Water is Key to Faster Fat Loss

Water seems to be the single most important catalyst in weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight – and it’s definitely a “Penny Pinching” favorite!

Decreasing water intake actually causes fat deposits to increase, while increasing water intake can reduce fat deposits. Why? The kidneys need water to function properly. When they are not receiving sufficient water, they’re not operating at full capacity and some of the load is managed by the liver. One of the liver’s many functions is to metabolize stored fat into energy, but if it’s doing some of the work of the kidneys it’s not able to function at maximum capacity.

Result? More fat is stored by the body instead of metabolized.

Did you know that sometimes you only think you’re hungry? You may actually be thirsty. I call it “mouth hunger.” You know that sensation you have when you want something to eat, but the desire isn’t coming from your stomach? Perhaps it’s a taste in your mouth you want to change and you know that eating a particular snack will change it. Next time that happens, drink water instead (not soda pop, juice, coffee or tea). People who are “grazers” or all-day snackers will lose weight if they drink water when they experience “mouth hunger” instead of eating.

Many women have told me they are rarely thirsty. Our bodies can become imbalanced from eating food when we’re really thirsty or drinking caffeinated soda, coffee or tea which further dehydrate the body. These physical imbalances can cause us to lose our natural thirst for water.

Water Retention Woes

What about water retention (edema)? Many women are concerned that drinking water will aggravate bloating and swollen ankles. Actually, the opposite is true. The best treatment for fluid retention is drinking sufficient quantities of water. Seems contrary, doesn’t it? It’s comparable to what happens if we follow an extreme diet. When we don’t eat sufficient quantities of food every few hours, the body perceives starvation, lowers metabolism to burn fewer calories and hoards fat.

Similarly, when the body isn’t receiving enough water, it perceives this as a threat to survival. It holds on to as much water as it can and stores it in spaces outside the cells. This results in swollen feet, ankles and hands.

Diuretics only worsen the condition. Stored water may be forced out for a time (along with nutrients the body needs), but the body will replace the water lost as soon as soon as it can. Swelling returns, so diuretics are taken again and the cycle is perpetuated. If edema is a problem for you, first try decreasing salt and caffeine intake and increasing the amount of water you drink.

What is a sufficient amount of water?

“Does iced tea count?” “What about juice, coffee or diet soda?” Even though there is water in juice and man-made beverages, water is the only liquid which does not require the body to work to process it. Soft drinks have chemicals and colorings that have to be removed, and caffeinated beverages actually dehydrate the body, removing more water than the beverage contains.

Most nutrition experts agree that 64 ounces (eight eight-ounce glasses) of water each day is adequate for most people. If you’re overweight, one eight-ounce glass is recommended for each additional 25 pounds of body weight.

Want an easier way to remember? Take your weight and divide it by two. Drink that number in ounces of water each day. For example if you weigh 160 pounds, half that number is 80. Drink 80 ounces of water every day (or ten eight-ounce glasses).

Unfortunately, our water supply is tainted by chemicals and waste matter even in the purest of settings. Today water must be filtered, so purchase a good water filtration system (preferably steam distilled) or buy bottled water.

Don’t like the taste of water? Filtration systems can do wonders, but until you can get one refrigerating water improves the taste. Also try a squeeze of lemon, or 2 teaspoons of organic apple cider vinegar and a teaspoon of honey.

Increase the amount of water you drink when exercising, in warm weather, or if working outdoors. Cold water appears to be absorbed by the body more quickly and may even help burn more calories (we like that!).

If you stop drinking enough water, natural thirst will disappear; body fluids will go out of balance again causing fluid retention and mysterious weight gain. Solution? Increase your water intake again back to 64 or more ounces per day. Simple – and so thrifty, too!

Water of Life – the REAL thing!

Jesus said to the woman at the well who was looking to satisfy a thirst that no one on this earth could ever satisfy: “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:13, 14).

Jesus is the only One who can give us living water. He alone can quench your every thirst and satisfy every hunger. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you as the source of true life today.

And now I’d like to invite you to get my free “Fit Favorites Devotional” and PraiseMoves FitNews. To get yours, go to http://praisemoves.com.

Laurette Willis ©2009

Christian Fitness Expert and author Laurette Willis is the Director of PraiseMoves® Fitness Ministry, offering fitness programs, DVDs, books and instructor training for those interested in a Christian ALTERNATIVE to yoga, plus fitness for spirit, soul and body at http://praisemoves.com. To follow Laurette on Twitter, please visit http://twitter.com/Fit4Christ, and Facebook at http://facebook.com/people/Laurette-Willis/661158603