Weight-Loss Importance of water in a weightloss diet

Weight-Loss

Eddie_C

New member
I was just wondering the importance of water in a diet, obviously we need it to stay alive, and from dehydrating, but what does it really do from a weight loss perspective. I've read it cleanses your system, but really, what does that mean, how does that help me lose weight?

Also what is to little/to much as far as water, not to the extremes of 1 glass a day or 5 gallons a day, but what should I be drinking? I currently carry a 1 gallon jug with me every day, and finish it before I go to bed, the only other thing I drink usually is a cup or two of iced tea with sweetener and not sugar in it for lunch.
 
A gallon of water a day is plenty. I mean 8 glasses of water a day is the number that we are "supposed" to have. That includes water from food and stuff though (also other beverages, like iced tea.)

You don't really need that much though. I think you retain water if you aren't getting enough. Also, if your diet is high in protein it will help against kidney stones (so I was told by a non expert, no idea on the accuracy of that).
 
i talked to my Doc. today about taking all these protein shakes and kidney stones since i have a history, and he said it shouldn't cause stones. Calcium is the main thing that causes stones. :hurray:
 
I know that when I don't drink enough water, weight loss becomes more difficult. The more I drink the better I feel and the more I lose.

Keep in mind though that water toxicosis is possible, so don't drink yourself to death. :piggy:
 
i talked to my Doc. today about taking all these protein shakes and kidney stones since i have a history, and he said it shouldn't cause stones. Calcium is the main thing that causes stones. :hurray:

Good to know, thanks! Its a relief. I have never had them, but have friends who have. I don't want to get up from dinner to go relieve myself and pee blood all over a urinal. Ever.
 
You need to drink about 6-8 glasses of water a day. It's not possible to drink too much water - once you've had enough (gallons) you'd get sick as your stomach would expel it.

Water has a lot of benefits for the body which is why it must stay hydrated:

The majority of bodily functions involve water, blood, cells etc. so lack of water causes the body system's operations to decrease its speed.

Drinking enough water every day will ensure that your metabolism is running up to speed.

Since weight loss depends on how the body eliminates body wastes, the body must stay hydrated. When you eat lots of fruits and veggies you are consuming lots of fiber which does not break down in the body. Your body gets all the nutrients but there is a lot of waste. By drinking lots of water you are helping to 'push' that waste through the sytem which may result in seeing an increase in the amount of times you visit the bathroom to 'evacuate' it. Not many people tell you that bit! :blush5:

If you haven't enough water in your system when you start an exercise routine or workout you'll find yourself quickly dehydrated. You could have a glass of fresh orange juice about 15 minutes before exercise as this will boost your system and you will be able to sustain your energy levels.

Just as your body stores fat for the “lean times,” your body stores water for the “dry times.”

It also acts as an appetite suppressant.

Hope that helps!
 
Don't worry about counting the exact measure of water daily just make sure you drink more regulalry throughout the day. You will know if you are drinking enough or not enough. Best tip is to leave a large bottle of water on your desk and have glasses throughout the day but no need to overdo it.
 
Drinking Water May Speed Weight Loss
Metabolic Rate Increases Slightly With Water Consumption
By Salynn Boyles
WebMD Health News

Jan. 5, 2004 -- Whether your weight-loss strategy espouses carbs with no fat or protein with few carbs, there is one thing your plan most certainly recommends -- water. From the veggie-based Ornish diet to steak-loving Atkins (and virtually all diets in between) "drink lots of water" is part of the mantra.

Now comes scientific evidence that H2O really does help you lose weight. Researchers in Germany report that water consumption increases the rate at which people burn calories. The impact is modest and the findings are preliminary, but the researchers say their study could have important implications for weight-control programs.
Eight Glasses a Day

Despite the fact that most diets call for drinking at least eight, 8-ounce glasses of water a day, few studies have been done to determine if the practice actually speeds weight loss. In an effort to answer this question, Michael Boschmann, MD, and colleagues from Berlin's Franz-Volhard Clinical Research Center tracked energy expenditures among seven men and seven women who were healthy and not overweight.

After drinking approximately 17 ounces of water, the subjects' metabolic rates -- or the rate at which calories are burned -- increased by 30% for both men and women. The increases occurred within 10 minutes of water consumption and reached a maximum after about 30 to 40 minutes.

The study also showed that the increase in metabolic rate differed in men and women. In men, burning more fat fueled the increase in metabolism, whereas in women, an increased breakdown of carbohydrates caused the increase in metabolism seen.

The researchers estimate that over the course of a year, a person who increases his water consumption by 1.5 liters a day would burn an extra 17,400 calories, for a weight loss of approximately five pounds. They note that up to 40% of the increase in calorie burning is caused by the body's attempt to heat the ingested water. The findings are reported in the December issue of The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
"Very, Very Small Effect"

The researchers write that up to 70% of the increase in metabolism, "cannot be attributed to the heating of the ingested water," but exercise physiologist Daniel Moser, PhD, tells WebMD that it is unclear from this small study if this is the case.

"Larger studies are clearly needed to confirm this extremely modest weight-loss effect," he tells WebMD.

Nutritionist and American Dietetic Association spokeswoman Leslie Bonci, MPH-RD, says even if the findings are confirmed the clinical implications are slight.

"Obviously people are looking for ways to increase metabolism, but this is an very, very, small effect," she tells WebMD. "We are talking about just a few calories a day."

Bonci says the standard weight-loss plan dictates encouraging people to drink more water stems from the belief that the liquid fills the gut to make people feel fuller.

"Some plans say that drinking water flushes fat out of your system, which is absolutely ridiculous," she says.
 
"Some plans say that drinking water flushes fat out of your system, which is absolutely ridiculous," she says.

If only...
 
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