How Can Water Help With Weight Loss?

We have all heard and accept that water is good for you and many of us strive to reach ‘eight glasses a day’, which is the recommended amount of water for the average person. We are told that it’s good for our complexion, we understand that hydration is essential for good health and we believe the news articles that say; you will perform better, run faster and live longer if we just keep on drinking water but the bucket load.

That’s all fine, but how many of us have considered that water may actually even help us lose weight? Yes, that’s right, fill up on H20 and stick with a healthy diet and exercise regime and watch those stubborn few pounds melt away.
Here’s how and why:

• We often confuse thirst with hunger which means when we think our body is craving extra food; it could actually only want rehydration. Before reaching for the snacks, try drinking a glass of water and then decide if you are actually hungry, or just thirsty.
• Water is a natural appetite suppressant and when you drink water with a meal, it often makes you feel fuller far more quickly.
• Surprisingly, the best cure for water retention is to drink more water. This is because water retention is caused by the body thinking it is in danger of dehydrating, causing it to store water, which can cause swollen legs, ankles and hands. Once your body is properly hydrated, retained water will be alleviated and you will experience weight loss, as water retention adds weight.
• Water will help boost your metabolism which means that you will be able to burn calories more efficiently which of course, results in weight loss.
• Drinking a glass of water before meals will not only help to prepare your digestive system, but will also make you feel fuller quickly which will result in eating and being satisfied with smaller portions. Smaller portions equal fewer calories which is great news for those who are trying to shed a few pounds.
• Water is calorie free which means that by simply choosing water to drink rather than calorific beverages, you’ll be cutting down on your daily calorie intake.
Important points to consider so that you really benefit from drinking water for weight loss are:
• When exercising, your body will need even more water than the recommended daily allowance. This is because, when you exercise, your body will start to sweat to moderate your body temperature. The water lost in sweat form needs to be replaced to keep your body sufficiently hydrated.
• The recommended water intake for the average person is 6-8 glasses of water a day.

How to Easily Boost Your Metabolism

Firstly it’s important to understand what is meant by ‘metabolism’ in terms of weight loss.

In simple terms, metabolism is the conversion of food into usable energy to operate your body and to help it move and stay warm. Your metabolic rate is the speed at which your body is able to convert calories into energy. The higher this is, the more calories you will be able to burn. A sluggish metabolism will result in weight gain and low energy levels. Around 75 % of the calories you use daily are burned, to maintain essential bodily functions such as keeping the heart pumping, breathing, and repairing your body. This is called ‘basal metabolism’, the basic rate of calorie burn.

Many people think that lowering the amount of calories and fat they consume will help them to lose weight, but many don’t understand that this can also lower your metabolism, effectively lowering your rate of calorie burn and slowing your weight loss.

There are ways to boost your metabolism so that you are able to burn even more calories, and therefore lose more weight. Try to fit some or all of these into your day to day activities, and increase your metabolism burn rate easily!

• Eat enough calories every day. Less than 1200 will slow down your metabolism as it is not enough to support the basal metabolism. Also, if your body thinks it is being starved your metabolism will slow down.
• Try to consume more complex carbohydrates rather than fats. As complex carbohydrates require more energy to digest them, they boost the metabolism. Carbs also have fewer calories than fatty foods.
• Don’t skip breakfast. It really is the most important meal of the day. This is because, if you don’t eat after a long sleep, you’re body will kick into starvation mode and the metabolism slows down to compensate.
• Snack healthily. Eating regularly fuels your metabolism; just make sure it’s healthy snacks such as fruit or vegetables.
• Don’t eat late at night. Try to eat dinner earlier and make lunch your main meal of the day, as this is when you need the most energy.
• Stay active everyday with some aerobic exercise. Even walking and dancing count. Try to exercise early in the day for the best results.
• Try to avoid alcoholic beverages and make them an occasional treat. Alcohol slows the metabolism.
• Try weight training which builds muscle. The more muscle you have, the better your metabolism will be.
• Drink plenty of water, at least 6 large glasses a day. It’s important to keep your body hydrated and water is a great metabolism booster.