Water, Hydration and Weightloss.

When we start a healthy eating programme or diet whatever we like to call it, drinking more water is one of the first things we do right?

Yes, we cut out the crap, start an exercise regime and drink more water. After the first couple of days which one gives first? 9 out of 10 times it’s the water!

Why?

The benefits of drinking more water are immense.

1. Staying hydrated can improve your memory and moods as it helps the brain function better.
2. Helps with weightloss as the brain can’t tell the difference between hunger and thirst so quite often you get a sugar craving when you’re thirsty. So next time you fancy something sweet try having a glass of water first.
3. Having a glass of water before meals may fill you up and stop you over eating and therefore promote weight loss by eating less or smaller portions of a meal.
4. Drinking water can improve insulin resistance so helps reduce signs of diabetes and can prevent age related diabetes.
5. Improves exercise performance as being well hydrated gives you more energy and gets better results.
6. Reduces headaches and migraines.
7. Can help prevent constipation. When we’re healthy eating we naturally eat more fruit and veg, there’s lots of fibre in fruit and veg and water helps it digest and flush through the intestine. There is also evidence that sparkling water can also help with constipation too.
8. Drinking water reduces the risk of bladder and kidney problems such as UTIs cystitis and kidney stones.
9. May reduce hangovers! Alcohol is a diuretic and makes the body lose more water than you actually take in so when you feel ill the next day you’re more likely to be dehydrated!!
10. Last but not least water is really good for your skin it helps prevent spots and also helps keep the elasticity in your skin.Personally I know this works as I was advised to drink plenty water while losing weight to help prevent loose skin. As you know I lost 13 stone and hardly have any loose skin which I feel very lucky about.

Because a lot of you don’t like water! Or it makes you need the toilet more! Or it’s too cold to drink water!
Am I right?

Here are my top tips:

1. You don’t like water?
   • You don’t have to drink plain water! You can get flavoured water these days or you can add some juice or have fruit infused water.
2. It’s too cold to drink water?
   • Have hot water with lemon, or flavoured or herbal tea.
3. Keep a record of your water in take. You might be surprised how little you take.

So the moral of the story is…. don’t fall at the first hurdle. Stay hydrated. Drink water.