Don't forget to drink lots of plain ol' water!
Forget about the "8
glasses of water a day" rule. Drink the equivalent of half your weight in ounces
of water daily. In other words, if you weigh 160 pounds, half that is 80 so you
should be drinking 80 ounces of water daily. Eighty ounces is ten 8-ounce
glasses. Anything less shortchanges your entire body of a vitally important
nutrient.
Furthermore, start each day by drinking a portion of your daily
water allotment about 22 ounces first thing in the morning. You've just spent 7
or 8 hours sleeping, and during that time, breathing and perspiring have used a
considerable amount of water. A cup of coffee may help you wake up, but it won't
do much to rehydrate you. Drinking water first helps replace what was lost
during sleep.
And no, most beverages other than water don't count.
Caffeinated and carbonated drinks, for example, have a diuretic effect,
irritating the bladder and creating the sensation of the need to
urinate.
On the other hand, fruits and vegetables are a water source
wholeheartedly recommended. These foods contain high levels of water, along
with plenty of valuable nutrients.
Water makes your skin subtle and your
muscles plump-- and it is your best friend during a weight-loss regiment. Be
sure to include lots of water this hot, hot summer as you progress through your
weight loss journey.
Do not wait to become thirsty before
drinking water! If you're feeling thirsty, you are already dehydrated. That is
not a good thing, even if the weather is cool.
