RE: Water Counter

medically speaking the drink 8-8oz glasses a day has no science behind it. It is one of those things that if we say it enough it becomes fact. I teach my patients that it is fluids in general that your cells need. We tell them that anything with caffeine does not count as fluid consumption because caffeine is more dehydrating. While water may be the best even fruit juice has water as main ingredient. I also don't like to count sweetened drinks such as soda and sweet tea.

I agree. Although I've found that I feel better, in general, and have less issues with chapped lips, when I drink about 8 cups of water a day. But the body has a certain amount it needs and the rest basically passes right through. Drinking more water won't "wash away the fat" or anything like that.

I think the tracker is there because proper hydration is part of a healthy lifestyle, and because often thirst disguises itself as a sweet-tooth (at least for me), so when we aim for 8 glasses a day, we're probably going to be doing better than if we don't. But there is nothing at all that says it has to be plain, unflavored, water.

And, there's no prize for hitting your 8 glasses, so it's not like you're "cheating" by logging Crystal Light, Mio, herb tea, or even (gasp!!) Diet Coke. And you're not necessarily cheating yourself either, because again, 8 glasses is ARBITRARY - it doesn't take weight, height, or activity level into account. Go by how your body feels. Floating away? drink less. Chapped lips or dry skin, or feeling thirsty or lethargic? You might need a bit more...