Water and weight loss

[Tracey1404]

Hi - sorry to ask such a basic question, but ...currently drinking around 4 pts of water a day, plus around 2pts of no-calorie hot drinks. Is this enough and would drinking more aid weight loss? I note some people when they have big loss week add comment "more water" - think I'm missing the basics of how it works....

[Elvira]

it really depends on how much water your body is holding onto i think.

i stick to 3-4.5l of water a day and usually in the first week i lose nearly 1st, then it evens out to about 4lbs a week. i can't manage anymore water! when i come off the diet, i always gain a lot in water (this time 8lbs in 4 days!!!) but it comes off pretty quickly again x

[Laura Croft]

What are the no calorie hot drinks? Unless it is tea (non flower), coffee or Marigold, I suspect t
they are affecting your weight loss.

[Tracey1404]

Thanks for your post. Just had private reply from a CDC. The water part is for rehydration only, so drinking enough to replace what we lose by being on CD is enough. If you tend to retain water, then drinking a little more will help. Other than that the equation "Water consumption = weight loss" is a myth. Thought it would be helpful to share this.

[mrsessex]

Ohhhhhh who the other day put that water = fat loss thing up oh bluddy hell or was in on LL forum when i was being nosey?

It went something like this:

More water comsumed the better decrease in fat cells and vice versa

Hope someone comes along with the thingy i'll go search anyway

I drink 5 litres a day btw x

[mrsessex]

here ya go found it

Why drink water on a VLCD ?
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 kidneys’ work, it can't operate at full throttle, so it metabolizes less fat. As a result, more fat remains stored in the body and weight loss comes to a stop.

Drinking enough water is the best treatment for fluid retention.
When the body gets less - water, it perceives it as a threat to survival and begins to hold on to every drop. Water is stored in extracellular spaces (outside the cells) and 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 lost water 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.

The overweight person needs more water than the thin one.

Larger individuals have larger metabolic loads. Since we know that water is the key to fat metabolism, it follows that the overweight person needs more water.

Water helps maintain proper muscle tone by giving muscles their natural ability to contract and by preventing dehydration.

It also helps to prevent the sagging of skin that usually follows weight loss. Shrinking cells are buoyed by water, which plumps the skin and leaves it clear, healthy and resilient.

Water helps the body get rid 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 of these primary sources. Result - constipation. But, when an individual drinks enough water, normal bowel function usually returns.

So far, we’ve discovered some remarkable truths about water and weight loss:

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

How much water is enough?

On average, a person should drink eight 8-oz. glasses every day.

However, the overweight individual needs one additional glass for every 25 pounds of excess weight.

The amount you drink should also be increased if you exercise briskly or if the weather is hot and dry.

It is preferable to drink cold water, which is absorbed into the system more quickly than warm water.

Some evidence suggests that drinking cold water can actually help burn more calories.

My recommendation to clients is 4 litres for ladies and 6 litres for bigger guys.

When the body gets the water it needs to function optimally, its fluids are perfectly balanced and:
· Endocrine-gland function improves
· Fluid retention is alleviated
· More fat is used as fuel because the liver is free to metabolize stored fat
· Natural thirst returns
· There is a loss of hunger, almost overnight

When I did the diet I put my quick and large losses down to the water, I also put the fact I have NEVER been hungry since Day 7 on the water I am drinking. Don't underestimate how much it helps you!!!

If it means finishing the diet earlier and with less pain then get glugging!!

Don't think of it as water!! Think of it as a fat attacking liquid

[Jambro]

My CDC tells me too much water isn't good!! it dilutes the sodium in your body so be careful.
I think 5ltrs is quite alot when I told him I was drinking roughly 4 ltrs to said to drink less abit less??

[mrsessex]

I do alot of treadmill jambro and sweat my tits off i need the extra x

[Jambro]

Mrsessex - LMAO!!!!!

[KD]

here ya go found it
If it means finishing the diet earlier and with less pain then get glugging!!

Snipped rather than pick out bits.

Though that 'article' is partially correct, the water is for health benefits and may or may not help fat...but we are talking about making sure you get the minimum. More water than that, doesn't mean more fat loss.

It was a myth that drinking more water to lose weight dating back about 15 years, when some guy wanted to get people drinking 8 glasses of water.

It wasn't proved that 8 glasses was needed to help fat loss, let alone double that to get more, so most good diets will suggest drinking to thirst as the body is amazing for regulating fluids and will usually tell you if it needs more

Obviously VLCDs are a little different as they are dehydrating so it's important to 'up' your fluids to at least 4 pints and more for tetras and bars...but there is no proof that 8 pints will give more.

Some people will swear it does, and others will swear it's made no difference/made the scales go up/made them feel dizzy/ill/brilliant.

But! The cons of drinking too much can outweigh more. More chance of flushing out essential nutrients, electrolytes, and feeling stressed over trying to get yet another bottle down and constant trips to the loo.

So my advise will continue to drink the minimum and more if you are thirsty (which is likely to happen more on a hot day, or if you've had a lot of exercise)...or if you just fancy a drink.

And space it out of course

[KD]

My CDC tells me too much water isn't good!! it dilutes the sodium in your body so be careful.
I think 5ltrs is quite alot when I told him I was drinking roughly 4 ltrs to said to drink less abit less??

4L should be okay. I know that on one other VLCD, 4L is considered the safe maximum before loss of nutrients can occur.

Cambridge don't have a maximum, though do state to spread out drinks.

[Tracey1404]

Thanks everyone for your posts - turned into an interesting debate on pros and cons of H20. This really is a great forum for airing thoughts, ideas and all those things we dont know much about!

[Sunshine Singer]

Hi,

I know when I drink 4 litres of water a day I have great losses compared to when I have 2 litres a day. I have far higher energy when I drink 4 litres too. If you're feeling thirsty then you're already dehydrated. Funny thing is when you first start glugging the water it feels really hard but soon your body gets used to it and needs it.

Good luck x

[KD]

If you're feeling thirsty then you're already dehydrated.

Hate to say this, but that's not exactly true either. It all depends.

We start feeling thirsty when we lose 1 to 2 percent of our total body water. That's long before we can call it dehydrated.

BTW, there's an really good book that I highly recommend for knocking myths. It's a brill read if you are interested in food/basic physiology etc Also has a chapter on the water myth.

Comes from the excellent BBC TV Series "Truth About Food"

The Truth About Food: Amazon.co.uk: Jill Fullerton-Smith: Books

Great book

[DizzyFlowers]

My CDC tells me too much water isn't good!! it dilutes the sodium in your body so be careful.
I think 5ltrs is quite alot when I told him I was drinking roughly 4 ltrs to said to drink less abit less??

I was about to post the same thing! I think everyone should be aware that although drinking alot of water helps our weightloss (and skin) drinking too much is not good at all.

x