Water is the most under rated yet extremely important beverage ever.
Most people believe that drinking soda/pop, juice and other drinks compensates for water intake. As much as it might contribute towards it, It also contributes to consuming a lot more calories hidden in ingredients like sugar, salt, coloring/chemicals etc that are not good for the body.
Water like everything else is made up of molecules which are broken down even further to even smaller units called atoms. H2O (water) consists two atoms of the element Hydrogen (H) and one atom of the element Oxygen (O). Two atoms of Hydrogen have a positive change and the Oxygen have a negative charge. It’s because of these special charges that water molecules stick together and make water have the properties it does.
Albeit boring to the palette water consumption is important especially for weight loss for several reasons:
1. Excess weight can be water weight: Just like food, the body will retain water when it feels as though it is not getting enough. The best way to keep the body from retaining the water is by increasing water intake.
2. Sweating during a workout robs your body off water. Drinking water helps replace that which is lost through sweating and respiration. It also helps in energy transformation during a workout.
3. Cleansing: Working out and burning fat and calories creates byproducts in the body that need to be eliminated. This elimination only happens with a good enough supply of water.
4. Drinking water burns calories: Water does not get a free pass in the body just because its water. The body has to work in order to absorb it. For that calories are burned. The more water consumed, the more work created for the body.
5.Appetite suppressant: Your body will send a signal of hunger when really it is thirsty. Next time you feel hungry, take a glass of water and wait 20mins. Chances are you were not hungry just thirsty.
6. Optimize body functions: Water is extremely important for kidney function however when kidneys are functioning at sub-optimal level they receive assistance from the liver.
The livers main function is to metabolize fat. When helping a out the liver, fat metabolism is less efficient and less productive. We should seek to make sure that the liver is fully focused on metabolizing the fat.
So exactly how much water should we consume for weight loss?
The rule of thumb is eight 8oz glasses (64oz a day) however I find this measure flawed especially if you’re working out and eating clean.
My water schedule:
Upon waking up 5:15 to 5:45am – 16oz to 18oz
During exercise: I take 2 gulps of water usually after every set or every other set
After exercise: I take a couple more gulps.
All through the day: I sip every 15 to 20 minutes e
Whenever an activity is not well understood there will always be people saying negative things about it. My 2 favorite
1. Drinking too much water causes water poisoning or water intoxication
2. You can drown your body organs by drinking too much water
It’s not about how much water you drink, it’s how fast you drink it. If you drink 2 liters of water in 5 minutes OFCOURSE the body will not handle that well. Drink water slowly, taking small frequest sips throughout the day.
My lifestyle, calls for being in the best shape by means of intense workouts and eating clean, requires I consume 2 gallons of water a day. By no means am I asking you to consume 2 gallons a day, but I will challenge you to drink more water and cut off other unhealthy drinks. This is especially important for anyone that works out and is looking to loose or maintain their weight.
Note: It is normal to find yourself running to the restroom more frequently than usual. Don’t panic its just your body trying to keep up with the water you’re drinking and it (the body) adjusts to this in a few days.
Did you know an adult kidney can process 15 liters of water a day??
Did you know that you can survive several weeks without food but only a few days without water?
#WaterIslifePeriodEndOfStory!
Great read. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome girl!
I actually began building a habit of drinking water, started at 1litre and i’m now at 5lts a day!! My skin has become flawless, my energy is up and I don’t even remember the taste of coke anymore..
My goal is to reach 8 lts a day which I am working towards…Thanks for all the help 🙂
Good job Tasha! Glad you’re experiencing 1st hand the bountiful benefits of simply drinking more water…keep going 🙂
Great info thanks! I always thought I’d drink 1/2 of my body weight. Is that incorrect?
1/2 your body weight in Ibs?Kgs? I think it depends on your activity level.
Hi Jane, thanks for this info but I keep forgetting to drink water…. I did the 8 glasses where I was before, but here (excuses) I seem not to remember. I think I will put reminder notes everywhere….
In this age of smart phone…reminders should not be difficult to set 🙂
Impressive. I totally agree
Thanks Tony!
My friend who works at the tribe just met you and sent my regards to you. Biggest fan. I appreciate that you gave us recipe ideas from Kenyan food that support clean eating. Most recipes online have foreign ingredients and I struggled with a meal plan upon embarking on my fitness journey. (Im in London now)
Tell us something about goals and goal setting please and what your process is. Thanks for everything!
Hi waithera yes i met your friend Shev yesterday at tribe and he mentioned you…very nice to meet you and I will most definitely talk about goal and goal setting. Cheers!
Most people don’t understand how important drinking plain water it…very informative post
Greetings! Very useful advice in this particular article!
It is the little changes that will make the greatest changes.
Thanks a lot for sharing!