Health Benefits of Drinking Water: How Much Water to Drink for Fat Loss

We all have an idea of the health benefits of drinking water. Water helps flush out toxins, boosts your immune system, prevents headaches, and gives you a mental boost among other things. And while we don’t mean to downplay any of these amazing key benefits, we believe it’s important to note that for many people on a fat loss journey, the correlation between drinking a sufficient amount of water and fat loss may be more related than anyone realized. So let’s tack on one more item in the long list of health benefits of drinking water and dissect just how much water we need to drink for fat loss and when…

How Does Drinking Water And Fat Loss Work?

First, water suppresses appetite. Your body needs food to create the energy that helps you perform day-to-day activities and even gives you the energy to work out which also helps with fat loss. People often mistake thirst for hunger, so when you’re feeling hungry, start by drinking a glass of water. Here’s the kicker: simply drinking 8 ounces of water ½ hour before each meal can help prevent you from overeating by signaling to the brain that you’re full earlier. A pretty simple trick, hey?

Second, a key health benefit of drink water is the increase in resting energy expenditure. When we are sitting or relaxing and not actively exercising, our body is still expanding energy. For instance, our hearts beating or breathing uses energy. Even the simple act of thinking exerts 1 ½ calorie per minute. Drinking water helps increase our resting energy expenditure by up to 30% within 30 minutes. The effects last for upwards of 60 minutes. That’s a major help as you move along your fat loss journey.

How To Drink Water

Yes, we’re aware that there is a 99.99999% chance you already know how to drink water, but do you know how strategically drinking water and fat loss work hand-in-hand?

Sub For Water

If you’re aching for something sweet or sugary, reach for water first. It sounds pretty self-explanatory but when the moment strikes, sometimes an adult beverage sounds too good to pass up on. Don’t look at it as ‘I’m drinking water instead of something else’ because then you’ll be less motivated to reach for a glass of water. Instead, think to yourself that before you treat yourself to a drink, you’re going to have some water first. At its best, the water will leave you satisfied enough and you will no longer desire an unhealthy beverage and it will quench your thirst. Worst case scenario, water will still significantly reduce your overall liquid intake.

Drink Water Before a Meal

Again, we can’t stress this one enough. Drinking water helps you lose fat. It’s recommended to drink a glass of water 30 minutes before a meal to help with your fat loss journey.

Choose Ice Water

Drinking ice water versus lukewarm water burns more calories. Why? When you drink ice water, your body will need to burn more calories and energy to regulate your internal body temperature.

How Much Water Should I Drink For Fat Loss?

This number will always vary on a multitude of factors — internal and external. Internally, everyone is different and will require a different amount of water intake based on physical activity, lifestyle, and more. On the other hand, external activities like the average temperature on most days (and especially summer days) will increase the amount of water consumption necessary to stay comfortable and hydrated. Common recommendations say adults should drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses per day, which equals around 2 liters, or half a gallon of water. This is the least amount of daily water intake necessary to stay healthy and hydrated. To help your fat loss journey, increase your water intake. A good rule of thumb is to consume half an ounce to an ounce of water for each pound you weigh, each day.

*Please note: drinking too much water has the potential to be unsafe. Make sure to stick with a recommended plan and consult a physician for any recommended dietary changes.