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zderekv · 09-14-2007, 11:07 AM

how much water is too much?

**wukkadb** · 09-14-2007, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Usually, drinking large amounts of water does not cause overhydration if the pituitary gland, kidneys, liver, and heart are functioning normally. To exceed the body's ability to excrete water, an adult with normal kidney function would have to drink more than 2 gallons of water a day on a regular basis.

Overhydration is much more common among people whose kidneys do not excrete urine normally—for example, among people with a disorder of the heart, kidneys, or liver.

source:Overhydration: Water Balance: Merck Manual Home Edition

zderekv · 09-14-2007, 12:51 PM

thanks. my wife, a.k.a. the warden, keeps telling me to watch out because i'm drinking too much water but i'm only drinking about 100 oz a day. my camelback holds that much and i'll go through a full bladder when i'm mountainbiking so i didn't think it would be a problem. i thought i had read somewhere that 2+ gallons a day could start to give you trouble but i'm glad you reinforced my beliefs.

**Onganju** · 09-14-2007, 06:50 PM

You can actually die from drinking too much water. In fact that's what happened during this radio contest: Hold You Wee for a Wii. They made contestants drink glass glasses of water without going to the bathroom. One of the contestants dropped out at second after drinking almost 2 gallons of water over the course of 45 minutes.

Normally death from water intoxication wouldn't occur because your body would get rid of the excess water by urinating or vomitting. The contestants were prevented from doing either in order to win the contest.

To summarize: you can drink a lot of water. If you have too much, your body with excrete it out naturally.

Cyclist · 09-15-2007, 05:25 AM

I've actually suffered for water intoxication myself not to long ago actually, it was just this past summer. It's bad news man, for three days straight I felt like death. The trick is to make sure you get enough electrolytes, if to you don't the excess amount of water begins to over dilute your cells.

In this situation, trail mix is your friend.

**swpthleg** · 09-15-2007, 09:52 AM

so are you saying alternate water with gatorade or something in an endurance event?

Cyclist · 09-15-2007, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swpthleg

so are you saying alternate water with gatorade or something in an endurance event?

Definitely. I would die on my long summer rides without electrolytes. IMO Hammer makes the best electrolyte supplement. You cannot do a long summer ride in a desert without any electrolytes.

Hammer Nutrition-Endurolytes

pauly_j · 09-15-2007, 02:32 PM

The sodium in your body which sends messages to everyting from your brain can disolve too much if over hydrated and I think that's what kills you. Drinking a lot while you're exercising shouldn't be taken into consideration as much because you'll mostly be replacing sweat.

Cyclist · 09-15-2007, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pauly_j

The sodium in your body which sends messages to everyting from your brain can disolve too much if over hydrated and I think that's what kills you. Drinking a lot while you're exercising shouldn't be taken into consideration as much because you'll mostly be replacing sweat.

I agree. It has a lot to do with what you are doing. In the gym I just stick with water since you don't sweat as much in the gym. I don't think I consume more then 40 to 50 fl oz of water in the gym.

On my bike during the summer or hiking in the summer you will sweat a lot and you will lose a lot of electrolytes and tons of water. This is when I can easily consume over 200fl oz on a three mile hike or two hours of riding.