I have heard all my life, drink water. For years, I heard drink liquids. Can someone tell me why it has to be water?

Water really is best but if you can't stomach water then a S/F product is not bad.

If you drink juice the sugar makes your pancreas kick in. If you drink coffee/tea the caffeine makes your heart work harder. If you drink S/F soda the carbonation tends to make people lose bone mass and carbonation isn't great for your banded stomach either.

Some people still react to S/F products, it makes them hungry, thirsty, gives some diarrhea, etc. Water is best but S/F products are a 2nd best if the sweeteners don't get to you.

The reason you need extra water during the weight loss phase is that when you burn fat it turns into various chemicals that are released from the body mostly through urine. So you want to flush out your kidneys due to these chemicals.

Great answer WaSaBubbleButt!

The only thing I can add is hydration is best with water...cells can use it more redily...but that goes with the above post.

I quit drinking soda in Aug. and I only drink about 2 glasses of water a day but I have about 4-6 cups of green tea. What do you think about green tea?

Thanks, I should of mentioned I drink only sugar free products as I am a diabetic. I wake up with cotton mouth often now. Never had that happen before. I drink a lot of diet soft drinks.