| H2... Oh!: Part 3 | |
Are You Hungry or Thirsty?
Like Nicci, many successful "losers" swear by using an ice-cold glass of water to curb their food cravings. If you don't believe it works, why not give it a try? When you feel the urge to splurge coming on, try downing an entire glass of water and see if your craving is still around afterwards. Try not to gulp all of it down at once, though. Sip it slowly and give your brain time to register the fact that you have just been hydrated.
If your craving has dissipated after you finish off that glass of water, then that just goes to show you weren't experiencing "true hunger." If you do feel actual hunger pangs at that point, by all means, eat. However, like Nicci said, sometimes when we think we feel hungry, we are actually thirsty. Our bodies are dehydrated and we get our "wires crossed" and start a feeding frenzy instead of giving our bodies what they really need -- hydration.
Fill 'Er Up
Second, another way drinking water may help you lose weight is by making you feel fuller. The trick here is to be consistent. Drinking one extra glass of water isn't going to help you feel satiated throughout the day. You've got to keep water on hand and cold, or else you probably won't keep the habit up. If you have access to a refrigerator at work, perfect. Put a gallon carton in the fridge in the morning and help yourself throughout the day. If you work at a place that has a water cooler, that's even better.
If you don't have a refrigerator or watering hole, why not carry one of the small picnic coolers and stock it with small bottles of water? Keep it next to your chair or under your desk. Other tricks include buying a sports bottle or one of those insulated mugs with a lid on it. Fill it up in the morning and refill it from the kitchen, break room or bathroom sink throughout the day.
A Final Word
So you want one more reason to drink water? Last but not least, some weight loss experts say that drinking ice cold water may even speed up your metabolism!
Drinking water is like any other healthy behavior: you have to make a habit of it in order to stick with it. If you can, then your general health as well as your weight loss efforts will benefit from the power of H20!
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