The other day I was walking into work (not my personal training work, sadly) and I noticed my friend was carrying something. It was this huge bottle and it stuck out like a sore thumb. She had never had that before (and it was so big it couldn’t fit in her backpack). So I asked her “Hey Jess, what’s with the bottle?” She said “I’m trying to get better about drinking water.” My first reaction was of course to go straight into coach mode and tell her I’m proud of her. But then I also thought “Hey, that’d be a good thing to talk about with others.” So, here we are.
If you aren’t following me on instagram, I actually made a little crash course video on hydration. Have a look here as a primer. Personally, I only drink water and coffee typically. Oh, and of course beer (in moderation). But for most people, they only acknowledge that water is good for them, and that’s usually where it ends.
The fact is that water is a cornerstone for a healthy metabolism and body. If your goal is weight loss, think about the impact drinking water over any other beverage can have. To lose weight, you need to be in a caloric deficit. Replacing high calorie sodas and fruit drinks with water can have a huge impact!
37% of people can’t discern thirst from hunger. That means people reach for the popcorn instead of a glass of water. The best way to handle this? When you think you feel hungry, drink a glass of water and see how you feel. In fact, drinking water before a meal helps with feeling full, which is also a helpful tool when changing your health habits.
Water has benefits even if weight loss isn’t the goal. Water consumption flushes toxins from the body (your kidneys thank you), assists in digestion and regularity, and is also great for your skin. You better believe that with any of my programs, the importance of water is always discussed.
Finally, the most common question: “how much water should I drink each day?” I could site all sorts of studies to try and give you a quantitative answer. But, why complicate things? What does your urine look like? Is it fairly clear? If so, you’re fairly hydrated. If not, drink some water. And don’t just pound a bunch of water in one sitting. Drink water throughout the day in an effort to get your urine to a clear-looking state. It’s as simple as that.
If you’d like to know more about nutrition and your health and wellness, reach out.