2 water questions

tayca9174
tayca9174 Posts: 37
edited November 10 in Food and Nutrition
1) What counts as water intake? Is it ONLY plain water? Or if you add Crystal Lite to a bottle of water does that count? Does skim milk count? Does the new Bud Lite Plaitnum count?! JK I know I'm supposed to be drinking at least 8 glasses of water/day but does other fuilds like milk, coffee, tea or juice count?

2) I can't drink plain water, unless I'm exercising, and I'm looking for HEALTHY ways to make water more desireable to drink...any suggestions? I've tried adding lemon wedges to water and it tastes fine but I've been doing that for so long I'm getting sick of it and water something new to try!

Any help would be much appreciated! :-)
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Replies

  • sandrinamsilva
    sandrinamsilva Posts: 651 Member
    1st question IMO....Water is water....I sometimes add things to it (Powdered tea things) but I don't count it as my intake

    2nd question I would try adding some cucumbers/strawberries to your water. I had some cucumber water on Sunday, very refreshing.
  • mcrmsi77
    mcrmsi77 Posts: 216 Member
    When I used to go to weight watchers they said that if you add those little packets to your water if still counts as water it just has to be filtered out by the kidneys so it takes longer than water to get out of your body. Something like that lol. But I count it as water. I count tea as water as well if I don't add sugar to it!
  • LesliePierceRN
    LesliePierceRN Posts: 860 Member
    actually, almost anything not processed has some water in it ( and I say that to qualify pop out of the equation). If you get Bowes and Church's Food Guide it breaks down all foods into about 10 subcategories like sodium, fat, protein.. etc.. but also lists the water count in each.

    As for making it more desirable, I find that when you ONLY drink water plain, you crave it.. in a couple of days, you'll begin to want nothing else. The only fluids I drink now are coffee, milk and water. And when I'm thirsty, nothing else will do but plain water.
  • CuteAndCurvy83
    CuteAndCurvy83 Posts: 570 Member
    I personally only count water as water, with the exception of it being flavored with something like lemon or something like that. Anything else that is added most likely contains chemicals that change the way it works with your body. As for as flavorings I use True Lemon and True Orange, it's just crystalized fruit flavors so there are no extra chemicals and stuff. The also make lime flavor as well is some lemonade kinds but I'm not sure what all is in the lemonade.
  • tayca9174
    tayca9174 Posts: 37
    I've seen commercials on TV for Mio and it looks like it adds flavoring to the water. Has anyone tried that yet?
  • CuteAndCurvy83
    CuteAndCurvy83 Posts: 570 Member
    I use Mio on occasion but it does have the chemical stuff in it. I used it more for those days when I was just craving something carbonated and added it to club soda. Also carried around the sweet tea version so if we went out, I could just order water with lemon and make myself tea. I do know walmart has come out with their version made with stevia, which made me happy.
  • haaaleyx
    haaaleyx Posts: 83 Member
    I can't drink just plain water unless i'm working out as well. I do force myself to drink at least three glasses on days I don't go to the gym, but it always makes me feel sick and actually makes me hungrier since it has no flavor ) : But whenever I go out I usually go to Dunkin Donuts and just get a large iced water and it somehow makes it easier to drink it. Idk if knowing it's from DD, or because I'm drinking it through a straw or what. But it's usually free, but some of them charge you for the cup which is like .11 cents, so it's nothing. McDonalds and Burger King usually give their water for free as well.
  • ashleynicol3
    ashleynicol3 Posts: 187 Member
    I pretty much only count water as water. I have counted Skinny Water toward my water intake before because it's 0 calories, 0 sugar & 0 sodium - only electrolytes & other good stuff LOL - but I wouldn't count anything else.
  • tennillewade
    tennillewade Posts: 49 Member
    I would think its ok to add crystal light it doesn't have any cals in it right? Idk :-/
  • JamesonsMommy
    JamesonsMommy Posts: 771 Member
    I would count it.. To get my water intake up i love adding sliced citrus or cucumber :)
  • rockerbabyy
    rockerbabyy Posts: 2,258 Member
    i count water, coffee, tea, soda, etc all as water.
  • RhondaElkins
    RhondaElkins Posts: 2
    i used to only drink soda! i never thought i would be able to drink water but when i saw how much other fluids were taking up my calories i soon realized water was the only way to go. i have grown to love and enjoy water. i only drink water and milk now. i think after a few weeks you get used to water and it's just part of life/ good luck
  • LFDBabs
    LFDBabs Posts: 297 Member
    Try adding frozen berries, they double as ice cubes. You can add some lime juice or limes as opposed to lemon. I use both of these from time to time, but I enjoy just plain water...it's just about all I drink now. It took me a LONG time to get to that point though!
  • kstep88
    kstep88 Posts: 403 Member
    I've seen commercials on TV for Mio and it looks like it adds flavoring to the water. Has anyone tried that yet?


    I love mio. I think it has aspartame or something (blah blah) ...but some days, I want flavor. I almost always have my water plain, and don't count my decaf tea...but if I add mio, I count it as water.

    One "natural" thing I love love love in water is a lime wedge. Squeeze it, drop it in..and yummy. :) I dont like lemon water much.
  • kealambert
    kealambert Posts: 961 Member
    I don't intend to be snarky, but the phrase 'I can't" in reference to the ability to drink plain water seems pretty lame. Unless you literally do not have access to clean water, saying "I can't" boils down to excuses and self-imposed limitations, which are what cause us to fall short of our goals in the long run.

    just my 2 cents
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    Here we go again!

    You need the equivalent of 8 cups of water a day on average, from any source. These sources can be pure water/tea/coffee/juice/soda/milk/fruit/veg etc. It does NOT have to be pure neat water!

    http://www.snopes.com/medical/myths/8glasses.asp

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/jul/13/myth-eight-glasses-water-day

    http://junkfoodscience.blogspot.com/2008/07/wellness-water-8x8-myth.html

    http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2010/12/08/the-myth-behind-drinking-8-glasses-of-water-a-day/


    As for tea/coffee being a diuretic, so many people just spout that word as a reason, without actually understanding what "diuretic" means.

    di·u·ret·ic (d-rtk)
    adj.
    Tending to increase the discharge of urine.
    n.
    A substance or drug that tends to increase the discharge of urine.

    Neat water is also a diuretic. The diuretic effect of caffeine is far, far outweighed by the actual water in the tea/coffee. Also, regular consumers of caffeinated beverages will build up a tolerance to said effect, eventually reaching the point where caffeinated drinks provide practically the same amount of hydration as a cup of neat water will.


    http://www.divinecaroline.com/22178/46361-coffee-makes-dehydrated-say-what

    http://worldofcaffeine.com/2011/06/14/caffeine-does-not-dehydrate/

    http://advance.uconn.edu/2002/020722/02072207.htm

    http://nomoredirtylooks.com/2011/04/surprise-caffeinated-tea-does-not-dehydrate-you/

    http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/health/nutrition/04real.html

    http://www.sharecare.com/question/does-caffeine-dehydrate-not

    http://www.artofdrink.com/2009/12/caffeine-in-coffee-does-not-increase-dehydration-during-hangovers.php

    http://www.caring4cancer.com/go/cancer/nutrition/questions/do-caffeinated-beverages-cause-dehydration.htm

    http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=5552790&page=1#.TrQWc0O5_oo
  • rockerbabyy
    rockerbabyy Posts: 2,258 Member
    Here we go again!

    You need the equivalent of 8 cups of water a day on average, from any source. These sources can be pure water/tea/coffee/juice/soda/milk/fruit/veg etc. It does NOT have to be pure neat water!

    <snip greatness>
    i always love your posts <3
  • winodini
    winodini Posts: 135 Member
    I agree with it counting. I've found that the true lemon raspberry is verry yummy :)
  • ifassnacht
    ifassnacht Posts: 24 Member
    drinking water during your cardio is fine, but it's doing you no good. if you are not properly hydrated before you start cardio then you do not have the strength you would if you were fully hydrated!

    http://youtu.be/XF620V-4L0Q

    Never did understand how people didnt like water. it tastes like nothing...well it SHOULD taste like nothing! ;-)
  • gingersimper
    gingersimper Posts: 3 Member
    to answer your question. skim milk counts as fluid but not as water intake, its the same with juices and other drinks, they give your body fluid but not in sufficent amounts, in some cases the added sugar will help to actually dehydrate you. There really is no substitute for plain old water! Sorry!!! I like to add lime juice or lemon juice to my water sometimes, but for the most part I put it in a water bottle and take it every where with me. Then I'm drinking it all day instead of other liquids. Also cold water or ice water burns more cals. because your body has to use energy to heat it up!!!
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    to answer your question. skim milk counts as fluid but not as water intake, its the same with juices and other drinks, they give your body fluid but not in sufficent amounts, in some cases the added sugar will help to actually dehydrate you. There really is no substitute for plain old water! Sorry!!! I like to add lime juice or lemon juice to my water sometimes, but for the most part I put it in a water bottle and take it every where with me. Then I'm drinking it all day instead of other liquids. Also cold water or ice water burns more cals. because your body has to use energy to heat it up!!!

    You dont need pure water, you take in fluids, as "fluids" are 99% water. Your body extracts the water it needs from anything you consume that has a water content. And you're saying sugar dehydrates?! Got any backup for this?
  • Kandygirl
    Kandygirl Posts: 249 Member
    add frozen grapes to water. it adds a little flavor and they are like ice cubes.
  • mes1119
    mes1119 Posts: 1,082 Member
    these daily water questions are killing me, hahaha. Just drink water. It is good for you. Stop trying to make excuses and finding loopholes in the system.

    Personally I have never had a problem drinking water. I love it and find it quite delicious. I carry a 1L water bottle with me everywhere and probably fill it up at least 5 times a day (and that doesn't even include what I drink out of cups at home).
  • rockerbabyy
    rockerbabyy Posts: 2,258 Member
    these daily water questions are killing me, hahaha. Just drink water. It is good for you. Stop trying to make excuses and finding loopholes in the system.
    lol theres no loophole- you really only need 8 cups of liquid a day ...mfp just says water because its the most obvious/healthiest choice :P
    and just fyi im not anti water, i drink at least 64 oz a day myself. but im not gonna dehydrate myself if i replace some with coffee or fruit juice
  • Newf77
    Newf77 Posts: 802 Member
    For me water is water, if I add a chemical enhancer to it then I will log both the water and the chemical enhancer.

    You can add the wedges/juice of almost any fruit, On heavy workout days I will add sports drink {8 oz for every 24 oz}.
  • MoogieOh
    MoogieOh Posts: 141
    squeeze half a lemon into glass of water = lemon water. :) tasty, sweet and refreshing
  • KickassAugust
    KickassAugust Posts: 1,430 Member
    I always answer the water question like this.. is your body made up of 70+% Chrystal Lite, or Skim Milk or Lol.. Bud Lite?

    Nope, nope and nope... Just water! Commit to water, you can do it... your body really wants water, and apparently Bud Lite!!
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    I always answer the water question like this.. is your body made up of 70+% Chrystal Lite, or Skim Milk or Lol.. Bud Lite?

    Nope, nope and nope... Just water! Commit to water, you can do it... your body really wants water, and apparently Bud Lite!!

    Can your body easily extract the water it needs from Crystal Lite, Milk, etc? YES!

    There really is no need to drink copious amounts of pure water...
  • asia_hanebach
    asia_hanebach Posts: 275 Member
    I don't personally add any of those packet things to my water. However, I do count tea as water, since that's essentially what it is. That's mostly because I have trouble getting the right amount of water intake in a day, and the 3-ish mugs of tea that I drink bring me up to enough water.
  • rockerbabyy
    rockerbabyy Posts: 2,258 Member
    I always answer the water question like this.. is your body made up of 70+% Chrystal Lite, or Skim Milk or Lol.. Bud Lite?

    Nope, nope and nope... Just water! Commit to water, you can do it... your body really wants water, and apparently Bud Lite!!
    and what is the main ingredient in crystal light? soda? bud light?
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