how much water?

Water is an essential requirement to us - our bodies are 70% water and we need to drink plenty of it to be healthy, to lose weight and to stay hydrated ... but exactly how much? Needs vary by individual.

When you feel hungry it may often be you are simply thirsty. Your body needs plain old water - not softdrink, not coffee, not high calorie juices as many hunger pangs are thirst pangs. A glass of water can help stop those hunger cravings.
So how much water?
The standard answer is usually to drink eight 250ml glasses a day. Eight is not a magic number carved in stone. It remains popular because it’s easy to rattle off.

However, noone ever asks how much your body weighs. Someone who weighs 60kgs and sits at a desk all day may need less water than someone who weighs 90kgs and does physical labour outdoors in our humidity. Humid weather requires an additional intake of fluid. The bottom line is, very few people drink anywhere near enough. Most of us live in a constant state of dehydration.

How to add enough water? Have a glass upon wakening in the morning. Drink a glass of water with each meal and between each meal. Make this a habit. You’ll find that if you drink a glass of water about 15 to 20 minutes before a meal, you will eat less and not be so hungry later. You will enjoy improved digestion. Some people even find that they sleep better at night.

Your body needs more water when you exercise or engage in any activity that makes you sweat to compensate for the fluid loss. Drink water before, during and after exercise. An extra 400 to 600mls should suffice for short bouts of exercise, but intense exercise lasting more than an hour requires a higher intake. How much additional fluid depends on how much you sweat during exercise, plus the duration and type of exercise.

Some extra ideas for adding water to your day:

Have a water bottle and sip water all day at work. Carry a bottle of water in your car. Have an after work drink of sparkling water with a twist of lemon. Or lime. Put a note on the refrigerator to remind you to drink a glass of water. Substitute water for softdrink or caffeinated drinks.
Don’t forget, foods can supply added water also. On average, food provides about 20 percent of our total daily water intake. Salads, vegetables, tomatoes and fruits such as oranges and melons are a great source.

You may find yourself visiting the toilet more often while your body gets used to drinking more but your system DOES adjust and after a short while you won’t go so often.

If you have hit a plateau added water could be the missing key to weightloss success. Adopt the water habit and your weight loss program will work so much better. Start. Right now. Go grab a glass of water! Drink! Cheers :)