Water works for faster fat loss, 13 Jan 09

HOT HOT HOT! is anyone else suffering under this heat?  I know I am.  I mean, I love the sunshine and all but I don't think my body's loving the effects so much.  Last week I felt really lethargic, light headed and even when I bent down and tied my shoes I got a dizzy spell.  At night when I lie down to go to bed the room spins on me!  does anyone else feel like that? Maybe I have low blood pressure.  Gosh I sound like such a hypercondriac.

If I was someone else reading this I'd probably say I got a small case of heat exhaustion.  "Are you drinking enough Lisa?" I'd ask.  And that was probably the critical question, I know I don't drink enough water normally so now that we're well and truly into summer I have to guzzle water down double time.  When I'm walking outside I'm armed with my water bottle and shade my head with a cap but still I get the occasional dizzy spell so probably walking in the afternoon probably isn't a good idea.  If the weather stays like this I think Trixie will have to wait till after dinner for her walk and I'll do my cardio indoors with the fan on and be more comfortable watching the TV!

Anyway, back to the moral of this story which is WATER. I thought it would be timely to outline the benefits of having plenty of it in the body. As you know, the human body is about two-thirds water. Water is involved in every function of the body. It helps transport nutrients and waste products in and out of cells. It is necessary for all digestive, absorption, circulatory, and excretory functions, as well as for the utilization of the water-soluble vitamins. It is also needed for the maintenance of proper body temperature.

If you don't drink enough water for your weight, environment and activity, you may develop the following classic signs and symptoms such as: Headaches, Poor concentration, Tiredness, Increased risk of developing kidney infections and Constipation. Addition: Metabolic Water (that which is formed from metabolic function) accounts for approximately 10-14% of our total body water.  In a woman expending 2500cal per day this is approx 300-400ml.  Approx 1L comes from food, leaving the other 1300-1400ml to come from fluid intake.  For someone who expends more energy in a day or who is working in a hotter environment or sportsperson this fluid amount will be higher, and then of course how much are they sweating, in which case electrolytes then become just as crucial as the fluid intake. 2-3L is plenty for your average hour a day gym nut depending on the amount of cardio also - someone who's at the gym sweating it out on the treadmill will probably need a little more than a weight trainer.  People can work out how much water they're losing per exercise session.  Just weigh before and after and add the amount of water drunk.  eg 70kg to start, 69.5kg to finish and drunk 1000ml of water. 70-69.5+1=1.5L of fluid lost, which would be the extra on top of the 1L normal water.

Clear your Kidneys for faster fat loss
Water is the single most important catalyst in losing weight (and fat) and keeping it off. The kidneys cannot function properly without enough water. When they do not work to capacity, some of their load is dumped on 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 kidney's work, it cannot work at full throttle. As a result, it metabolizes less fat... more fat remains stored in the body and weight loss stops!

Hungry or Thirsty? Before you open that that fridge or cupboard door, first decide if you're actually hungry. You may think you're hungry but infact a glass of water could just do the trick to get you over the hunger pangs. Water intake is vitally important in fat burning, but also decreases hunger. Keep a bottle of water handy to help you get through to your next meal.

Drink more to lose more
Drinking an adequate amount of water every day is the best treatment for fluid retention. But when your body is given less water than it needs... it perceives the shortage as a threat to survival and will begin to retain every drop. Water reserves are stored in extra-cellular spaces (outside the cells). This water can show up as swollen feet, hands and legs. 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.

Over weight people need more water than thin people. Larger people have larger metabolic loads. Since we know that water is the key to fat metabolism it follows that the over weight person needs more water to metabolise excess fat.

Water helps to maintain proper muscle tone... which in turn, aids proper muscle contraction and prevents dehydration. It also helps to prevent the sagging skin that usually follows weight loss. Shrinking cells are buoyed by water which plums the skin and leaves it clear, healthy and resilient.
Water helps rid the body of waste. During weight loss, the body has more waste to get rid of - all that metabolized fat must be shed.

Bodybuilding, Supplements and Water Supplements need alot of water to to process and if you're a hardcore bodybuilder then you're probably taking plenty of powders and pills to help with your mass building or fat loss for that matter.  So its important for you to be drinking plenty of water! * Water improves the absorption of supplement. Creatine and fast sugars both require copius amounts of water for their muscle-enhancing effects.  Its recommended that your pre-and post workout cocktails be mixed with at least 500ml water (or other liquids)

* Water helps flush out toxins and metabolites.  This benefit is especially important to bodybuilders.  A bodybuilder's diet needs extra water to flush out excess nitrogen, ketones and urea, which are by products of a high protein diet. Furthermore, proper hydration maintains kidney function when protein consumption is high. * Water helps you stay lean. Water keeps the kidnesy healthy and active - when the kidneys remove waste effectively, the liver isn't left to lend a hand and can focus on metabolizing fats.  Water also helps curb your appetite.

The short summary is DRINK, DRINK, DRINK. Drinking lots of pure clean water is the best way to help you stay cool, mobilise fat out of your body and help you through your diet plan. Ideally train in a cool environment so you don't get overheated which is what I aim to do if this hot weather continues! Lisa, Go Figure 13 Jan 09