Water is the key !!
I notice a big difference when I don't drink at least 2.5 litres a day in fact if I drink 3 litres it makes a bigger difference. I notice this more when Im not at work as being at work makes it easier for me to get the water down me as I am in a routine. When Im at home or on hols I often forget to drink as much and it really does affect my weight loss.
There was a fabulous post on here some weeks back about what it is that the water does and exactly how it affects the body . But I can't find it :cry:
Arrrgh my laptop keeps playing up and wants to write in italics and then goes back to normal.!! So apologies for disjointed writing!! 
An yways here is some good tips about water and weight loss............
"Why IS adequate water consumption the foundation of a good weight loss program?
Actually, adequate consumption is a LOT more than that, it's the foundation of a healthy lifestyle. It's pivotal in a variety of critical bodily processes like...
o regulating body temperature
o lubricating the joints
o nutrient transportation
o removal of various waste materials from the body
o ensuring proper digestion
o maintaining healthy skin tone
And as far as benefits pertaining *directly* to weight loss?...
o water maintains and encourages proper kidney function, which increases the efficiency of the liver's fat burning ability.
o it also acts as an appetite suppressant -- people on diets who do not increase their water intake are generally much hungrier than those who do!
o water intake reduces water retention -- yes, believe it or not. If your body is deprived of water, it is more likely to hold onto what little it has. On the other hand, increasing your water intake will cause your body to stop hoarding its limited supplies. It's not unheard of for people to lose 3-4 lbs. of weight shortly after increasing their water intake.
o helps the body function at its most optimal level, which means its much easier to burn unwanted fat.
Note: It's important to note that whith water, don't include tea or coffee.
Tea and coffee contain caffeine, which has a dehydrating effect.
Water... just plain old H2O.
With that said, why isn't everybody drinking enough?
Well for one, I suspect that because it's such an unassuming liquid (no magic ingredients of any sort, that it's hard to imagine it having such dramatic effects.
Other reasons?
Some people don't like the taste. Others are afraid they'll be fired from their jobs if they need to use the loo every 20 minutes. There are all kinds of reasons.
However, I'll make you a promise...
If you make a concerted effort to get through 2 of those 1.5 litre (50 oz) bottles a day for the next 3-4 days, I guarantee you WILL feel substantially better.
Because unless you are currently taking in that much water, there's a 99.9% chance that you are dehydrated
NOW! Here's what's really cool about this...
Because most of us have never been fully hydrated, we don't recognize that how we feel *right now, at this minute* is a result of water deprivation -- after all, we've felt this way for years, right?
Exactly.
But if you make an effort to drink those two bottles a day for a minimum of 3-5 days, you will notice an amazing difference.
Tips: How to Drink Your 80-100 oz of Water Daily!
First off -- this seems like a lot, but it isn't really (I've managed to drink 2X that -- or 4 X 1.5 liter bottles in a single day). Believe me, it's easy to do... if you are organized, and start early in the day.
Here's some tips that help keep me on track...
o Every evening, I like to make sure I've got a couple of bottles tucked away in the fridge so I can start the next day with ice-cold water. Lukewarm water is much harder to drink.
o For some unknown reason, I find it easier to consume my daily allotment if I drink it directly out of the bottle, and not from a glass. No idea why this is, but give it a try and see if it helps.
o I like to make sure my daily allotment is readily at hand. Like everything else, prepare for your success!
o If you'd like a nice long *uninterrupted* night's sleep, gradually drop off your consumption in the evening. ;-)
o Sip away at your water like you would anything else. Forget about how much you have to drink, just drink!
Oh, and just one more thing...
Initially, you will require more frequent loo breaks. Don't worry though -- things will settle down after a couple of days.
Get drinking! "
Good tips me thinks!! Only wish I'd written it!
