How to Drink Water to Lose Weight: 4 Scientific Reasons it Works

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Today we’re going to be talking about how to drink water to lose weight, the scientific benefits of drinking more water, and how much you should be drinking.

The human body on average can survive 3 weeks without food but only 3 days without water.

Here’s exactly why drinking water helps us lose weight.

#1. It Increases Resting Calorie Expenditure

In a study of overweight women, increasing one’s daily water intake over a 12 month period helped them lose an average of 4.4 pounds.

This was impressive because these women made no other alterations to their lives other than increasing their water.

In fact, people’s resting energy expenditure has been shown to increase by 24–30% within 10 minutes of drinking water.

So drinking water naturally increases resting calorie burn.

#2. People naturally eat less when they drink water.

In one study, 2 groups of dieters were separated. One group drinking water before meals and one not drinking water before meals.

The ones who drank water before they ate lost 44% more weight than the group who did not.

Another study also showed that drinking water before breakfast reduced the number of calories consumed during the meal by 13%.


#3. Water Replaces Calorie Filled Drinks

Since water is free of calories, it is generally linked with reduced calorie intake.

Studies have shown that people who drink mostly water in their day consume 200 fewer calories per day than those who do not.

#4. Water is Muscle Fuel

Your muscles are about 80% water and not surprisingly, optimal hydration is key for lean muscle growth.

Seeing as the more lean muscle you have on your body, the higher your resting metabolism will be, this is another way water helps you lose weight.

There are also other health benefits of proper water intake.

Mental Alertness – One of the most common symptoms of dehydration is mental exhaustion. Proper hydration has been shown to improve brain performance.

Improved Digestion – High water intake ensures the, uh, bowels move smoothly.

Pain Prevention – Cartilage, the rubbery material coating our bones, is 85% water, and staying properly hydrated makes sure our joints move smoothly.

So getting in the right amount of water is key for being healthy as well as losing weight.

The best times to drink water for weight loss

#1. Right when you wake up – A warm glass of lemon water in the morning helps to build a healthy habit and boost the metabolism.

#2. 30 minutes before meals.

This will help you naturally eat fewer calories and consume the proper amount of food.

#3. When you are getting hungry.

Our brain often confuses being hungry for being thirsty. So next time those midday cravings hit, try a glass of water before eating a snack. You’ll be surprised how often you’re not actually hungry and the brain is simply bored.

How much to drink per day?

You’ve probably heard the saying of drink 8 cups of water a day,
However, this number is completely random. It’s a good place to start, but water requirements depend entirely on the individual.

A quick check to see how hydrated you are is to look at your urine as it should be mostly clear with a tinge of yellow and no real smell.

A strong yellow color indicates you’re not hydrated enough and need more.
Also, be aware that drinking liquids like tea do count to your daily total.

Let’s finish with a few strategies to get in more water!

Buy a big BPA Free Water Bottle - This is the easier way to keep track, and I will link a good brand in the description.

Rubber Bands - Wrap a rubber band around your bottle every time you drink a cup of water to keep track

Add some fruit – Water can get boring for some people, and adding cucumber or other fruits helps to add some flavor to your water.

Finally, if you’re still forgetting, set a reminder on your smartphone. You can do this yourself or use an app to keep track of your daily intake.

[natashakarim]

I love how straight forward no bs this channel is!

[TheGamerforlife]

just put a bottle on ur phone and whenever u want to use ur phone u will have to first drink water ... my trick

[cigdemeroglu]

my tip is to use a straw, i realized that I drink way more water when I use a straw :)

[karens]

Of course I get a Coke ad before this video

[potatopatata]

I started my weight loss journey yesterday and ddaaammnn, I always go to the bathroom to pee because I've been drinking 8 glasses of water. Man, if I add one glass, I feel like I'm gonna drown.

[raunaqarora]

Oh my God this little animated character is the cutest thing ever..

[yeahthatrobloxian]

Every time you like this comment I will ACTUALLY drink a glass of water

[mimimarie]

I’ve been drinking lots of water recently (8 bottles a day) and omg. I feel so much better. I’ve been getting more sleep. My urine turned from dark yellow to basically no color. I’m way more energetic than I used to be. I’m not always eating. I feel like being up and going outside. Like. Omg. I love water.

Officially saying goodbye to soda and basically everything else.

[TheHealthNerdTV]

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This video topic may seem a little basic, but after quite a few requests and some thought it needed to be done. Drinking water is one of the most basic fundamentals of being healthy that many people seem to be confused by.

Hopefully this video will shed more light into the topic and help you understand what drinking more water can do for you. :P

Remember to like the video and leave a comment if you enjoyed it :)

Thanks again everyone.

Cheers!

[josephcosgrove]

I'm subscribing because I love baby dolphins

[hakanaltintas]

👍👍👍 I wish there was a super like button for your videos.

[kennethduckworth]

Before this video
Me: going to sleep
After this video
Me:drinks 4 12 oz waters

[nandimuchira]

I am going to drink as much water as a can, the last time I drank water was a few weeks ago, I am hooked on artificial juice and sodas. I don't like the taste of water and I don't know why. But hopefully I'll get better with that.


Edit: I just got a notification for this video, and totally forgot about my comment. Anyways, it's been around a year and a half now that I've only been drinking water and cut all other beverages out of my diet. It worked really well for me. I do a lot of sports, Soccer, Rock climbing, and Crossfit, so I kinda needed to be drinking more water. I'm glad I stopped drinking all that other stuff, and now I honestly cannot go back, it tastes so toxic when I drink anything other than water now.

[kaycgrocks]

I’ve been drinking about 3L of water every day for the past week and my skin already looks so much better, it also makes me avoid snacking, it’s a real conscious effort at first to drink so much but its starting to become natural/habitual!

[linawiklund]

Love your videos! I can go a hole day without drinking anything...I simply forget because I don't get thirsty. It has always been a struggle for me

[lollytob]

Me: *watches video*

Also Me: *chugs water*

[poundlbstrong]

I have always struggled with drinking enough water for two reasons: 1. Frequent water intake causes frequent restroom breaks and my jobs rarely allowed that option. 2. I find that without some type of flavor I crave other sources of flavor which lead me back to sodas. My solution was to use various amino acid products which have fantastic flavor and often add few if any calories or carbohydrates. Plus the body can definitely utilize the Amino's which are the building blocks of muscle. Also I try to ramp up water intake before the end of my shift or about 30-40 minutes before a meal break so I can remedy the bathroom breaks. I love your videos-well presented keep up the good work!

[annekitt]

This video made me thirsty.. Who else?

[ZObliteration]

I'm loving all these weight loss videos and your stick figure animation is fantastic. Thanks for making all of these, you are amazing.

[nathaniel]

I need to lose weight and get built for Army BCT. I’m only 15 and in ninth grade but you have to start somewhere. Can’t wait to fight for the USA! 🇺🇸