What do you count as water?

opus649

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=8+glasses+of+water+myth

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=does+caffeine+really+dehydrate+you?

The best science is BRO-SCIENCE!!!!!!

MoreBean13

I am sure some one has said this already....but you should ONLY count water...plain old water. Other things with solutes in them (especially coffee and tea, which HAVE CAFFEINE--which is a huge diuretic) cause you to actually LOSE water because of how your system of absorption works with fluid dynamics.

SO to be clear....the only thing that is water....is water. Possibly flavored water...but certainly not tea, coffee and juices. And not sports drinks (even calorie free)....they have electrolytes that change the osmolality.

Wrong. All drinkable water has solutes and electrolytes in it. Even in commercial processes where they use reverse osmosis to remove virtually all impurities from tap water (like Dasani or Aquafina's processes) they add salts back in to the water to make it drinkable. If you drank a lot of actual pure water, it would give you crazy diarrhea.

No they aren't free of solutes, but they are hypo-osmolar or isotonic which is what important.

??? No.
Isotonic fluid is a term commonly described to mean have a similar balance of salts/glucose to replenish the body's losses during, for example, vigorous exercise. Some sports drinks are isotonic. Water isn't, it's HYPOtonic to the body. Furthermore, Hypotonic, isotonic, hypertonic, are all relative terms to describe the relationship of one fluid to another. No fluid is by itself describable by any of these terms.

Robin_Bin

Depends on why you're "counting".
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Robin_Bin/view/water-265761 - various ways to hydrate, drink water and links to reviewed medical sites and research

IslandDreamer64

I didn't read every single response that's been posted, but I wanted to mention that the "myth" that we need 8 glasses of water a day was started by the water bottling companies to sell more of their product. Generally you'll be fine if you follow your thirst signals and drink when you feel thirsty. Almost all food that we eat provides water, especially fruits and vegetables.

I have never tracked/logged my fluid intake because I just know that I get enough. It's not some magic thing that helps weight loss, unless you're that rare person who drinks a glass of water and no longer feels like eating because the water filled you up. That's never worked for me!

yourenotmine

I don't even log water.

gingerjen7

For those of you interested in what actual health professionals think, try this: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/water/NU00283

Of particular interest to this thread: "Everyone has heard the advice, "Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day." That's about 1.9 liters, which isn't that different from the Institute of Medicine recommendations. Although the "8 by 8" rule isn't supported by hard evidence, it remains popular because it's easy to remember. Just keep in mind that the rule should be reframed as: "Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid a day," because all fluids count toward the daily total. "

I've read that as well.

However, that doesn't mean I'm going to count any fluid as water just because it's fluid; it's not water. I'm not going to log a brownie as a can of tuna because it's not a can of tuna, so why would I log tea as water?

Because, unless you are making some weird brownie, there is no tuna in a brownie. There is water in tea.

And a lot of other stuff. Tea isn't water. Have you ever read the back of a box of Hamburger Helper that said "combine noodles, seasoning, ground beef, and tea"? No, because tea isn't water.

There's water in chocolate cake. Do you log chocolate cake as water?

I actually do not log water. I can tell if I am hydrated enough by the fact my pee is the right color. However, I stay hydrated enough due to the amount of milk I drink.

BTW: your post actually made no sense to me.

Which part confused you? That tea isn't water or that just because something has water in it doesn't mean that it's water?

The references to hamburger helper and chocolate cake. Of course you do not log chocolate cake as water as it has calories - but the water you use in it is hydrating. Tea has negligible calories so I do not see the analogy you are trying to make.

Well you talk about tea like it's the same thing as water which is why you would count it as water. You wouldn't substitute tea for water in a recipe, so it's not the same thing. Your argument is that you can count tea as water because there is water IN tea. There's water IN cake too, but you don't log that as water.

I was trying to help you see how ridiculous the notion that because something has water in it means you should log it as water is to me. Log however you want to, or don't log it at all. Makes no difference to me. I'm just pointing out that the justification for logging something NOT water as water just because it has water in it is silly in my opinion.

LilacSnow

I'm curious what types of drinks everyone counts toward the daily water intake. Flor myself, I count water (with or without crystal light, etc.), milk, coffee, tea and my powerade zeroes. I haven't been counting any of the occasional diet sodas or slim-fast type products I may drink.

Does anyone count anything additional or purposely exclude any of the above?

Thanks,
Mike

milk is considered a dairy, and is not meant to count towards your daily fluids (this from a nurse). i do count tea and coffee, and other water-based beverages that have no calories (ie diet nestea).

deborah0123

Just Water...I dont count anything unless it is water

gmallan

[/quote]

I was trying to help you see how ridiculous the notion that because something has water in it means you should log it as water is to me. Log however you want to, or don't log it at all. Makes no difference to me. I'm just pointing out that the justification for logging something NOT water as water just because it has water in it is silly in my opinion.
[/quote]

Well yes, obviously just because something has water in it doesn't mean it is water and should be logged as such. However if you consider the purpose of drinking 8 cups of water a day (a myth that we need this btw) which is primarily to hydrate (and all the positive effects that stem from this), herbal tea is composed primarily of water and drinking 8 cups of herbal tea would have practically the same effect as drinking 8 cups of water on your hydration level. This is why I log tea as water - it is mostly water and has zero calories.

Comparing that to chocolate cake, it's compostion is completely different. While it has some water in it, it is not primarily water and contains a large number of calories. If you were to eat enough chocolate cake to get 8 cups of water per day your calorie count would be astronomical.

That is the difference between logging herbal tea as water and logging food as water.

Sarauk2sf

For those of you interested in what actual health professionals think, try this: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/water/NU00283

Of particular interest to this thread: "Everyone has heard the advice, "Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day." That's about 1.9 liters, which isn't that different from the Institute of Medicine recommendations. Although the "8 by 8" rule isn't supported by hard evidence, it remains popular because it's easy to remember. Just keep in mind that the rule should be reframed as: "Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid a day," because all fluids count toward the daily total. "

I've read that as well.

However, that doesn't mean I'm going to count any fluid as water just because it's fluid; it's not water. I'm not going to log a brownie as a can of tuna because it's not a can of tuna, so why would I log tea as water?

Because, unless you are making some weird brownie, there is no tuna in a brownie. There is water in tea.

And a lot of other stuff. Tea isn't water. Have you ever read the back of a box of Hamburger Helper that said "combine noodles, seasoning, ground beef, and tea"? No, because tea isn't water.

There's water in chocolate cake. Do you log chocolate cake as water?

I actually do not log water. I can tell if I am hydrated enough by the fact my pee is the right color. However, I stay hydrated enough due to the amount of milk I drink.

BTW: your post actually made no sense to me.

Which part confused you? That tea isn't water or that just because something has water in it doesn't mean that it's water?

The references to hamburger helper and chocolate cake. Of course you do not log chocolate cake as water as it has calories - but the water you use in it is hydrating. Tea has negligible calories so I do not see the analogy you are trying to make.

Well you talk about tea like it's the same thing as water which is why you would count it as water. You wouldn't substitute tea for water in a recipe, so it's not the same thing. Your argument is that you can count tea as water because there is water IN tea. There's water IN cake too, but you don't log that as water.

I was trying to help you see how ridiculous the notion that because something has water in it means you should log it as water is to me. Log however you want to, or don't log it at all. Makes no difference to me. I'm just pointing out that the justification for logging something NOT water as water just because it has water in it is silly in my opinion.

You are obviously missing the point that I was trying to make re hydration and tea counting towards that and I was obviously missing the point that you were making. I do not need your help in understanding hydration requirements or calorie counting but thank you very much for your concern that I would be clueless about those concepts.

opus649

Your argument is that you can count tea as water because there is water IN tea. There's water IN cake too, but you don't log that as water.

Cake is made from eggs, butter, milk, flour, sugar....

Tea is literally boiled water and a bag of dried leaves.

:indifferent:

contingencyplan

Water. That's it.

subcult

Water and gravy

opus649

Water and gravy

I heard that gravy has negative calories...

KourtneyP83

this!

plain and simple, just water. I don't count coffee, or anything. If I have the occasional crystal light or something like that I count it as water, but I don't really like them, very powdery.
In short, water is what I log as water

shinkalork

just water of flavored water.
Coffee or tea doesn't count....

TheCaren

I only count plain water as water. Weight Watchers, if I remember right, let you count a certain number of ounces a day of iced tea, Crystal Light, etc. as your water. But it was a small part of the overall amount they wanted you to drink. I've just kind of maintained the mentality that it doesn't get counted as water unless it's plain old water.

However, I've gotten some good feedback on here today about the fact I'm not tracking all my beverages on MFP. I haven't been tracking Diet Pepsi, not because I don't want anyone to know I'm drinking it (I have an open food diary to my friends) but because I guess I just didn't think it mattered. Perhaps I need to rethink that.

Lazygal53

I count anything water based. So water, tea and that's pretty much it for me.

wordena

Water, unsweetened green tea, and protein powder with water added. But I always add the calories.

guildwars1987

The only thing I count as water is water and what I add to it, i.e. N.O.Xplode, Whey Protein, Powdered Drink Mix

Contrarian

I am an awesome fake tap dancer.

ixap

.it is possible to become dehydrated from drinking excessive sports drink due to the concentration of electrolytes.

No it's not; at least not with the conventional Gatorade or whatnot (maybe if you concocted your own mix with tons and tons of salts). It is in fact possible (and happens in many races) to become hyponatremic from excessive sports drink consumption.

http://www.sportsscientists.com/2007/10/fluid-intake-dehydration-and-exercise_26.html

Heather_Rider

I count water only, including when i add flavor packs.

However, i also add the calories for the flavor packs

I do not count tea, coffee or milk as "water" mostly because i dont drink them. :laugh:

I ONLY drink WATER (and beer on cheat days!) - no, i dont count that as my "water" intake, but my water intake is way higher on Sunday! lol

EndlessSacrifice

I'm curious what types of drinks everyone counts toward the daily water intake. Flor myself, I count water (with or without crystal light, etc.), milk, coffee, tea and my powerade zeroes. I haven't been counting any of the occasional diet sodas or slim-fast type products I may drink.

Does anyone count anything additional or purposely exclude any of the above?

Thanks,
Mike

Why on Earth would you count milk as water?

KodiakAndrea

I log water as water, coffee as coffee, any soda, poweraid, etc as whatever it is. water is water.

chirichardson

just water.... (Which I get from sonic...because their ice is yummy and it makes my brain think I'm having something forbidden LOL)

I love the ice from Sonic. Also, if you have a Lenny's in your area, their ice is yummy also.

PetulantOne

I only count plain water toward my daily water consumption totals. All other beverages are logged with my meals and snacks. Keep in mind that flavored beverages also contain sodium and sometimes added vitamins and minerals. Get in the habit of logging everything into your food diary, so that you can get an accurate picture of your nutritional profile.

Edited to add:
Crystal Light does have calories, so that needs to be tracked as part of the food log. I guess sparkling water would also count as water.

I hate plain water!! So I've been using sugar free crystal light type stuff. I was shocked by how much sodium was in a serving. :grumble:

DarthH8

Seriously you guys? A hamburger can hydrate you. I spent my entire teenage life drinking nothing but soda and eating chips. NO ****ING WATER. EVER. NOT EVEN IF THERE WAS A FIRE!

I drink water now... but seriously I wasn't dead I had to be getting water somewhere.

Things that hydrate you:
Fruits, chicken breast, soups n broth n ****, juice, sports drinks, jell-o

The counter is there to help you out not make that **** complicated.

ktrn0312

plain or sparkling water

DarthH8

If anyone wants to argue my point. Heres a lil .gov for you to look at before you reply.

http://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/everyone/basics/water.html

U.S. National Library of Medicine
NIH. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia
THE CDC!!!!

Please listen to organizations who actually do original research on this stuff.