What counts as "water?"

djudib

I have a terrible time trying to get my 8 - 8 ounce glasses of water down each day. Not successful most days. When I get close it's usually because I mix some of the crystal light flavors in a bottle of water, but then I feel like this is cheat. Does that still count as water? HELP!

fitbum19

Really....only water counts as water....but if INITIALLY, you need some help getting water down, crystal light packet flavored water can still count IMO....as long as you are counting fruit juices and milk, etc. After a while, though, you should be drinking plain water.

ekaustin7

I would say it still counts as water. Normally, I just count plain water as water, even though I drink a lot of coffee and green tea throughout the day. Just watch how many packets of crystal light you use because they add calories and sugar to your water.

StacyCond

I really don't like water (I grew up where water tasted a little like sulfer... it ruins it for ya!)

I drink a LOT of Crystal Light. I mix a packet with 22oz of water, and drink 5 of them per day... and I have lost 70lbs, so I figure it's not "cheating" It's always the first thing I grab when I first feel hungry.

tigersword

Any fluid counts for hydration. The 8 glasses of water claim is a myth. The actual medical recommendation was about 2.5 liters of fluid, and the text specifically mentioned coffee, tea, soda, juice, milk, and water all as viable sources.

It was the bottled water industry that changed the word "fluid" to "water" in a marketing scheme to increase sales.

nitabean47

I feel your pain w/ the water...I have to play mind tricks all day long. I wake up and have 8oz before anything else. Then I will have coffee, breakfast and I have a 24oz jug at work....I don't allow myself to eat or drink anything else until that water is gone. Then I have lunch, diet soda or a "flavored" water and I do the same thing. I find it harder for me to get my water in at home versus at work. I have started back to the gym this week and I drank 64oz yesterday at home....16 before the gym, 32 at the gym, and then the rest at home afterwards. I am hoping warmer temps will help also.....hope this helps!!

lauren3101

Really....only water counts as water....but if INITIALLY, you need some help getting water down, crystal light packet flavored water can still count IMO....as long as you are counting fruit juices and milk, etc. After a while, though, you should be drinking plain water.

Why on earth should she have to drink plain water for it to count? If she drunk a glass of plain water, then swallowed a sachet of crystal light after, would that negate the water she just drunk?

OP, it's not cheating and it counts as water. As does, tea, coffee, etc. People make the whole water thing far more complicated than it has to be.

adriadawn19

I usually only count water as water but if I have a crystal light I log the packet of crystal light and the amount of water used in the crystal light.

GreyGal

There is a HUGE difference in drinking water with Crystal Light and drinking fruit juice or milk. If not having the crystal light makes you not drink the water, then by all means, have the crystal light. It is nowhere near as bad for you calorie wise or any other way as fruit juice.

sarah_jones3

I tend to ignore the 8 glasses per day, and go on how hydrated I am, best way to tell is look at your pee, if its dark you need more fluids, if its clear to pail you are good, I have days I can drink water alone and some days I cant at which point I add some squash like robinson's no added sugar or a slice of lemon/lime to assist the flavor.

I cant comment on Crystal Light as I have no idea what that is or if we have it in the UK, sorry.

HisPathDaily

You can keep your body hydrated on coke zero and crystal light ... if you want enough not to die of dehydration, then drink enough fluids of your choice.

If you want to think about healty choices to hydrate your body, I would eliminate counting anything with sugar or artificial sweeteners (and limit caffeine) ... there are arguments about the health risks of long term use of sugar and sweetners ... and even if there are some false claims on either side of that argument, I haven't seen any reliable reports that illustrate how artificial sweeteners, dyes, and other garbage promotes good health.

So for me? I count water, tea, and possibly a cup of coffee (if I have 2) just to keep track ... I also try to drink half my body weight (in pounds) in ounces ... why? ... because that's when I feel the best ... and after a few days I stop peeing as much as my body adjusts ...

But ... for hydration ... milk, beer, wine, orange juice, pepsi, you choose ... but for health, I don't count anything with sugars (even calorie free ones) ...

tomg33

Drinking water is just another habit which you can choose to take on. You probably shower every day and brush your teeth twice a day, but wouldn't think twice about it. Each time you drink water just keep in mind what it is actually doing for you and how great it is for your body, mind and soul.

fxgs

No sugar or carbs in Crystal Light........uses apartame as a sweeter, only 5 calories a serving. I used to drink one gallon of water a day, right out of the gallon jug until I got sick of drinking plain water. Mixed it with Crystal Light (they have numerous flavors) and really enjoyed it. Really helped with my exercise, weight lose routine and since I was on a calorie deficeit the few calories of the Crystal Light was meaningless..

970Mikaela1

Beer.

ipiddock

Any fluid counts for hydration. The 8 glasses of water claim is a myth. The actual medical recommendation was about 2.5 liters of fluid, and the text specifically mentioned coffee, tea, soda, juice, milk, and water all as viable sources.

It was the bottled water industry that changed the word "fluid" to "water" in a marketing scheme to increase sales.

Agree with this. Fluids (water) are in everything we consume (dust excluded!).

When you see nutrients measured in grams on a food that weighs 200 grams and the total of those nutrients adds up to 100 grams, the remainder is water. It all adds up to your total intake. I personally drink 12-14 cups of water a day in addition to my normal food consumption. Water is a great way of flushing the system through, however I do get fed-up of going for a wee every 60 minutes.

Drinking lots of water also prevents water retention in the body.

HisPathDaily

And for the record I partake in many lovely beverages of choice, including evil coke zero ... I just don't count it ...

PayneAS

I have a terrible time trying to get my 8 - 8 ounce glasses of water down each day. Not successful most days. When I get close it's usually because I mix some of the crystal light flavors in a bottle of water, but then I feel like this is cheat. Does that still count as water? HELP!

You'll get mixed responses about this. Ultimately it will be up to you to decide what makes you feel comfortable. Personally, I only log water, however, I do keep track of how much coffee I drink during the day and if I've had a cup I'll mentally count that towards my daily 8 ozs.

Any fluid counts for hydration. The 8 glasses of water claim is a myth. The actual medical recommendation was about 2.5 liters of fluid, and the text specifically mentioned coffee, tea, soda, juice, milk, and water all as viable sources.

It was the bottled water industry that changed the word "fluid" to "water" in a marketing scheme to increase sales.

Exactly.

imchicbad

Obviously soda/beer are not something you would give a person if they were dehydrated. Water, tea, crystal light seem to be ok.

SweetestLibby

water flavored with crystal light is still water! For me, I get bored with the taste of plain water so I'll flavor it with fruit - lemon, lime, honey tangerine, etc.

I drink a lot of coffee and tea during the day but I don't count that as water. Hydration? Yes! Water intake? Nope.

55in13

I know plenty of people who never drink plain water; the "only water by itself counts" myth is just that - a myth. There is something called hydration efficiency - water does go 100% toward hydration while other things that contain water have varying amounts of efficiency, but as a general rule things with a lot of water in them do hydrate you. I think coffee comes in around 70% and alcoholic beverages even lower.

GeekTink

I count all of my water (flavored with Mio mostly) as water. Why shouldn't it count? Also use my hot cocoa as water, except when I use milk. Coffee, I probably should but I don't think about it.

Use what you feel is right, you are still getting it into your system so your aren't "cheating" anything

Ajellyfish77

That counts as CLEVER is what it counts as. Heck Im told even eatting "wet" foods like soup, yougurt even cucumber counts toward your fluid intake if you find it really challanging. I can't have artificle stuff due to allergies, and honestly I often find I lose more weight quicker if I can avoid it...but that could be a personal side affect. At the end of the day you are like 80% water! If this helps you stay hydrated then power to you

askeates

I always use a flavor package of some kind, as I have one of those bizzarre water issues... if I drink plain water it gives me heartburn, especially if it is cold (I also break out in a rash after my shower every day)! I have to drink it room temperature with either a flavor package, slice of lemon/lime, or even a package of splenda/sweet-n-low. I have lost 52 pounds and this has worked for me so far.

Most dieticians will tell you to be careful about counting any kind of low or no calorie drink as your water if it has caffiene in it (coffee, sodas, etc), caffiene can actually dehydrate you if you drink it in large amounts.. I have been doing weight watchers, and they tell you any low calories/no calorie clear liquid can be counted towards your water, just make sure to count the calories that may be in the flavor (crystal light has 5-15 calories per pouch).

zillah73

I count water and decaffeinated iced tea (I do not sweeten my tea) as water.

violinkeri

I agree with everyone else--unsweetened tea, plain coffee, and water all count as water! Just make sure you also log the additives like crystal light, sweeteners, cream in your coffee. Fluid is fluid--its when you get to things like the sugars and preservatives in juice and soda that the benefits of the water included start to be outweighed by the calories and uneccessary additions.

And if you have to get up an extra 3-4 times during the day to pee--its extra exercise

bitsyland

I can't stand plain water....but all I need is just the slightest hint of flavor to be able to drink it...so I slice up a fresh lemon, put it in a pitcher and fill it with water....let it steep in the fridge over night and you have great lemony water for the day. I also use an insulated cup with a straw...fill it with ice and suck it down.....it works for me. It's much better if it's icy cold. I also use sugar free flavoring...but again just enough to get a hint of flavor....not so much as to make it a lemonade or berry flavored drink. Even that gets too sweet. I have gotten much better at getting enough water in me this way.

Cytrix

I count my daily water as normal water and green tea (both hot and cold).

DrHeadBang

Any fluid counts for hydration. The 8 glasses of water claim is a myth. The actual medical recommendation was about 2.5 liters of fluid, and the text specifically mentioned coffee, tea, soda, juice, milk, and water all as viable sources.

It was the bottled water industry that changed the word "fluid" to "water" in a marketing scheme to increase sales.

^^^This. Oprah did a big disservice to her audience by reinforcing this belief as well. I clearly remember her showing bottles of water and associating it with health. She holds sway over a lot of the populace and it disseminated out to the rest of the country that it was about bottles of water and not ounces of fluid. (She also brought on the pox of Drs Oz and Phil, for which she shouldn't be forgotten or forgiven).

djudib

I am optimistic as well that the warmer weather will help the weight loss journey! :-)

SariC3

As a side note to those that love their crystal light - Lipton makes similar packets now (you get the flavanoids). Right now I'm drinking Iced Green Tea with Blackberry Pomegranate. In my grocery store, they are with the tea bags, not the drink mixes. I too need to have something in my water, but with the packets I drink over 100oz a day.

djudib

Ha, I never thought of that!