Does drinking water really matter?

cvpis4me

I'm into my 4th week of MFP and so far this week I'm up about 1.4 pounds since Sunday's weigh-in. I also only logged a 1 pound loss for Week 3 when I had 2+ pound losses during Weeks 1 and 2. I don't get it. I stick to my calories (1200 a day), eat back most, if not all, my exercise calories and I exercise 3 days a week. The only thing that's changed is that I'm only drinking about 32 oz of water a day versus the recommended 64 oz. Is it possible that drinking that much water has helped with my weight loss, or did I just lose 5 pounds of water weight and now I'm simply slowing down into a more normal routine?

abnerner

Number 1) 6 pounds in about 4 weeks is exactly how I was, it's a pretty normal (and awesome) number.
Number 2) I personally do not drink 64oz of water a day but if you are eating lots of sodium rich foods or heavy foods, your body may be holding onto water. By drinking more water (I know this sounds weird) it'll help flush out all of that sodium, etc.

Do not get discouraged! This is a slow journey but one that'll be worth it!

Amazon_Who

Also remember weight loss does not chart as a steady straight decline for most people.

Im_NotPerfect

For me, it definately does! I can tell when I don't drink my normal amounts on the weekends. My body likes to retain water, so when I get back to work on Mondays, I tend to drink as much as possible and I'm able to flush my system. I typically have a 3-5 lb difference between Monday morning and Monday night!

Typically during the week, I drink between 100 - 120 oz of water per day. I kind of crave it...

Mommy_x3

I drink 64-96oz of water a day. It helps to keep you hydrated and to flush out your system. Being hydrated helps your body run.
Most people, when they feel hungry are actually thirsty. I have found that if you are hungry for a snack, drink a glass of cold water and it will curb your hunger.

I'm sure you can find 100 or more different reasons why it is important and a key that aids in weight loss. Just google it!

therealangd

You are doing really well. 6 lbs in 4 weeks is perfect.

Your sodium is a little high. You should probably try and cut out some of the processed foods and replace it with whole foods. Sodium contributes to water retention. Which could mask fat losses and keep you discouraged. I'd also double check your calorie counts with packages. I don't know for sure, but I questioned a couple of things in your diary that were what I thought on the low side. There are some really wrong counts in the database.

As far as drinking water. A better indicator of your water intake is urine. If your urine is clear or pale yellow, then you are fine. You don't necessarily have to drink 64 oz.

SilentRenegade

I try to stick with over 64oz a day, but I am also on Depo-provera, and the more water you take in, the less likely you are to retain it... I know it sounds counterproductive, but increasing my water intake started my weight loss off good. Also, I feel like crap if I don't drink enough water now because my body is so used to it. Give it a shot for about a week and see how you feel... I do know it's important especially if you're working out a lot. You want to stay hydrated!

As for the sporadic random weight loss each week... it happens, all the time. I lose weight in chunks and then get stuck for a while, and then randomly it comes off like that again. I accept it and don't get discouraged.

ksiverts

As for the sporadic random weight loss each week... it happens, all the time. I lose weight in chunks and then get stuck for a while, and then randomly it comes off like that again. I accept it and don't get discouraged.

It was good to hear this...I was doing great and lost 8 lbs in the first two months and now I've been stuck at the exact same weight for the last 4 weeks. It's so tempting to give up, but I know I need to stick with the healthy eating and exercise. How long did you plateau at any given time?

jennkess

if you are exercising now where before you were not your body NEEDS the water. your muscles will be craving it and holding on to whatever they can get if it is not enough. it does wonders to flush your system out, as commented before, and your skin will start to glow.

when you wake up drink a full glass of water before anything else, you will start to feel more energized, it's our body's natural caffeine

and 6lbs in 4 weeks is AMAZING :flowerforyou: you may slow down to around 1 lbs per week but slow and steady is the way to keep the weight off. and if you are hungry- eat it's your body asking for fuel, just make good choice in the food rather than a quick candy bar or bag of chips.

kateroot

For weight loss purposes, drinking water doesn't really make a difference. I know it helps me because I drink almost a gallon a day, and THAT much water keeps me full between meals.. but for the most part, you don't need to drink water unless you're thirsty. There's no added benefit.

joolieoh

I'm having trouble getting kick started in the 4th week of MFP too... teetering up and down 3 pounds in a day, never really down much more than a pound. I think this week the first pound is actually gone. Kick starting your metabolism is a hard thing to do, once you hit a certain age.

As for drinking water, from medical folks you get a varied response... here's something I read on quora that makes a good case for water:

"It makes sense that elevated water consumption correlates with weight loss.

- Drinking water makes you feel full, and will make you eat less if you drink it right before a meal.
- Drinking plain water will make you less likely to drink carbohydrates, in sodas, juice, etc.
- Breaking down fat and (especially) protein produces tons of waste products that the liver and kidneys need water to flush out.
- Many that are on weight loss programs exercise, and exercising makes use of a lot of water for cooling, and needs to be replaced.

There is actually also some evidence that suggests that cold water burns calories "on it's own". There was a study[1] done on metabolism and water consumption, that found that metabolism temporarily increased measurably when drinking 500ml of waters. It's not a lot though - in the time it was increased (about half an hour) the participants burned an extra 25 calories (that's 5 M&Ms, plain, not peanut). In the male participants the calories came mostly from stored fat, in the women it came from stored carbohydrates. The researchers theorized that most of the effect comes from the body using energy to war the water in the stomach. If that is the case, cold water would be more efficient for burning calories.

[1] Published by Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, December, 2003, can't find it online though"

This answer was posted by an internal medicine specialist:

"Strictly, drinking water will not make you loss weight, alone or as the core measure for it.
And there is no reliable evidence to support the myth about the 2 liters of free drinking water per day as a real need for everyone.
Thirst is the most accurate and personal indicator about how much water every person should take, according to the very individual metabolic needs.
The only trusted and healthy way for weight loss still the same:
A careful plan that includes appropriate individualized exercise and diet adjustments. In the diet part goes the water intake recommendation for you."

I tend to think that the latter is the most practical advice on the subject of drinking water. It boils down to how fast or slow your metabolism functions- and only you and your support practitioner (doctor, dietitian, trainer) can determine that.

Personally though, drinking water has made me feel better. At the start of my lifestyle change the way i approached the water consumption challenge was to use it as a replacement. If I was hungry for a snack, I drank water instead and waited a few minutes to see if i felt sated. When I craved a diet soda, again, I drank water. When i felt a dip in my energy, i had a glass of water. Drinking water is now become second nature, I easily consume the 8/12 oz glasses of water. I have no idea if it helps with weight loss, or if I am now carrying more water weight, but I certainly feel it's helping with my sense of well being.

Best of Luck!

SilentRenegade

My plateaus last anywhere from a few weeks to over a month. I find it harder during the Winter months and easier during the warmer months (probably because I want to actually leave my house). I also stop obsessively weighing myself for a while and then get a surprise when I do.

cvpis4me

In the beginning I used to drink lots of water to taper the hunger I felt from my new lifestyle (I hate the word diet). But now that I no longer feel hungry all the time and I'm getting used to the 1,200 calories a day I find myself drinking less water. I think that's part of the reason why I decreased my water consumption. I'll kick it up a notch and see if that helps out. I've also been trying to curb the sodium but it's hard to keep everything in check. Either my sodium is low and my carbs are high or my carbs are low and my protein is high, etc. Unless I eat just fruits and veggies all day it seems like a no-win situation