[asking79]

You're very right! Water is VERY important. If you are drinking bottled water try to get water purified by Reverse Osmosis as it removes a bulk of the chemicals in water which is better for you!

Coffee, Kool-Aid, Tea and all that, though it is made with water, does NOT count as water. Exactly as it was put earlier, caffeine is a diuretic and therefore can cause dehydration. Though it can be ok, only in moderation. Also you must remember that you have to have a certain amount of sodium to help retain some of the water, but not too much because you don't want to retain too much water. Too much water drank, can be a bad idea, too. I've heard that a more accurate amount of water is half your weight in ounces rather than 10- 8 oz glasses. Also if you sweat a lot, you can sweat as much as one liter an hour, which means you need even more water!

Also if you drink alcohol, you should drink 1 - 8 oz glass of water for every serving. A serving is a 12 oz beer, or a 1.5 oz shot, a glass of wine, etc. The water should be drank in between servings, but definitely before you pass out! So if you drink a twelve pack on friday night, it would be easier to drink a glass in between beers than 96 oz of water after you're done, plus if you vomit you'll need even more water. Also the water will help you from vomiting and a piece of bread before and after drinking absorbs excess alcohol and helps reduce the risk of hangover and vomiting. Just a little tip I picked up a while back. :)

Stay hydrated!