Water is still not getting into my system in the amount of 3 quarts a day. I amazed at the difficulty it is to drink that much. I need to get back to drinking 8 ounces first thing in the morning before my juice. Back in 06 when my family went to Puerto Rico for a vegetarian yoga retreat in the mountains, no electricity and compost toilets. Sorry got side tracked. Anyways the instructor would take everyone a 1/2 mile walk down the mountain to the river for a stimulating soak. What he said was that if you sit in the water with your back to the current that it would stimulate your bowels to move. It has to do with the energy of the water. I said not everyone has a river out their back door. He replied “an 8 ounce glass of water first thing when you get up before you put anything else into your system will stimulate the bowels just like the river.” I remember then forget then remember again that comment. It needs to also become part of my routine along with my juice in the morning.
I had stated that I was going to jog at lunch hour this week instead of riding my bike just to change-up my routine and stir up my metabolism again. I have managed to jog both days, and my knee is not bothering me. The trick for me is to jog in the woods and not on cement. It is not as jarring on my feet, knees and hips. The food choices have been better this week and sleep has not been disrupted. I am looking forward to a difference on the scale.
On to water though here is a writing that I share with our Rebuild Your Health… Innately group formerly Biggest Loser Innate Style. I hope you enjoy it and that it is helpful as I am sure my reading it again will help me as well.
Promoting Healthy Weight Through Water
Lose Weight….Drink Water
Most people already have some idea of just how important it is to consume a considerable amount of water each day. Unfortunately, few people understand how much water is truly necessary, why water is essential, and how to make sure they drink a sufficient amount each day. Without consistently taking in an adequate amount of water any significant weight.
FACT: Water is an important catalyst in losing weight and keeping it off.
Although most of us take it for granted, pure clean water may be an important ingredient for permanent weight loss. Water suppresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolize stored fat. Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to increase. Furthermore, an increase in water can actually reduce fat deposits.
Water and Weight
The kidneys cannot function properly without enough water. When they do not work to capacity, some of their load is dumped on the liver. One of the liver’s primary functions is to metabolize stored fat into usable energy for the body. But if the liver has to do some of the kidneys’ work, it cannot work at maximum. As a result, it metabolizes less fat and then more fat remains stored in the body and weight loss stops!
Drinking an adequate amount of water every day is the best treatment for fluid retention. When your body is given less water than it needs… it perceives the shortage as a threat to survival and will begin to retain every drop. Water reserves are stored in extra-cellular spaces (outside the cells). This water can show up as swollen feet,, hands and legs.
Diuretics only offer a temporary solution at best. They force out stored water along with some essential nutrients. Again, the body perceives a threat and will replace the lost water at the first opportunity. Thus, the condition quickly returns. The best way to overcome the problem of water retention is to give your body what it needs; plenty of water. Only then will stored water be released.
If water retention is a constant problem for you, excess salt may be to blame. Your body will only tolerate sodium in certain concentrations. The more salt you eat, the more water your system retains to dilute it. Getting rid of excess salt is easy, just drink water, and watch your salt. As the water is forced through the kidneys, it will remove the excess sodium.
Overweight individuals need more water than thinner people. Larger people have larger metabolic loads. Since water is key to fat metabolism… it follows that the more over weight person needs more water to metabolize excess fat.
Water helps to maintain proper muscle tone, which in turn, aids proper muscle contraction and prevents dehydration. It also helps to prevent the sagging skin that usually follows weight loss. Shrinking cells are buoyed by water which plums the skin and leaves it clear, healthy and resilient. Water helps rid the body of waste. During weight loss, the body has more waste to get rid of, all that metabolized fat must be shed. Water helps flush out this waste.
It may seem strange, but to get rid of excess water you must drink more water. Drinking water is essential to losing weight.
Water and Constipation
The colon is a primary internal water source. When the body gets too little water, it siphons what it needs from internal sources. The result? Constipation. However, when a person drinks enough water, normal bowel function will return.
How much water is enough?
If you are of normal weight for your height then on average you should drink (8) eight glasses of pure water that are (8) eight ounces every day. However, if you are overweight you should take (1) one additional glass for every 25lbs. of excess weight you are trying to lose. The amount that you drink should be increased if you exercise, or if the weather is hot and dry.
To utilize water most efficiently during weight loss, follow this suggested schedule;
Morning: 8 ounce glass of pure water upon rising then 3 more glasses by
mid-morning.
Noon: 1 quart of pure water over 30 minutes not with your meal.
Evening: 1 quart of pure water between 5-6pm not with your meal.
When the body gets all the water it needs to function optimally, it promotes the balancing of all body fluids.
