The Word on Weightloss

Have you ever had an “ah-ha!” moment and realized that the answer was right under your nose the entire time? What if weight loss was that simple and the fail-safe remedy was right under all of our noses all this time?

Most people say they are carrying around a few more pounds than they’d like to. More often than not, those people are the same ones who say they don’t drink enough water. So I wondered, is water the "magical" weight loss remedy that we’ve overlooked all these years?

Maybe.

For years we’ve all been hearing that we should be drinking 8 glasses of water each day. That’s been the recommendation because all functions within the body require a substantial amount of water to process. A well-hydrated body enables these functions to occur quickly and efficiently. All of our body’s chemical process involve energy metabolism and drinking plenty of water will boost energy and our metabolic rate.

There are many forms of metabolism going on in your body right now, but the one typically mentioned throughout any weight loss program is the metabolism of fat. Our liver’s main function is to convert stored fat to energy. The liver’s other function is to, sometimes, pick up the slack for the kidneys, and interestingly enough they need plenty of water to function properly. When the kidneys are water-deprived, the liver takes over and puts its own job aside. The liver’s job in metabolizing fat then becomes less efficient and effective. By not keeping well-hydrated, you could cause more storage of unnecessary fat.

Drinking water when you’re trying to lose weight is even more important. Studies have show that thirst and hunger sensations are triggered together. Especially with slight dehydration, the thirst mechanism may be mistaken for hunger, causing us to eat when what the body is actually craving is water. So, staying well-hydrated is important in helping keep your hunger and thirst responses separated.

You can do this without drinking gallons of water. Consider:

• all fruits, vegetables
• water-based soups
• low-fat dairy

These foods lower the calorie density of meals without reducing portions.

So how much water a person on a weight loss plan drink daily? A good guide for daily water intake is one ounce of water for every two pounds of body weight. For example a 125-pound person should drink 62.5 ounces of water a day. Add more to the equation and drink through the day if you’re on a weight loss plan.

The fact of the matter still remains. Many people just do not like drinking pure water, and that’s ok. Balance out your minimum water requirement by eating fruit that’s high in water content, such as watermelon. Fruit will help fill up the stomach with low calories and boost your intake of your daily vitamins and minerals.

Have you ever tried drinking water before eating a meal? In a study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, researchers found that people who drank water before meals ate an average of 75 fewer calories during the course of the meal. When you do the math, 75 less calories over lunch and dinner for a whole year equates to 14.5 pounds!

So to recap, here’s a list of the benefits of drinking water:

• regulates appetite
• increases you metabolism (burning fat)
• boosts energy levels
• reduces blood pressure and high cholesterol
• transports nutrients and oxygen into cells
• protects your vital organs