What counts as water?

Canadien

I only count pure water as water, or green tea.

LBlake12

I really think it depends why you're counting.
I've tried to research this for a long time to understand how much I should try to drink in a day, but really haven't found a solid answer. One useful tip, though - if you're thirsty, you're already dehydrated.
Anyway, the general conclusion I've drawn is that I need to target getting between half and all of my weight in lbs as the # of oz of water I should get each day. ex.: If I weighed 128 lbs, then I should target 64 to 128 oz of water to keep hydrated. So, even though I definitely get some water from food, I don't bother to count that, and I only aim for half my weight in ounces. Then, I count water (which is mostly what I drink) as 100% water, milk as 90% water, coffee or tea (with caffeine and no milk or sugar) as 75%, and non-caloric carbonated drinks as 50% water (I figure that's conservative). And if anything has caloric content, I mainly just count those in my food (milk being the exception, but that's a lotta carbs).
Just because caffeine is a diuretic, and coffee has caffeine in it, doesn't mean it's enough to outweigh all of its hydration benefits. Don't know if that's right, but seems to keep me pretty well hydrated.
Oh, and juice just has so many calories and so much sugar, which counteracts hydration enough that it actually makes me MORE thirsty, so if I have juice, I only count it like food.

cathyallen

my dad wasn't drinking much water but ALOT of unsweet tea. His dr. told him that his unsweet tea does NOT count as water. So I am thinking.......water is just that....WATER!

Debbe2

I count only water and decaf unsweetened herbal teas.

lookslikeyoda

I drink green tea with no milk or sugar, its caffeine free so I count that and if I have cordial in water too I count that. Don't know if I'm right or wrong?

wijac10

I personally count water and green tea (nothing added to it, no sugar etc).. no coffee, juice or milk.

CheleLynn44

I only count plain water as water!!

But I think for those that can't drink plain water adding in a crystal light, Mio or some other low calorie flavoring works too!!

CuteAndCurvy83

I only count water as water, nothing else, there are times I may add some true lemon or orange, but if I add anything else it becomes "juice" to me.

mshortcake622

I really think it depends why you're counting.
I've tried to research this for a long time to understand how much I should try to drink in a day, but really haven't found a solid answer. One useful tip, though - if you're thirsty, you're already dehydrated.
Anyway, the general conclusion I've drawn is that I need to target getting between half and all of my weight in lbs as the # of oz of water I should get each day. ex.: If I weighed 128 lbs, then I should target 64 to 128 oz of water to keep hydrated. So, even though I definitely get some water from food, I don't bother to count that, and I only aim for half my weight in ounces. Then, I count water (which is mostly what I drink) as 100% water, milk as 90% water, coffee or tea (with caffeine and no milk or sugar) as 75%, and non-caloric carbonated drinks as 50% water (I figure that's conservative). And if anything has caloric content, I just count those in my food, and not water.
Just because caffeine is a diuretic, and coffee has caffeine in it, doesn't mean it's enough to outweigh all of its hydration benefits. Don't know if that's right, but seems to keep me pretty well hydrated.

Very interesting, thanks! I never count water in food or any types of other drinks. I was just curious about the green tea and Crystal Light packets I use every day. My friend made it seem like since the water wasn't pure water, it wasn't as good because the body has to filter out the extra things added.

Thanks so much for all of the insight, everyone.

ravenone777

I count green tea and my fruit tea that only has 4 calories in it. Otherwise just straight water.

BarbWhite09

Water is water.

miqisha

Water is the only count towards water intake for me.....You can however add lime to add a taste to it, and that should count as well.

polarsjewel

"If this site said "Drink 15 shots of vodka" would you do it? "

*kitten* YES!!!! And then I would have my 8 cups of water as well.

FrostyBev

all liquid (I wouldn't include alcohol) and the water you get through the foods you eat.

Even if you are drinking something that makes you pee you are still drinking something. Your body will do a perfectly good job of maintaining water balance if you let it.

If my body thinks I didn't get enough water I will wake up the next morning thirsty.

If you are thirsty you are all ready dehydrated.

junyr

Once you add things to water, then water becomes an ingredient in a different beverage...

Sure water may be the first ingredient. But if I ask for a glass of water at a resteraunt and the waitress brings me a Pepsi, she's not getting a tip.

sandhen

Actually yes, chiropractors are real doctors.

luv_lea

I only count water and log the rest in food diary.

pucenavel

One oxygen atom + 2 Hydrogen atoms in a covalent bond

junyr

Actually yes, chiropractors are real doctors.

You don't need a PhD to be a chiropractor. Some may have them, those would be Doctors, even if it's not medical. But for the most part, chiropractors are not doctors.

GeoJenna223

Does this count?

morgansmom02

Water counts as water. It is that clear stuff that comes out of the faucet/bottle.

fitaliciag

only water is water. period.

killagb

There is so much ignorance on this subject I simply give up. It won't affect my body any. :bigsmile:

NoAdditives

Only water is water. Other beverages are fluids, which are still good.

killagb

And really...no kidding water is water....obtuse much?

fitaliciag

t

funkycamper

I sometimes only drink about 28 oz of straight water each day. That's what my water bottle holds that I chug on when exercising. The rest of the day might include some more water but mostly things like green tea, herbal teas, and coffee, sometimes hot, sometimes over ice. Occasionally a Diet Coke. And I do drink Crystal Light in a gallon container at home but I use a lot more water than they say to use on the packets so it's very diluted just giving a slight flavor to the water. I don't believe that's harmful in any way or hurts your hydration.

While I don't track my intake, as long as I'm peeing clear I don't worry if I'm hydrated enough. If there's even a hint of yellow tinge to my urine, however slight, I then focus on drinking a few more glasses of pure water. If it's clear, I'm confident I'm well hydrated. It's virtually always clear so i don't worry about it. I also pay attention to how much I sweat when doing an intense workout. If I'm not sweating much, it tells me I need to drink more pure water. If I'm sweating freely, I know I'm fine.

Works for me. YMMV.

savage22hp

Does this count?

HaHaHa !

godricshollow

Adding to the chorus of... water.

I don't count anything else as water because of various reasons including sugar content and caffeine.

If you can't drink much water, start off small. You don't need to be drinking 8397497491 cups a day at first. Buy yourself a water bottle and try to drink a little more each day. Before you know it you will be drinking water like it's going out of style.

sjerrott

I count tea as water - don't drink water but drink a crap load of tea and since that is a cup of hot water with a teabag in it, I believe it counts as water.