So I drank about 5 liters (1.3 gallons) of water yesterday. At some point, am I drinking too much? I've heard of people getting water poisoning and draining all the salts out of their body. Do I need to take it easy or am I okay? Should I be making sure I get enough salt?

I'd venture your salts are OK, there's so much in our everyday lives already.

Question: are you drinking because you're thirsty or because drinking loads is something you've read/heard much about?

FWIW, I gauge my thirst by the wetness or dryness in my mouth, (which I'm hyper-aware of due to my job behind a mic), and by z' pee.

I usually do between 1.5 and 2.5 L/day more than less in the summer. But you're in a hot place year round, right?

No it's not hot year round. I'm in Alabama, not Aruba (I wish I lived in Aruba!!). I drink that much I think out of habit. Plus I don't sip, I chug. If I take a drink, I tilt the bottle back and get a good swig.

So, habit does not equate to thirsty then I see...

If I were you I'd gear down at least one L per day, as unless you're sweating all the time, I really don't see the need for such a high intake.

Are you doing extremely high protein, or just normal amounts?

You aren't going to get water poisoning from 1.3 gallons, but I agree with Minu.

Heh... No I think that water poisoning is the result of LARGE volumes taken in over short periods of time kinda thing.

From wikipedia:

Nearly all deaths related to water intoxication in normal individuals have resulted either from water drinking contests, in which individuals attempt to consume more than ten litres over the course of just a few minutes, or long bouts of intensive exercise during which electrolytes are not properly replenished, yet massive amounts of fluid are still consumed.

So Rachael I think you're fine. Drink as much water as you're comfortable with, just try not to exceed 10 liters in a few minutes!

I drink around a gallon a day. On a good workout day, it can be more.

You aren't going to get water poisoning by drinking that much throughout the day, just don't chug it all at once, like Kelly says.

As for how much water we need, I've had people ask me why I drink so much, since the recommended amount is 64 ounces a day. Well, it's not necessarily because I feel thirsty, though certainly, I drink quite a bit around workouts when I AM thirsty, but it is because I have noticed that I FEEL BETTER when drinking this much.

I live in a dry climate... and before I started drinking this much, I was constantly battling dry, itchy elbows and going through a ton of moisturizer. Drinking enough water to make my pee a light color has really cut down on my moisturizer use. My skin feels better and so do I.

So as habits go... it's not a bad one. If you feel fine, keep drinking!

Minu, I take in regular amounts of protein.

So everyone thinks I'm not going to die - that's good.

Are the benefits of drinking 5 L of water more than say 3 L or am I just peeing out the extra 2 L with no real benefits?

My frien Bobby B. say you can never have enough wata!

Gatoraid is the DEVIL!

Oh Alabama, I don't miss it!!! I grew up southern AL, bleh, ridiculously hot by June. Walk outside from an air-conditioned building in the summer and water starts to condense on my hands because it's sooooo humid out. Birmingham is much nicer.

Kentucky is GREAT! If it gets in the 90s for more than a couple of days people are keeling over like it's the worst thing ever! hahaha

High quality H2o is good for you just ask Bobby

Who the heck is Bobby b??



Last summer the high was over a hundred for like a week solid. It was crazy!

Bobby Boucher (played by Adam Sandler) was the main character in "The Waterboy".
URL

I thought everyone knew Bobby and his Mama.

Oh. Haha. I do now that you remind me.

I remember hearing about that. It was... ready for this.... 95-ish here that week and people were just DYING!!! LOL Kentuckians have no idea what real heat feels like.