The Role of Water in Dieting - Page 2

How much water should you drink to lose weight?

It is important to get at least eight glasses of water daily or one cup for every 20 pounds of body weight. For example, a 160-pound person who does not exercise or work in hot climates needs 8 cups of water. If you exercise you need to drink even more water because of all of the water you lose while working out. To motivate yourself to drink more water fill up a gallon jug or a pitcher with the allotment of water and keep it on your desk at work or home. This will create a goal for you to complete each day and motivate you as you know you are on the right path to drinking enough water. It is important to note that these 8 glasses should be pure water and you should not count your morning cup of coffee into the total. Teas, fruit juices, coffees, and all other beverages are mainly comprised of water but it does not count in your daily goal. Your body needs pure water in order to fully hydrate and rid your body of toxins. The best indicator that you are drinking enough water is when your urine comes out pale yellow or clear. The darker the color of your urine, the more dehydrated your body is.

A trick to losing weight by drinking water is to have a glass of water before each meal. This is not only healthy for you, but it will help you control your appetite. In a most recent study scientists at Virginia Tech monitored a group of overweight men and women on low-calorie diets for three months. Only half of the group was told to drink two cups of water before every meal. At the end of the study, the water group had lost an average of 15.5 pounds compared to the other group which only lost an average of 11 pounds. Drinking water before your meal is an easy strategy to avoid filling your plate with a second serving.

More importantly increasing your drinking water levels can benefit your life in more ways than one. Water fuels your energy, stamina, and memory leading to a more healthy and happy lifestyle. Get to drinking folks!