What do you count as water?

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?

most likely because a brownie doesn't have a can of tuna in it, unless you make some nasty *kitten* brownies. I do agree that the 8 cups of water should be water though, and not other drinks containing water. If that were the case then 8 glasses of coke would work because it is a water base.

Right; I log water because it helps me remember to drink it, and I drink water because since I started drinking it I feel better, I've lost more weight, and I look better. But it's not like MFP is going to give you some sort of warning if you DON'T log water, so I don't understand why people feel the need to log things that aren't water as water.

The brownie vs tuna was to illustrate that they're not just different solid foods, they're nutritionally different. If you (generic) are logging coffee with three sugars and cream as water, what about the sugar and the carbs? They do different things for/to you, so why pretend they're the same just so you can see that little glass fill up? Why use the tool if you're not going to use it correctly? Not that it makes any difference to me, it doesn't affect my water count--but if you don't use it correctly, you probably shouldn't complain if it doesn't work correctly. Know what I mean?

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?

water is water. sometimes I count it if there's crystal light powder in it, but that is it. Maybe tea, if I drank it. I absolutely wouldn't count things like milk - that has lots of calories and fat to it.

Just drink 8 cups of actual water every day on top of whatever else you drink to be safe. It isn't difficult if you carry a water bottle.

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?

You don't seem to understand that tea IS WATER with herbal additives, where chocolate cake is not.

Also, where your definition of "correct use" of the water meter is awesome for you, it may not be how the rest of the world measures their intake. Unless you wrote the MFP program and in doing so defined the "correct use" of the water meter, please stop assuming your way is the only way.

Beer IS WATER with hopps and stuff added to it. Can I count it as water too? Gee, I sure hope so.

Coffee, tea, and - of course - water, my criteria being it has to be 0 calories and very wet.
And I don't care if you don't like it.

I just count water toward my daily water intake. Tea may be alright (but, I personally don't count it). However, I would definitely not count sodas. They will bloat you, instead of helping cleanse your system.

Just water, and the occassional Vitamin Water Zero

milk is a solid, but I generally don't eat milk anyway.

:huh: I'm sorry what...yea I don't eat milk either...tends to taste pretty bad at that point..

milk is a solid

:laugh: :laugh: :sad: :sad: :laugh: :laugh: :sad: :sad:
[/quote

Oh my, when did milk turn into a solid??

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?

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.

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.

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.

Just water....

FYI, I wouldn't count coffee or tea (unless it is herbal tea) as water because they are actually dehydrating and will require you to need additional water.

^^^^ this exactly..
I open a gallon of water every morning and make a plan to have most of it gone by lunch... by the end of work I'm done and then whatever I drink at gym or diet sodas after work I don't count..

Whats the difference between drinking soda, which most of you don't count in your daily log, and drinking 8 oz. pure clean water while eating a handful of gummi bears?

Just saying.