How much did drinking water impact your weight loss?

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Replies

  • JMC3Terp
    JMC3Terp Posts: 2,803 Member
    Is it drinking the water, or all the exercise you get running to pee?? :wink:

    This lol. I used to pee like once a day. Now I must pee at least ....6 or 7 times a day.
  • JMC3Terp
    JMC3Terp Posts: 2,803 Member
    CSARdiver wrote: »

    As I said - it's a gross calculation. It is exceptionally rare for anyone to get hyponatermia simply from water intake unless there's some metabolic disorder.

    Biologics like steady state - extreme conditions cause disorders such as hyponatremia which is why it is seen in marathon runners and extreme endurance athletes or people going from states of dehydration to overhydration.

    Bottom line - follow your thirst.

    I'm not sure its as rare as you think. It's just a ratio of your sodium levels compared to your water intake. But your point is well taken.
  • 460mustang
    460mustang Posts: 196 Member
    I switched to drinking water instead of soda, and sugary high cal drinks. So it has helped me become calorie deficient to lose weight. Now I can eat more solid food and still be within my calorie budget.
  • amillenium
    amillenium Posts: 281 Member
    I drink it because dehydration is one of my migraine triggers...dont really think it has any impact on weight loss.
  • Merkavar
    Merkavar Posts: 3,082 Member
    I have seen some people mention drinking water helped them because they ate less and drank less high calorie drinks.

    Is this really water being super awesome? Sounds like your filling up on water so your not as hungry or thirsty so you don't snack or drink coke.

    But I imagine this would be the same if you drank coke zero or some other essentially zero cal drink. Fills you up and quenches your thirst so your not snacking on donuts etc.

  • CSARdiver
    CSARdiver Posts: 6,252 Member
    Merkavar wrote: »
    I have seen some people mention drinking water helped them because they ate less and drank less high calorie drinks.

    Is this really water being super awesome? Sounds like your filling up on water so your not as hungry or thirsty so you don't snack or drink coke.

    But I imagine this would be the same if you drank coke zero or some other essentially zero cal drink. Fills you up and quenches your thirst so your not snacking on donuts etc.

    Water also helps with people needing to reset their "sweet". While there's nothing inherently bad about sugar it causes you to crave it. It's particularly bad in the United States; however most of us don't notice it unless we travel.

    I think the biggest impact to many is stomach volume - simply tricking your body to get that sensation of fullness, especially for those drinking ~30 mins prior to meals.

    The problem with drinking the zero calories sweet drinks is that it triggers appetite is many people.
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    Merkavar wrote: »
    I have seen some people mention drinking water helped them because they ate less and drank less high calorie drinks.

    Is this really water being super awesome? Sounds like your filling up on water so your not as hungry or thirsty so you don't snack or drink coke.

    But I imagine this would be the same if you drank coke zero or some other essentially zero cal drink. Fills you up and quenches your thirst so your not snacking on donuts etc.
    Well, when I say "water" I mean "flavored water sweetened with sucralose."

    And sugar doesn't cause me to crave sugar. When I've traveled, I've noticed that sweet things are sweet everywhere and non-sweet things aren't. A lot of things in Ecuador tasted sweeter, for example, because the fruits were riper when picked and fresher when eaten. The desserts were still hella sweet.

  • CJReg119
    CJReg119 Posts: 14 Member
    I'm a bit confused about how we are defining "water" here. Does the assumed benefit of drinking "water" on weight loss include all (calorie free) liquids?? For example, I drink lots of fresh-brewed iced tea. I'm thinking it's the same benefit as plain water. Thoughts?
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    CJReg119 wrote: »
    I'm a bit confused about how we are defining "water" here. Does the assumed benefit of drinking "water" on weight loss include all (calorie free) liquids?? For example, I drink lots of fresh-brewed iced tea. I'm thinking it's the same benefit as plain water. Thoughts?
    It does. The diuretic effect is basically a non-factor.

  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    Merkavar wrote: »
    My guess is none at all. I don't think my water drinking habits changed before or after losing weight.

    This.

    I've always been someone who drank plenty of water, though. If I drink more now it's only because I exercise much more. I really don't understand the whole not drinking enough thing, since for me I get thirsty and I especially hate to eat anything without something to drink too.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    CJReg119 wrote: »
    I'm a bit confused about how we are defining "water" here. Does the assumed benefit of drinking "water" on weight loss include all (calorie free) liquids?? For example, I drink lots of fresh-brewed iced tea. I'm thinking it's the same benefit as plain water. Thoughts?

    Don't see why it wouldn't be.
  • blankiefinder
    blankiefinder Posts: 3,599 Member
    No effect. I drink almost nothing. I average under 2 cups total beverages a day, mostly milk. Maybe 3 if I do a two hour workout in the gym. Still lost all my weight at a steady pace, and have been maintaining for 4 months.
  • dizzieblondeuk
    dizzieblondeuk Posts: 286 Member
    JMC3Terp wrote: »
    Is it drinking the water, or all the exercise you get running to pee?? :wink:

    This lol. I used to pee like once a day. Now I must pee at least ....6 or 7 times a day.
    Which is basically the upper end of the normal amount of times to pee per day! Once a day - not really! The way I look at it - your kidneys, when healthy, do a damn fine job of filtering out toxins in your blood, the least I can do is help them along a little by making sure they have adequate fluid to do their job! Here's the thing though, TOO MUCH water can actually reduce the kidneys' efficiency of toxin elimination!! So this whole theory of how much water you should drink (half your bodyweight etc) may actually be counterproductive. The extra water you drink doesn't stay in the body - it's eliminated in your urine - so increased urination! The figure I go by is 8 glasses/2 litres (for women) of ANY fluid per day. By the way, that's a generous figure, and probably takes most people slightly over their actual requirement, although the heavier you are, that number slightly increases.
  • brindym
    brindym Posts: 1 Member
    The more water I drink and keep going through me, the faster I lose weight and keep it off. And I feel so much healthier all around.
  • slucki01
    slucki01 Posts: 284 Member
    I don't know that it's had any direct affect. I do find that when I don't drink water I get fatigued and when I'm tired I tend to eat things I'd normally avoid. Sleep and water both seem to have an effect on my ability to stick with my plan.
  • fatcity66
    fatcity66 Posts: 1,544 Member
    None. Eating less has been been the most important factor, followed by exercising more.
  • JMC3Terp
    JMC3Terp Posts: 2,803 Member
    JMC3Terp wrote: »
    Is it drinking the water, or all the exercise you get running to pee?? :wink:

    This lol. I used to pee like once a day. Now I must pee at least ....6 or 7 times a day.
    Which is basically the upper end of the normal amount of times to pee per day! Once a day - not really! The way I look at it - your kidneys, when healthy, do a damn fine job of filtering out toxins in your blood, the least I can do is help them along a little by making sure they have adequate fluid to do their job! Here's the thing though, TOO MUCH water can actually reduce the kidneys' efficiency of toxin elimination!! So this whole theory of how much water you should drink (half your bodyweight etc) may actually be counterproductive. The extra water you drink doesn't stay in the body - it's eliminated in your urine - so increased urination! The figure I go by is 8 glasses/2 litres (for women) of ANY fluid per day. By the way, that's a generous figure, and probably takes most people slightly over their actual requirement, although the heavier you are, that number slightly increases.

    Completely agree that the half your body weight calculation isn't appropriate. I generally tell people 8 to 14 cups. That can change based on your activity level and weight though.
  • _lyndseybrooke_
    _lyndseybrooke_ Posts: 2,561 Member
    You're not going to lose fat by drinking a ton of water. You lose fat by eating at a calorie deficit.

    Drinking plenty of water does help with hydration, of course, which is important for overall health. It also can help prevent overeating, because sometimes you feel hungry when you're actually dehydrated. It also helps keep water retention in check, especially if you take in a lot of sodium. But this is just water weight, not fat.

    There's no reason to go overboard like so many people do and drink 1, 2, or more gallons of water per day. Half your weight (in lbs) in ounces is a pretty decent rule. If you WANT to drink more, go for it, but don't expect to see a difference in your fat loss because of it.

    Also keep in mind that it's fluid intake that's important - it doesn't have to all be plain water. All fluids aside from soda and alcohol can be counted toward your intake. Coffee, tea, sparkling or flavored water, etc. Even water content in food, especially fruits and vegetables, also counts...but those aren't really trackable.
  • racheln2017
    racheln2017 Posts: 45 Member
    I really haven't noticed a whole lot, except that water and green tea (which are pretty much the only things I drink besides the occasional coffee) keep me full longer and keep me from going back for seconds or overeating/snacking.
  • CSARdiver
    CSARdiver Posts: 6,252 Member
    Hot off the press - New guideline from the sports medicine community:

    http://journals.lww.com/cjsportsmed/Fulltext/2015/07000/Statement_of_the_ Third_International.2.aspx

  • daniwilford
    daniwilford Posts: 1,030 Member
    edited June 2015
    CSARdiver wrote: »
    Hot off the press - New guideline from the sports medicine community:

    http://journals.lww.com/cjsportsmed/Fulltext/2015/07000/Statement_of_the_ Third_International.2.aspx
    Summary: In all but the most extreme situations like marathons or Iron man compositions. Drink when you are thirsty and when you are no longer thirsty stop. Listen to your body, it is magnificent at achieving homeostasis.
  • angelexperiment
    angelexperiment Posts: 1,917 Member
    Well for starters I drink 4 32 oz bottles a day bc when I do I lose more. When I don't keep up with it its less. Something about helping to fatten the fat cell before it flushes out the fat and wooshes. I have actually experience woish from drinking loads of water. I lost 5 lbs in one week. This was not in the beginning or "water weight".

    Also water helps your kidneys from getting kidney infections from dehydration, and urinary tract infections so I think that counts as a health benefit. Your skin gets glowy. Your intestines work better. Your eyes are brighter. More energy.

    coffee however counts against your water intake and you have to drink 2 cups water for every 1 cup coffee. It causes malabsorption of vitamins being a diuretic. And will make you dehydrated if you drink too much. (My dr. Told me this btw bc I only drank coffee at one point)

    However tea counts towards water intake and has health benefits as long as you dont add milk n sugar.
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  • DuckReconMajor
    DuckReconMajor Posts: 434 Member
    Replacing soda with water and unsweetened tea cut out a huge number of calories i was ingesting as I was a heavy soda drinker several years ago. It also lessened my cravings for sugar as I wasn't drinking it all day.

    Drinking more water with meals helps me feel more full and reduces the temptation to overeat.

    No, there are no "magical" fat loss properties of drinking more water. But it's a great tool to help you stick to your calorie goals and benefits your overall health (unless you are part of the minority who already drink enough water on a daily basis).
  • shawnmstout
    shawnmstout Posts: 131 Member
    Water has helped me greatly. I try to drink half my weight in ounces daily. Some days are easier than others, also drinking in the warmer months is easier to do too. Good luck.

    Half your weight in ounces? That's allot of water! Lol

    depends on how much you weigh, for me i would need to call the culligan man :wink:
  • barbecuesauce
    barbecuesauce Posts: 1,771 Member
    CJReg119 wrote: »
    I'm a bit confused about how we are defining "water" here. Does the assumed benefit of drinking "water" on weight loss include all (calorie free) liquids?? For example, I drink lots of fresh-brewed iced tea. I'm thinking it's the same benefit as plain water. Thoughts?

    Tea has about 2 calories/bag. Also seems to give you a decent hit of potassium.
    http://www.caloriecount.com/calories-tea-i14355

    Personally I don't count it, but I don't count spices either.

    And its diuretic effect has been overstated. You need to first deprive yourself of it for a period of days or weeks, then drink 5-8 cups of tea in order to produce more urine than normal. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19774754
  • shawnmstout
    shawnmstout Posts: 131 Member
    I once heard that drinking water- a certain amount ( > or = 8 cups) - helps with fat reduction in and of itself. Has anyone ever heard that?

    I have heard it, but havent seen any fat loss due to water. I did a challenge of 1 gallon a day for a month, i lasted 5 days but i still drink about 1/2 gallon a day most of my days. somedays more, somedays less.
  • shawnmstout
    shawnmstout Posts: 131 Member
    Drinking water has kept me alive so I'm pretty satisfied with that

    drinking water has kept us all alive so i agree, good thing :smile:
  • eileendylan
    eileendylan Posts: 4 Member
    Drinking water helps to stay hydrated. Hunger pangs can signal thirst or can be that your body needs fuel. I drink water (prefer ice water) first to see if my hunger pangs go away. It usually does the trick so I don't end up eating!!
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