Water --
The Weight Loss Miracle!
Groan...
not another article about water! Yes, you've probably heard enough
about the wondrous fat-burning powers of this plentiful element.
Nonetheless, there are a billion good reasons why you should immediately
start consuming 8-10 10oz glasses per day (that's between 2-3 liters
a day for those of you familiar with the metric system).
The
most important reason? Adequate water consumption really provides
the foundation for any good weight loss program... no matter what
that program is! It's probably the most-overlooked and underrated
weight loss strategy there is!
And
what's the best part?
It's
cheap, safe, readily available, delicious, and totally free of side-effects.
Perfect - no need to spend big dollars on moderately-effective supplements!
So...
Why
IS adequate water consumption the foundation of a good weight loss
program?
Actually,
adequate consumption is a LOT more than that, it's the foundation
of a healthy lifestyle. It's pivotal in a variety of critical bodily
processes like...
o
regulating body temperature
o
lubricating the joints
o
nutrient transportation
o
removal of various waste materials from the body
o
ensuring proper digestion
o
maintaining healthy skin tone
And
as far as benefits pertaining *directly* to weight loss?...
o
water maintains and encourages proper kidney function, which increases
the efficiency of the liver's fat burning ability.
o
it also acts as an appetite suppressant -- people on diets who do
not increase their water intake are generally much hungrier than
those who do!
o
water intake reduces water retention -- yes, believe it or not.
If your body is deprived of water, it is more likely to hold onto
what little it has. On the other hand, increasing your water intake
will cause your body to stop hoarding its limited supplies. It's
not unheard of for people to lose 3-4 lbs. of weight shortly after
increasing their water intake.
o
helps the body function at its most optimal level, which means its
much easier to burn unwanted fat.
Note:
It's important to note that when I say water, I don't mean pop,
juice, tea, coffee, diet pop, or anything else you can thing of...
Tea
and coffee contain caffeine, which has a dehydrating effect, pop
and juices are full of sugar, and diet pops are full of chemical
sweeteners which may prove to be hazardous to your health.
Water...
just plain old H2O.
With
that said, why isn't everybody drinking enough?
Well
for one, I suspect that because it's such an unassuming liquid (no
magic ingredients of any sort:), that it's hard to imagine it having
such dramatic effects.
Other
reasons?
Some
people don't like the taste. Others are afraid they'll be fired
from their jobs if they need to use the washroom every 20 minutes.
There are all kinds of reasons.
However,
I'll make you a promise...
If
you make a concerted effort to get through 2 of those 1.5 liter
(50 oz) bottles a day for the next 3-4 days, I guarantee you WILL
feel substantially better.
Because
unless you are currently taking in that much water, there's a 99.9%
chance that you are dehydrated NOW! Here's what's really cool about
this...
Because
most of us have never been fully hydrated, we don't recognize that
how we feel *right now, at this minute* is a result of water deprivation
-- after all, we've felt this way for years, right?
Exactly.
But
if you make an effort to drink those two bottles a day for a minimum
of 3-5 days, you will notice an amazing difference, especially if
you stop abruptly after those few days.
Believe
me... it really opened my eyes, and I guarantee it will do the same
for you!
Even
if you don't like the taste of water, I strongly urge you to try
this!
Tips:
How to Drink Your 80-100 oz of Water Daily!
First
off -- this seems like a lot, but it isn't really (I've managed
to drink 2X that -- or 4 X 1.5 liter bottles in a single day). Believe
me, it's easy to do... if you are organized, and start early in
the day.
Here's
some tips that help keep me on track...
o
Every evening, I like to make sure I've got a couple of bottles
tucked away in the fridge so I can start the next day with ice-cold
water. Lukewarm water is much harder to drink.
o
For some unknown reason, I find it easier to consume my daily allotment
if I drink it directly out of the bottle, and not from a glass.
No idea why this is, but give it a try and see if it helps.
o
I like to make sure my daily allotment is readily at hand. Like
everything else, prepare for your success!
o
If you'd like a nice long *uninterrupted* night's sleep, gradually
drop off your consumption in the evening. ;-)
o
Sip away at your water like you would anything else. Forget about
how much you have to drink, just drink!
Oh,
and just one more thing...
Wait
until the weekend before you start this, and don't attempt if you
have to drive anywhere. Believe me -- initially, you will require
more frequent bathroom breaks. Don't worry though -- things will
settle down after a couple of days.
Water...
It's not just for swimming in!
Get
drinking! :-)
**Note**
This article was adapted from the one sent out in our Fat-Bustin'
eZine on Nov 7, 2001. If you'd like to receive articles like this
in your mailbox, just use
this link!
