As a personal trainer, I get all my clients to focus heavily on their drinking water intake before, during, and after working out. But another excellent approach is to use drinking water for increased weight loss and fat-burning.
The problem is that it’s not just down to drinking more throughout the day.
So I teamed up with a doctor and metabolic specialist to research how drinking water can help with fat loss and what timing might be necessary.
Here’s what we found.
Quick Summary
- Drinking the right amount of water at short intervals can trigger metabolic processes that burn off calories and fat.
- It’s not just a case of getting the volume right; you also need to consider when and how fast you drink water.
- You also have to be careful that you don’t dehydrate because that could have a negative effect on your overall weight.
When Should You Drink Water To Lose Weight?
The best time to drink water for loss of weight, as advised by doctors, is to ensure regular hydration throughout the day and to consume water before meals to promote a sense of fullness and potentially reduce calorie intake. Also, you should drink water first thing in the morning to lose weight more effectively.
To understand why I recommend that, it’s essential to look at what happens in your body when you do this first thing in the morning.
Studies have shown that drinking about 16 ounces of water (500 ml) in less than five minutes can trigger thermogenesis and a 24% increase in energy expenditure for 60 minutes [1].
That means if you drink a pint of warm water relatively fast, your body temperature will slightly increase by burning off some extra fat.
The other thing you can achieve by drinking water first thing in the morning is feeling full, making it easier to extend your overnight fasting time [2]. And that should mean that it’s much easier to postpone your breakfast until after 10 am and after exercise.
Ultimately, you could be boosting your fat-burning significantly with something as simple as a pint of drinking water. Being mindful of your calorie intake and incorporating adequate water consumption at strategic times throughout the day, can contribute to effective weight loss and overall health.
Does The Volume Of Water Matter?
Yes, the volume of water matters a lot when it comes to loss of weight through the increase fluid intake. And it’s where people tend to make simple mistakes.
The general recommendation is to drink eight glasses of water daily [3].
But simply sticking with that recommendation and having a glass of drinking water every one to two hours won’t do much for weight loss.
It will still give you health benefits, but studies have shown that you must drink about 16 ounces of water within a few minutes to achieve weight loss, ideally before meals [4].
So, don’t assume that you’ll boost your calorie burning simply by drinking enough water during the day.
Tips To Avoid Dehydration
The other thing you need to remember is that you probably won’t get the same thermogenic effect from a pint of drinking water if you haven’t been drinking enough during the day.
What I mean is this.
If you had a pint of drinking water in the morning and then spent most of the day just drinking coffee or nothing at all, your body will be craving drink water by the afternoon.
“If you don’t get enough water, you can become dehydrated. Severe cases of dehydration can cause dizziness, confusion, and even seizures.”
- Hansa D. Bhargava, MD, WebMD.com
So, the one tip I give all my clients is to set a timer on their smartwatch or phone every 30 to 60 minutes. Also, buy one of those Super Sparrow bottles that give you an exact measure of how much drinking water you’re filling up.
Every time you finish a bottle, record it along with your food journaling and make sure that it all adds up to at least eight glasses per day.
FAQs
How Much Water Should You Drink A Day To Lose Weight Fast?
You should aim to drink over 60 ounces of water a day to lose weight. This will depend on your gender, height, weight, and environmental temperature, but it’s a good starting guide to boost your weight loss efforts.
Does Drinking Too Much Water Make You Fat?
No, drinking too much water doesn’t make you fat. While you might experience temporary water weight gain, your body will flush out that excess fluid through the kidneys [5].
Should I Drink Water While Working Out?
Yes, you should drink water while working out to stay hydrated, maintain performance, and prevent overheating and dehydration, especially during long or intense exercise sessions.
References:
- https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/92/8/3334/2598681?login=false
- https://www.businessinsider.com/how-drinking-water-affects-weight-loss-and-satiety-2016-7?r=US&IR=T
- https://www.webmd.com/diet/how-much-water-to-drink
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3809630/
- https://www.orlandohealth.com/content-hub/8-ways-to-get-rid-of-water-retention
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