This is an excerpt from an article I wrote a while back called “The Nutritional Foundation”. Water is one of the main substances that your body needs in order to survive. I don’t care what you say, your body will not be in an optimal state of health until your hydration levels reach a normal capacity. Not only that but anything else you drink is just EXTRA CALORIES that do not need to be in your system, especially if fat loss is one of your goals! Take a look at this chart provided by the Mayo Clinic, and see just how water helps your system even more so –
Quoting an excerpt from Alwyn Cosgrove –
“Dehydration inhibits fat loss. I’m convinced of this. In fact, dehydration will eventually kill you , and fat loss slows down a lot at that point! Before we worry about extra water intake, we need to worry about minimal and optimal fluid intakes.
Here’s the fluid intake per day of a typical beginner before he or she came to see me (and EVERYONE tells me they drink A LOT of water by the way):
Wake up: A cup of coffee
Mid morning: Coffee
Lunch: Diet soda
Afternoon: Coffee or diet soda
Dinner: Diet soda and occasionally wine or a beer”
Does that person above sound familiar? Could that be you saying “I drink plenty of water” when really it is only 1-2 bottles a day?
Think about it! Read on below and see if you actually get close to the recommended amount I mention in the article!
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Any argument against water is purely marketing hype, for example like when other sports drink companies that rhyme with “haterade” start promoting to drink their drinks instead of water during a workout. Water is the only liquid your body really needs ever. Humans are specifically designed to drink water, it is pure, your body weight is composed of mostly water, it is what keeps you alive, and surrounds your cells. An interesting correlation between humans and the earth can be made with regard to water content: Almost 70% of the earth is covered in water likewise our bodies are composed of about 70% water. Also, our blood contains roughly the same salt content as the ocean namely about one-third. Water keeps you hydrated without any calories, all the bottled liquids that we see including sodas, energy drinks and many other “juices” were not around hundreds of years ago. Drinking only water is the best way to cut excess calories out of your diet.
Now the question is how much a day is sufficient? I suggest to follow the guidelines in Dr Batmanghelidj’s book “Our Bodies Many Cries for Water”. In it, he states that humans should be drinking the equivalent of half of their bodyweight in ounces of water daily. For example, a 200-pound man would have to drink 100 ounces of water a day. If you find this difficult to do, remember this is all just habit that must change!
For your information, Americans today drink twice as much soda as milk, and nearly twice as much soda as fruit juice. The adverse health effects from displacing water with soda or processed juices, or coffee include:
· Tooth Decay
· Sugar addiction
· Caffeine addiction
· Insulin Resistance
· Increased chances of osteoperosis
· Increased severity of kidney stones
· Nervousness
· Insomnia
· Attention deficit disorder
Yes there are plenty of other drinking options available, however, the number one staple of your liquid intake must be water if you are to be successful in the gym and actually change your body.
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Water is the best thing for you, drink up ASAP!
Stay strong,
Joey
