drinking water and why....

I'm like you, Steelerfan, I'm a purist with my water.  I just have an aftertaste with sugar-free flavored drinks.  So many years ago, I just switched to water, to escape that aftertaste.  I went from hating to drink water to an absolute water drinker...go figure!

I despise the after taste in all but the one brand and single flavor. It's that or nothing. Those are the choices. before crystal lite, I was a 3 mocha a day drinker followed by like a 1/2 gallon of lemonaide. DAILY.  I'm quite surprised I wasn't diabetic.

There are a few sugar free drinks that don't insult my taste buds. Most of them are hot though and involve milk, so they are only an occasional treat. There is a chai tea at a small place here that I'm sure misses my winter business (since being banded). It's made sugar free, and with skim milk. Tastes like warm, liquid pumpkin pie. Now not everyone finds that delicious, but I do.

Crystal Lite cranberry-apple is to die for! I, too, hate to drink water!!

Since we are talking drinks have a question for you ladies.

Do you consider Ice Tea part of your water intake or do you consider that a treat ?

I have been told two different stories.  Some people think that Ice Tea should not be considered as your water intake and the add things you add to your water IE crystal lite.

I have been told nothing but pure water is the best nothing added to it , that is what helps you the most .

I love my ice tea. I can drink a pitcher of that a day so would that count as water intake and just as good for you or you dont count it towards your water ?

Drinking water does get boring but I know me if I make a pitcher of Ice Tea I wont drink nothing but that .

My doc considers it part of my water intake as long as it is decaf! 

I dont do the decaf. So what is the difference between the decaf and the reg ?  Its still mostly water .

Well, I gave regular tea up because of the caffeine. I used to drink a pitcher a day almost so it wasn't fun to give it up..the withdrawal headaches lasted about a week or so.  Decaf tea may not get ALL the caffiene out but most of it.  Here's what I got off the web:

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_good_or_bad_about_caffeine _when_you_are_trying_to_diet

Caffeine is very bad for you, especially if you are trying to lose weight. It is very interesting when I see pages like this where people are constantly trying to defend their unhealthy addictions. Here are just a few reasons why caffeine is bad for weight loss:

 

1. It raises Cortisol levels in the body. Cortisol is a hormone that is responsible for fat storage in the body. I dont think we need any help there. Have you heard of the weight loss product Corti Slim. It basically blocks Cortisol from doing it's worst, storing fat. The guy you hear on the radio and see on TV forgets to tell you that a MAJOR cause of Cortisol production is caffeine. So quit the caffeine and leave the Corti Slim on the shelf.
2. It causes your blood sugar to spike. Then after the caffeine begins to wear off your blood sugar plummets. This causes you to crave sugar. In other words you think your hungry when you're really not. This is obviously counterproductive to your weight loss goal. Have you ever noticed you crave carbs after a cup of coffee. This is why. Your body is tring to get you to eat some carbs to get your blood sugar back to where it should be.
3. The end result of caffeine is really fatigue. After caffeine wears off youare tired. Then you have more caffeine. Then you are tired. Ect... By the end of the day most people who drink coffee are exhausted and they dont know why. This fatigue makes it difficult to exercise which is a one of the most important ways we should be getting our energy.

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_good_or_bad_about_caffeine _when_you_are_trying_to_diet#ixzz1LDrionjM

 I drink a chocolate SlimFast and add 23 grams of protein and some crushed ice for breakfast every morning. Yes, my doctor's office knows I'm doing that. I just don't do breakfast very well.

But I asked the nutritionist at the doctor's office last week if that counted as my liquid, and he said yes. He said it was mostly water and I could count it.

My doctor's office counts ice tea and Crystal Lite as water.

For what it's worth.

Very good description Tiff!  I'm going back on the 3 20 oz bottle program that helped me lose the weight starting today. 

Thanks!

Lisa O.