Manic Monday ~ Water is miraculous!

I'm going to make this simple. Why? Because in our culture we want the fastest, most convenient way to get things done. So, I'm not going to bog you down with specifics here in the beginning of this post. If you want more specifics scroll down the post. I'm going to give you a 15 day challenge proven to be effective in weight loss and increased energy.

First, buy an awesome 20-35oz reusable water bottle. Because this is going to be your main accessory for the next few weeks and hopefully months. I think the double vacuumed wall (stainless steel) options are best! Next, (after you've washed your bottle) fill it up with cold or warm water. Drink it until the bottle is empty. Repeat 3 more times during one day. Ideally drink at less half of your bottle before anything you eat! Even better, drink your water 10 minutes before you eat anything!

If you do this EVERYDAY for at least 15 days.... You WILL see a change!

So there you go.... A 15 day challenge to see some great results!

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Why water?

Unfortunately, most people are not drinking enough every day. Until recently, water was the 2nd most popular beverage in the US, behind sugary soft drinks.

Water is one of the most important elements in the human body. It makes up about 60% of our bodies, more or less. Every single cell in your body needs water to function properly.You should LOVE water and all it’s health benefits.

Can drinking water help you lose weight? YES IT CAN! Keep reading below to find out how drinking water for weight loss can help support your dieting efforts, cleanse your body, and much more.

Here are some GREAT reasons why you should be drinking plenty of water:

The importance of water just can’t be stressed enough. A person can go for weeks without food, but only a few days without water. It plays a vital role in nearly every vital bodily function we have. If your body doesn’t get enough water, it becomesdehydrated. When you’re dehydrated, you can’t function at your best and may be sluggish or have trouble concentrating, imagine what that’s doing to your organs, your skin, your brain! When you’re dehydrated, your body also can’t flush out toxins or regulate itself as easily. By not flushing out these toxins you will be more susceptible to sickness, disease, weight gain and premature aging.

Benefits of Water

#1. Drinking More Water Can Help You Lose Weight

Did you know that you can lose weight drinking water? Drinking water to lose weight is one of the easiest things you can do to support your weight loss efforts. Studies have shown that drinking water raises your metabolism, and improves your fat burning rate.

And if that wasn’t awesome enough, drinking water before a meal can also help you feel more satisfied and eat less. Drinking water helps with weight loss, reducing bloating.So if your goal is to lose weight, drinking water for weight loss is a smart move. I recommend drinking a 16 ounce (500 ml) glass of water before you eat as an easy habit that will pay off long term. If you find yourself snacking more often try, drinking a large glass of water in lieu of snacking. You can lose weight drinking water because it will fill you up and ward off those snack cravings.

#2. Water Helps Your Muscles Perform At Their Best

If you don’t drink enough water during physical activity, your performance can suffer. As little as a 2% loss of fluids can have a noticeable affect on your athletic abilities.

If you're exercising and sweating, make sure to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and make it easier for your body to perform at its best.

Sports drinks are packed with sodium, preservatives, fake sugars and artificial colors, all of which negatively affect weight loss.

So keep it simple and opt for water, best of all most gyms have water fountains, free is better than $1.99 per sports drink!

#3 Water Can Help Boost Your Brain Functions and Mood

Your brain is mostly made of water and is highly sensitive to dehydration. Studies have shown that even mild dehydration (1-3%) can have an adverse effect on memory and feelings of anxiety.

In another study, loss of fluids after exercising negatively affected the mood and concentration of the study participants, and increased the amount of headaches subjects experienced. Yes you read that correctly, dehydration can cause headaches and migraines! A 1-3% loss of fluids in your body can happen with just normal everyday activities. So to keep your brain functioning at its best, make sure you drink plenty of water every day.

#4 Water Can Help Prevent and Treat Headaches

Studies have shown that drinking water can help prevent and treat headaches, especially the migraine type. So the next time you have a headache, try drinking a tall glass of cool water, it just might do the trick without having to take any medication.

And be sure to drink up all day long to ward off those nasty headaches and migraines.

There are many more benefits to drinking adequate amounts of water. I bet these are just enough to challenge you to drink up!

Have a GREAT week,

Rachel Zimmerman