Silly Question.. But i need to know! :)
 

Okay.. everywhere you go, everyone says that you MUST drink a lot of water in any weight loss attempt.. can anyone tell me why drinking water is SUCH an important part of a diet.. Thanx.

Nothing is silly about this question.

Here is an article that says it better than I:
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Drinking water can help you in your efforts to lose weight, says a Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center nutritionist.

"Water can decrease your appetite," said Mara Z. Vitolins, R.D., Dr. P.H., assistant professor of public health sciences (epidemiology). "It is hard to distinguish between being thirsty and being hungry, so try drinking water and waiting 20 to 30 minutes to see if you're still hungry."

Vitolins, who also is part of the Center for Research on Human Nutrition and Chronic Disease Prevention, added that drinking water also may help you cut calories.

"Most people drink sodas, coffee, and other such beverages and totally disregard drinking plain water," she said. "Replacing the higher calorie beverages with plain water or flavored water (without added sugar) can significantly reduce calories."

Furthermore, most of these drinks contain caffeine. "The caffeine acts as a diuretic to set you up for dehydration. By the time you feel thirsty, you already are dehydrated."

People of all ages need to drink plain water, she said.

"Water is an important nutrient and is vital for a variety of bodily functions and processes including removal of waste products, carrying nutrients, and regulating body temperature," she said. "Water helps reduce fluid retention, and helps keep bowel functions normal."

How much water is enough?

Vitolins says one way to calculate how much you need is to take your weight in pounds and divide by two. The result is the number of ounces of water you should drink a day. So a 100- pound woman needs to drink 50 ounces of water each day -- just a little more than four 12-ounce glasses, or three bottles of water (which usually are 500 milliliters or 16.9 ounces.) A 175-pound man would need five bottles of water.

"I think many people would greatly benefit by recording the amount of water they drink in a day," Vitolins said. "Many folks I have asked to do this are surprised at how little they drink. It is an essential nutrient yet so few actually get enough!"

Drinking plenty of water is as important in the winter as it is during the summer, Vitolins said.

"Most people realize fluid is used to produce sweat which keeps us cool during exercise and the hot temperatures of summer, but not as many are aware that the body also needs water to stay warm," she said. "The best way to illustrate this is to think of your car. The radiator needs fluid regardless of the weather."

Vitolins said some people need to speak with their physician prior to increasing their water intake, "especially people with kidney problems that require fluid restriction."

Okay.. but still
 

Hmmm, makes sense! :) I kinda thought that.. but i just wanted some other peoples input, so keep the replys coming! And thanx for the reply jacksLAdy

I found this on a dietitians website:

Originally Posted by :
Water...
Just How Important Is It?

Okay, everyone has questions about water don't they? I mean why should we be drinking all this water every day? What is so darned important about it? Did you know that drinking caffeine can have a negative effect? Or that drinking all of that water can help you lose weight??? Check this out guys! There I was always wondering why I should be trying to drown myself everyday! *lol*


Water Ever Day Can Keep the Fat Away

Water suppresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolize stored fat. Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will cause an increase of fat deposits while an increase in water intake can actually reduce fat deposits. Drinking enough water is the best treatment for fluid retention. When the body gets less water, it perceives this as a threat to survival and begins to actually retain water. Water is stored outside the cells and hence swollen feet, hands and ankles happen. Though surprising, in order to get rid of retained water, one must drink more water! An overweight person needs more water than a thin one. Larger people have larger metabolic loads. Since water is the key to fat metabolism, the larger person needs more water to metabolize fat more effectively.



Water helps to maintain proper muscle tone by giving muscles their natural ability to contract and prevent dehydration of muscle tissue. Water also helps to prevent the skin sagging that usually follows weight loss. These shrinking cells become buoyed by the water and plumps the skin which gives a clear, healthy resiliency. Water helps rid the body of waste and can relieve constipation. During weight loss, the body has an increased amount of waste to get rid of. Adequate water helps to flush out the metabolized fat and other excess waste. Also, if the body gets too little water, the body will siphon what it needs from internal sources, like the colon and constipation can happen, Water is an important element for waste elimination.



So how much water is enough? Obviously is depends on your size, if the weather is hot or cold, or if you exercise briskly. On average, however, a person should drink eight 8 oz. glasses per day (about 2 quarts). An overweight person should drink and additional glass for every 25 pounds of excess weight; those who exercise or are experiencing hot or dry weather should increase their intake as well. Water is best cold; not only for taste, but cold water is adsorbed into the system more rapidly, and some evidence has shown that it can also increase calories burned. When the body gets the water is needs to function optimally its fluids are perfectly balanced. This is called the "breakthrough point." When this is achieved:

Endocrine-gland function improves

Fluid retention is alleviated as stored water is lost.

More fat is used as fuel because it allows the level to metabolize stored fat.

Normal thirst returns.

There is a loss of hunger almost overnight.



For the body to utilize water most efficiently during weight loss, this schedule is suggested:

Morning: Drink 1 quart over a 30 minute period.

Noon: Drink 1 quart over a 30 minute period.

Evening: Drink 1 quart over a 1 hour period about 1 hour before dinner.

Adjust for weight, exercise, or hot or dry weather.



Four remarkable truths regarding water and weight loss:

Drinking water is essential for efficient weight loss.

The body will not function properly without enough water and can not metabolize stored fat efficiently.

Retained water shows up as excess fat.

More water consumption is required to rid the body of excess water.



From Glynn
My Most Favorite Water Article

Incredible as it may seem...

Water is the single most important catalyst in losing weight and keeping it off! Although most of us take it for granted...water may be the only true Magic Potion for permanent weight loss!



Water suppresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolize stored fat. Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to increase! And an increase in water intake can actually reduce fat deposits! Here's the reason why...



The kidneys cannot function properly without enough water. When they do not work to capacity, some of their load is dumped on the liver. One of the liver's primary functions is to metabolize stored fat into usable energy for the body. But if the liver has to do some of the kidney's work, it cannot work at full throttle. As a result, it metabolizes less fat... more fat remains stored in the body and weight loss stops! Drinking an adequate amount of water every day is the best treatment for fluid retention. But when your body is given less water than it needs... it perceives the shortage as a threat to survival and will begin to retain every drop.



Water reserves are stored in extra-cellular spaces (outside the cells). This water can show up as swollen feet, hands and legs. Diuretics only offer a temporary solution at best. They force out stored water along with some essential nutrients. Again, the body perceives a threat and will replace the lost water at the first opportunity. Thus, the condition quickly returns. The best way to overcome the problem of water retention is to give your body what it needs - plenty of water - only then will stored water be released.



If water retention is a constant problem for you... excess salt may be to blame. Your body will only tolerate sodium in certain concentrations. The more salt you eat, the more water your system retains to dilute it. But getting rid of unneeded salt is easy -- just drink water! As the water is forced through the kidneys, it will remove the excess sodium.



Over weight people need more water than thin people. Larger people have larger metabolic loads. Since we know that water is the key to fat metabolism... it follows that the over weight person needs more water to metabolize excess fat.



Water helps to maintain proper muscle tone... which in turn, aids proper muscle contraction and prevents dehydration. It also helps to prevent the sagging skin that usually follows weight loss. Shrinking cells are buoyed by water which plums the skin and leaves it clear, healthy and resilient. Water helps rid the body of waste. During weight loss, the body has more waste to get rid of - all that metabolized fat must be shed. Again . . .



Water helps flush out this waste! Water can help relieve constipation... The colon is a primary internal water source. When the body gets too little water, it siphons what it needs from internal sources. Result? Constipation. But when a person drinks enough water... normal bowel function will return. So far, we have discovered same remarkable truths about water and about weight loss... the body will not function properly without enough water and cannot metabolize stored fat efficiently. On the household weight scales... Retained water shows up as excess weight. It may seem strange, but to get rid of excess water... you must drink more water! Drinking water is essential to losing weight.



How much water is enough? If you are of normal weight for your height, then on average you should drink (8) eight -- 8 oz. glasses of pure water every day. However, if you are overweight you should take (1) one additional glass for every 25 lbs. of excess weight you are trying to lose. The amount that you drink should be increased if you exercise, or if the weather is hot and dry.



Preferably, your drinking water should be taken cold... Cold water is absorbed more quickly into the system than warm water. Some evidence suggests that drinking cold water can actually burn calories. When the body gets all the water it needs to function optimally, all body system fluids will perfectly balance. When this happens . . . you reach the "breakthrough point".



So what does that mean? That's the point at which Endocrine gland function improves... and fluid retention is alleviated as stored water is lost. More fat can be used as fuel because the liver is free to metabolize stored fat... and natural thirst returns. There is a loss of hunger almost overnight.



But don't forget this... If you stop drinking enough water your body fluids will again be thrown out of balance . . . Once again you may experience fluid retention, unexplained weight gain and loss of thirst! So what's the remedy this situation? Start over . . . increasing your water intake to force another breakthrough!

Hope this helps!

Elaine

Great
 

Great info right there, thanx so much to the both of you!