Informative- Why Water is So Important to Losing Weight

Stumbled across this little bit about why drinking water is so important to weightloss.  Thought it might be helpful.  http://www.bariatricchoice.com/water-bariatric-gastric-bypas s-surgery-patients.aspx

Water & Fluid Needs Of Bariatric Surgery Patients

Drinking adequate water and fluids is an important aspect of any diet. It is especially important for the bariatric surgery patient.

• Do not drink fluids with your meal. All liquids should be consumed between meals.
  
  
• Choose fluids that are non-carbonated. The gas produced from a carbonated beverage can stretch the stomach pouch or it's outlet.
  
  
• Best choices for fluid are water (flavored, artificially sweetened, with squeezed lemon), Crystal Lite®, decaf coffee or tea, herbal teas and diluted fruit juices.

How 8 Glasses Of Water A Day Helps Keep Fat Away

Incredible as it may seem, water is quite possibly the single most important catalyst in losing weight and keeping it off. Although most of us take it for granted, water may be the only true "magic potion" for permanent weight loss.

Water suppresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolize stored fat. Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to increase, while an increase in water intake can actually reduce fat deposits.

Here's why: The kidneys can't function properly without enough water. When they don't work to capacity, some of their load is dumped onto the liver.

One of the liver's primary functions is to metabolize stored fat into usable energy for the body. But, if the liver has to do some of the kidney's work, it can't operate at full throttle. As a result, it metabolizes less fat, more fat remains stored in the body and weight loss stops.

Drinking enough water is the best treatment for fluid retention. When the body gets less water, it perceives this as a threat to survival and begins to hold on to every drop. Water is stored in extracellular spaces (outside the cells). This shows up as swollen feet, legs and hands.

Diuretics offer a temporary solution at best. They force out stored water along with some essential nutrients. Again, the body perceives a threat and will replace the los****er at the first opportunity. Thus, the condition quickly returns. The best way to overcome the problem of water retention is to give your body what it needs-plenty of water. Only then will stored water be released.

If you have a constant problem with water retention, excess salt may be to blame. Your body will tolerate sodium only in a certain concentration. The more salt you eat, the more water your system retains to dilute it.

But getting rid of unneeded salt is easy-just drink more water. As it's forced through the kidneys, it takes away excess sodium.

The overweight person needs more water than the thin one. Larger metabolic loads. Since we know tha****er is the key to fat metabolism, it follows that the overweight person needs more water.

Water helps to maintain proper muscle tone by giving muscles their natural ability to contract and by preventing dehydration. It also helps to prevent the sagging skin that usually follows weight loss-shrinking cells are bouyed by water, which plumps the skin and leaves it clear, healthy and resilient.

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. Again, adequate water helps flush out the waste. Water can help relieve constipation. When the body gets too little water, it siphons what it needs from internal sources. The colon is one primary source. Result? Constipation. But, when a person drinks enough water, normal bowel function usually returns.

So Far, we've discovered some remarkable truths abou****er and weight loss.

• The body will not function properly without enough water and can't metabolize stored fat efficiently.
• Retained water shows up as excess weight.
• To get rid of excess water you must drink more water.
• Drinking water is essential to weight loss.

How much water is enough? On the average, a person should drink eight 8-ounce glasses every day. That's about 2 quarts. However, the overweight person needs one additional glass for every 25 pounds of excess weight. The amount you drink also should be increased if you exercise briskly or if the weather is hot and dry.

Water should preferably be cold-it's absorbed into the system more quickly than warm water. And some evidence suggests that drinking cold water can actually help burn calories.

When the body gets the water it needs to function optimally, its fluids are perfectly balanced. When this happens, you have reached the "breakthrough" point. What does this mean?

• Endocrine-gland function improves.
• Fluid retention is alleviated as stored water is lost.
• More fat is used as fuel because the liver is free to metabolize stored fat.
• Natural thirst returns.
• There is a reduction of hunger almost overnight.

If you stop drinking enough water, your body fluids will be thrown out of balance again, and you may experience fluid retention, unexplained weight gain and loss of thirst. To remedy the situation you'll have to go back and force another "breakthrough".

Funny but the Eggface Blog had a similar post today as well

http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.ca/

AMAZING article! Thank you for sharing!!! A much needed reminder for everyone, especially me.

Lee-Ann

Thanks for sharing 

good article. I need to remind myself of this

Good timing Marny....also note the info re carbonation

I think you timed this piece of information just right. Hope people read it and learn from it.  The part on carbonated is so important.  It is funny I have gotten into such a habit of carrying my water bottle with me that even if I am just taking the dog for a short walk the water bottle goes with me.  All my friends are so use to me having it and they have seen me sneak it into places where you are not suppose to bring  anything from outside in.

Thanks for the reminder Marny.  I struggle daily with drinking enough water, I just don't like the taste.  I have tried many different things to add to the water to improve the taste for me, but I still struggle with getting the daily required amount.  It is a goal I will continue to work on...