Key to Weight Loss; Hydration!

The same things are repeated over and over again, how diet and exercise are key points to achieving our target weight loss efficiently. However, the point that isn't as stressed is just as important, and this is hydration! To lose weight, it really is as simple as drinking more water.

Yes, we are told to drink our 8 glasses of water a day, yet most of us don't. Not to mention, it's been scientifically proven that more than those simple 8 glasses (which most of us don't drink!) help us lose even more weight!

How does water contribute to weight loss? In more ways than you may imagine. To start off, water is calorie free (vs. juice or soda, which can have upwards of 100 calories per serving), and it helps the body rid itself of toxins (such as the additives that cause cravings for complex carbohydrates and sugars). Water also helps you feel fuller faster while eating. If you take sips of this "miracle" drink (yes, plain water is a miraculous tool for weight loss!) throughout your meal, studies show you will probably consume about ¼ less than you would were you to accompany your meal with a soda (which, another study shows actually makes you crave more food later, especially diet sodas!). And this is just the beginning of the many benefits!

Constant hydration also helps keep your stomach calm for longer periods. Many times when we feel like eating, it's not really our bodies asking us for food, just water! Drinking a glass per hour helps curb cravings by constantly keeping your stomach full and heavy, hence making us less likely to pick up a cookie because we feel "empty". Studies have shown that people who feel like snaking (or hungry) in between meals should have a glass of water instead, and in less than 20 minutes, any desire for food turns out to be false alarms... think of all the snack calories you could save!

A good piece of advice: if you feel your cravings are a bit more than just something a glass of water can fix, eat fruit! Fruits are packed with water, vitamins, and fiber, which are filling and healthy, as well as hydrating. Not to mention, an apple has way fewer calories than say, a cookie not even ¼ the same size. So you get a bigger, healthier, more hunger satisfying snack, at less than half the caloric cost!

Other than the obvious weight loss benefits of water, with helping you feel more satisfied during and in between meals, there are other pluses to hydrating properly. Drinking lots of liquid has been proven to increase metabolism and effectiveness of the intestine, hence making it easier to move your bowels and eliminate... this is good, not only because you are getting rid of all the toxic waste in your system (and that helps combat diseases both small and large, such as colon cancer), it helps your skin look more vibrant and clear; because you are eliminating waste effectively through feces, your skin doesn't need to assist on that task (i.e. pimples, blackheads and blemishes). Also, your lips will be more plump, and your eyes brighter.

Did I mention drinking lots of water also helps eliminate unnecessary headaches, migraines and joint pains? Well, it does that, too!

Proper hydration through water consumption is simple, and the benefits are large and wide. Remember that there is water in everything we consume, so you don't need to chug large quantities to meet the daily requirements. Through a healthy diet with lots of fruit and vegetables, along with a glass of water every other hour (or every hour, if you want to reap even more benefits!) you should run like the smooth machine we humans ought to be.