Why Drinking Water Really is the Key to Weight Loss

Found this article, though it was a good read


Why Drinking Water Really is the Key to Weight Loss

by Maia Appleby

http://inch-aweigh.com/water.html

Don't roll your eyes! The potion for losing that excess body fat is
all around you. It covers two thirds of the planet. If you eat right
and exercise at the intensity, frequency and duration proper for you,
but still can't get rid of a little paunch here and there, you're
probably just not drinking enough water.

No need to get defensive. You're actually quite normal. Most people
don't drink enough water. Most people are also carrying around a few
more pounds than they would be if they did drink enough water. If you
can't seem to get that weight off, try drowning your sorrows in
nature's magical weight-loss mineral. It works, and here's why:

"What on Earth is 'metabolism', anyway?" People use the term all the
time, but ask them what it means and you'll get all kinds of answers.
Merriam Webster defines it as, "The process by which a substance is
handled in the body." A little vague, but that's really all it means.

There are many forms of metabolism going on in your body right now,
but the one everyone is talking about it the metabolism of fat. This
is actually something that the liver does when it converts stored fat
to energy. The liver has other functions, but this is one of its main
jobs.

Unfortunately, another of the liver's duties is to pick up the slack
for the kidneys, which need plenty of water to work properly. If the
kidneys are water-deprived, the liver has to do their work along with
its own, lowering its total productivity. It then can't metabolize fat
as quickly or efficiently as it could when the kidneys were pulling
their own weight. If you allow this to happen, not only are you being
unfair to your liver, but you're also setting yourself up to store
fat.

"I've tried it and I couldn't stand it!" The problem is that, though
many decide to increase their water intake, very few stick with it.
It's understandable. During the first few days of drinking more water
than your body is accustomed to, you're running to the bathroom
constantly. This can be very discouraging, and it can certainly
interfere with an otherwise normal day at work. It seems that the
water is coming out just as fast as it's going in, and many people
decide that their new hydration habit is fruitless.

Do take heed , though. What is really happening is that your body is
flushing itself of the water it has been storing throughout all those
years of "survival mode". It takes a while, but this is a beautiful
thing happening to you. As you continue to give your body all the
water it could ask for, it gets rid of what it doesn't need. It gets
rid of the water it was holding onto in your ankles and your hips and
thighs, maybe even around your belly. You are excreting much more than
you realize. Your body figures it doesn't need to save these stores
anymore; it's trusting that the water will keep coming, and if it
does, eventually, the flushing (of both the body and the potty) will
cease, allowing the human to return to a normal life. It's true. This
is called the "breakthrough point."

One recent finding, as irresponsible as it may be, that caffeine
increases the body's fat-burning potential has many people loading up
on coffee before going to the gym. This finding may hold some degree
of truth in it, but caffeine is, in essence, a diuretic, and diuretics
dehydrate. Caffeine may increase the heart rate, causing a few more
calories to be burned, but this is at the expense of the muscles,
which need water to function properly. This isn't doing your heart any
favors, either. It's already working hard enough during your workout.
Never mix caffeine and exercise. In fact, your best bet is to stay
away from caffeine all together. It's a big bully that pushes your
friend water out of your system.

Water is the best beauty treatment. You've heard this since high
school, and it's true. Water will do wonders for your looks! It
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 very
nicely when the skin cells are hydrated.

In addition, it improves muscle tone. You can lift weights until
you're blue in the face, but if your muscles are suffering from a
drought, you won't notice a pleasant difference in your appearance.
Muscles that have all the water they need contract more easily, making
your workout more effective, and you'll look much nicer than if you
had flabby muscles under sagging skin.

"Eight glasses a day? Are you kidding?!" It's really not that much.
Eight 8-ounce glasses amount to about two quarts of water. This is
okay for the average person, but if you're overweight, you should
drink another eight ounces for every 25 pounds of excess weight you
carry. You should also up this if you live in a hot climate or
exercise very intensely.

This water consumption should be spread out throughout the day. It's
not healthy at all to drink too much water at one time. Try to pick
three or four times a day when you can have a big glass of water, and
then sip in between. Don't let yourself get thirsty. If you feel
thirsty, you're already becoming dehydrated. Drink when you're not
thirsty yet.

Do you think water is yucky? Drinking other fluids will certainly help
hydrate your body, but the extra calories, sugar, additives and
whatever else aren't what you need. Try a slice of lemon or lime in
the glass, or if you really think you hate water, try a flavored
water. Just make sure you read the labels. Remember that you're going
to be consuming a lot of this fluid.

It's probably a good idea to stop drinking water a good three hours
before you go to bed. You know why.

"How cold should it be?" This is debatable. Most experts lean toward
cold water, because the stomach absorbs it more quickly. There is also
some evidence that cold water might enhance fat burning.
On the other hand, warmer water is easier to drink in large
quantities, and you might drink more of it without even realizing it.
Do whatever suits you, here. Just drink it!

When you drink all the water you need, you will very quickly notice a
decrease in your appetite, possibly even on the first day! If you're
serious about becoming leaner and healthier, drinking water is an
absolute must. If you're doing everything else right and still not
seeing results, this might just what's missing.

http://inch-aweigh.com/water.html

And for counterpoint:

http://www.thekcrachannel.com/health...76/detail.html

HTH-Jon


"John" wrote in message
...
Found this article, though it was a good read


Why Drinking Water Really is the Key to Weight Loss

by Maia Appleby

http://inch-aweigh.com/water.html

Don't roll your eyes! The potion for losing that excess body fat is
all around you. It covers two thirds of the planet. If you eat right
and exercise at the intensity, frequency and duration proper for you,
but still can't get rid of a little paunch here and there, you're
probably just not drinking enough water.

No need to get defensive. You're actually quite normal. Most people
don't drink enough water. Most people are also carrying around a few
more pounds than they would be if they did drink enough water. If you
can't seem to get that weight off, try drowning your sorrows in
nature's magical weight-loss mineral. It works, and here's why:

"What on Earth is 'metabolism', anyway?" People use the term all the
time, but ask them what it means and you'll get all kinds of answers.
Merriam Webster defines it as, "The process by which a substance is
handled in the body." A little vague, but that's really all it means.

There are many forms of metabolism going on in your body right now,
but the one everyone is talking about it the metabolism of fat. This
is actually something that the liver does when it converts stored fat
to energy. The liver has other functions, but this is one of its main
jobs.

Unfortunately, another of the liver's duties is to pick up the slack
for the kidneys, which need plenty of water to work properly. If the
kidneys are water-deprived, the liver has to do their work along with
its own, lowering its total productivity. It then can't metabolize fat
as quickly or efficiently as it could when the kidneys were pulling
their own weight. If you allow this to happen, not only are you being
unfair to your liver, but you're also setting yourself up to store
fat.

"I've tried it and I couldn't stand it!" The problem is that, though
many decide to increase their water intake, very few stick with it.
It's understandable. During the first few days of drinking more water
than your body is accustomed to, you're running to the bathroom
constantly. This can be very discouraging, and it can certainly
interfere with an otherwise normal day at work. It seems that the
water is coming out just as fast as it's going in, and many people
decide that their new hydration habit is fruitless.

Do take heed , though. What is really happening is that your body is
flushing itself of the water it has been storing throughout all those
years of "survival mode". It takes a while, but this is a beautiful
thing happening to you. As you continue to give your body all the
water it could ask for, it gets rid of what it doesn't need. It gets
rid of the water it was holding onto in your ankles and your hips and
thighs, maybe even around your belly. You are excreting much more than
you realize. Your body figures it doesn't need to save these stores
anymore; it's trusting that the water will keep coming, and if it
does, eventually, the flushing (of both the body and the potty) will
cease, allowing the human to return to a normal life. It's true. This
is called the "breakthrough point."

One recent finding, as irresponsible as it may be, that caffeine
increases the body's fat-burning potential has many people loading up
on coffee before going to the gym. This finding may hold some degree
of truth in it, but caffeine is, in essence, a diuretic, and diuretics
dehydrate. Caffeine may increase the heart rate, causing a few more
calories to be burned, but this is at the expense of the muscles,
which need water to function properly. This isn't doing your heart any
favors, either. It's already working hard enough during your workout.
Never mix caffeine and exercise. In fact, your best bet is to stay
away from caffeine all together. It's a big bully that pushes your
friend water out of your system.

Water is the best beauty treatment. You've heard this since high
school, and it's true. Water will do wonders for your looks! It
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 very
nicely when the skin cells are hydrated.

In addition, it improves muscle tone. You can lift weights until
you're blue in the face, but if your muscles are suffering from a
drought, you won't notice a pleasant difference in your appearance.
Muscles that have all the water they need contract more easily, making
your workout more effective, and you'll look much nicer than if you
had flabby muscles under sagging skin.

"Eight glasses a day? Are you kidding?!" It's really not that much.
Eight 8-ounce glasses amount to about two quarts of water. This is
okay for the average person, but if you're overweight, you should
drink another eight ounces for every 25 pounds of excess weight you
carry. You should also up this if you live in a hot climate or
exercise very intensely.

This water consumption should be spread out throughout the day. It's
not healthy at all to drink too much water at one time. Try to pick
three or four times a day when you can have a big glass of water, and
then sip in between. Don't let yourself get thirsty. If you feel
thirsty, you're already becoming dehydrated. Drink when you're not
thirsty yet.

Do you think water is yucky? Drinking other fluids will certainly help
hydrate your body, but the extra calories, sugar, additives and
whatever else aren't what you need. Try a slice of lemon or lime in
the glass, or if you really think you hate water, try a flavored
water. Just make sure you read the labels. Remember that you're going
to be consuming a lot of this fluid.

It's probably a good idea to stop drinking water a good three hours
before you go to bed. You know why.

"How cold should it be?" This is debatable. Most experts lean toward
cold water, because the stomach absorbs it more quickly. There is also
some evidence that cold water might enhance fat burning.
On the other hand, warmer water is easier to drink in large
quantities, and you might drink more of it without even realizing it.
Do whatever suits you, here. Just drink it!

When you drink all the water you need, you will very quickly notice a
decrease in your appetite, possibly even on the first day! If you're
serious about becoming leaner and healthier, drinking water is an
absolute must. If you're doing everything else right and still not
seeing results, this might just what's missing.

http://inch-aweigh.com/water.html

There's only one HUGE problem with the "drink water" article. There's not a
single line that substantiates the claims made with a shred of evidence. No
experts or research or quoted. The article is nothing but a compendium of
the current "urban legend" beliefs about water intake.

It's worth remembering that the bottled water industry, which makes a
fortune selling poor quality tap water for $1/bottle, has been very active
in promoting these beliefs about water. Most of the stuff you see written
about how much water people needs turns out to map down to press releases
sent out by these water merchants.

However, research suggests it is bunk. I have gotten below my goal weight
drinking no more than 4 or 5 glasses of fluid a day. Any more just causes
misery for my scarred bladder.

http://ajpregu.physiology.org/cgi/co...t/00365.2002v1

-- Jenny

Weight: 168.5/137
Diabetes Type II diagnosed 8/1998
Low Carb 9/1998 - 8/2001 and 11/10/02 - Now

http://www.geocities.com/jenny_the_bean
How to calculate your need for protein * How much people really lose each
month * Water Weight Gain & Loss * The "Two Gram Cure" for Hunger Cravings
* Characteristics of Successful Dieters * Indispensible Low Carb Treats *
Should You Count that Low Impact Carb? * Curing Ketobreath * Exercise
Starting from Zero * NEW! Do Starch Blockers Work?


"John" wrote in message
...
Found this article, though it was a good read


Why Drinking Water Really is the Key to Weight Loss

by Maia Appleby

http://inch-aweigh.com/water.html

Don't roll your eyes! The potion for losing that excess body fat is
all around you. It covers two thirds of the planet. If you eat right
and exercise at the intensity, frequency and duration proper for you,
but still can't get rid of a little paunch here and there, you're
probably just not drinking enough water.

No need to get defensive. You're actually quite normal. Most people
don't drink enough water. Most people are also carrying around a few
more pounds than they would be if they did drink enough water. If you
can't seem to get that weight off, try drowning your sorrows in
nature's magical weight-loss mineral. It works, and here's why:

"What on Earth is 'metabolism', anyway?" People use the term all the
time, but ask them what it means and you'll get all kinds of answers.
Merriam Webster defines it as, "The process by which a substance is
handled in the body." A little vague, but that's really all it means.

There are many forms of metabolism going on in your body right now,
but the one everyone is talking about it the metabolism of fat. This
is actually something that the liver does when it converts stored fat
to energy. The liver has other functions, but this is one of its main
jobs.

Unfortunately, another of the liver's duties is to pick up the slack
for the kidneys, which need plenty of water to work properly. If the
kidneys are water-deprived, the liver has to do their work along with
its own, lowering its total productivity. It then can't metabolize fat
as quickly or efficiently as it could when the kidneys were pulling
their own weight. If you allow this to happen, not only are you being
unfair to your liver, but you're also setting yourself up to store
fat.

"I've tried it and I couldn't stand it!" The problem is that, though
many decide to increase their water intake, very few stick with it.
It's understandable. During the first few days of drinking more water
than your body is accustomed to, you're running to the bathroom
constantly. This can be very discouraging, and it can certainly
interfere with an otherwise normal day at work. It seems that the
water is coming out just as fast as it's going in, and many people
decide that their new hydration habit is fruitless.

Do take heed , though. What is really happening is that your body is
flushing itself of the water it has been storing throughout all those
years of "survival mode". It takes a while, but this is a beautiful
thing happening to you. As you continue to give your body all the
water it could ask for, it gets rid of what it doesn't need. It gets
rid of the water it was holding onto in your ankles and your hips and
thighs, maybe even around your belly. You are excreting much more than
you realize. Your body figures it doesn't need to save these stores
anymore; it's trusting that the water will keep coming, and if it
does, eventually, the flushing (of both the body and the potty) will
cease, allowing the human to return to a normal life. It's true. This
is called the "breakthrough point."

One recent finding, as irresponsible as it may be, that caffeine
increases the body's fat-burning potential has many people loading up
on coffee before going to the gym. This finding may hold some degree
of truth in it, but caffeine is, in essence, a diuretic, and diuretics
dehydrate. Caffeine may increase the heart rate, causing a few more
calories to be burned, but this is at the expense of the muscles,
which need water to function properly. This isn't doing your heart any
favors, either. It's already working hard enough during your workout.
Never mix caffeine and exercise. In fact, your best bet is to stay
away from caffeine all together. It's a big bully that pushes your
friend water out of your system.

Water is the best beauty treatment. You've heard this since high
school, and it's true. Water will do wonders for your looks! It
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 very
nicely when the skin cells are hydrated.

In addition, it improves muscle tone. You can lift weights until
you're blue in the face, but if your muscles are suffering from a
drought, you won't notice a pleasant difference in your appearance.
Muscles that have all the water they need contract more easily, making
your workout more effective, and you'll look much nicer than if you
had flabby muscles under sagging skin.

"Eight glasses a day? Are you kidding?!" It's really not that much.
Eight 8-ounce glasses amount to about two quarts of water. This is
okay for the average person, but if you're overweight, you should
drink another eight ounces for every 25 pounds of excess weight you
carry. You should also up this if you live in a hot climate or
exercise very intensely.

This water consumption should be spread out throughout the day. It's
not healthy at all to drink too much water at one time. Try to pick
three or four times a day when you can have a big glass of water, and
then sip in between. Don't let yourself get thirsty. If you feel
thirsty, you're already becoming dehydrated. Drink when you're not
thirsty yet.

Do you think water is yucky? Drinking other fluids will certainly help
hydrate your body, but the extra calories, sugar, additives and
whatever else aren't what you need. Try a slice of lemon or lime in
the glass, or if you really think you hate water, try a flavored
water. Just make sure you read the labels. Remember that you're going
to be consuming a lot of this fluid.

It's probably a good idea to stop drinking water a good three hours
before you go to bed. You know why.

"How cold should it be?" This is debatable. Most experts lean toward
cold water, because the stomach absorbs it more quickly. There is also
some evidence that cold water might enhance fat burning.
On the other hand, warmer water is easier to drink in large
quantities, and you might drink more of it without even realizing it.
Do whatever suits you, here. Just drink it!

When you drink all the water you need, you will very quickly notice a
decrease in your appetite, possibly even on the first day! If you're
serious about becoming leaner and healthier, drinking water is an
absolute must. If you're doing everything else right and still not
seeing results, this might just what's missing.

http://inch-aweigh.com/water.html

I don't drink tons of it either.. and I still lose weight. If I drink more
than usual, I just spend more time peeing it off but it doesn't seem to
affect my overall rate of weight loss.

Teeb


"Jenny" wrote in message
...
There's only one HUGE problem with the "drink water" article. There's not
a
single line that substantiates the claims made with a shred of evidence.
No
experts or research or quoted. The article is nothing but a compendium of
the current "urban legend" beliefs about water intake.

It's worth remembering that the bottled water industry, which makes a
fortune selling poor quality tap water for $1/bottle, has been very active
in promoting these beliefs about water. Most of the stuff you see written
about how much water people needs turns out to map down to press releases
sent out by these water merchants.

However, research suggests it is bunk. I have gotten below my goal weight
drinking no more than 4 or 5 glasses of fluid a day. Any more just causes
misery for my scarred bladder.

http://ajpregu.physiology.org/cgi/co...t/00365.2002v1

-- Jenny

Weight: 168.5/137
Diabetes Type II diagnosed 8/1998
Low Carb 9/1998 - 8/2001 and 11/10/02 - Now

http://www.geocities.com/jenny_the_bean
How to calculate your need for protein * How much people really lose each
month * Water Weight Gain & Loss * The "Two Gram Cure" for Hunger
Cravings
* Characteristics of Successful Dieters * Indispensible Low Carb Treats *
Should You Count that Low Impact Carb? * Curing Ketobreath * Exercise
Starting from Zero * NEW! Do Starch Blockers Work?


"John" wrote in message
...
Found this article, though it was a good read


Why Drinking Water Really is the Key to Weight Loss

by Maia Appleby

http://inch-aweigh.com/water.html

Don't roll your eyes! The potion for losing that excess body fat is
all around you. It covers two thirds of the planet. If you eat right
and exercise at the intensity, frequency and duration proper for you,
but still can't get rid of a little paunch here and there, you're
probably just not drinking enough water.

No need to get defensive. You're actually quite normal. Most people
don't drink enough water. Most people are also carrying around a few
more pounds than they would be if they did drink enough water. If you
can't seem to get that weight off, try drowning your sorrows in
nature's magical weight-loss mineral. It works, and here's why:

"What on Earth is 'metabolism', anyway?" People use the term all the
time, but ask them what it means and you'll get all kinds of answers.
Merriam Webster defines it as, "The process by which a substance is
handled in the body." A little vague, but that's really all it means.

There are many forms of metabolism going on in your body right now,
but the one everyone is talking about it the metabolism of fat. This
is actually something that the liver does when it converts stored fat
to energy. The liver has other functions, but this is one of its main
jobs.

Unfortunately, another of the liver's duties is to pick up the slack
for the kidneys, which need plenty of water to work properly. If the
kidneys are water-deprived, the liver has to do their work along with
its own, lowering its total productivity. It then can't metabolize fat
as quickly or efficiently as it could when the kidneys were pulling
their own weight. If you allow this to happen, not only are you being
unfair to your liver, but you're also setting yourself up to store
fat.

"I've tried it and I couldn't stand it!" The problem is that, though
many decide to increase their water intake, very few stick with it.
It's understandable. During the first few days of drinking more water
than your body is accustomed to, you're running to the bathroom
constantly. This can be very discouraging, and it can certainly
interfere with an otherwise normal day at work. It seems that the
water is coming out just as fast as it's going in, and many people
decide that their new hydration habit is fruitless.

Do take heed , though. What is really happening is that your body is
flushing itself of the water it has been storing throughout all those
years of "survival mode". It takes a while, but this is a beautiful
thing happening to you. As you continue to give your body all the
water it could ask for, it gets rid of what it doesn't need. It gets
rid of the water it was holding onto in your ankles and your hips and
thighs, maybe even around your belly. You are excreting much more than
you realize. Your body figures it doesn't need to save these stores
anymore; it's trusting that the water will keep coming, and if it
does, eventually, the flushing (of both the body and the potty) will
cease, allowing the human to return to a normal life. It's true. This
is called the "breakthrough point."

One recent finding, as irresponsible as it may be, that caffeine
increases the body's fat-burning potential has many people loading up
on coffee before going to the gym. This finding may hold some degree
of truth in it, but caffeine is, in essence, a diuretic, and diuretics
dehydrate. Caffeine may increase the heart rate, causing a few more
calories to be burned, but this is at the expense of the muscles,
which need water to function properly. This isn't doing your heart any
favors, either. It's already working hard enough during your workout.
Never mix caffeine and exercise. In fact, your best bet is to stay
away from caffeine all together. It's a big bully that pushes your
friend water out of your system.

Water is the best beauty treatment. You've heard this since high
school, and it's true. Water will do wonders for your looks! It
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 very
nicely when the skin cells are hydrated.

In addition, it improves muscle tone. You can lift weights until
you're blue in the face, but if your muscles are suffering from a
drought, you won't notice a pleasant difference in your appearance.
Muscles that have all the water they need contract more easily, making
your workout more effective, and you'll look much nicer than if you
had flabby muscles under sagging skin.

"Eight glasses a day? Are you kidding?!" It's really not that much.
Eight 8-ounce glasses amount to about two quarts of water. This is
okay for the average person, but if you're overweight, you should
drink another eight ounces for every 25 pounds of excess weight you
carry. You should also up this if you live in a hot climate or
exercise very intensely.

This water consumption should be spread out throughout the day. It's
not healthy at all to drink too much water at one time. Try to pick
three or four times a day when you can have a big glass of water, and
then sip in between. Don't let yourself get thirsty. If you feel
thirsty, you're already becoming dehydrated. Drink when you're not
thirsty yet.

Do you think water is yucky? Drinking other fluids will certainly help
hydrate your body, but the extra calories, sugar, additives and
whatever else aren't what you need. Try a slice of lemon or lime in
the glass, or if you really think you hate water, try a flavored
water. Just make sure you read the labels. Remember that you're going
to be consuming a lot of this fluid.

It's probably a good idea to stop drinking water a good three hours
before you go to bed. You know why.

"How cold should it be?" This is debatable. Most experts lean toward
cold water, because the stomach absorbs it more quickly. There is also
some evidence that cold water might enhance fat burning.
On the other hand, warmer water is easier to drink in large
quantities, and you might drink more of it without even realizing it.
Do whatever suits you, here. Just drink it!

When you drink all the water you need, you will very quickly notice a
decrease in your appetite, possibly even on the first day! If you're
serious about becoming leaner and healthier, drinking water is an
absolute must. If you're doing everything else right and still not
seeing results, this might just what's missing.

http://inch-aweigh.com/water.html

In article , "Jenny"
wrote:

There's only one HUGE problem with the "drink water" article. There's
not a
single line that substantiates the claims made with a shred of evidence.
No
experts or research or quoted. The article is nothing but a compendium of
the current "urban legend" beliefs about water intake.

It's worth remembering that the bottled water industry, which makes a
fortune selling poor quality tap water for $1/bottle, has been very
active
in promoting these beliefs about water. Most of the stuff you see written
about how much water people needs turns out to map down to press releases
sent out by these water merchants.

However, research suggests it is bunk. I have gotten below my goal weight
drinking no more than 4 or 5 glasses of fluid a day. Any more just causes
misery for my scarred bladder.

http://ajpregu.physiology.org/cgi/co...t/00365.2002v1

-- Jenny

Weight: 168.5/137
Diabetes Type II diagnosed 8/1998
Low Carb 9/1998 - 8/2001 and 11/10/02 - Now

http://www.geocities.com/jenny_the_bean
How to calculate your need for protein * How much people really lose each
month * Water Weight Gain & Loss * The "Two Gram Cure" for Hunger
Cravings
* Characteristics of Successful Dieters * Indispensible Low Carb Treats *
Should You Count that Low Impact Carb? * Curing Ketobreath * Exercise
Starting from Zero * NEW! Do Starch Blockers Work?


"John" wrote in message
...
Found this article, though it was a good read


Why Drinking Water Really is the Key to Weight Loss

by Maia Appleby

http://inch-aweigh.com/water.html

Don't roll your eyes! The potion for losing that excess body fat is
all around you. It covers two thirds of the planet. If you eat right
and exercise at the intensity, frequency and duration proper for you,
but still can't get rid of a little paunch here and there, you're
probably just not drinking enough water.

No need to get defensive. You're actually quite normal. Most people
don't drink enough water. Most people are also carrying around a few
more pounds than they would be if they did drink enough water. If you
can't seem to get that weight off, try drowning your sorrows in
nature's magical weight-loss mineral. It works, and here's why:

"What on Earth is 'metabolism', anyway?" People use the term all the
time, but ask them what it means and you'll get all kinds of answers.
Merriam Webster defines it as, "The process by which a substance is
handled in the body." A little vague, but that's really all it means.

There are many forms of metabolism going on in your body right now,
but the one everyone is talking about it the metabolism of fat. This
is actually something that the liver does when it converts stored fat
to energy. The liver has other functions, but this is one of its main
jobs.

Unfortunately, another of the liver's duties is to pick up the slack
for the kidneys, which need plenty of water to work properly. If the
kidneys are water-deprived, the liver has to do their work along with
its own, lowering its total productivity. It then can't metabolize fat
as quickly or efficiently as it could when the kidneys were pulling
their own weight. If you allow this to happen, not only are you being
unfair to your liver, but you're also setting yourself up to store
fat.

"I've tried it and I couldn't stand it!" The problem is that, though
many decide to increase their water intake, very few stick with it.
It's understandable. During the first few days of drinking more water
than your body is accustomed to, you're running to the bathroom
constantly. This can be very discouraging, and it can certainly
interfere with an otherwise normal day at work. It seems that the
water is coming out just as fast as it's going in, and many people
decide that their new hydration habit is fruitless.

Do take heed , though. What is really happening is that your body is
flushing itself of the water it has been storing throughout all those
years of "survival mode". It takes a while, but this is a beautiful
thing happening to you. As you continue to give your body all the
water it could ask for, it gets rid of what it doesn't need. It gets
rid of the water it was holding onto in your ankles and your hips and
thighs, maybe even around your belly. You are excreting much more than
you realize. Your body figures it doesn't need to save these stores
anymore; it's trusting that the water will keep coming, and if it
does, eventually, the flushing (of both the body and the potty) will
cease, allowing the human to return to a normal life. It's true. This
is called the "breakthrough point."

One recent finding, as irresponsible as it may be, that caffeine
increases the body's fat-burning potential has many people loading up
on coffee before going to the gym. This finding may hold some degree
of truth in it, but caffeine is, in essence, a diuretic, and diuretics
dehydrate. Caffeine may increase the heart rate, causing a few more
calories to be burned, but this is at the expense of the muscles,
which need water to function properly. This isn't doing your heart any
favors, either. It's already working hard enough during your workout.
Never mix caffeine and exercise. In fact, your best bet is to stay
away from caffeine all together. It's a big bully that pushes your
friend water out of your system.

Water is the best beauty treatment. You've heard this since high
school, and it's true. Water will do wonders for your looks! It
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 very
nicely when the skin cells are hydrated.

In addition, it improves muscle tone. You can lift weights until
you're blue in the face, but if your muscles are suffering from a
drought, you won't notice a pleasant difference in your appearance.
Muscles that have all the water they need contract more easily, making
your workout more effective, and you'll look much nicer than if you
had flabby muscles under sagging skin.

"Eight glasses a day? Are you kidding?!" It's really not that much.
Eight 8-ounce glasses amount to about two quarts of water. This is
okay for the average person, but if you're overweight, you should
drink another eight ounces for every 25 pounds of excess weight you
carry. You should also up this if you live in a hot climate or
exercise very intensely.

This water consumption should be spread out throughout the day. It's
not healthy at all to drink too much water at one time. Try to pick
three or four times a day when you can have a big glass of water, and
then sip in between. Don't let yourself get thirsty. If you feel
thirsty, you're already becoming dehydrated. Drink when you're not
thirsty yet.

Do you think water is yucky? Drinking other fluids will certainly help
hydrate your body, but the extra calories, sugar, additives and
whatever else aren't what you need. Try a slice of lemon or lime in
the glass, or if you really think you hate water, try a flavored
water. Just make sure you read the labels. Remember that you're going
to be consuming a lot of this fluid.

It's probably a good idea to stop drinking water a good three hours
before you go to bed. You know why.

"How cold should it be?" This is debatable. Most experts lean toward
cold water, because the stomach absorbs it more quickly. There is also
some evidence that cold water might enhance fat burning.
On the other hand, warmer water is easier to drink in large
quantities, and you might drink more of it without even realizing it.
Do whatever suits you, here. Just drink it!

When you drink all the water you need, you will very quickly notice a
decrease in your appetite, possibly even on the first day! If you're
serious about becoming leaner and healthier, drinking water is an
absolute must. If you're doing everything else right and still not
seeing results, this might just what's missing.

http://inch-aweigh.com/water.html





I do tend to drink a fair amount of water - more for reasons not related
to weight loss than to reasons related to it. First off all, I have
psoriasis, and am frequently dry, not just in skin, but also in mouth,
eye and body. I find that keeping hydrated (and a little more than a
"normal" person's intake) is essential to keeping the dryness under
control.

Also, I sing - and the mucosa membranes of my "instrument" require
lubrication, particularly witht he psoriasis dryness. "nuff said.

That said, the bottled water industry does blow, but I find myself still
using bottled water away from home, as there have been local water
supplies in our area that have been pronounced unsafe, and I prefer not
to guess. At home, we have a filtration system in place.

--
Nancy Howells (don't forget to switch it, and replace the to send mail).

"Jenny" wrote in
:

There's only one HUGE problem with the "drink water" article. There's
not a single line that substantiates the claims made with a shred of
evidence. No experts or research or quoted. The article is nothing but
a compendium of the current "urban legend" beliefs about water intake.


Well put.

Chakolate

--

On sadness:
The cure for this ill is not to sit still,
Or to frowst with a book by the fire,
But to take a large hoe and a shovel also,
And to dig till you gently perspire.
--Rudyard Kipling