Crystal light (theres a poll in here)
 

Since I have started counting Calories I have been drinking a lot of crystal light, its only 5 cals a serving and tastes pretty decent. My question is do any of you that use it count it towards your water intake for the day? pretty simple question that I was wondering about so I shall keep this post short. Thanks

As Ever
Me

I don't like Crystal Light because if I remember right, it has artificial sweeteners in it. But if I did drink it I would def. count it!

I don't drink it because of the artificial sweeteners either, but I think it's okay to count it. I used to drink a lot of barley tea (unsweetened~it's naturally sweet) and I counted that.

Ok this will be fun...

I count it towards the water, basically because I down it in my cup 52oz cup. The only thing that goes in there is water or Crystal Light. As for what the person above me said, yes it has artificial sweeteners in it, though so does everything else we drink except water or we can go the route of regular sweeteners and how the erode your bodies makeup. We have high fruitose corn syrup or aspartyne. I know the effects of both first hand and unless you down 3 12packs of diet pop like I did a day for 90 or more days, I fell a lot safer with the diet drinks. (smiles) Hi (waiving hand)

I don't drink it only because I'm picky and it's not enough flavor for me, but if I did, I would count it. Why wouldn't you? Whether there are other ingredients mixed in or not, it's still mostly water.

What I do enjoy instead of plain water is mixing in a little pure cranberry juice (not from concentrate, no sweeteners or other juices added at all). It doesn't take much for the flavor--I use about 1/3 cup juice to a 32oz bottle of water. I still count it as water (and try to remember to include the calories in my plan, too!).

In a similar vein, should I count seltzer? I haven't been counting it thus far...

I WISH I could drink crystal light.. it makes water 1000x easier to drink but I don't believe in all the artificial junk it is created from.

Some people do count seltzer, flavored waters, even other beverages like diet sodas etc., toward their "water" for the day. I try only to count "water" because my doctor told me to do that. But, the important thing is that you are getting enough fluids. :)

Jay

Yeah, that was my thinking too - only water should get counted. I just started drinking seltzer a week or two ago, but already I want to stop because it just doesn't feel as pure as "real water." I get a kind that's all-natural and 0 cal, but still...

I would count it!

What is with the artifical sweetner ban? What am I missing?

There are many threads on here about artificial sweeteners! I suggest you do a search. People seem to either use them and see no problem with them or avoid them like the plague.

Some people opt not to use artificial sweeteners for various health reasons, or other personal reasons. I can't use Crystal Light, for example, because I have a severe sensitivity to aspartame. I can, though, use Splenda, and do in moderation. When I drink something artificially sweetened, I don't count it toward my water, but that is only because I don't really drink it all that often. I don't count other things I drink, like coffee, either...just water.

I DO, though, count carbonated waters (I drink some mineral waters that are fabulous, and they are essentially naturally bubbly water, so I count them as water).

Interesting how we all vary!

If I use crystals at all (I've been using lemon juice lately), I usually just use no name sugar free crystals from my grocery store, since they cost less then Crystal Light, and they taste the same.

It's just sugar free juice crystals in water, so I definately count them toward my water intake. I also count tea.

Sometimes it can be hard for me to get my full intake of water or to choose it instead of diet pop, because it seems boring. Juice crystals help me stay healthy by making sure that I get enough water per day. I do try to stick to just one a day, because any more then that gives me a headache.

Where d you get actual juice crystals? Thats scary that juice crystals give you headaches! :(