words by Juliet McCarthy
With summer holidays just around the corner, we are all frantically dieting, cutting out carbs, drinking less and hitting the gym. However, what if I told you that you could do just ONE thing that is free, easily accessible and will not only help you lose weight, but lose cellulite, give you energy and … Oh, did I mention help you lose weight?
We all know that we should be drinking gallons of water every day, but do we really know why?
Flush Toxins:
Water helps flush out the toxins from your body – toxins that are responsible for putting cellulite on your thighs, helping you feel bloated, giving you spots, taking the sparkle away from your eyes.
Re-hydrate:
Water re-hydrates you – you will often feel stiff and not as mobile and it will be largely due to dehydration in your muscles. Also, drinking a minimum of 2 litres of water a day will re-hydrate your skin, giving it a fresher look and will help make fine lines less noticeable.
Aids Weight Loss:
It is a well-known but often-forgotten fact that a healhty intake of water will speed up weight loss. It will get the whole system going and flush out the junk. Try and start your day with a large glass of slightly warm water. It will kick start your metabolism for the day ahead.
Fuels You:
If you feel sluggish during the afternoon, you could well be dehydrated. Did you know that in Italy and France, where the coffee is really good, you are always served a glass of water alongside your coffee. The Europeans already recognise the dehydrating effects of coffee and want to make sure the energy burst they get from it is sustainable by keeping their water glass topped up!
While you are lying on your sun lounger, it is so tempting to have another cocktail and so you should. You are on holiday after all. But why not match it with a small 500ml bottle of water? Alcohol and sunshine will massively dehydrate you, slow down your metabolism, sap your energy and your skin will look dull and lined.
Your body will tell you when you are hungry but will not tell you when you are dehydrated (it masks our thirst by telling us that we are hungry) so when you feel thirsty, you will have already crossed over into dehydration. In addition to that, when you feel peckish, there is a chance that you are starting to dehydrate and need water instead so try having a large glass of water first to see if that satisfies the craving. It will help with weight loss if you can recognise that you need a drink of water instead of needing to eat. Your urine should be pale – too much colour and it means you are starting to become or are already dehydrated.
Water will give you energy, make your skin clearer, help your digestive system, help with weight loss, help prevent and clear up spots, help fine lines look less noticeable… so what are you waiting for? Make sure you carry a small bottle of still water with you all the time. Have a bottle in your bag, next to your bed, on your desk, put a large jug of water on the table with every meal and make sure you drink at least 2 litres every day to see the results for yourself.
Image source unknown – taken from Pinterest.