|
Littlepita -> RE: Drinking water question (5/25/2006 6:02:18 PM)
|
I found this on my diet site and thought it was very well written. I happen to love water, because I trained myself to like it after giving up a huge Pepsi addiction. I will pour in a little lemon juice occasionally to jazz it up. So far today I have gone through almost a gallon. I keep two gallon jugs in the fridge and make sure I go through one a day at least.
Many people on their road to weight loss do not realize the importance of drinking water. Water and weight loss are very closely intertwined and by not drinking enough water a person is losing out on a major dietary advantage to losing weight and keeping it off. Water allows for proper metabolizing of body fats. Drinking more water rids the body of water retention. Drinking water flushes the body of toxins, helps the organs to function properly and can help you to look younger and keep your skin, tight.
Metabolizing Fat:
There are many forms of metabolism going on within the body. Metabolizing fat is the function of the liver. The liver has other functions as well but metabolizing fat, converting stored fat to energy is its main function. The kidneys are dependant on water to function properly and efficiently. When the body does not get enough water the kidneys are not able to rid the body of toxins correctly and the liver steps up to help. When the liver is picking up slack for the kidneys the fat burning potential is degraded and in some cases shuts down completely. When the liver shuts down “fat to energy” conversion, the body will eventually start to store more fat. The overweight person needs more water then a lower weight individual due to the larger metabolic demands. Water helps rid the body of waste. During weight loss, the body has a lot more waste to get rid of - all that metabolized fat must be shed. And so adequate water helps flush out the waste left over from fat burning.
Water Retention:
When a person does not drink enough water the body reacts as if there is a drought. The body responds to the lack of water by storing any it does receive extra cellularly. Extra cellular storage results in water being store around the cells of the body. Which then causes swelling of the hands, ankles, feet and sometimes, the torso. When one begins to drink enough water, the body then perceives this as a normal situation and begins to slough the extra cellular water retention. The more water one drinks the less retention he/she will have. Salt can also lead to water retention, but in most individuals who drink enough water the salts are flushed from the body and do not effect cellular retention.
You may say, “why not just take a diuretic?” Diuretics, or water pills are only a temporary fix. Water retention will be relieved, but the problem of dehydration still exists. The body will continue to try to restore the extra cellular water if it is not giving a proper amount to balance the water lost when a diuretic is used.
Benefits to Your Looks:
Water has often been touted as THE beauty treatment to remember. Believe it! Water flushes out impurities in your skin, leaving you with a clear, glowing complexion. It also makes your skin look younger. Skin that is becoming saggy, either due to aging or weight loss, plumps up when the skin cells are hydrated. Muscle depends on water to build and tone. Water helps to maintain proper muscle tone by enhancing the muscles natural ability to contract. Getting plenty of water also helps to prevent the sagging skin that usually follows weight loss.
So All This Talk About Water… How Do I Get Enough?
The long-standing “8 eight ounce glasses a day” is a good place to start. However, you have already read that the overweight person needs more water to retain a fat burning metabolism at the proper levels. Often people who are trying to lose weight will read or hear that they are to drink an additional 8 ounces (236ml) for every 25 pounds (11.34Kg) they wish to lose. Another way to get enough water is to drink half your body weight in ounces. For example if you weight 200lbs(90.72Kg), then 100 ounces (2.957Lt) of water day is what you need.
In order to get that water, you have to want to do it. If you are not used to drinking so much water it can be a daunting task to drink 100 or more ounces a day. And when you first start to drink so much you will be urinating often. This can lead you to quit. But when stick with it and as the body sloughs its old retained water and gets used to having you supply it with plenty of fresh water, your trips to the bathroom will lessen and you will begin to see all the benefits of upping your water intake.
When you first start to drink all the water you should it can be a difficult task. But there are ways to lead up to it and to make it a habit. It takes 21 days to form a habit so commit to that number of days and soon you will be a pro.
Try drinking water every hour on the hour, as if it were a medicine you had to have. Keep an 8ounce (236ml) glass near your water source. When you get up in the morning, have one glass and then set a timer or your watch to ring every hour. Then drink one glass when it rings. If you rise at 7am and go to bed at 10pm you will have had 120ounces(3.549Lt) for the day.
One gallon of water is 128ounces(3.785Lt). Measure your water out the night before and put it in the refrigerator. Then you have nice cold water for the next day. Cold water has been shown to absorb faster and it can lead to higher calorie burning as well.
If you prefer bottled water, you can put several rubber bands on a bottle and as you drink your bottles remove the bands, discarding one and putting the remaining ones on the new bottle. Or wear the bands on your wrist and discard one band when you empty a bottle.
Make sure you drink water before you have a soda or glass of caffeinated tea or coffee. Caffeine is a diuretic and causes water loss. So if you choose to drink caffeine add one 8ounce (236ml) glass for every caffeinated drink you have.
|
|
|
|
