| The Most Under-Rated Aspect of Weight Loss! |  |
If I were asked, "what is the most difficult thing many people find
to do when they start a weight-loss program?", I would have to say
right near the top of the list is this – they don't drink enough
water!
Few people realise 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 can't
live without water, but just why is it so important? Well there are
many reasons. Read on and discover why water can help your loss
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 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 you 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 over eating. You
brain does not differentiate between hunger and thirst. So, when you
think you are feeling hungry, your body may in fact be signalling 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 the 6-8 glasses 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 1 litre 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, honey dew. 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 a 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 favourite fruit juice for flavour.
· 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 you body isn't used to being well
hydrated.
There is absolutely is 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's the really exciting part…many people notice a reduction in
weight and centimetres, as their body's water store 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. It's part of the body's in-built survival mechanism –
to store up the essential nutrients in short supply…just in case they
aren't available in the future. So if you don't drink enough water,
you are "conditioning' your body to store water. And water is bulk
and unwanted centimetres.
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
recognise 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/fatigue. If you body can't 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 litres 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's known as diuretics as they cause your body to
dehydrate. You will do your body an enormous favour 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!
Kim Beardsmore, B.Sc, MBA is a successful weight loss consultant.
To see what you can do today to take control of your weight, visit
her website at http://leanmachine.org/?refid=ideaH2O-12582
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