Top Ten Tips for Weight Management - Tip Two - The Elixior of Life

Gladiator Siren offers our second Top Tip - The Elixior of Life - Water!

The vast majority of our readers are asking for more information on Weight Loss - so it's time to go --- but take it slow……

The first thing that most people do is they try and do too many things at once in order to lose that ounce of fat! Unless you are 100 % committed and dedicated to loosing the pounds and plan to change your life routine overnight – please listen to this piece of advise. Do things one thing at time – to start with anyway.

If you have a personal trainer who is going to monitor everything you eat, drink and do in the form of exercise - then loosing a few pounds will be easy! But if like most of us you have a job that demands 99% of your time, a family and all of life’s other commitments start by introducing something into your everyday routine, that wont hinder you, take up any extra time and wont cost you a penny.

So, here is our first TOP TEN TIP!

DRINK WATER!!!!

Why? There are so many reasons, and here are just a few........

A lot of the time people cannot differentiate the difference between hunger and thirst. By confusing thirst for hunger we end up eating more food instead of drinking water, and that ends up adding to our calorie intake. Water has no calories and can just take that edge off either a craving or hunger pangs.

1
Before each meal have a glass of water(approx 500ml). Wait 15/20 mins then consume your meal. The water does not really fill you up - as some people like to think - it is merely quenching your thirst. Drinking water with your meal does help to make sure that you are only eating to fulfil your hunger and not more and of course helps your body process the food.

There are many foods that can increase your metabolism, and water is one of them. It actually helps to convert food into usable energy and helps the body absorb and use the nutrients that it receives. This means that our internal engines work more efficiently. We know for certain that when our bodies do not contain enough water and we become dehydrated, our metabolism drops – in most cases this slows down the use of energy and increases weight gain. It is like oil in a car. If there is not enough, the engine starts to grind to a halt and seize up!

2
Keep your body well hydrated at all times to help maintain a good metabolism - this means that you will burn more calories all day long, and this aids weight loss!

Many people believe that drinking lots of water results in water retention. In fact, the more water you consume, the more readily your body will get rid of excess water. Our body needs to be more than 60% water. When we do not take in enough - just like food - our body will try and hold onto what iftgets, and will store some of it for later. That can sometimes make parts of our body swell up - abdomen, face and legs. If your body knows that more water is coming, it won't hang onto it!

3
Drink regular amounts of water throughout the day - a minimum of 1.5 litres - to release water retention and reduce weight.

Nowadays, we are eating increased amounts of foods that are full of colourings, flavourings, additives and preservatives. These are toxic in the body and can accumulate and cause water retention. Some scientists believe we are accumulating up to 1 pound of toxic waste a year! By drinking lots of water during the day, you help your body flush out all of these toxins.

4
Drink regular amounts of water throughout the day - a minimum of 1.5 lites - to flush out all of the toxins and avoid weight gain

The western diet is also increasingly full of foods that increase acidity within the body - pH Balance - and when that happens, our body starts to use the alkaline in the water to try to reduce the acidity. It is another reason for increased water retention. Did you know, for example, that you need to drink 32 glasses of water to counteract the effect of drinking one can of cola!

5
Drink regular amounts of water throughout the day - a minimum of 1.5 litres - to maintain an alkaline balance in your body and avoid water retention.

If plain water is too difficult or boring for you to manage, try adding a few pieces of lemon or lime. Not only will these add a hint of flavour to your water, these citrus fruits act as mild natural diuretics and are highly alkaline in the body. The refreshing taste will help the water go down that much easier, and the natural diuretic quality will ensure that you go to the toilet more regularly.

6
Drink natural water as much as possible, or add a little natural lemon or lime - this helps to avoid a build of up of waste products in the colon.

And don’t forget that a hydrated body helps our skin stay healthy. This is because water allows your body to flush toxins out much more easily rather than forcing them through your pores when you sweat. Water keeps skin moist, plump and at its most youthful (for your given age!) If you’re dehydrated, your body will take the water it needs for vital body organs like your brain and your heart from your skin (a less vital organ), leaving it looking less than its best.

I for one love all things sweet…. You don’t have to cut out all of your favorite drinks and treats. But if you try and do this water test, you will find that you wont want or need as many of those nasties! And you will really notice the results….

7
Drink plenty of water during the day and you will find that your cravings and the temptation to pick at the wrong things will reduce.

How much?

The experts say you should drink about 2 litres a day. Of course this is dependant on your lifestyle - the more active you are the more you need. You lose at least 1 pint of water every day just sitting doing nothing at all! Speaking from experience, if I'm on a training day, I can easily drink 4 litres because I need to replace what has been lost through sweat and extreme body exertion. If as a rule of thumb you are consuming 3 meals a day, breakfast, lunch and dinner, start of by drinking 500 ml before every meal – this will total to 1.5 litres, -and then try to have another 500 ml before you go to bed.

Try the water test for 2 weeks and see how much better you will look, feel and how many of those little pounds you will have lost!

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