I found that drinking water with your dinner not only saves money (tea or soda costs like $2.50 ea.), it also takes away unnecessary sugar from my diet! I really didn't miss it that much either, because the food is so good when I eat out.

It's not being cheap... it's being healthy!!!

Any other ideas?

I agree! Why drink your calories? Personally I'd rather eat my calories than drink them! Water is the best and FREE!!!

Did you know that drinking too much soda can increase the risk of diabetes and obesity. Soda is filled with sugar and people who drink sugary soft drinks do not appear to compensate by reducing calories somewhere else in their diets, so they tend to pack on extra pounds. Give water a try! Soda is an easy first thing to try giving up if you are looking to cut unnecessary foods/drinks out of your diet.

Well, I don't know, but they have to put something in the diet soda to make it taste sweet and yummy! I don't know what they put in it, but it can't be good for you! Can it???

I heard on the radio the other day that putting lemon in your water actually helps you burn calories!! If you like lemon you should do that!! I thought to myself, I hate lemon in my water... so I won't be doing that! They also said hot sauces burn much more calories than sauces that aren't hot.

Wow, I just read some interesting information about aspartame. Apparently, if you are trying to lose weight, you should not drink diet sodas. It actually will make you more hungry. I read that people who drink diet drinks and eat diet food will get more hungry. The FDA no longer allows manufacturers of diet supplement drinks and foods containing aspartame to label them as weight reduction products. They are required to be labeled as diet drink or diet food. A study evaluated by the Centers for Disease Control found that of 80,000 women who used sweeteners, most gained weight rather than lost weight using the artificial sweeteners.

I drink water with slice or two of lemon with a couple of Splenda. Its like drinking lemonaide for free!

I always drank soda with meals too, and now I drink water instead. I thought I would never be able to drink water with a meal instead of my pop. I'm just like Kellie, I really don't like water. But now I force myself to drink 8 glasses a day. I wish I liked lemon in it, but I don't, so I will just drink it plain. But your slice or two of lemon with a couple of Splenda does sound kinda good.

I love water, so it is pretty easy for me to not drink soda. I still don't think I get 8 glasses a day in though... I need to work on that! Sometimes it is hard to drink when you are not thirsty!

I actually just went and did some research. I read that it is a general rule of thumb to drink 8-10 glasses of water a day, but we don't necessarily need to drink that much on a daily basis. To remain healthy we need to take in enough water to replace the amount we lose daily through excretion, perspiration, and other bodily functions, but that amount can vary widely from person to person. The factors vary depending on age, physical condition, activity level, and climate. The 8-10 glasses of water per day is a guide, not an absolute minimum... and not of all of our water intake needs to come in the form of drinking water.

On a CBS news report, they stated that researchers looked at all of the studies out there and found no evidence that drinking lots of water has lots of benefits.

Some people say water has a ton of benefits and then others like the CBS news report, say they found no evidence that it has any. I just don't know what to believe. All I know is, water is definitlely better to drink than a sugar loaded soda pop! Any body else have any insight on the drinking 8 glasses of water topic?

I found this on the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) - August 20, 2007 - ct.water.usgs.gov and the AdvanceMed Hanford - Occupational Health Services - hanford.gov - vpp.pnl.gov - cdc.gov --

How Long Can a Person Live Without Food?
More than a month.

How Long Can a Person Live Without Water?
Approximately one week, depending upon conditions.

How Much Water Must a Person Consume Per Day to Maintain Health?
2.5 quarts from all sources - water, food - you can get some fluid through the foods you eat, for example, broth soups and other foods that are 85% to 95% water such as celery, tomatoes, oranges, and melons.

How Much of the Human Body is Water?
66 percent. Water is essential for your body because it is in every cell, tissue, and organ in your body. Under normal conditions, most healthy people meet their fluid needs by drinking when thirsty and drinking fluids with meals. But don't rely on your thirst, thirst is not an accurate measure of the body's need for fluid. Generally, the thirst sensation doesn't occur until after you are slightly dehydrated. If you're outside in hot weather for most of the day or doing vigorous physical activity, you'll need to make an effort to drink more fluids.

Why You Need to Drink Enough Water Every Day
You need water to replace what your body loses through normal everyday functions. You lose water when you go to the bathroom or sweat, but you even lose small amounts of water when you exhale. You need to replace this lost water to prevent dehydration. Your body also needs more water when you are:

In hot climates.
More physically active.
Running a fever.
Having diarrhea or vomiting.

To help you stay hydrated during prolonged physical activity or when it is hot outside, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 recommend these two steps:
Drink fluid while doing the activity.
Drink several glasses of water or other fluid after the physical activity is completed.
Also, when you are participating in vigorous physical activity, it's important to drink before you even feel thirsty.
Thirst is a signal that your body is on the way to dehydration.

Drink More Water
In order for our body to function properly we need an average of 6 - 10 cups of water daily. However, there are many factors that may influence the exact amount of water your body requires such as: age, gender, temperature, medications, activity and humidity level.

A good indicator that you are getting enough water and that you are properly hydrated is the color and frequency of urination. If it is nearly clear, you are doing a great job!

Benefits of Drinking Water:
Flushes out toxins through urination, perspiration, and bowel movements.
Maintains skins elasticity.
Lubricates and cushions joints and muscles.
Protects your spinal cord and other sensitive tissues.
Prevents constipation.
Regulates body temperature.
Gives you energy.
Regulates metabolism.
Aids in digestion.
Helps prevent kidney stones.
Reduces bladder, kidney and urinary tract infections.
Aids in weight loss.

Tips to Increase Your Water Intake:
Track your daily water intake for a few days to determine how much water you are actually getting.
Carry a water bottle for easy access when you are at work or running errands.
Freeze some freezer safe water bottles. Take one with you for ice cold water all day long.
Keep a glass or cup of water next to you when you are sitting down for long periods of time.
Choose water instead of sugar sweetened beverages. This tip can also help with weight management.
Substituting water for one 20 ounce sugar sweetened soda will save you about 240 calories.
Choose water instead of other beverages when eating out. Generally, you will save money and reduce calories.
Give your water a little pizzazz by adding a wedge of lemon or lime. This may improve the taste, and you just might drink more water than you usually do.

Do Sugar Sweetened Beverages Count?
Although beverages that are sweetened with sugars do provide water, they usually have more calories than unsweetened beverages. To help with weight control, you should consume beverages and foods that don't have added sugars.

Examples of Beverages With Added Sugars:
Fruit drinks.
Some sports drinks.
Soft drinks and sodas (non-diet).

Can You Drink Too Much Water?
It is rare, but you can drink too much water. Drinking too much can cause serious health conditions. If you have a history of kidney problems or other serious medical conditions check with your physician. Some people may have fluid restrictions because of a health problem, such as kidney disease. If your healthcare provider has told you to restrict your fluid intake, be sure to follow that advice.

Thanks for the info Ziggy...

I agree that Water is cool... unless it's warm... but it is still on the top of my list of favorite elements... followed closely by fire!

All joking aside, a lot of us are not used to drinking enough water during the day. I have a friend who takes a big water bottle to work everyday and drinks the entire thing... Maybe by just taking the water with you it will encourage you to drink it at work... after all, who wants to carry a heavy water bottle home after work... drink it so it is lighter at the end of the day!!!