Water - How important to weight loss...REALLY?
MrCourter
Posts: 12 Member
Please don't regard this as an ignorant question...
I understand that water is important to health. I also understand that hydration is very important.
For years I have noticed that I am a person who never truly gets thirsty. It doesn't matter how hot it is, what the level of my activity may be, or how long it has been since I last had a drink...I NEVER get thirsty. I have spoken to doctors about this time and time again and there is no true answer to my questions.
A few years ago I suffered from heat-stroke and almost died from Rhabdomyolysis (the clogging of the kidney's filter system by break down of muscle tissues). Luckily, there was no permanent damage. Once again, I NEVER got thirsty.
The odd thing about all this is that when I do drink...I can drink and drink and drink and never need to relieve myself. Which, in turn, makes me think that I was severely dehydrated and didn't even know it. It is typical for me to drink 6 or 7 glasses of water...and never need trip to the bathroom! My wife on the other hand, makes 2 trips every meal.
The Question:
So, a friend of mine told me that if I do not drink MORE water than is needed by my body, I will NEVER be able to lose any weight. He is under the impression that the only way for the body to excrete fat cells is if there is ample water in the body. He feels that the reason that it is so hard for me to lose any weight is because I am constantly dehydrated.
I am curious if anyone has found that increasing water intake has any sort of direct correlation to weight loss?
Christopher
I understand that water is important to health. I also understand that hydration is very important.
For years I have noticed that I am a person who never truly gets thirsty. It doesn't matter how hot it is, what the level of my activity may be, or how long it has been since I last had a drink...I NEVER get thirsty. I have spoken to doctors about this time and time again and there is no true answer to my questions.
A few years ago I suffered from heat-stroke and almost died from Rhabdomyolysis (the clogging of the kidney's filter system by break down of muscle tissues). Luckily, there was no permanent damage. Once again, I NEVER got thirsty.
The odd thing about all this is that when I do drink...I can drink and drink and drink and never need to relieve myself. Which, in turn, makes me think that I was severely dehydrated and didn't even know it. It is typical for me to drink 6 or 7 glasses of water...and never need trip to the bathroom! My wife on the other hand, makes 2 trips every meal.
The Question:
So, a friend of mine told me that if I do not drink MORE water than is needed by my body, I will NEVER be able to lose any weight. He is under the impression that the only way for the body to excrete fat cells is if there is ample water in the body. He feels that the reason that it is so hard for me to lose any weight is because I am constantly dehydrated.
I am curious if anyone has found that increasing water intake has any sort of direct correlation to weight loss?
Christopher
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Replies
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I actually have no idea. Wish I knew the answer !0
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Sorta...
I used to never get thirsty but since losing weight I am thirsty more often so my water intake has increased.
So yes, there is a correlation but rather than water intake increasing rate of weight loss, I think rate of weight loss increases need for water intake.
However, I don't know what would happen if I didn't increase water intake in response to my thirst, so I cant fully answer your question.0 -
Please don't regard this as an ignorant question...
I understand that water is important to health. I also understand that hydration is very important.
For years I have noticed that I am a person who never truly gets thirsty. It doesn't matter how hot it is, what the level of my activity may be, or how long it has been since I last had a drink...I NEVER get thirsty. I have spoken to doctors about this time and time again and there is no true answer to my questions.
A few years ago I suffered from heat-stroke and almost died from Rhabdomyolysis (the clogging of the kidney's filter system by break down of muscle tissues). Luckily, there was no permanent damage. Once again, I NEVER got thirsty.
The odd thing about all this is that when I do drink...I can drink and drink and drink and never need to relieve myself. Which, in turn, makes me think that I was severely dehydrated and didn't even know it. It is typical for me to drink 6 or 7 glasses of water...and never need trip to the bathroom! My wife on the other hand, makes 2 trips every meal.
The Question:
So, a friend of mine told me that if I do not drink MORE water than is needed by my body, I will NEVER be able to lose any weight. He is under the impression that the only way for the body to excrete fat cells is if there is ample water in the body. He feels that the reason that it is so hard for me to lose any weight is because I am constantly dehydrated.
I am curious if anyone has found that increasing water intake has any sort of direct correlation to weight loss?
Christopher
Directly? No. But thirst is often confused by your body as hunger. That's probably why you don't get thirsty...you just get hungry instead.
I personally drink lots of water or I tend to retain water, which is fairly common for women. But do you need to drink a certain amount of just water to lose weight? No. Does it help you regulate your body and your hunger? Yes.0 -
GREAT QUESTION!!! It's one that i've always gone back and forth about.....I love water and drink tons of it, but I do tend to think...do I need this much.
Yes, there is literature all over about it's benefits, as to the reason why I drink 64PLUS oz. a day.
I'm curious to see the feedback you get on here.
Hope you find the reasoning/answers you are looking for!
All the best!0 -
I can't answer this question...but thank yo for posting it! I am now going to get a big glass
of water! x0 -
water is crucial to your metabolism- if you drink at least 8 glasses each day, and after a couple or three days you do not start to pee more, you need to see a doctor about it, because for a few days you might just hold the water until your body figures out that it is getting steady supplies of fluid, but past a few days your body should start using that water to remove things from your body, watch the salt too because it makes you hold water0
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In for the answers to this... very interesting. Good question! I hate water (it tastes so bad! haha) so I know I don't drink enough. Wish I could help!0
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Really important ! If you don't drink enough your body retains water , causing you to bloat and weigh more , but if you drink lots you won't have as much water weight because your body won't have to cling onto old water !0
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I certainly can't say if there is any scientific correlation, but I know that for me personally, the more water I drink daily, the more weight I lose each week.
I aim to drink *at least* half my body weight in ounces of water EVERY day. Right now, that is about 88 oz (or just under 3/4 of a gallon). I *usually* wind up drinking somewhere between that and a full gallon - I have a 20 oz water bottle that I fill up and drink at least 5 times a day (100 oz), sometimes 6 times (120 oz).
I've found that for me, if I don't drink at least that amount (ie I have a really busy day at work and don't get up from my desk often enough to refill (or if I'm stuck in meetings all day)....or if I'm running around doing errands and didn't bring enough water with me), I'm sluggish, feel crappy, and if that happens too many days in a row, I gain weight (even if my eating is on track and I'm working out).
YMMV, but making sure I'm getting enough water - whether I'm thirsty or not - does make a difference for me.
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Bump to read responses, cause I have no clue.0
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hello Christopher, I do not have a scientific answer but I can share my experience. I have been trying to regain control of my health for 3 years or so. About a year ago I started taking water consumption very seriously. It has in fact impacted my weight loss. I began drinking a ridiculous amount usually 20-25 8 ounce classes per day. It makes me feel better so I think it makes my body work the way it was intended. If I do not drink enough I can tell physically. I also think it helps rid myself of extra sodium that I consume which also aids in the loss. Good luck to you and I hope you give it a try.0
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Bumping for the responses.0
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The Question:
So, a friend of mine told me that if I do not drink MORE water than is needed by my body, I will NEVER be able to lose any weight. He is under the impression that the only way for the body to excrete fat cells is if there is ample water in the body. He feels that the reason that it is so hard for me to lose any weight is because I am constantly dehydrated.
I am curious if anyone has found that increasing water intake has any sort of direct correlation to weight loss?
Christopher
Hi! For starters, your friend is sort of right, but his "bro-science" is way off. Your body does need water for normal functioning and to flush out the stuff that gets delivered to your kidneys for removal. Drinking enough water helps the body keep a balance of electrolytes. It also ensures that your blood volume is where it needs to be for your body. Drinking too much water makes you loose too much of the minerals and salts that the body needs (hyponatremia). Drinking too little mucks things up and causes problems like the one you experienced. It also doesn't allow the body to remove the things that it needs to remove, like excess sodium from things like Chinese food. The body DOES need sodium, but too much causes water retention, so you need water to carry the sodium away. (There's actually more to this, because of the relationship between salt and water on a molecular level...)
Fat cells are actually called "adipose tissue" and are a form of connective tissue in the body. The cells can change size, but you don't pee the cells out. That's a myth.
When your body metabolizes fatty acids, ketones are produced and then excreted from the body. Fatty acids aren't the same as adipose tissue though.
This might help explain why it's important to stay hydrated.
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/quest-for-hydration
While your post didn't mention diabetes, this is a good explanation as to the role that water plays in your body, as far as the regulation of insulin goes.
http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/human-biology/diabetes4.htm0 -
Great Question. I know, for me.........the more water I drink, the more weight I lose. Good luck! :drinker:0
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^ thanks for posting this "Fat cells are actually called "adipose tissue" and are a form of connective tissue in the body. The cells can change size, but you don't pee the cells out. That's a myth"
was just about to do the same.
Also, if your doc doesn't know why you never have to urinate, you need another doc. Sounds to me like chronic dehydration or something wrong with your kidneys.0 -
water is crucial to your metabolism-
But why and how is water crucial for metabolism?0 -
From a scientific point of view I find this all quite interesting. There are many people with CNS problems that don't feel hunger or thirst and obviously it can cause huge problems from both sides of the spectrum, either not knowing when you are hungry/thirsty or not knowing when you are full. Any chance you could get a second opinion from some sort of a specialist in regards to treatment?
A lot of doctors just refuse to go further with a problem unless its causing a serious problem, but you might find it's a really simple fix that a specialist could do. I know of someone who couldn't taste a single thing with his tongue whatsoever, then had a short operation on a nerve and suddenly could sense everything.0 -
water is crucial to your metabolism-
But why and how is water crucial for metabolism?
Well water is in your cells and is needed for them to function. Water is also the main way how waste products are removed from your body.0 -
Water is definitely needed by your body but I've never seen anyone provide scientific evidence that a certain amount of daily water intake is necessary for weight loss. I think it's a pretty well known fact that a normal, healthy person should be getting 64 ounces of water each day but a good part of the that need comes in the form of the food you eat and the other beverages you drink. Do not let anyone tell you that you MUST drink 64 ounces of plain water each day. I see that a lot in these forums but you do not.
Since you seem to have trouble recognizing when you're thirsty, perhaps you should set up some sort of routine for getting enough water each day. For example, drink 16 ounces in the morning when you first get up. Drink 8 ounces with your lunch in addition to anything else you might drink. Drink another 8 ounces with dinner and 8 more right before bed. If you do this, you'll get 40 ounces of plain water each day, which is more than enough unless it's hot or you're exercising heavily. You can adjust those numbers up or down as you feel you need.0 -
water is crucial to your metabolism-
But why and how is water crucial for metabolism?
Well water is in your cells and is needed for them to function. Water is also the main way how waste products are removed from your body.
The thing with "metabolism" is that the word is often confused with "the body's ability to digest food" when the word means so much more than that. It has to do with the body's ability to function on a cellular level and convert the nutrients you ingest into things your body needs and make waste products that your body has to get rid of. Potassium is critical for cardiac function at the cellular level in the heart tissue. It helps with the electrical impulses that the body generates to help the heart beat. Other elements on the periodic chart are critical for neural/brain function or energy generation. Other things, like glucose, are critical for basic cellular functions essential to life. Water helps the circulatory system get the new stuff in and the old stuff out of the cells.
If you think of your body's cells like a series of locks and channels (on a river), things only move if there's enough water to move them. If you don't have enough water to move the sodium to where it needs to go (either in or out) it causes problems because the ratio is thrown off. If you have too much water, that causes too much stuff to be moved out and causes problems.
For example, if you pee out too much potassium, it can actually cause a disruption of the heart's electrical system and land you in the cardiac unit of the local hospital, if you're lucky. On the other hand, something has to be terribly wrong with the body to have too much potassium, since most people don't eat nearly enough of it.
This might provide some additional clarification, assuming the definition of "metabolism" isn't limited strictly to how fast the body digests food.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2908954/0 -
I am fairly new to posting on message boards so I don't really know how to direct this reply to a specific person. However, I want to thank everyone for all of the quick and detailed responses. As far as water and weight-loss correlations, many seem to believe there is a definite case to be made. Others have provided some good scientific data and advice. As for my problem not knowing when to take a drink...there is actually many apps for that. The one I use is for iPhone called "waterlogged" and it has an alarm that goes off and tells me when to stop and take a drink.0
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The "you need 64oz of water a day" idea is allegedly accurate, based on what we lose with perspiraiton, urination and condensation (breathing) but you get most of it from food.
If you are restricting how much you eat, then you need to drink more to compensate. Thirst and hunger are only "confused" because when you are hungry, you are usually thirsty as well.
You DO NOT NEED TO DRINK 5 LITRES OF WATER A DAY. No one does. All that drastically upping your water consumption does is make you feel full temporarily (hunger is hunger. Water will not satisfy that) and dilute, or worse, wash out, any nutrients in your body. There is no scientific evidence to the contrary that I know of. It's just yet another BS chinese whispers dieting rumour. If you need 4 pints of water, then 4 litres must be better! Seriously, think about it; what could the evolutionary advantage possibly be of requiring that much water to be healthy?
Drinking more aids weight loss only because it stops you from eating.
Just drink when you're thirsty.0 -
I am fairly new to posting on message boards so I don't really know how to direct this reply to a specific person. However, I want to thank everyone for all of the quick and detailed responses. As far as water and weight-loss correlations, many seem to believe there is a definite case to be made. Others have provided some good scientific data and advice. As for my problem not knowing when to take a drink...there is actually many apps for that. The one I use is for iPhone called "waterlogged" and it has an alarm that goes off and tells me when to stop and take a drink.
The application sounds like a nice find, especially if you don't get thirsty and are prone to the type of issue you stated in your initial post.
As far as directing responses, if you click "Quote" at the bottom of someone else's response, it'll bring up what they typed followed by [ /quote ] Anything before the brackets is their text and will show up in the lil grey box. You can delete some of it if it's a really lengthy post and you just want to quote a small part. You just need to keep anything in brackets [ ] ro preserve the code. 
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Heres an article from www.fitnessfilter.co.uk:
You may be thinking… “Of course water is important” but we want you to understand how important. We understand we may be teaching you to suck eggs, but we are firm believers in the power of knowledge. If you know what something does inside you, then you will understand the importance of it to your goals. Especially concerning WEIGHT LOSS!
Water is the most important aspect for losing weight and this is why:
Drinking water with a meal may make you feel full sooner and therefore satisfied eating less.
Water helps maintain muscle tone by assisting in their ability to contract. It also lubricates your joints. Proper hydration can help to reduce muscle and joint soreness when exercising.
A healthy (weight loss) contains fibre. While fibre is normally helpful to your digestive system, without adequate fluids it can cause constipation instead of helping to eliminate it.
Burning calories creates toxins (think of a car exhaust). Water plays a vital role in flushing them out of your body.
Initial weight loss is largely due to loss of water. You need to drink enough water to avoid dehydration.
The process of burning calories requires an adequate supply of water in order to function efficiently as dehydration slows down the fat-burning process. Just because you do not „feel‟ dehydrated doesn‟t mean your drinking enough.
Dehydration causes a reduction in blood volume, this causes a reduction in the supply of oxygen to your muscles, making you feel tired.
Your liver uses water to metabolise fat cells. If you are not consuming enough water, you can‟t burn fat.Surely it‟s easy? Just drink water. This is about you and will power. If you look at the supermarket shelves there are lots of diet drinks and alternatives. Your initial thoughts may be hmmm, I can have this. 0 sugar, 0 Calories, 0 Fat, 0 salt and „the same great taste…‟ Fizzy drinks are ACIDIC. Your body has to use water to neutralise the acid level in your stomach caused by the fizzy drink. This process takes the water from your body. If it is not replaced you become dehydrated. If you become dehydrated, you won‟t lose fat, gain muscle or feel good!
So it‟s simple. Drink water all day. At least 8 glasses every day and have a large bottle for when you exercise, drinking small sips throughout. Have a can of fizzy pop as a treat once a week. This isn‟t not about taking all your treats away; it‟s about having the will power to say “this is not good for me‟ and enjoying it more when you give yourself a treat!0 -
My experience - A few years ago I passed out and fell down the stairs, because I was so dehydrated and my BP dropped (according to the docs @ the ER). We had spent the weekend @ the beach and I might have had about 16 ozs of water each day, plus a grande mocha from Starbucks. Later the same year I had kidney stones and the urologist said I needed a minimum of 8 glasses a day or more. He said you need more if you live in hot climates (like Florida) because of perspiration. I do find I lose more weight when I am adequately hydrated and I feel a lot better too!0
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Not at all important, there are other sources of water other than water. That doesn't mean there are not benefits (thought the science does not support it), it is just you can lose weight quite happily without ever touching a single drop of water.0
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Before giving my two cents I read what some other folks thought.
I use to HATE water. It would acutely upset my stomach. (sloshing around)
Now I love it VERY cold. Very pure. I drink it filtered through my frig and then bottles and refrigerated.
I have noticed that when I think I want something sweet, drinking water often gets rid of that craving. So I agree with the person who said instead of feeling thirsty you fee "hungry". After the scare you had I really wish you would drink at least 10 glasses of water a day. Also, the person who suggested your body may be retaining it….have you ever upped your water intake for a few days to see if it increased your need to eliminate? Regardless of weight loss, water is IMPERATIVE for good health, which I think is a big reason most of us are looking to lose the weight.
Best of luck, and bottoms up!0 -
The 8 glasses of water a day myth was created by the bottled water industry. Thanks for that Danone.0
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Just a comment about the "more must be better" thing...
Too much water can cause a condition called hyponatremia, where you have diluted the minerals in your body with so much water you don't have a high enough concentration for your nerves to conduct properly (among other things). It can be fatal if untreated.
As with everything, moderation seems to be the key. Too little water = dehydration. Too much water = hyponatremia.0 -
I shoot for 1oz/lb. That's 190oz a day. I backed off a few times and the weight loss slowed. Can't say why that is but seems to be pretty important. Defiantly helps with meeting my calorie goals too cuz I don't feel so hungry,
Downside - peeing like every hour.
I find it's easy to meet that goal if I just fill a 59oz Pure Leaf tea bottle with water and tell myself "drink 3 of these today".0
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