if I didn't I'd hardly drink any.

At the moment I don't drink any cold drinks unless it wine! I only drink tea or coffee.
Aha! I thought I was the only one!