And yet, you step on the scale and, to your dismay, your weight doesn't go down; in some cases, it even goes up!
Doesn't make any sense, does it?
I have found myself in a similar conundrum over the years. Eventually, it dawned on me that my near-obsessive habit of drinking Diet Coke was probably working against me. When I probed even deeper, I realized that depriving my body of water was likely making it more difficult to lose weight.
I mistakenly assumed that drinking more water would make your body retain more of it. But the exact opposite is true: The less water you drink, the more your body hoards whatever water you have in your system, thereby making you heavier.
I learned years ago that my dark yellow urine likely meant I was dehydrated. (A pale color with a tinge of yellow, on the other hand, suggests the body is sufficiently hydrated.) Regrettably, I never considered changing my eating and drinking habits accordingly. Had I done so sooner, I might be far slimmer and healthier today.
Two weeks ago, I finally decided to make a lifestyle change: I had no choice but to cut back on the soda and learn to enjoy -- or at least tolerate -- drinking water.
Like many people, I've always found the taste of water plain and boring. I never really drank it unless I was exercising and/or really thirsty and could not get my hands on a can of Diet Coke. I've tried using lemons, limes, and other enhancers to give the water more of a kick, but it doesn't make me any more receptive to drinking it.
So I had to resort to training my mind to actually want water. How, you ask? By ingraining in my mind that water is something my body needs. It's not a matter of wanting anymore. If I want to lose weight more easily and feel better overall, water is no longer optional -- but essential.
Granted, I don't drink the recommended eight 8-ounce glasses of water every single day. But in my view, the turnaround has been astounding. I now drink as much water in a day as I would over several weeks (gym water notwithstanding). And it's already paying off, as I've dropped a few pounds over the last month.
Some people think exercise and eating less/healthier is all it takes to lose weight. (I was one of them.) But little do they know that upping their water intake can go a long way.
If you're not a big water drinker and are struggling to shed some pounds, try increasing your consumption of it for a few weeks and see if it helps you lose weight quicker. Though that might mean cutting back on the soda, juice, and/or liquor, you'll be glad you did.
Comments