Did you know that drinking water can help you lose weight?
You have probably heard the advice to “drink eight glasses of water a day.” But why do doctors and fitness experts think drinking water is so important?
Well, for one thing, your body needs water to stay healthy. Many people do not drink enough water, and they get partially dehydrated.
Dehydration leads to fatigue, muscle pain, low energy, and excess eating at best. At worst, it can lead to organ failure and death.
Why does water work so well in weight management?
Drinking water can help you to lose weight, can keep us alert & healthy, and make our skin glow. Perhaps more importantly, drinking a lot of water can be a huge asset in weight loss and management of a healthy weight.
One reason that people fail to maintain a healthy weight is that they misinterpret thirst for hunger. Our minds can play tricks on us. It might seem like you are craving tortilla chips when what you really need is a tall glass of water.
People who need to lose weight often need to drink more than the prescribed eight glasses a day. You might need to drink ten to twelve glasses of water a day or even an entire gallon of water a day. Don’t exceed a gallon, however. Excess water drinking, like anything else you do to excess, can cause health complications.
Drinking an adequate quantity of water can dull hunger pangs. Drinking water tricks your brain and stomach into thinking you are full, at least for a short time.
But more importantly, drinking water displaces other beverages that contain excess calories. Sodas like cola and citrusy soft drinks pack a huge number of calories without really taking the edge off your hunger.
The calories in soda come from refined sugar which is fatal to a healthy weight. Refined sugar turns quickly to fat without giving you any stamina. You get short-term bursts of energy from sugar, but often at the cost of sugar crashes, which make us tired and worn out.
If you don’t drink sodas, but you drink a lot of fruit juice, that, too, could be getting in the way of weight loss. Fruit juices, even juices with no added sugar, have lots of stealth calories. Fruit juice needs to be taken in moderation, not more than one or two glasses a week. Substituting water for fruit juice is one of the first things you should do if you are trying to shed pounds.
The best way to incorporate water into your daily regime is to make it a habit. Drinking water should be something you do automatically, like breathing.
Super easy ways to put more water into your day
1. Drink at least one glass of water before every meal and snack and one glass of water with your meals.
Drinking water with meals is easy as we usually put a beverage next to our food anyway when we sit down at the table. Drinking water just before a meal can also help you refrain from eating excessive portions.
2. Carry a water bottle.
Have you ever noticed how skinny people are always carrying a chic looking sports bottle? And not just when they dismount from their ten speeds. They carry water all the time. Do they know something you don’t?
Not anymore! Keeping water at your side at all times is the easiest way to keep drinking water throughout the day. Any kind of water bottle will do, but if you worry about how it will match your outfit, you can buy a myriad of fashion water bottles on Amazon.
3. Keep a gallon of water in your car.
Some people live in their cars. You might have an hour commute to work, or longer. You might be in sales. Whatever the reason, if you spend more than ten hours a week in your car, you need to make sure there is a gallon of water.
It’s a good idea to drink more water and less coffee if you spend a lot of time on the road. Water keeps you alert and focused. Coffee provides only a short-term wakefulness.
4. Keep a gallon of water by your side while you are watching television.
Let’s face it. Most of us sit in front of a screen for many hours a week. For most people, a computer or television is the default entertainment and relaxation.
Whether it’s Netflix, Redbox DVDs, or Adult Swim, binging and hydration should go together. Make raising your water bottle or jug to your face a mindless habit while vegging.
5. Eat foods made mostly of water.
One of the best things about water is that it is free and nearby. You literally have to go no further than your kitchen faucet to get the best weight management tool in the world.
But if you are really having trouble drinking those required eight glasses a day, consider eating foods that are naturally high in water. You can lose weight eating a watermelon and cucumbers are the most water-filled foods. Celery, oranges, tangerines, peaches, and pineapple also have good water content. Add a few of these foods to your diet if you have trouble adding water.
6. Find a bottled water that you think is delicious.
People will try to tell you that all water tastes the same. Those people are probably not drinking enough water.
Depending on where you live, your tap water might taste great, especially if you have a well and not city water. But tap water can be nasty. Between the water softener and other chemicals used in water treatment plants, you might actually get nauseated drinking from the tap. Sometimes putting the tap water in a jug in the refrigerator can help.
But if that fails, there are bottled waters. Bottled distilled or spring water can be quite affordable, and it’s often a cut above what comes from the tap. The name brand waters are pricier. But if you find one that you really love, it’s worth it. And buying a six pack of Dasani won’t break your budget if you are swapping it out for a six pack of coke.
7. Add a teaspoon of fruit juice to your water.
Sometimes all you have to do to make water palatable is add a little lemon or lime juice to it. Sliced citrus is the best, but lemon or lime juice out of a bottle is quicker and tastes just about as good. Lemon and lime water is also effective for weight loss.
8. Limit your alcohol/soft drinks and ask for water.
It might feel weird the first time you ask for water at a restaurant or coffee shop. But getting in the habit of saying, “water, please” can really help you stay healthy and lose weight fast.
9. Replace coffee and tea with water.
If you drink coffee or tea daily and lace it with a lot of sugar and cream, you need a better habit. Ditch the caffeine drink for a big glass or two of cold water. Cold water provides the jolt you need to wake up in the morning.
10. When you have the munchies, drink water.
Humans are most vulnerable to overeating between dinner and bedtime, between breakfast and lunch, and in the long afternoons that seem to stretch out to eternity, especially if you work in an office.
When we are bored or doing something tedious, our minds often trick us into thinking we are hungry. Instead of reaching for a second donut, go for a glass of water. Then wait forty minutes. If you’re really hungry, your stomach will rumble. Otherwise, you probably needed water more than food.
11. Keep a water diary.
It’s a good idea to keep track of how much water you drink during the day. That way, you know whether you’re getting enough of it.
You can keep notes on your water consumption on your phone. Alternatively, you can just keep a liter bottle with you at all times. When you’ve filled it twice and emptied it, you’ve had enough water for that day. A fourth liter will help you even more if you tend to overeat after dinner.
In conclusion, water isn’t just a universal necessity for life. It’s also a great weight loss tool. And it’s a good tool for those who want to prevent putting on more pounds. Drinking water might not seem like the newest or most exciting advice, but it is the most time honored and surest way to take off pounds and keep them off.
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