Diet Coke = Water

jenmerrick
jenmerrick Posts: 2
edited September 28 in Health and Weight Loss
Wondering if it is possible to count Diet Coke or other diet drinks, tea, etc as a Water??????
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Replies

  • Angel1066
    Angel1066 Posts: 816 Member
    I drink herbal or fruit teas with no milk or sugar and count them as part of my water intake but i'm afraid you can't count diet coke.
  • jeffpettis
    jeffpettis Posts: 865 Member
    I wouldn't think so, simply because water has nothing in it, meaning no calories, no sugar substitutes, or anything else. I am not an expert on this by any means, but I would have to say no. Just my opinion, maybe someone else will give a little more insight.
  • tefii
    tefii Posts: 31
    Drink tea instead :)
  • rosemiller11
    rosemiller11 Posts: 224 Member
    Nope! Nothing with caffiene, that is. You see, caffiene is a dieuretic, which means it makes you pee. So for every cup of coffee, soda (diet or otherwise), tea, ect, you will probably end up peeing out about 2 cups. So it's actually working against you. If you drink only caffeinated beverages, you will eventually dehydrate yourself. Sorry.
  • godroxmysox
    godroxmysox Posts: 1,491 Member
    This is a highly debatable topic here on MFP. I say if it isn't packed with calories, sodium or sugar, you should be able to count it as water (I do), but many will tell you otherwise.
  • Syntax_Error
    Syntax_Error Posts: 77 Member
    Nope! Nothing with caffiene, that is. You see, caffiene is a dieuretic, which means it makes you pee. So for every cup of coffee, soda (diet or otherwise), tea, ect, you will probably end up peeing out about 2 cups. So it's actually working against you. If you drink only caffeinated beverages, you will eventually dehydrate yourself. Sorry.

    ^This. It also contains a moderate dose of sodium which works against you. While it isn't the unhealthiest thing you could do, just make sure you're drinking plenty of real water as well.
  • manorexicmarshmallow
    manorexicmarshmallow Posts: 80 Member
    There are a large number of reasons not too, but the main one for me (I drink a lot of diet coke) is this: water fills you up, and helps control your appetite. That's why I drink it and list it in my food journal. Diet Coke has the opposite effect: the artificial sugars actually make you hungry because it signals your body to start expecting and craving something sweet.
  • dayzeerock
    dayzeerock Posts: 918 Member
    Caffeine is a diuretic, so nope.
  • LFern
    LFern Posts: 141
    Definitely NOT! It is very high in sodium! WATER is what flushes all the evil things out of our systems - NOTHING replaces the good that water can do for our body.:wink:
  • mom2bambam
    mom2bambam Posts: 17 Member
    :( Now I am feeling really guilty about my "one a day Starbuck's Venti Iced Green Tea" habit
  • ivy2009
    ivy2009 Posts: 75
    yes, Count all liquids as water. The point is to drink plenty. And more recent studies show caffeine does not have a significant dehydrating effect. If you drink more simply by making some of your drinks diet coke, or crystal light or coffee, or tea or any liquid, put it down. The only thing I don't list as "water" is beer or wine, becuse I try not to drink too much, but it is liquid.
  • sweetmanjd
    sweetmanjd Posts: 94 Member
    Absolutely not. Sorry:/
    Diet Coke is one of the worst things you can drink if you are trying to eat healthy or lose weight.
    Check out this article:
    http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20050613/drink-more-diet-soda-gain-more-weight

    Or just google "diet coke and weight loss"

    My solution (because yes, I had to quit diet coke too) is flavored soda water. NOT with any sugar/sweetner in it, just zero calorie sparkling water with natural fruit flavors. Crystal Geyser makes a good one, so does Canada Dry...lots of brands now.
    It gives you the carbonation and flavor without all the nasty chemicals and fake sweeteners.

    Good luck!
  • LittleVikki
    LittleVikki Posts: 88 Member
    If only!!!! :(
  • Thriceshy
    Thriceshy Posts: 708 Member
    Wondering if it is possible to count Diet Coke or other diet drinks, tea, etc as a Water??????

    Personally (and this is JUST my spin), I wouldn't count anything with caffeine in it as water, because caffeine acts as a renal stimulant and actually creates a need for MORE water. So I would enter it as something else, a calorie-free snack or somethiing, but I wouldn't enter it as water.

    Kris
  • brittaney10811
    brittaney10811 Posts: 588 Member
    I definitely wouldn't think so.


    Water is the healthiest thing you can possibly give your body. Diet coke definitely is not.


    I drink my full 64 ounces of water a day, in water. I have FF milk if I have cereal, and a protein shake after a rigourous workout, but I never count those towards my water intake.
  • I asked my doctor this question and she said as long as it doesn't have caffeine you can count it as water. The only thing that Diet/ Caffeine Free Coke has that water doesn't is a small amount of sodium. I think there is actually more sodium in a flavored water. So in my opinion as long as you choose Caffeine Free as well as Diet you CAN count it.
  • ivy2009
    ivy2009 Posts: 75
    You will pee all liquids everntually or your kidneys aren't working. It's just that caffeine may stimulate your system to pee faster. The point is to drink liquids. Liquids are good.
  • Shweedog
    Shweedog Posts: 883 Member
    I don't count anything with caffeine or alcohol because both are diuretics. I will actually drink an extra glass of water for every caffeinated/alcoholic beverage I drink.
  • Thriceshy
    Thriceshy Posts: 708 Member
    Wondering if it is possible to count Diet Coke or other diet drinks, tea, etc as a Water??????

    Personally (and this is JUST my spin), I wouldn't count anything with caffeine in it as water, because caffeine acts as a renal stimulant and actually creates a need for MORE water. So I would enter it as something else, a calorie-free snack or somethiing, but I wouldn't enter it as water.

    Kris

    Ah, I should have read ahead :-)

    Kris
  • kdudz
    kdudz Posts: 39 Member
    Nope! Nothing with caffiene, that is. You see, caffiene is a dieuretic, which means it makes you pee. So for every cup of coffee, soda (diet or otherwise), tea, ect, you will probably end up peeing out about 2 cups. So it's actually working against you. If you drink only caffeinated beverages, you will eventually dehydrate yourself. Sorry.

    This isn't true. It was once thought that caffeinated beverages would do that but studies have shown that the diuretic effect is much less than originally thought.

    If it were true people like my father and my boss would constantly be dehydrated because all they drink are diet soda products. I kid you not.

    Carbonated water is the first ingredient in Diet Coke.

    I personally don't count my coffee, tea or energy drinks towards water intake. I only count straight up water. But you do receive water from drinking tea, coffee, soda...etc.
  • Lauriee2014
    Lauriee2014 Posts: 183 Member
    I agree with several other posters. I do not count my coffee as water bc -

    - the diuretic factor [it takes water out of the body].

    - I try to get in 8-12oz of water in BEFORE my morning coffee, to counter act this.

    I would think herbal teas would count. Also unsweetened lemonade.. home made. Also.. some "diet" drinks [ie those with artificial sweeteners can actually cause carb cravings in some of us.. ME! I tried Crystal Light's new appletini.. and found it make me want popcorn.. bread, etc, things I eat only in moderation and not usually at night.

    :)
  • tkimbre2
    tkimbre2 Posts: 63
    Wondering if it is possible to count Diet Coke or other diet drinks, tea, etc as a Water??????


    I count my tea as water, but I drink decaffinated tea. :bigsmile:
  • auntiebabs
    auntiebabs Posts: 1,754 Member
    Nope! Nothing with caffiene, that is. You see, caffiene is a dieuretic, which means it makes you pee. So for every cup of coffee, soda (diet or otherwise), tea, ect, you will probably end up peeing out about 2 cups. So it's actually working against you. If you drink only caffeinated beverages, you will eventually dehydrate yourself. Sorry.

    Well, been to the nutritionist and was told that
    Caffeinated drinks DO NOT DEHYRDRATE YOU... they just hydrate you LESS effectively... you won't pee more than you take in, but you will pee more than you do with other drink except for ALCOHOL which WILL DEHYDRATE YOU.

    (She didn't give me an exact ratio, but I usually count tea or coffee at half the amount I consume and that's been working fine for me you may be different.)
  • The herbal teasdon't even count as water. Nothing is water except water. (Even sparkling water has high sodium) I am not a water lover myself, I have to make my self drink it. I have always been a soda drinker and its a hard habit to kick.
  • irishblonde2011
    irishblonde2011 Posts: 618 Member
    Nope,sorry.
  • heathersmilez
    heathersmilez Posts: 2,579 Member
    No b/c of the caffeine it's basically a negative drinks; no harm (unless you want to argue about aspartame, which I DONT, go Diet Pepsi!), no benefit (does not hydrate, diuretic).
  • andreajramsey
    andreajramsey Posts: 6 Member
    No.Water is just that...Water. Diet Coke or any other diet sodas,tea,fruit juice,anything with sodium or artificial sweeteners are not water and not to be confused as such.
    Once I stopped drinking diet coke and only consumed water (I drink unsweetened tea once a day) I started losing weight. Water fills you up while the other beverages will make you crave sweets.
  • only if it is caffiene free and low soduim, otherwise nope.....caffiene depletes the water supply in your body and sodium makes you retain water weight....
  • I worked with a nutritionist for several months who actually explained to me that diet sodas will actually make you fat...if I had more time I would find all the articles online but I'm guessing you can Google it yourself. ANYTHING carbonated and caffeinated will work against you if you abuse it...meaning once a day is fine but not all day and everyday. ALSO! anything with artificial sweeteners, especially aspartame, can effect weight loss too. In fact, aspartame is a completely evil thing and is in your diet coke.

    http://aspartame.mercola.com/

    Do your body a favor and stick with water! Tea is another thing that people like to use in place of...but read the ingredients before you assume it's good for you. Chances are...it isn't!
  • oXGetFitBabeXo
    oXGetFitBabeXo Posts: 341 Member
    Anything I eat and or drink I count for what it is even I I have to add it myself
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