Alternatives to water?`

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Replies

  • sunshyncatra
    sunshyncatra Posts: 598 Member
    Okay, serious answer. Try drinking tea. I have tea time twice a day and that just adds to my water intake. It also provides a much needed crack... I mean caffeine boost.

    DO NOT do this, if you're going to use tea as an alternative make it herbal as the caffeine will dehyrdate you which is the opposite of what you want drinking water.

    Recent research shows that caffeine is only dehydrating in very large doses. Tea does have large quantities of caffeine.
  • HollisGrant
    HollisGrant Posts: 2,022 Member
    Okay, serious answer. Try drinking tea. I have tea time twice a day and that just adds to my water intake. It also provides a much needed crack... I mean caffeine boost.

    DO NOT do this, if you're going to use tea as an alternative make it herbal as the caffeine will dehyrdate you which is the opposite of what you want drinking water.

    Caffeinated drinks don't dehydrate people. They're diuretics. They just send you to the bathroom more often.
  • SkepticallyFit
    SkepticallyFit Posts: 71
    Okay, serious answer. Try drinking tea. I have tea time twice a day and that just adds to my water intake. It also provides a much needed crack... I mean caffeine boost.

    DO NOT do this, if you're going to use tea as an alternative make it herbal as the caffeine will dehyrdate you which is the opposite of what you want drinking water.

    Nonsense.

    Caffeine is only a diuretic if you consume extreme amounts. The equivalent of about 10 cups of tea in one sitting.

    http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/caffeinated-drinks/AN01661

    I drink a total of 4 cups a day, which is the maximum recommended amount for the health benefits and is quite a bit of tea.
  • CookNLift
    CookNLift Posts: 3,660 Member
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brzlHmBSjH8
  • DoctorCheeba
    DoctorCheeba Posts: 28
    I used to only drink Ice Tea and juice so I had this problem too... now I basically only drink plain water.
    But the best thing to do is add MIO (0 cal, liquid water enhancer), they have great tasting flavours. My favourite are Fruit Punch, Lemonade and Berry blast. Crystal light is a great one too, I never like the taste very much though.

    And if that still doesn't do it for you, try low calorie Gaterade (usually 40 cal per bottle, which is pretty damn good). Awesome stuff!

    Wait? Lemonade MIO?? Where?!! Love that stuff.

    Haha yes sir! I have trouble finding it sometimes but lately it's been at Shopper's Drug Mart and Staples, believe it or not.
  • JerseyGirl081
    JerseyGirl081 Posts: 98 Member
    Just recently a friend of mine gave me the idea adding a couple slices of lime, lemon, and cucumber to a big container of cold water and it really is delicious and very refreshing. Not to mention the fact lemon, lime and cucumber are really really really good for you. Give it a try and see if that may help. Here are a few ideas.

    http://bentontheincredible.blogspot.com/2013/03/lemon-lime-and-cucumber-detox-water.html
    http://www.food.com/recipe/refreshing-lemon-cucumber-water-110671

    Drinking tea is also another option.

    I personally dont like the idea of adding flavored things to water even if it does say "naturally flavored" but if that is something that will help you down more water I guess do it.

    Plain water is so important tho, you can't live without it. So painful or not, drink it down!!!

    Good Luck! :smile:
  • MarioLozano16
    MarioLozano16 Posts: 319 Member
    H2O
  • JUDDDing
    JUDDDing Posts: 1,367 Member
    I used to only drink Ice Tea

    I pretty much only drink iced tea. I have not dried up and blown away (yet).
  • mfoster1019
    mfoster1019 Posts: 152 Member
    I also don't prefer the taste of plain water. I have been using the sugar & calorie free liquid drink mixes (Mio, Crystal Light, off brand, etc) and it is helping me drink so much more water.
  • schertz72
    schertz72 Posts: 3
    I totally agree fruit slices is wonderful.....I often use lemon or lime slices and crystal light drinks help occasionally too.
  • pushyourself14
    pushyourself14 Posts: 275 Member
    One of my problems is that I HATE water. Crazy, right?

    maybe, but you're not alone. there are tons of you lunatics here.

    hello-friend-you-should-drink-more-water.jpeg

    LOL
  • cairnsmom
    cairnsmom Posts: 93 Member
    Come up with a "water schedule" that works for you.

    Trick your brain...Instead of having 8 glasses, get a large mug...say 32oz, so you'll only have to drink 2...Or you can find on that holds 64 oz; sip on it all day.

    Definitely get a filter for your tap, whether it fits directly on your faucet or it is a pitcher. You can buy water bottles, etc that have built in filters, as well.

    It is really hard to transition to drinking that much water. But once you get used to it, your body will crave it, and nothing will quench your thirst the same way. :bigsmile:

    We all have struggles, or we wouldn't be here. No one's struggle is less important or more significant than another's struggle.

    Cheers!
  • _xXJennXx_
    _xXJennXx_ Posts: 3,290 Member
    I like the propel when I want some flavor in my water, peach and kiwi strawberry are my faves. The peach tea crystal light pack is pretty good too that you add to your water.
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    I either slice up fruit, lemons, or cucumbers and let them cold steep, or I put in a tea bag and let that cold steep. I used to do mio, but cant anymore. Try flavor enhancers if that doesnt work for you.

    I know I'm very metal sensitive and can taste all the nasty metals in water.
  • magerum
    magerum Posts: 12,589 Member
    That is the ultimate first world problem. You're not going to get much support on it. Just drink the water. As an adult you don't always get to do things you like. It's required for life.

    Good luck OP :flowerforyou: :drinker:

    I don't think you travel very much, bro. I've travelled a lot, and in some places I'm more afraid of drinking the local water than anything else.

    I think you missed the point entirely.
  • ahmadfahmy
    ahmadfahmy Posts: 214 Member
    Hi everyone!
    I am new here and excited to start this journey.
    One of my problems is that I HATE water. Crazy, right? I try to force some down, but it is painful. I've been drinking the Sparkling Ice drinks, which advertise themselves as "naturally flavored sparkling mountain spring water". Is this a good alternative? Anyone have any other suggestions? Propel?
    Thanks in advance!

    Try MiO
  • quirkytizzy
    quirkytizzy Posts: 4,052 Member
    It took me a long time to like water. In the meantime, drink tea. The unsweetened stuff is pretty close to water and you can eventually wean yourself off that into the H20.
  • BeachIron
    BeachIron Posts: 6,490 Member
    Okay, serious answer. Try drinking tea. I have tea time twice a day and that just adds to my water intake. It also provides a much needed crack... I mean caffeine boost.

    DO NOT do this, if you're going to use tea as an alternative make it herbal as the caffeine will dehyrdate you which is the opposite of what you want drinking water.

    Recent research shows that caffeine is only dehydrating in very large doses. Tea does have large quantities of caffeine.

    Then the entire country of Japan and much of the rest of Asia must be very dehydrated . . .
  • sbrownallison
    sbrownallison Posts: 314 Member
    I so detest the snarky responses that questions like this generate. I agree that we are blessed with clean drinking water and that drinking it would be best for all of us. Having said that, I find that the cherry pomegranate Crystal Light is a very tasty alternate. Try it, you might like it. I do not find that it makes me want to drink more diet soda.
  • SrJoben
    SrJoben Posts: 484 Member
    Caffeinated drinks don't dehydrate people. They're diuretics. They just send you to the bathroom more often.

    ... for something to dehydrate you the water has to go somewhere. And your statement boils down to "Tea doesn't make you have less water in your body it makes you expel more water."
  • ncmedic201
    ncmedic201 Posts: 540 Member
    It is not a requirement that you drink 8 glasses of water a day. Staying hydrated is important and you should drink something when you are exercising. Unless your urine is a darker color or you are experiencing symptoms of dehydration, you don't have to drink an abundance of water. Most of your water consumption comes from food. If you have some medical reason then by all means drink away.

    Personally, I add extra water when I feel a headache coming on. Other than that, I drink a couple of cups of coffee in the morning and a few glasses of water throughout the day, and that's because I love water.
  • fiberartist219
    fiberartist219 Posts: 1,865 Member
    Here's some ideas:

    1. Use the Mio, but slowly start to use less and less of it.
    2. I love the ideas of adding lemons or lime to your water
    3. Drink it cold. The colder the water, the less weird stuff I taste in it.
    4. Get an awesome water bottle with a straw. For some reason, I drink 2-3 quarts a day out of my Camelbak bottle, but only a cup or two when I use a real glass. There's something about spilling it into my face that I just don't like very much.
    5. Drink tea

    I don't really go for the idea that sparkling beverages are better than Diet Coke. The carbonation and acidity are still there, and so are the artificial flavorings. I'm not saying that it's terrible, but it's not as good as straight water. It's certainly better than nothing, but regular water is much better for your liver and kidneys. However, drinking carbonated beverages is better than staying dry, and we all have to start somewhere, right?
  • sunshyncatra
    sunshyncatra Posts: 598 Member
    Okay, serious answer. Try drinking tea. I have tea time twice a day and that just adds to my water intake. It also provides a much needed crack... I mean caffeine boost.

    DO NOT do this, if you're going to use tea as an alternative make it herbal as the caffeine will dehyrdate you which is the opposite of what you want drinking water.

    Recent research shows that caffeine is only dehydrating in very large doses. Tea does have large quantities of caffeine.

    LOL! I meant tea does NOT have large quantities of caffeine. Oy veh!
  • chezjuan
    chezjuan Posts: 747 Member
    It is not a requirement that you drink 8 glasses of water a day. Staying hydrated is important and you should drink something when you are exercising. Unless your urine is a darker color or you are experiencing symptoms of dehydration, you don't have to drink an abundance of water. Most of your water consumption comes from food. If you have some medical reason then by all means drink away.

    ^^This. Stay hydrated, and don't worry about drinking water specifically. If you're worried about empty calories from drinking, do as others have said and drink some tea (iced or hot), or infuse fruit and/or vegetables into your water, or sugar-free flavorings.

    Research has shown that people need, on average, 2 liters of water a day, but that it comes from several sources including "solid" food. Of course, exercise and more activity increase that need.

    Someone already posted the Mayo Clinic link that explains it better than I can...
  • hookilau
    hookilau Posts: 3,134 Member
    air. :huh:

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