Losing weight is all about changing habits and making lifestyle changes. Some of them are harder, like changing your entire menu, while others are easier, such as finding ways to increase your activity, even if it’s just taking the stairs. Drinking water can be one of those simple ways. In fact, it’s far simpler than even parking further from the store and walking more. (Although it can really help if you do both!) How can drinking water help you shed pounds?
Ask for water instead of a soft drink or alcoholic beverage.
One of the easiest ways is drinking more water. If you simply drank water instead of drinking a higher calorie drink, like cola, you’ll cut back on calories immediately. If you drink a can of cola just once a day, it can save you 100 calories. Since it takes a deficit of 3500 calories to lose a pound, you could lose a pound in 35 days by making the switch and it wouldn’t require much thought or work to do. Don’t try substituting it for sugar free diet drinks. New studies show that drinking sugar free drinks may put inches on your midsection. That’s visceral fat, the worst type of fat and the hardest to lose.
If you’re thirsty, you can mistake it for hunger.
Your body sends your brain millions of messages every day. Sometimes those messages are misinterpreted. Have you ever stood in front of the refrigerator trying to figure out what you want to eat, thinking you’re hungry, but knowing crackers weren’t going to satisfy you? Lots of times, especially when dry snacks are unappealing, your brain misinterpreted what your body was saying. In reality, you need hydration. It can explain why watermelon or something juicy sounds so good. You’ll save calories if you’re hydrated.
Try drinking a large glass of water before a meal.
You’ll fill up before you start eating and won’t eat as much. Several studies show that just drinking a glass of water before a meal can help reduce your calorie intake by 75 calories. It doesn’t sound like much, but when you consider that the average person eats two meals a day, it could save you 1050 calories in a week and in little over three weeks, you’d save 3500 calories and lose a pound.
- If you want to burn more calories and have a better workout, drinking water can help do that. Even mild dehydration can cause you to drag. Instead of drinking coffee, try a glass of water. It’s the quicker picker-upper.
- Boost your metabolism with ice-cold water. According to some studies, drinking cold water makes your body work harder. It makes your insides cold and the body has to warm it.
- Don’t guzzle water, especially if you’re working out, it can make you sick. Drink 8 ounces an hour before working out and then sip on it during your workout.
- Do you bloat up with water weight? Water can come to your rescue. It acts as a diuretic. Your body hoards water for a variety of reasons, one is to normalize sodium levels. Water helps flush the sodium and you’ll get back to normal.
For more information, contact us today at VIP Fitness Center