Are you hitting your hydration goals? If not, you could be sapping your energy and ruining your ability to lose weight.
According to the Mayo Clinic most people are not aware of how much water they are drinking. “Water’s involved in every type of cellular process in your body, and when you’re dehydrated, they all run less efficiently — and that includes your metabolism. Think of it like your car: if you have enough oil and gas, it will run more efficiently. It’s the same with your body.”
Our bodies can also mix up the signals for hunger and thirst. People who are dehydrated can easily mistake the urge to drink as the urge to eat. Simply drinking a glass of water will tell you which is which.
“One study, for example, found that people who drank water before meals ate an average of 75 fewer calories at each meal. That doesn’t sound like a lot — but multiply 75 calories by 365 days a year. Even if you only drink water before dinner every day, you’d consume 27,000 fewer calories over the course of the year. That’s almost an eight-pound weight loss.”
Get Rid of The Bloat (And Constipation)!
Water also aids in digestion and helps make sure that everything goes smoothly down there so you can eliminate waste properly and avoid constipation! Many people who are dehydrated also suffer from constipation.
And if that’s not enough, by helping to flush your kidneys, water helps reduce the chances of forming kidney stones by emptying the bladder and removing excess waste from your system. Chronic dehydration is the single biggest reason for developing kidney stones!
So, how much water should you drink? According to Trent Nessler, PT, DPT, MPT, managing director of Baptist Sports Medicine in Nashville, “In general, you should try to drink between half an ounce and an ounce of water for each pound you weigh, every day.” For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, that would be 75 to 150 ounces of water a day. If you’re living in a hot climate and exercising lot, you’d be on the higher end of that range; if you’re in a cooler climate and mostly sedentary, you’d need less.”
The best advice? Make sure you’re drinking enough water to keep everything running smoothly.
Tony Bianchino, BA, MBA, CPT, CNS, CCRS
About Tony: Like all of us, my life evolved. I’ve competed in bodybuilding, earned certificates and degrees in higher education, become a certified personal trainer and nutritionist, began a career, gotten married, become a dad, and started several businesses.
With over 30 years in the fitness industry I’ve come to realize that healthy living is our responsibility. My goal is to help everyone achieve their fitness goals; whether it’s winning an athletic competition, losing a few inches off your waist or reversing health conditions such as high cholesterol. Let me help you on your journey.
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