Hi Brian - I drink more in the summer (probably the 8-10 glasses) than I do in the winter (around 4-5). I have always found that I need to drink a glass before and after I exercise which helps my muscles not to be sore.

I occasionally get a massage (boy do I need one right now) and am always told to drink, drink, drink, the rest of the day. At times when I do not drink enough, my muscles are really sore the next day, whereas if I drink enough, I am not sore. The water removes toxins that the massage breaks up (or something like this I am told).

Plus, another way I can tell when I do not get enough water is my urine is darker. When I am getting enough, it is much lighter. My 8-year-old granddaughter and I had this conversation a while back, and now I see her drinking more water.