One of the most common questions I get asked: does drinking water really help me lose weight? If so, how much do I really have to drink?
While following the 17 Day Diet, you should drink eight 8-ounce glasses of pure water daily.
When I say “pure water” this means just water. Not tea, not coffee, not “fancy” bottled water with sugar in it – just water. You can add in fresh fruit, but try to keep it as pure as possible for the greatest weight loss benefits.
Why Does Drinking Water Help You Lose Weight?
Water fills you up! All that drinking takes up room in your tummy so say goodbye to those cravings and hunger pangs! In fact, whenever you’re starting to think you “might” be hungry, reach for a glass of water instead. This one simple thing can make a big difference in cutting back on mindless eating.
Drinking water does wonders for the body, both inside and out. When it comes to anti-aging, drinking water is the first line of defense. Hydrated skin appears full and “glowy,” while dehydrated skin appears dry and flaky.
On the inside, drinking a lot of water helps your body metabolize stored fat. It starts with your kidneys; they need water to help flush stuff out of your body. If there’s not enough water, your kidneys go on a forced work stoppage.
The liver then has to pinch-hit and fill in for the kidneys.
This is not good, because one of the liver’s primary functions is to turn stored fat into fuel for the body.
If the liver is filling in for the kidneys, guess what? It doesn’t have time to metabolize fat, so…more fat stays in storage and weight loss stops.
Water is also a natural detoxifier; it helps the body flush waste during weight loss. And, when you’re shedding pounds, your body has a lot more waste to dump, including fat.
Surprisingly, drinking a lot of water is the best way to resolve water retention. It is also a critical
When your body is dehydrated, it perceives this as a bodily drought and begins to hold on to every drop as a defense mechanism.
Water is then stored outside the cells and causes your feet, ankles, legs, and hands to swell. The best solution for water retention is to give your body what it needs: plenty of water.
One thing to keep in mind is negative water.
If you drink coffee, tea, soda, energy drinks or even juice, these do not count as water. In fact, these are what I call “negative water” and each cup counts against your daily 8 (8 oz) of pure water intake.
To combat negative water: for every 1 cup of coffee, tea or soda you drink, add +1 additional glass of water.
If you’re struggling with drinking enough water, try using a water bottle with measurement markers.
