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There are many forms of metabolism going on in
your body right now, but the one everyone is talking about it
the metabolism of fat. This is actually something that the
liver does when it converts stored fat to energy. The liver
has other functions, but this is one of its main jobs.
Unfortunately, another of the liver’s duties
is to pick up the slack for the kidneys, which need plenty of
water to work properly. If the kidneys are water-deprived, the
liver has to do their work along with its own, lowering its
total productivity. It then can’t metabolize fat as quickly or
efficiently as it could when the kidneys were pulling their
own weight. If you allow this to happen, not only are you
being unfair to your liver, but you’re also setting yourself
up to store fat.
“I’ve tried it and I couldn’t stand
it!” The problem is that, though many decide to
increase their water intake, very few stick with it. It’s
understandable. During the first few days of drinking more
water than your body is accustomed to, you’re running to the
bathroom constantly. This can be very discouraging, and it can
certainly interfere with an otherwise normal day at work. It
seems that the water is coming out just as fast as it’s going
in, and many people decide that their new hydration habit is
fruitless.
Do take heed , though. What is really happening is that
your body is flushing itself of the water it has been storing
throughout all those years of “survival mode”. It takes a
while, but this is a beautiful thing happening to you. As you
continue to give your body all the water it could ask for, it
gets rid of what it doesn’t need. It gets rid of the water it
was holding onto in your ankles and your hips and thighs,
maybe even around your belly. You are excreting much more than
you realize. Your body figures it doesn’t need to save these
stores anymore; it’s trusting that the water will keep coming,
and if it does, eventually, the flushing (of both the body and
the potty) will cease, allowing the human to return to a
normal life. It’s true. This is called the “breakthrough
point.”
One recent finding, as irresponsible as it may be, that
caffeine increases the body’s fat-burning potential has many
people loading up on coffee before going to the gym. This
finding may hold some degree of truth in it, but caffeine is,
in essence, a diuretic, and diuretics dehydrate. Caffeine may
increase the heart rate, causing a few more calories to be
burned, but this is at the expense of the muscles, which need
water to function properly. This isn’t doing your heart any
favors, either. It’s already working hard enough during your
workout. Never mix caffeine and exercise. In fact, your best
bet is to stay away from caffeine all together. It’s a big
bully that pushes your friend water out of your system.
Water is the best beauty treatment. You’ve
heard this since high school, and it’s true. Water will do
wonders for your looks! It flushes out impurities in your
skin, leaving you with a clear, glowing complexion. It also
makes your skin look younger. Skin that is becoming saggy,
either due to aging or weight loss, plumps up very nicely when
the skin cells are hydrated.
In addition, it improves muscle tone. You can lift weights
until you’re blue in the face, but if your muscles are
suffering from a drought, you won’t notice a pleasant
difference in your appearance. Muscles that have all the water
they need contract more easily, making your workout more
effective, and you’ll look much nicer than if you had flabby
muscles under sagging skin.
“Eight glasses a day? Are you kidding?!”
It’s really not that much. Eight 8-ounce glasses amount to
about two quarts of water. This is okay for the average
person, but if you’re overweight, you should drink another
eight ounces for every 25 pounds of excess weight you carry.
You should also up this if you live in a hot climate or
exercise very intensely.
This water consumption should be spread out throughout the
day. It’s not healthy at all to drink too much water at one
time. Try to pick three or four times a day when you can have
a big glass of water, and then sip in between. Don’t let
yourself get thirsty. If you feel thirsty, you’re already
becoming dehydrated. Drink when you’re not thirsty yet.
Do you think water is yucky? Drinking other fluids will
certainly help hydrate your body, but the extra calories,
sugar, additives and whatever else aren’t what you need. Try a
slice of lemon or lime in the glass, or if you really think
you hate water, try a flavored water. Just make sure you read
the labels. Remember that you’re going to be consuming a lot
of this fluid.
It’s probably a good idea to stop drinking water a good
three hours before you go to bed. You know why.
“How cold should it be?” This is
debatable. Most experts lean toward cold water, because the
stomach absorbs it more quickly. There is also some evidence
that cold water might enhance fat burning.
On the other hand, warmer water is easier to drink in large
quantities, and you might drink more of it without even
realizing it. Do whatever suits you, here. Just drink it!
When you drink all the water you need, you will very
quickly notice a decrease in your appetite, possibly even on
the first day! If you're serious about becoming leaner and
healthier, drinking water is an absolute must. If you're doing
everything else right and still not seeing results, this might
just what's missing.
Maia Appleby is a certified personal trainer and the owner
of Ideal Fitness, Inc., selling fitness, athletic and
recreation equipment from the website
www.ShapeUpShop.com.
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