What counts in water allowance

I don't drink water alone but I'm counting no added sugar fruit squashes, diet drinks and tea & coffee. Is this right?

Yes, you can even count juice and regular soda if you want to.

You will get a lot of varying opinions. However, the fluid that we need comes not only from water, but from everything we eat and drink. There is no need to require yourself to drink an extra 64 oz. of water on top of everything else you drank during the day.

Water. ONLY WATER! Those other things tend to only dehydrate you more.

I count any drink that doesn't have caffeine as water intake -- crystal light, juices, caffeine-free diet soda, decaf tea, etc. Caffeine has a diuretic effect and can actually make you LOSE water.

You have to be careful what you are counting as water. For example, coffee is a diuretic and actually dehydrates you. The sugar replacements in diet sodas and drinks actually trigger the same responses in your body that make you hungry and can make it more difficult to lose weight. And not all of them are calorie-free. Try sparkling water instead; they have it in flavors (my favorite is orange) or you can even add fruit to it to flavor it yourself.

i have wondered this myself, but I still only record plain water on my intake thingy.

You have to decide this for yourself. See how you feel and what results you get. I count water as water and eight or more 8 ounce glasses is my magic number. I drink other things but don't count them. If I don't drink all that water I find myself straying in other areas. Keeping track of just plain water keeps me on track and making progress. I don't know if it is psychological but it works for me.

I only count water. Everything else gets logged in the food diary as it usually contains at least a little bit of sodium or calories. Even plain black coffee.

according to WebMD:

What Counts as Water?

Fruits are an excellent source for water. Watermelon is 90% water, so it ranks highest on the list. Oranges, grapefruit, and melons like cantaloupe and honeydew are also strong contenders.

Vegetables, though not as full of water as fruit, can also provide a nutrient-rich water source. Stick with celery, cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers, and Romaine lettuce.

There are plenty of hidden sources of water in your diet, says White. If you want to tap into these foods, reach for oatmeal, yogurt, soup, and smoothies.

Besides guzzling water, milk is a top choice to refuel. Sodas, even diet ones, get a bad rap for lacking nutritional value, but they can still be hydrating. Juices and sports drinks are also hydrating -- you can lower the sugar content by diluting them with water.

Coffee and tea also count in your tally. Many used to believe that they were dehydrating, but that myth has been debunked. The diuretic effect does not offset hydration.

Alcohol is a huge dehydrator, says White. You should try to limit your intake, but if you are going to raise a glass, aim for at least a one-to-one ratio with water.

If you don't like the taste of plain water, White suggests adding lemon to it. Or test out your own concoction, like sparkling water with raspberries with a sprig of mint.

I count only plain water and water with crystal light added as water. I track everything else as diet soda has sodium in it and fruit juices have calories.

Same

Like many here I record only water as water and everything else I create an entry since there are other nutrients in them.

When I was stationed in the middle east we would have a lot of guys get dehydrated because they would constantly be drinking Gatorade or powerade and not drink water. These types of drinks contain a high amount of sodium. Considering the amount we were sweating in the heat with that amount of sodium it was impossible to stay fully hydrated. the advice that was given to us for every bottle of Gatorade drink two canteens of water.

Makes sense to me.

Since I am trying to track more than just my calories I make sure to record every thing I put in my body. I record pure water as a separate entity and make sure to get a minimum of 64oz a day. Of course the only liquids I drink anymore are my morning cup of coffee, a couple glasses of skim milk a day and a ton of water.