What makes Coleridge’s, “Water, water, everywhere, Not any drop to drink”, an expression of grief and frustration? Answer – the fact that we simply cannot live without water. Having water all around you and not being able to drink any of that is like a food lover having dysentery on the night of a grand dinner.
Many, if not most, of our vital metabolic functions – transportation of nutrients and minerals, regulation of oxygen levels and body temperature, maintenance and protection of internal organs, lubrication of joints, help in digestion and many other functions – are taken care of by water, which constitutes 70% of our body. In fact, one can live longer without food, than without water.
According to a study published by the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, drinking about 17 ounces of water daily, effects a 30% improvement in overall metabolism for both women and men. Our bodies achieve optimum metabolism in about half-an-hour after drinking water.
So it’s seen that water equals survival. But that’s not all. Another feather in the cap of this colourless liquid is that it supports weight loss. The amount of water you are drinking in a day plays a major role in your process of losing weight.
A study divided 84 obese adults into two groups and the participants in Group-I were asked to drink 16 ounces of water about 30 minutes prior to eating. The others were asked to drink a stomach full of water before eating and it was seen that the members of Group-I had lost 3 pounds more than the others.
Adequate hydration allows optimum metabolism and reduces the need to overeat. Generally, one has to drink six to ten glasses of water in a day when trying to shed weight. However, general formulas don’t always work in cases involving human anatomy.
Following is a 4-tier formula to calculate your daily water intake, such that it promotes your weight loss.
1. Measure your bodyweight
Bodyweight and the amount of water you need are directly proportional. So, first, measure your bodyweight and round it off to the nearest one’s digit – 100.3 to 100, 100.6 to 101 or likewise.
2. Calculate half the bodyweight
Divide your bodyweight by 2 and round off decimals to nearest ones digit. Say, 101/2 = 50.5 = 51. This means that you have to drink 51 ounces of water.
3. Account for physical exercise
For half-an-hour of intense physical workout, drink 16 ounces of water to make up for the lost water.
4. Final calculation
Say, weight = 250 lb.
So, following step-2, you drink 250/2 = 125 oz. of water.
Water per 30 min. physical exercise in a day = 16 oz.
Thus, total daily water intake = (125 + 16) oz. = 141 oz.
SOME OTHER PRACTICES
Apart from these, drink –
- Two glasses before meals
- At least a glass before sleeping and after waking up.
- A glass if you get up in the night.
So, in all, stay adequately hydrated, lose weight and look fabulous!