Weight Reduction

I’m asked every day if there’s a “magic” pill out there . . . something that’ll help shed that excess fat tissue and keep it off for good. What if I told you that there is something that’s inexpensive, readily available, safe, without side-effects, and just may be the most effective fat loss substance anywhere? What is this mystery substance? This magic pill that you’ve been waiting for? Well, it isn’t a pill at all. It’s good old water. That’s right, pure H2O.

Water is without a doubt one of the most underrated and yet dramatically effective keys to weight loss and, in particular, body fat reduction. There’s absolutely no denying that drinking a lot of pure, clean water (8-12 glasses per day) will help you get and stay LEAN. Let me make it perfectly clear here that we’re talking about plain water . . . not soda (which is loaded with sugar; even diet soda is full of salt and chemical sweeteners), not coffee, tea, juice. None of these count. Just WATER. Why is water such an effective fat loss aide? There’s several important factors:

Water seems to act as a natural appetite suppressant. In fact, people on diets who do not increase their water intake will find themselves feeling “hungry” much more often and more severely than those who do up their water consumption. One possible reason for this is that dieters are getting less water from their food, because they’re eating less food, so the body is actually craving fluid. These cravings can be significantly curbed with increased water intake.

Consuming enough water allows the kidneys to function optimally. This in turn enables the liver to become more efficient at metabolizing fat. The result is an increased fat burning capacity in the liver.

When the body doesn’t get sufficient amounts of water, it’ll metabolically shift in a defensive and protective strategy to “preserve” what it has. This can only result in a negative slowdown of bodily functions and processes. Incidentally, something similar happens when you cut fat completely out of your diet: the body compensates by holding on to as much of its fat stores as possible, thus defeating the purpose. This is why I recommend a nutrition program rich in “good” fats which promote metabolism. In addition to fat loss, drinking adequate amounts of water also has numerous other biological and physical benefits. Maintaining healthy and vibrant appearing skin is an example of one such added benefit.

Don't eat the obvious fat in your diet such as fried foods, burgers and other fatty meats. Eat dairy products like cheese, cottage cheese, milk and cream low fat versions. Nuts and sandwich meats, butter and sauces should be eaten in limited amounts and even then in their low fat verions. Most are available in lower fat versions.

Stress busters come in many forms. Some techniques recommended by experts are to think positive thoughts. Spend 30 minutes a day doing something you like. (i.e., go back to number one above!, exercise is a great stress reducer, Soak in a hot tub; walk on the beach or in a park; read a good book; visit a friend; play with your dog; listen to soothing music; watch a funny movie. Get a massage, a facial or a haircut. Meditate. Count to ten before losing your temper or getting aggravated. Avoid difficult people when possible.

Bottom Line: drinking sufficient amounts of pure water should be the first step in any serious fat reduction program. There's a definitive connection between living well and healthily and having a cheerful outlook on life. Yes, keep on smiling and laughing!