Water: How Does It Affect Weight Loss?

We’ve all heard that we should drink water every day to keep us well hydrated, alert and keep our system in check. But how much water is enough, and how does it affect weight loss? 

What Does Water Do, Anyways?

Water keeps you hydrated and helps flush waste products from your body. Water also helps you with fat burning: if your liver doesn’t get enough water when it’s trying to process fat, it won’t deliver optimal fat burning. And for dieters, water is necessary to have enough energy to get to the gym. Glycogen, or stored energy, is eaten up by your muscles while exercising. To get that energy back, the glucose in your body must be connected to water to give your muscles the energy they need.

How Much Should I Drink?

Everybody’s water requirement is different. The common myth that we all must drink eight glasses of water a day has been debunked recently. What we do know is that most of us don’t get enough water. So how much should you be drinking? There are two useful calculations to show you how much water you really need. 

Urination Goal: Clear

Though it sounds gross, the average adult should aim for about two or three clear or almost clear urinations a day. Your urine tells you how much water you need: if it’s a bright yellow, you’re dehydrated. Your body uses your urine as a guide for how much water it needs! 

Calculating Ounce per Pound

Divide your body weight in pounds by two. Use this number to tell you how many ounces you should aim to drink a day. For a 150 pound person, that means the goal is 75 ounces of water a day. Heavy exercise or warmer climates require more water, but these two methods can work for you as starting guidelines. Pay attention to your activity throughout the day and your body temperature and adjust your intake accordingly.

How To Drink

Seems like a silly question, right? But it’s important to space your water intake evenly throughout the day. If you try to consume it all in one sitting, the good effects will be mostly negated and the water will travel directly to your bladder, resulting in nothing but bathroom trips! Try carrying a big water bottle around all day and drink from it periodically. In no time at all, drinking enough water will be a great habit!