Water - How important to weight loss...REALLY?

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MrCourter
MrCourter Posts: 12 Member
in Food and Nutrition
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
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Replies

  • donyellemoniquex3
    donyellemoniquex3 Posts: 2,384 Member
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    I actually have no idea. Wish I knew the answer !
  • pluckabee
    pluckabee Posts: 346 Member
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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.
  • rowanwood
    rowanwood Posts: 510 Member
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    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.
  • MrsTorresisBACK
    MrsTorresisBACK Posts: 98 Member
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    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!
  • mujimu87
    mujimu87 Posts: 29
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    I can't answer this question...but thank yo for posting it! I am now going to get a big glass
    of water! x
  • sharonfoustmills
    sharonfoustmills Posts: 519 Member
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    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 water
  • butreally12
    butreally12 Posts: 67 Member
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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!
  • thiswillbeit
    thiswillbeit Posts: 23 Member
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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 !
  • gobonas99
    gobonas99 Posts: 1,049 Member
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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. :smile:
  • Mgregory723
    Mgregory723 Posts: 529 Member
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    Bump to read responses, cause I have no clue.
  • BoboGritt
    BoboGritt Posts: 72 Member
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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.
  • NavyKnightAh13
    NavyKnightAh13 Posts: 1,394 Member
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    Bumping for the responses.
  • SyntonicGarden
    SyntonicGarden Posts: 944 Member
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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.htm
  • sunbaby2013
    sunbaby2013 Posts: 18
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    Great Question. I know, for me.........the more water I drink, the more weight I lose. Good luck! :drinker:
  • Lmullaney79
    Lmullaney79 Posts: 21 Member
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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.
  • Kicker12
    Kicker12 Posts: 52 Member
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    water is crucial to your metabolism-

    But why and how is water crucial for metabolism?
  • pyrowill
    pyrowill Posts: 1,163 Member
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    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.
  • pyrowill
    pyrowill Posts: 1,163 Member
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    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.
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
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    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.
  • SyntonicGarden
    SyntonicGarden Posts: 944 Member
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    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/

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