Drinking Water Helps You Lose More Weight Than You Think
Keto, intermittent fasting, at-home workouts – at this point, I think the weight loss industry can easily become overwhelming. From complicated protein shakes to strict diets, everybody seems to rustle more and more in their quest for a slim waist.
But is the answer that complicated?
Do we really have to focus all of our energy 24/7 on sports and dieting just to shed a few extra pounds?
While weight loss is definitely not easy (especially if you’re dealing with emotional eating or underlying medical causes), feeling miserable is not okay either. In fact, sometimes the best solutions are simple and affordable too.
Much like a glass of water.
Can water make you lose weight?
Luckily for all of us, the answer is yes!
I’ve always had a problem with reaching the recommended water intake. According to Mayo Clinic, men should ideally consume 15 cups of fluids a day while women need 11 cups of fluids daily.
I don’t know about you, but it seems like a lot!
However, eating more soups and drinking water with your morning coffee can actually be a great ally in your weight loss battle. After all, up to 59% of American adults embarking on a weight loss journey increase their water intake for a reason, right?
Let’s have a look at 5 ways water can help those extra pounds go away quickly:
You may burn more calories
Have you ever heard of resting energy expenditure? This process is basically burning calories as you perform regular activities throughout the day (without exercising in any way).
Studies published in the journal Obesity showed that simply drinking a glass of water increases your resting energy expenditure by up to 30% within the first 10 minutes.
What’s more, this study analyzed the effect of drinking more than 34oz of water daily in overweight women. After 12 months, researchers concluded that participants lost an extra 4.4 lbs!
It might not seem like much, but it is basically losing weight with minimal effort.
Water might reduce your appetite
Should you drink water before, during or after a meal?
This question has been widely debated in my family during my childhood years. Luckily, today we have enough information to know the truth.
Studies such as this one performed on middle-aged and older adults showed that drinking a glass of water before every meal can help you shed up to 4.4 lbs per year.
Another piece of research from the Journal of the American Dietetic Association proved that those who drink water before breakfast lose up to 44% more weight than those who don’t.
However, scientists haven’t determined the exact reason, although it’s most likely related to water’s capability of decreasing your appetite.
Less calories, lower weight gain risks
When you make a habit out of drinking water, you’re also much less likely to consume other beverages rich in sugars and calories.
This observational study, for example, showed that those who drink mainly water have a 9% lower calorie intake, which is about 200 calories. Little by little, all of these benefits can help you drop those unwanted extra pounds without doing pretty much anything!
While water hasn’t been found to reduce appetite in children and teenagers, it can still reduce their risk of obesity. Therefore, you can make a new challenge for the entire family to increase your daily water intake!
If you’re not used to drinking plain water, it’s best to take it one cup at a time – literally. This means drinking one extra cup of water and gradually increase the quantity when you’re comfortable.
ATTENTION! Turns out, drinking too much water is a real problem which can cause overhydration. This is a serious condition which can require medical assistance and, in rare cases, might be fatal. Although it mostly happens in professional athletes, it’s still good to stay informed on the possibility. My post right here explains everything you should know about this strange diagnosis.
How much water are you drinking daily? Share your hydration habits in the comment section and let’s keep each other healthy!
