quote:

I can't quote the actual studies but I know I've read that the mind cannot distinguish between the two.

I've confused thirst and hungr... but I don't think that eating something when thrirsty was a significant part of my weight gain or a significant factor in slowing my weight loss.

I've never been a sugar drink person... So never had the issue of drinking a lot of my calories, (other than half and half in my coffee...)

Me personally, counting glasses of water does nothing for my weight... either positively or negatively.

I think if that is the only baby step a person did... I don't think that they would lose a whole lot of weight... unless they are drinking a lot of calories and replace them with plain water.

I think that for some people, drinking water is part of a whole mind set of, "OK... now I'm on track... I'm having cereal for breakfast... going to make a better choice at lunch... drinking my water..."

And I DO think that getting enough water is healthy. dh doesn't drink enough, and he gets headaches and such from it. But his food choices explain his being overweight... and he doesn't drink sugar soda. He drinks diet. But he drinks it with an egg and tuna salad sandwich from the deli. He could buy a bottle of water instead of diet soda... but it wouldn't cut his calories or weight.

Drinking Water During Workouts
The Advantage of Watered Down Exercising
-- By Zach Van Hart, Staff Writer

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Welcome to Sweating 101. Question #1 – During one hour of vigorous exercise, how much does the average person sweat?
A. One tablespoon
B. One cup
C. One pint
D. One quart
Okay, pencils down. For all of those who answered D., congrats! To everyone else, better luck next time.

That’s right – one quart! As you can see, exercise saps a lot of water from our bodies. That’s why it’s very important to drink even more water while exercising. However, drinking water before and after exercise is just as important.

Start paying attention to your fluid intake 2-3 hours before you are going to exercise. Drink 2-3 cups of water during that time, and then drink another cup immediately before you start exercising.

Without this extra water, your muscles will become dehydrated. Muscle movement depends on how hydrated you are, so if they are dry, they will not work as well. As a result, your workout will not be as productive as you would like.

Once you start exercising, keep drinking water frequently. A good rule of thumb is to drink one cup every 15-20 minutes. Keep a water bottle with you. Take breaks to head to the water cooler. Do what it takes you keep yourself hydrated.

Even when you are done exercising, you need to keep replenishing your fluid levels. It’s recommended you drink another 2-3 cups within two hours after you have finished. Then drink water regularly afterwards.

The more you drink before, during, and after exercise, the more productive your workout will be. Do your body a favor and replenish that quart of fluids your body is losing while you work out. Your muscles will thank you later.

I didn't used to drink water until my kids started playing competitive soccer, well before my loosing weight days. I learned so much from their coach and trainer about the helps of water in their muscles, playing ability and just plain health. YES, I do think that water plays a very important part of health. If nothing else it flushes the bad things out of our systems. I don't go overboard, although I do purchase our water, our city water is so bad, it's undrinkable.
But I have to be very careful NOT to get more than 64 ounces a day, because of my HBP....it can wash all the meds right out of my system and that's not good. Keeping hydrated will help with digestion and the munchies..and on warmer days or after workouts, you have to replace that water you have lost....
I guess I don't understand why people would think that water doesn't play a role, but to each his own I guess.