Health Is Wealth
“Water is life, and clean water means health.” – Audrey Hepburn
In 2016, I decided to change my health regimen. So, I began my own personal health kick. At the time, I was a month away from turning 30 years old, and I had to be more conscious of what I was putting into my body.
Just like with anything else, I’ve had my ups and downs. But all in all, I’ve lost as much as 46 pounds since starting. As a result, the people closest to me have begun asking questions. They want to know the secret. What am I doing differently to drop the weight?
- Is it because you quit drinking alcohol?
- Is your diet high in protein?
- Are you eating fewer simple carbs?
The answer to each of these questions is yes. All of these strategies have played a significant role. But I genuinely believe there is one major key to my success that most people overlook.
WATER.
The Secret No One Told You About
The first time I was told to drink more water for the single purpose of losing weight was in Iraq. It was the advice given to me by my buddy, Sunil Atri. I took his guidance then, and still, to this day, it holds true as the best-kept secret for weight loss.
Even though I’m no physiologist, it’s safe to say the main reason most people are overweight is that they’ve consumed too many calories. Which is also known as overeating and, even more so, overconsumption of the wrong things.
As human beings, our bodies are made up of about 60% water. Most people don’t realize that there are two main ways we get the necessary amounts of water to our bodies. The most obvious way is by drinking liquids. The less obvious way is through the food we eat.
That’s right. Often times, when we think we’re hungry, it’s really a signal from our body that it’s under-hydrated. So we eat, not for the nutrients, but in search of water.
No worries, this problem is an easy fix.
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
Many of us grew up knowing that we needed to drink at least 8 cups of water a day to stay hydrated. At an average of 12oz per cup, 96oz of daily water consumption should do the trick for some people, but it’s not enough for everyone.
It is now being suggested that you need to drink half of your body weight in ounces to stay sufficiently hydrated throughout the day.
For example, back in August, I had ballooned to my heaviest ever at 260 pounds. That means, to stay hydrated, I needed to drink a minimum of 130oz of water daily. Which is just over a gallon.
In addition to drinking a gallon of water, I added water-rich fruits and vegetables to my diet. This included carrots, celery, apples, and oranges as snacks between my 2-3 meals for the day.
Why & How Water Helps You Lose Weight
A human being can survive three weeks without food but only three days without water. This is why hydration is so important, and our bodies are always in search of water more than anything else.
When the cells in your body are fully hydrated, you will feel fuller longer. This will cause you to eat less and take in fewer calories.
Through my weight management studies, I’ve learned that the only definitive way to lose weight is by decreasing the number of calories you’re consuming. With that said, what do we know about water? Unlike soda and other artificially sweetened beverages, it contains 0 calories.
Not only does it make you feel satiated, but it also doesn’t add to your caloric intake for the day. And there are numerous other health benefits as well.
There is one downside. You will have to urinate frequently. But, this is also a good sign that your body is functioning correctly. Urination should be frequent, and the color should be clear; if not, lighter is always better.
So what are you waiting for? Not only is this secret readily available, for the most part, but it’s also inexpensive. Start today!