There are two simple things you can do immediately to impact weight loss right now.
First, drink a lot of water. I know you have heard this before, but do you know how drinking water helps with weight loss? Most people do not drink enough water and walk around in a "dehydrated state." Mild dehydration will cause a 3% drop in your baseline metabolism resulting in the gain of 1 pound of fat every 6 months (Perricone Prescription). Staying hydrated will boost your metabolism.
Another tip on how drinking water helps with weight loss is that it minimizes bloating and water retention in women. These symptoms are often a result of lack of hydration. Those extra "water weight" pounds can fluctuate quite a bit daily but can be regulated by consistent hydration throughout the day. You should be drinking one-half of your ideal body weight in ounces of water per day. Look for your ideal body weight using one of the many ideal body weight charts found on line. Hydration is especially important if you are exercising regularly and dieting at the same time. Drinking plenty of water is how you flush the fat and toxins stored in your fat cells, and also how you can prevent muscle cramps.
There is a condition called "mouth hungry." This is when your brain signals that you are hungry when you are actually thirsty. If you drink a glass of water, you may find that you weren't hungry after all. Try this first before reaching for food. I have seen, from several sources, the recommendation to drink a full glass of water prior to eating to curb your hunger. If you are going to do this, drink your water at least 15 minutes prior to your meal. Water dilutes your stomach acid and can negatively impact digestion. If you experience digestion issues, you might want to curb your water intake during a meal or wait until 15 minutes after eating.
Remember that, downing your 8-10 glasses of water all in one sitting doesn't cut it. For effectiveness, staying hydrated throughout the day is how our bodies metabolize fat and how drinking water helps with weight loss. Also, when exercising, you should try to drink 3-5 ounces of water every 20 minutes.
Some symptoms associated with mild dehydration are weakness, muscle cramps, headaches, irritability, fatigue, trouble concentrating, heart palpitations, and anxiety.
Second, get enough sleep. I know that this seems so elementary, but many people get less than five hours of sleep per night. Did you know you cannot lose weight if you sleep less than five hours a night? Lack of sleep impacts metabolism and hormones. When you don't get enough sleep, the body produces more ghrelin, which is the hormone that signals hunger, and doesn't produce as much leptin, the hormone that signals fullness. Therefore, inadequate sleep can cause an increase in appetite and a decrease in your feeling of fullness. Studies from Colorado University and the University of Chicago have shown that sleep effects what, when and how much you eat. Sleep deprived individuals tend to eat 6% more calories than people who get enough sleep.
If you have trouble sleeping, dehydration may be one of the causes. Dehydration can lead to a reduction in your production of melatonin. Melatonin regulates sleep and wake cycles. It is estimated that about 70% of Americans are dehydrated. There are a lot of opinions about the ideal amount of sleep. Most can agree that about seven hours per night is ideal. Promoting sleep is another example of how drinking water helps with weight loss.
