How Water Can Help You Lose Weight

Water May Naturally Suppress Your Appetite

When you start to feel hungry, your initial impulse is to reach for food right away to cure your craving. However, sometimes thirst and hunger triggers read as the same thing in the brain. This means that your body may be trying to tell you it is dehydrated and needs more water, but you receive the signal as hunger and instead reach for food.  When the stomach senses that it is full, it will send these signals to the brain to stop eating. Water can take up space in the stomach and trick your brain into thinking you just ate a big meal when all you have done is drink two cups of water. In return, you will satisfy your cravings for food without the added calories. 

Increased Water Intake May Help Speed Up Your Metabolism

Drinking water stimulates thermogenesis (heat production) in the body, particularly when it is chilled.  In order to warm the water to body temperature, your body must expend energy. The more energy that is expended the faster your metabolism will run. Your metabolism is the process by which your body converts what you eat and drink into energy. Keep in mind that the effects of thermogenesis will not create substantial calorie deficits that result in significant weight loss. However, even if the effects are negligible, there are no downsides to drinking increased amounts of water.

Drinking Water Helps During Exercise

Water is essential to the body during exercise. When muscle cells are dehydrated, they break down protein (muscle) more quickly and build muscle much more slowly, so your workouts are much less effective. Water also helps dissolve electrolytes that include potassium, sodium, and magnesium, and dissolves them throughout the body where their electrical energy triggers muscle contractions. This is essential to help you push your body to new limits during your workouts. Without water, your body will not have the energy to dissolve the electrolytes that are essential for muscle contractions. Being adequately hydrated will also help you fight off fatigue, allowing you to work out longer and burn more calories. 

Start Your Weight Loss Journey Today!

Water is critical in every cellular activity of your body from head to toe. Drinking sufficient water throughout the day will enable your body to run more efficiently and will keep you energized. Drinking water does have some connections to weight loss but do not expect to lose significant amounts of weight just by hydrating. Although you will not lose 20 pounds in one month just by increasing your water intake, your body will still thank you and will show it in the way your body functions and with an overall healthier feeling.

Are you ready for a total body and life transformation? Our team at Jensen Fitness includes personal trainers, weight loss coaches and nutritional coaches. To find out more about our online personal training and fitness programs and how our highly qualified personal trainers in Calgary can help you achieve incredible, safe, and sustainable results, contact us by calling 403-200-0199 or by filling out our online contact form.

FAQs

Q: How much water should I drink per day?
A: For the average healthy adult, it is recommended that men drink close to 3.7L of water per day and that women should drink 2.7L per day.

Q: Why is drinking water important?
A: Water plays an essential role in all bodily functions from your ability to think, to maintaining body temperature, prevention of kidney stones , and mood regulation. 

Q: How do I find a personal trainer to help me with weight loss?
A: Contact Jensen Fitness at 403-200-0199 or fill out our contact form and one of our experienced personal trainers will reach out to you right away!