If you’ve ever tried to lose weight for either health reasons or aesthetic reasons, you’ll likely know how difficult it can be. There’s no quick fix or easy answer for getting in shape or losing weight, but water is one of the simple things that can help make things easier for you. Read on to find out how…
Portion control
If you drink water during a meal, then it fills your stomach a little more than food alone would. So, simply drinking more can mean you’re less likely to overeat as you will become fuller more quickly. Stopping to take sips of water after a couple of mouthfuls also makes you take your time more when you eat, which has also been found to affect portion control and feelings of fullness.
Curbing cravings
When we feel hungry or are craving a particular food, it can sometimes just be feelings of thirst that are getting mixed up in our brains. When you feel like having a sugary snack in between meals or late at night, try drinking a glass of water and then waiting 30 minutes. You might find that your hunger or cravings pass on their own.
More energy
When you’re dehydrated, your body can’t function as well as it should do. This leaves you feeling tired and lethargic, and if you’re feeling low, then you might turn to unhealthy food to make you feel better. Staying hydrated also gives you more energy to be active and exercise, if this is a part of your weight loss regime.
Reduce the number of calories you drink
If you tend to drink a lot of sugary drinks, then replacing these with water will decrease the number of calories and the amount of sugar that you consume each day. For example, if you replace two cans of regular soda a day with water, you’re reducing your calorie intake by approximately 300 calories per day, depending on the drink. This means you can cut back on calories without even changing how much you eat or what you eat.
Get rid of water weight
If you see the number on your scale go up, this doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve gained fat. It could just be extra water weight, especially if you don’t get enough fluids. When your body is dehydrated it retains more water to maintain hydration levels and the balance between fluids and electrolytes. Drinking enough water throughout the day essentially helps to flush out any extra weight caused by water retention.
Having fresh, good-tasting water on hand throughout the day can help you drink enough water. Contact Mountain Park Spring Water to find out more about our spring water delivery service across North Carolina and Virginia.