Lean Lesson: DRINK CALORIE-FREE BEVERAGES!!!! (Taken from ChaLEAN Extreme Nutrition Guide)
- Drink 6-8 Eight Ounce glasses of water a day.
- A glass of water 30 minutes before a meal will help curb your hunger.
- Avoid Drinking with your meals. It may slow down your digestion. If you must, limit yourself to a small glass of water.
- Avoid ALL Sugared Soda.
- Diet soda and zero-calorie, artificially sweetened beverages are OK in moderation, with a MAXIMUM of 1 a day.
- Coffee and tea are also fine in MODERATION, but avoid cream and sugar (if you need sweetener, use Stevia, a natural root-based sweetener with no sugar or chemicals.)
- Seltzer Water with lemon or lime.
- Herbal Ices teas.
- Add Lemon or Lime to your water!
WHY is Water so IMPORTANT?!?!
Reduces Fluid Retention
People often believe that drinking water can lead to increased fluid retention. However, it is the consumption of soft drinks, fruit juices and sports drinks, high in sodium, that help to retain fluid. Sodium, found in salty foods and preservatives, triggers cells to retain excess liquid for use in bodily functions. Water helps to flush additional sodium from the kidneys, lowering the amount of fluid in the body and leading to weight loss.
Reduces Sugar Intake
Waste Removal
Drinking plenty of water promotes regularity. Water increases salivary gland functioning and works as a digestive tract lubricant, assisting with the breakdown of food during digestion. Constipation can cause the body to absorb more nutrients like fat from digested particles, and enough stored matter can result in extra pounds on the scale. So, drinking water will help you lose weight by minimizing backed up wastes in the body.
Speeds Metabolism
Studies have shown that drinking ice water can increase the number of calories you burn for a short while. Although scientists disagree on the extent to which drinking cold water helps, at least 8 additional calories are burned with every 8-oz. glass. Moreover, drinking cold water as opposed to a cold soda reduces the amount of calories you take in. Regardless of if it burns additional calories, water helps you lose weight.
Assists with Exercise
In most weight loss plans, the recommendation of exercise requires the refueling of liquids lost to sweat. Water is important to weight loss in the sense that it helps eliminate bad nutrients, balances excess electrolytes from sports drinks, buffers against dehydration and keeps the joints lubricated. Also, by reducing the stress of exercise, water makes it possible to partake in longer workouts, increasing the number of calories burned.
I find A TON OF VALUABLE INFORMATION ON LIVESTRONG.COM!!!!
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/78550-water-important-weight-loss/#ixzz1qVRxk3z6
Why is water Important while exercising?!?!
While exercising, the body loses fluid through sweating. Drinking water is important to replace the fluid loss and prevent dehydration. Severe dehydration may cause irritability, confusion and altered mental status.
