DOES WATER REALLY AFFECT WEIGHT LOSS?

Striving4Fit_MrsOrtiz

Ok first of, I drink only water but not the recommended amount, maybe about 2 cups a day. These past two weeks I've been trying to force myself to drink more water, but unless I'm exercising I find it hard to drink so much. Which in a way I don't understand why I can't because before I could ALMOST drink a whole 2 liter of coke by myself. Before I started this journey I knew that drinking water instead of sugary beverages could affect weight loss in a positive way. So I guess my question to you is, if I drink more than 2 cups of water a day will I see more of a loss on the scale?

P.S: I've been losing weight just drinking these 2 cups of water and staying within my calorie goal.

AlyRoseNYC

Even if you were not trying to lose weight, I think drinking more than two cups would be beneficial for keeping yourself hydrated. Hopefully someone with more knowledge on this will chime in.

jenbk2

I have noticed that if I do not drink water i bloat up. Also if you are taking in alot of sodium drinking water will help flush it out.

broox80

Ugghh I really do HATE water. But I have noticed that on days that I force myself to drink it, I drink it all day long. Its just getting that first few cups down then I am good. I also can tell a real difference on days I drink a lot of water. I am not as tired and I feel fuller all day.

cgrout78

I don't know if it does or not, but I know I drink about a gallon a day and I feel better when I do. On days that I don't drink much water I feel more sluggish and bloated.

msliu7911

I've been wondering this too. Other than helping with the obvious bloat and keeping hydrated/full, does it do anything else for you as far as burning fat/ feeding muscles/increasing metabolism?

tigersword

Ok first of, I drink only water but not the recommended amount, maybe about 2 cups a day. These past two weeks I've been trying to force myself to drink more water, but unless I'm exercising I find it hard to drink so much. Which in a way I don't understand why I can't because before I could ALMOST drink a whole 2 liter of coke by myself. Before I started this journey I knew that drinking water instead of sugary beverages could affect weight loss in a positive way. So I guess my question to you is, if I drink more than 2 cups of water a day will I see more of a loss on the scale?

P.S: I've been losing weight just drinking these 2 cups of water and staying within my calorie goal.

Water does NOT have any effect on fat loss, no. Drink for hydration, don't worry about an arbitrary number.

mischief1on1

Simpleness:
Your body is 98% water. It retains water if you don't drink enough. Drinking more water allows your body to be constantly hydrayted and will lose more weight.

You and your body will get used to the additional water in no time.

onedayillbeamilf

YES

rgrange

if you hadn't posted the title in capslock I wouldn't have opened the thread.

catherun

I don't think that water makes you burn calories faster or anything. I think it's weight loss benefits are just a direct result of what it DOES do. Water flushes your system, it makes you feel fuller, etc. I think it more influences weight loss by causing you to make other healthy decisions.

mischief1on1

I don't know if it does or not, but I know I drink about a gallon a day and I feel better when I do. On days that I don't drink much water I feel more sluggish and bloated.

Me too!

sculley

If you don't drink enough imo your body will hold on to what you do have...water retention has never been a good thing in my experience.

lizard053

Proper hydration is a must for sustained weight loss. Most people go around dehydrated most of the time, causing the body to retain water, and appearing like more weight on the body.
Does water help you lose weight? No. But here's some things it can do to maximize your weight loss:
Keep you fuller longer
Clear your complexion (ok, not weight loss, but who wouldn't like this??)
Keep your digestive tract working properly
Flush "toxins" out of your body
Flush excess sodium
Minimize the occurence of kidney stones
Reduce the chances of getting a bladder or UT infection
Keeps the liver and kidneys functioning properly
Lubricates the joints
Allows you to sweat properly
Reduce bloating and water retention

Hope something here helps motivate you! I drink around a gallon of water a day. More in the summer, less in the winter. But I drink more tea in the winter, so I'm still getting my fluids!

Bentley2718

While, as you state, replacing sugary or other calorie laden beverages with water will help with weight loss, drinking more water will not help you lose weight more quickly. It *might* help with water retention, but last time I checked, it is *fat* people usually want to lose, not water (even small amounts of excess water). As for people who say you need to drink 8 (or more) glasses of water to stay hydrated under normal conditions--there is little or no scientific evidence to support this claim, please see: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=eight-glasses-water-per-day

icandoit203

It does help me I drink only water now I haven't had soda in a while so im used to it by now. Maybe if you try other methods of drinking water with the flavored water or crystal light, even though it has sugar it's not as much as a soda. If you drink tea that could be another way to get your water intake in also

robinskv

Not sure you need to call someone an idiot because they used all caps. Are you so perfect that you can sit on high and judge?

spenyweit

I notice that when I drink water, I feel fuller, desire to splurge less often, and maintain mind control over my diet. I was in the military and this is where I learned that drinking water all day takes your mind off food...it tricks your brain. I think this is what can ultimately result in greater weight loss for most people. Good luck...I have a hard time with it too, but, high cholesterol, diabetes, and high blood pressure...it is more important that at 33 with two kids that I lose weight and live. Its not a choice for me anymore, its survival of the fittest!

AlyRoseNYC

Not sure you need to call someone an idiot because they used all caps. Are you so perfect that you can sit on high and judge?

Report the reply for blatantly violoating the TOS. That's what I did.

BalenciaLynn

I read somewhere that if you drink a glass of water before every meal its supposed to fill you up so your not eating as much, i also read that sometimes your body thinks that its hungry when really your just thirsty so drinking lots of water will keep it in balance.

I know drinking water is supposed to help clear up your skin so i try to get in at least 100oz a day

mes1119

You need an adequate amount of water for daily bodily functions. Some people claim that it helps aid in weight loss but it has never really been proven from what I've found.

That being said, depending on your diet, you may get a lot of your water from food sources. Some fruits and vegetables are made almost entirely out of water. Even foods you don't expect have water. Ever wonder where all the water goes when you cook rice?

Personally? I love water. I probably get twice the recommended amount but I never track it because I have no need to.

lau444

Taken from: http://wwwdirjournal.com/health-journal/why-is-drinking-water-so-important/

Here are just some of the top reasons you need to drink more water.
■We’re made out of water—Between 60 to 70% of your body is made from water. Your blood, muscles, tissues, and other parts are your body are basically water as well. Because so much of our body is made from water, it only makes sense that we need to drink a lot of water to keep our bodies running properly.
■Other drinks can’t keep you hydrated—Caffeinated drinks—especially sodas—actually make you even thirstier after you drink them. That’s because the caffeine acts as a diuretic, leading to more urination and more dehydration. Simply put, soda and other drinks just can’t hydrate the body like water does. That’s not to say you should stop drinking these beverages altogether, but don’t use them as substitutes for your daily water intake.
■Lack of water causes fatigue—Dehydration is one of the top causes of severe fatigue. So, if you aren’t drinking enough water, you’re probably tired all day long, and you might not have the energy to exercise, causing you to stay tired and out of shape. Don’t rely on caffeine to give you an energy boost, but instead, start drinking the recommended 8-10 glasses of water every day.
■Water is necessary for good digestion—Remember earlier when I said your body is made out of water and that it needs water to run properly? Well, this goes for digestive functions as well. If you’re dehydrated, your body won’t be able to break down foods as effectively as it normally does. Poor digestion can cause a wide range of problems, from constipation to severe abdominal pain.
■Water helps blood circulate properly—Water is a necessary ingredient for proper blood flow in the body. As you drink more water, oxygen levels in your bloodstream will increase, leading to better circulation and improved overall health. Good blood flow can help increase your energy levels and burn more fat.
■Toxins get flushed out by water—Your kidneys act as a filter. But for them to work as they should, they need to have plenty of water intake. By drinking the recommended 8-10 glasses of water each day, your kidneys will do their job more effectively, and your body will also expel more harmful toxins from the digestive tract.
■Water helps you burn fat—Drinking water can help you stay skinny in a few different ways. First, a lack of water actually slows protein synthesis—the muscle building function in your body. So, if you want to burn fat and add muscle, your body needs to be fully hydrated. Also, staying hydrated ensures that you don’t confuse thirst for hunger, causing you to overeat and gain more weight.

sarahdee2007

I have noticed that if I do not drink water i bloat up. Also if you are taking in alot of sodium drinking water will help flush it out.

I second this. If I go over my sodium, I bloat. If I skip water, I bloat. Both? Yeah, it makes a difference. I try to get my 64oz or more. Try drinking a bit in between bites. It helps me get full faster, and keeps me from over eating (sometimes-lol) I don't know if it helps me lose weight, but I feel better drinking water.

Heaven71

Ok first of, I drink only water but not the recommended amount, maybe about 2 cups a day. These past two weeks I've been trying to force myself to drink more water, but unless I'm exercising I find it hard to drink so much. Which in a way I don't understand why I can't because before I could ALMOST drink a whole 2 liter of coke by myself. Before I started this journey I knew that drinking water instead of sugary beverages could affect weight loss in a positive way. So I guess my question to you is, if I drink more than 2 cups of water a day will I see more of a loss on the scale?

P.S: I've been losing weight just drinking these 2 cups of water and staying within my calorie goal.

I hated water, never drank it, ever! I could be dying of thirst and would ait for something with flavor. The closest I got was using crystal light.

Since joining, late last year, I now drink between 8 and 15 glasses a day. I FELL SOOOO GOOD!!! It helps flush toxins, keeps your urinary tract clean and healthy and thats just the beginning.

Did I mention how WONDERFUL I feel? It also helps me to stay full. I LOVE MY WATER.

Okay how to do it. Get a 24oz bottle, keep it in hand, drink, refill, drink until you have had 3 of them, then pat yourself on the back and keep going!

opus649

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2010/12/08/the-myth-behind-drinking-8-glasses-of-water-a-day/

Highlights from the study:

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On four separate occasions, the subjects consumed water or water plus varying combinations of beverages. The beverages were carbonated, caffeinated, caloric, and noncaloric colas and coffee. Body weight, urine, and blood evaluations were performed before and after each treatment.

Grandjean found that there were no changes in the body weight, urine, or blood evaluations for the different beverages. The study found no significant differences in the effect of various combinations of beverages on the hydration status of healthy adult males. Grandjean concluded that advising people to disregard caffeinated beverages as part of their daily fluid intake is not supported by the results of her study.

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Under some circumstances, significant fluid intake — at least eight 8-ounce glasses — is advisable: for the treatment or prevention of kidney stones, for example, as well as under special circumstances, such as performing strenuous physical activity or enduring hot weather.

However, most people currently are drinking enough water and, in some cases, more than enough. There is potential harm in drinking too much water (Hale, 2010). Water intoxication, a life-threatening condition, can occur when one drinks excessive amounts of water.

cwag_afw

My husband went to the weight doctor and in his book it says that the recommended amount of water is 8 8oz glasses a day. However, the overweight person needs more. It suggests drinking 32 oz of water 3 times a day in a 30 minute period. It talked about how your organs need that much water to function properly etc. I have been doing this for about 3 weeks now and I honestly feel better and have more energy! The first few days were awful but now I don't feel right if I don't drink it!!

Quasita

Water is required for metabolic processes, so if you don't drink enough, it won't change that per se but it will promote dehydration even farther. I can't imagine only drinking 2 glasses a day. How big are these glasses??

Anyway, it's not like you won't lose weight but your body could have a harder time with a lot of things and be more prone to painful ailments so I would increase for sure.

Kristy_Elizabeth

I don't know the answer to your question, but here is some unsolicited advice, take it or leave it for what it's worth I was totally addicted to Mountain Dew and Coke. I started out making myself drink a small (8 ounce) glass of water every morning to start out the day. Then I started drinking a small glass before every meal. Once we started eating six times a day, that seemed like a lot, but I stuck with it. Since working out more I've been more thirsty and added in a glass for my workouts, which are twice a day. That gets nine glasses a day down without me even having to think about it. The past few days I have wanted more and actually drank 10 to 12 glasses. I do feel better with more energy, but I haven't noticed it affecting my weight loss. If you tie the water to something you do every day, such as eating, I think it makes it easy for the water to become a good habit.

minnesota_deere

Ok first of, I drink only water but not the recommended amount, maybe about 2 cups a day. These past two weeks I've been trying to force myself to drink more water, but unless I'm exercising I find it hard to drink so much. Which in a way I don't understand why I can't because before I could ALMOST drink a whole 2 liter of coke by myself. Before I started this journey I knew that drinking water instead of sugary beverages could affect weight loss in a positive way. So I guess my question to you is, if I drink more than 2 cups of water a day will I see more of a loss on the scale?

P.S: I've been losing weight just drinking these 2 cups of water and staying within my calorie goal.

I drink tons of water it reduces my food intake tremendously.

Skinnydee71

You should be drinking at least 64 to 72 oz of water a day. I add different kinds of fruit to my water like, lemon, lime, orange, pink grapefruit or sometimes I add fresh strawberry slices. And I add lots of Ice to my water. good luck!

tbresina

I've been wondering this too. Other than helping with the obvious bloat and keeping hydrated/full, does it do anything else for you as far as burning fat/ feeding muscles/increasing metabolism?

I have heard it is good for your skin.....ill try anything!