Learn More About Hydration And Weight Loss
Water and hydration plays an integral part in how an individual will lose weight
. In fact, it is one of the biggest secrets of weight loss that is not well publicized or well known. Can you guess why? Water is free!
Our bodies are made out of 60% water. Any fluctuation in our hydration can change the numbers on the bathroom scale. In fact, many of today's bodybuilders who participate in competitions become purposefully dehydrated in the hours before the competition in order to make their muscles appear more defined.
But water also plays other roles. For instance, by maintaining adequate hydration you actually decrease the amount of fluid retention that your body experiences. This means that with just a slight amount of dehydration your body starts to hang onto more water and you begin to feel bloated. By drinking at least 96 ounces of water per day your body will not hang onto extra fluid and you will excrete the proper amount of fluid.
Another benefit to drinking water is that it drastically decreases your appetite. An interesting detail about body metabolism is that the first thing an individual will feel when they start to become slightly dehydrated is actually hunger and not thirst. Once an individual begins to feel thirsty they are well into a negative water balance in their body. This is why we should all be drinking water before we feel thirsty and not waiting until we feel thirsty.
By maintaining adequate hydration we also increase the amount of fat used for energy in the body and we improve the ability of our liver and kidneys to function. One duty of the liver is to assist in the filtration system of the blood which can only be done adequately when there is plenty of water to work with. When the kidneys are deprived of fluid the liver has to increase the amount of work it does which lowers total productivity. Believe it or not, this sets the body up to store more calories as fat.
It seems like such a simple thing to do and yet most of us do not maintain an adequate amount of hydration every single day. Hydration and water is the magic potion for losing excess body fat and is definitely one of the best-kept secrets in the weight loss industry.
Although some of the recent research shows that caffeine will increase the body fat burning potential it also is a diuretic. This means that it helps the body to lose more water and become dehydrated. This increases heart rate, but also what does it at the expense of muscles which require water to function properly.
It's important to drink the water spread throughout the day. It is not healthy to drink all the water at one time just as it is not healthy to cut back on the amount of water you drink. Try to pick three or four times a day when you drink large glasses of water and then sipped water in between. If you feel yourself getting thirsty you've already become dehydrated. You must condition yourself to drink even when you're not thirsty.
Some people find that drinking large amounts of water is boring. While drinking other fluids may help to hydrate the body it also adds extra calories, sugar and additives. Instead, try making your own fruit water by adding a slice of lemon, lime or flavoring your water with small amounts of berry juice.
Once you have rid yourselves of all of the excess stored water in your system your body will also begin to work more effectively and efficiently. It improves your muscle tone making your workouts more effective and plumps your skin to give you a more youthful appearance.
Do not forget to stop drinking water at least two to three hours before going to bed. Unless you have a real desire to be up all my long running to the bathroom you should adjust your drinking habits so that they start early in the morning and stop three hours prior to bedtime.
by: Bjoern North
What Is The Difference Between Weight Loss And Dieting Combat Ibs With A Good Diet How To Really Lose Weight - Learn The Weight Loss Secrets Medifast Diet Review: Perceive The Reality About This Superior Diet Plan Cannot Lose Weight? 5 Ways You Can. The Diet Diary: An Easy Tool For Weight Loss A Guide To Diet And Weight Loss Books How To Accomplish The Quickest Weight Loss Possible...here Is How FDA to Dieters: Stop Using Hydroxycut Steps To Take If Not Losing Weight Until Now The Use Of Diet For Weight Loss...how Effective Can It Be? Losing Weight Most Effectively How To Lose Weight In A Week