The body cannot use cold water without first bringing it to body temperature. If you consume 64 oz of ICE water in a day, your body will expend roughly 70 Calories warming it for use. This is science - not an old wives' tale.
!
Yes, but you'd also be burning calories drinking room temperature water. The difference is minuscule. It's not an ADDITIONAL 70 calories because it is cold.
Bottom line is, I drink room temperature water and have lost 165 lbs and kept it off for over 2 1/2 years now.
Let me just put it this way - all these years that I was morbidly obese had nothing to do with the fact that I wasn't drinking ice cold water
I agree with you robin. Any extra calories burned would be insignificant in the scope of a day. I personally drink room temperature water because I don't like cold water on my teeth. I was simpy disagreeing with the statement that "the body does not have to warm cold water."
All the little things we do to burn calories add up. So, if someone wants to drink cold water to help burn a few more, go for it! That idea is also supported in Stephen Gullo's book The Thin Commandments.
Another tip that helps me so much is having my family on board. They are getting used to, and actually encouraging, lightened up family dinners.
My best advice? Research HIIT. But if you do, give it time. I'm still learning this lesson and only positive about it today because the scale made me happy this morning. It makes me gain weight initially but it's supposed to be the best fat burning exercise out there and only takes 9-20 minutes twice a week.
And along those lines, my second best advice...give it time. I rarely ever take my own advice, but I KNOW deep down this is true.
Avoid food porn. Some of the smartest people in the world work in the food industry, putting all their intelligence to work making food look more tempting, more delicious, more satisfying than it already is. Avoid exposure: don't watch food TV, don't watch commericals, and, as much as possible, avoid the grocery store (I bargained with my husband to make it his job), and if you have to go, go with a list and hurry through.
Schedule your cheats. If you really, really want something, decide you can have it--but have it in two weeks. This prevents that feeling of deprivation (how can I live without X? It's impossible, I might as well have it), but it still puts you in control--it breaks the pattern of food being a positive reinforcement of giving into temptation. Furthermore, it allows you to plan for the splurge (eat less of other things) and, in many cases, the urge for the food will pass and you will choose not to have it at all.
Well, I've always assumed that while the difference is tiny, drinking cold water probably does burn a bit more calories than drinking warm water. I figure that's why detox diets have you drink warm/room temp water (because then your body doesn't have to do the work to warm it up and can use that energy to help you detox instead).
My tips are to switch from regular soda to diet soda, or preferably water (but diet soda is a step in the right direction for weight loss).
Cut the sugar. Not only does it hinder your weight loss, but it makes you immune to the natural sweetness of fruits and vegetables.
Switch from white bread and pasta and rice to 100% whole wheat/ whole grain or brown varieties, you get more nutritional bang for your buck.
I deleted a few posts to try to get this thread back on track
I do have a tip for water though If you feel like you are craving something and want to reach for something to nibble on, try drinking a glass of water first. It's amazing how sometimes that's really all my body is asking for.
3. Find a alternative to soda. Even if it's diet soda. The only diet soda I've ever been able to enjoy as much a regular is any diet Dr.Pepper.
that one was something i struggled wth for the longest time. i was following my diet to a "t" and exercising about 5 times a week, and everything was going great with the exception of soda. i was so angry at myself because i couldnt stay away from the diet coke to save my life!
then i realized that i replaced my diet coke with high calorie sweetened iced tea (or school doesnt stock fat free in any of their fountain machines and thats wher ei get all my drinks), and i could only drink so much water before going crazy. i came on here and ranted about it all panicked and got the same response from everyone:
sodas not that big a deal. especially diet soda.
sooo im back to drinking my delicious diet coke without a drop of regret or hesitation haha. just in moderation, like every other food or drink in life!
2) Chew sugarless gum. But, unlike me, don't go through an entire pack of sweet peppermint Stride within just a few hours, or you may end up launching a fragrance, and not like Britney Spears or Kim Kardashian, if you know what I mean.
3) When you know you're going to a restaurant, go online ahead of time & see if its menu is posted on the restaurant Web site. Make your choices then. Commit to eating what you've chosen & nothing more. Don't even open the menu when you get to the restaurant, except as a prop. Do not allow your companions' orders to influence your choices. Do not even listen to the day's specials. Never change your mind unless you're ***absolutely certain*** your new choice is healthier. Tell yourself you're there for the companionship, not the food.
I will also not be contributing to the diet soda debate. Tips....hmmmm
- Don't let others (partners/friends/coworkers) have any influence in any way over what you eat. Any regaining I have ever had in my life can really be contributed to the influence of others (I take responsibility of course - I don't blame it on them, I put the food in my mouth)
- Don't feel like you necessarily must eat the preordained "Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner", find what is right for you.
- I don't like the scale so much (so many odd fluctuations), I measure myself weekly and have "goal" clothing items. I actually weigh myself once a month. I can feel when I am losing weight.
- Someone said: avoid food porn. I think this is SO true. Try to do things that don't involve food/eating/shopping for food. And while I think this website is a great idea, I personally cannot spend as much time as I'd like reading posts because I find I become hungry and food obsessed... some people need this, but it doesn't help me. It helps me to try to limit my time 'thinking' of food, meals, etc., b/c i am quite obsessive.
just like the diet coke, i suppose --everything in moderation!
- find an exercise that you truly love and that is always a challenge. I started jogging and it keeps me feeling and looking better (and has seriously been an amazing influence on my pear shaped figure - my legs have never looked better and my boyfriend is jealous of the muscle in my legs and butt).
- lately I've found limiting my coffee intake has helped with hunger. I've switched to herbal tea. My hunger now feels much more stabile.
-I hate to say it - but my quality of life is better when I am thinner. I have so much more self-confidence. I guess my last tip would be: all the hard work and pain IS worth it - so, like nike says "Just Do It" and, the sooner, the better.
- I have what I really want, I just focus on moderation and I pass up what I don't really want.
- Sometimes it is better to throw food away than to eat it. It isn't a "waste". Especially when I think of all the money I have put into Weight Watchers, gym memberships, workout clothes, workhout DVD's - then I realize to eat food I should throw away (i.e. left over b-day cake, food someone brought over while I was hosting a party, etc.) is what is wasteful.
- Plan plan plan. Like PP's have said, planning is key for me.
- Tea. Hot tea has been A HUGE help for me. When I feel hungry at 4pm, but I have already had my afternoon snack and it isn't yet time for dinner, a hot tea really takes away the "hungries".
- Another thing that has helped me is that I have realized that sometimes I am going to feel hungry. No - I am not saying that I am starving myself or waiting until I feel like I am dying. BUT if I do feel hungry and it is approaching dinner time - that is a GOOD thing! Never ever being hungry is how I got into the mess I am in now!
I actually chew sugarless gum when I *think* I'm hungry. It often helps a lot!!
Good tip and similar to mine:
When you feel like you want to eat but aren't actually hungry, go brush your teeth. Toothpaste doesn't mix well with food and it's good for your dental hygiene!
My favorite tip is to find ways to make your favorite foods in a more healthy (or, if not more 'healthy' at least 'less fattening) way. For example:
Pancakes: I start with a box of "Original Recipe" mix (for MUCH healthier pancakes, use whole wheat!). Instead of oil, I use unsweetened apple sauce. I use fat free milk instead of 2% or whole. Instead of adding two eggs, I add three egg whites. When I cook them, I use non-stick spray instead of oil, and I top them with sugar free syrup (and no butter, which I don't like butter on them anyway). Even my kids will eat these pancakes (and can't really tell that they aren't as loaded with the fat and cholesterol).
If you feel like you are craving something and want to reach for something to nibble on, try drinking a glass of water first. It's amazing how sometimes that's really all my body is asking for.
