Easier weight loss, especially after 50, might seem like a secret dream. However, there’s an answer right in front of you: drink more water. While burning fat isn’t magical just because you drink more water, it becomes much easier for your body to do when you’re well hydrated.
When you’re dehydrated, your body is under stress. Under stress, it’s not going to shed weight easily — in fact, it’s more likely to store fat. That’s Mother Nature’s well-intentioned way of protecting you.
Can you stay hydrated with other liquids and fruits?
Sure, they can help to some extent. But some fruits have a lot of sugar in them. Most beverages have sugar as well (food manufacturers are getting sneakier about disguising how they name sugars, artificial and natural) or they may have caffeine.
The short answer is that nothing is healthier for you than water for hydrating.
If you have trouble drinking as much as you should, you can try infusing it. Any of the combinations below, or fruits solo for that matter, may make water more enticing for you.
- Cucumber and mint
- Grapes and watermelon
- Lemons and limes
You could also make a simple “lemonade” with fresh-squeezed lemons and a few drops of stevia to help reduce your sugar intake (which can be dehydrating) and create a sweeter drink.
The most crucial consideration is to choose a healthy option that pleases your palate. Then, keep it visible: a large glass pitcher on the counter or a big water bottle of your favorite mixture on your desk, so you don’t forget to sip it throughout your day. You can even set a timer on your computer or phone to remind you that it’s time to drink.
Tips for an all-day fat-boosting hydration:
- Drink a tall glass first thing in the morning.
- Drink half to a cup of water every hour.
- Drink more during extended exercise, particularly in the heat.
- Drink the majority of your water between meals rather than at meals.
- Consider drinking a glass of water right before you go to bed.
What’s measured matters
Monitor your water intake for a short time. You might be astonished by how little you’re drinking. Rather than aiming for the recommended eight 8-oz glasses all at once, try adding a cup a day more to your current total.
According to a recent study published in the journal Nutrients, even replacing just one sugary beverage per day with a glass of water will greatly improve your health and your weight.
Your body will gradually get used to it, and you shouldn’t be spending any more time making pit stops. The following week add another daily cup.
How much is enough?
Your body will let you know. The first positive signs might actually be better digestion. Soon, you may also be getting more compliments about your skin, and someone might ask if you’ve lost weight. You might not need the once-arbitrary eight glasses a day. You might need more or less. The telltale sign of pale urine is a simple way to find out. Although most of us are dehydrated daily, it is possible to drink too much. Discover your Goldilocks of hydration, and your health and body will thank you.
