If I were asked what is the most difficult thing many people find when they start a weight-loss program, I would have to say right near the top is this…drinking enough water!
Few people realize at first just how essential water is to the success of their weight-loss program. In fact, the essential place of water in our diet extends to everyone…whether they want to lose weight, gain weight or stay the same weight! We all know we cannot live without water, but just why is it so important? Well, there are many reasons. Read on and discover why water can help you lose weight and why it is your essential life force…
Apart from 60-70% of your body being composed of water, water has an extensive range of functions essential to life.
· Assists digestion, absorption, and assimilation of food. If you don’t drink enough water you can’t get the full benefit of nutrients in the food you eat.
· Assists excretion of waste from the bowel and kidneys. If you don’t drink enough water you get constipated and put your kidneys under stress.
· Regulates body temperature. If you don’t drink enough water you compromise the evaporation process your skin uses to keep you cool.
· Your blood is 92% water. This is your body’s transport system distributing nutrients around the body.
· Body secretions and digestive juices are almost entirely water.
Why should you drink water when you want to lose weight?
Water is a natural appetite suppressant. Do NOT underestimate the power of this statement. Lack of water can lead to overeating. Your brain does not differentiate between hunger and thirst. So, when you think you are feeling hungry, your body may in fact be signaling to you that you are thirsty! If you are not consuming enough water each day and you feel hunger pains, chances are, your body really is crying out for water. In many instances, people will find what they thought were hunger pangs were in fact, satisfied by water. Try it! You have nothing to lose, except some weight.
How do you know whether you are drinking enough water each day? Well, the answer is not difficult. The average person needs around 6-8 large glasses every day.
Well then, how should you drink 6-8 liters per day? The aim is to drink water consistently. If you drink too much all at once or too fast, it will simply pass through you, with little or no benefit to your body.
If you are someone who enjoys the taste of water, then perhaps you could fill a one-liter empty soft drink container with water the drink through it twice during the day. Room temperature or cold water, even warm as some people like…whatever you prefer. Place it on the desk at work in front of you as a constant reminder to sip continuously throughout the day.
Other people find they need a water diet to help them keep on track. So for you, here is a program easily followed to ensure you are well-hydrated every single day.
· When you wake up you will often be thirsty because your body loses water while you are sleeping through breathing and perspiration. Drink a large glass of water with a slice of lemon for zing.
· Drink another glass of water with breakfast or a cup of herbal tea before setting off the day.
· Mid-morning: snack on a piece of juicy fruit such as orange, rockmelon, watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew. Have a glass of water and perhaps try a dash of herbal aloe juice, which is wonderfully soothing to the digestive system.
· Lunch: think of soup or have a glass of water before your meal, or perhaps herbal tea.
· Mid-afternoon: while you are preparing your evening meal, drink a glass of water and snack on some crunchy fresh vegetables.
· Evening: Sip a glass of water before your meal with a dash of your favorite fruit juice for flavor.
· After dinner: before bedtime drink your final glass of water and sleep well!
A few changes will happen when you start out with your water program. Obviously, you may find that you need to spend a penny more often. Why? Because your body isn’t used to being well-hydrated.
There is absolutely no doubt about it. When you start drinking enough water regularly, there are great benefits. You may notice your skin significantly improve and even tired muscles will thank you. Many people find their energy is increased and constipation and headaches are reduced, as well as hunger pains.
Now here is the really exciting part…many people notice a reduction in weight and centimeters, as their body’s water stores become redundant and so decrease. If your diet has been one that did not provide you with adequate water, your body will have developed a pattern of storing water. This is part of the body’s in-built survival mechanism, storing up the essential nutrients in short supply, just in case they aren’t available in the future. So if you dont drink enough water, you are conditioning your body to store water. And water is bulk and unwanted centimeters.
It’s so simple…drink water! 6-8 large glasses a day.
How do you know if you are not getting enough water each day? This is a really important question because so many of us have deprived ourselves of water for years that we have become accustomed to doing without the full amount of water our body requires and we don’t recognize the symptoms of thirst.
· The most common symptom is headaches. A major function of water is to flush toxins from the body. Your brain is 75% water, so even being slightly dehydrated can cause headaches.
· Poor concentration and fatigue. If your body cannot get rid of the toxins it will struggle and you will feel less energetic as your body diverts energy to deal with the toxins.
· Constipation. Your body will divert water to more essential functions and as a result, your stools will be harder and more difficult to expel.
· Reduced urine output or dark urine. Did you know that up to 200 liters of water is passed through your kidneys daily? Without a fresh supply of water for the kidneys to filter waste products out of the blood, your urine will become darker.
· Furry tongue or bad breath. If you don’t have enough water passing through the mouth to wash away food particles, bacteria can proliferate and result in that furry feeling or bad breath.
· Skin. Your skin should feel elastic. When you pinch the skin on the back of your hand it should snap back instantly.
Final thoughts. Caffeinated drinks cause the body to lose water. They are what are known as diuretics as they cause your body to dehydrate. You will do your body an enormous favor by cutting back. For every cup of coffee you drink you will need to drink another TWO glasses of water to counter the diuretic effect. Explore the world of herbal teas instead, you may be pleasantly surprised!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kim Beardsmore is a successful wellness consultant. She helps men and women lose weight safely ensuring their energy levels stay high.
