How does water help you lose weight?

Several years ago, I had seizures nonstop. The seizures started after a brain injury. The brain injury did damage to my frontal lobe. After the head injury and after the start of the seizures, my body really blew up in size. I had so many health issues that followed. I went to so many doctors searching for answers. I would relentlessly ask them, “Why do I suddenly have all of this weight on me? What is going on?” No one could ever give me a straight answer. Everyone was clueless. I was stuck looking at a body every single day that I didn’t recognize anymore. I felt 20 years older. Everything hurt, my joints were a mess. I was constantly getting UTIs for no apparent reason. I had brain fog constantly. I felt tired all day long but could never sleep at night. My previously glowing skin had turned blotchy and a mess. I felt hopeless.

It wasn’t until I was at my neurologist’s office that he finally gave me some real answers. The damage done to my frontal lobe had made any sort of stress extremely hard on my body. My body was extremely overwhelmed and overworked every single day just by stepping outside. This was spiking my cortisol immensely and causing my body to retain water and fat. After that visit, I was on a mission to eliminate stress any way that I could. The very first thing the doctor suggested was hydration. I thought that was so silly. I probably rolled my eyes at him. He pushed me and urged me to start with at LEAST 64 ounces of water a day. With my newly scattered brain, I thought that must be impossible. I couldn’t remember anything. My short term memory was shot. How would I remember to drink that much water every single day? I was frustrated and annoyed at the advise to say the least.

Once I finally came around to trying the idea, I was lost. I tried for days and failed. My brain was a mess. All I could ever accomplish was a sip here and there before I walked away with confusion and onto the next task. I finally sat down defeated and realized I needed a plan. I needed a way to drink water without having to think about it.

I started to develop strategies and tricks for my brain. I couldn’t look at drinking water as a task. I tried that and failed immediately. I had to look at it as a reward and look forward to it. It had to be a part of a routine or fun all day long.

I did this and guess what? It worked! Not only was I feeling more awake every single day, I was sleeping better, I wasn’t getting infections like I used to from constant dehydration, and my seizures slowed down. This also allowed my brain to relax. The relaxing brain helped my cortisol decrease and my body start to go back into a healthy state. No longer was I a swollen mess. My joints started to feel better too!

 

Did you know that when you are stressed your heart actually beats faster? When your heart beats faster, you lose water. Being dehydrated actually causes more stress on your body and being stressed actually causes you to become dehydrated. This never ending cycle can be a lot for the body to handle. Stress increases cortisol. Too much cortisol will make your body Blair and hold onto fat.

All of your organs and your brain need hydration to run properly. Think of it as oil in a vehicle. Without any oil to lubricate the engine, it can explode and kill the car. Same is with your organs. Without the proper lubrication, your organs are going to struggle to work. When they struggle, they are stressed!

Just a half a liter of dehydration can raise your cortisol levels. Raised cortisol levels cause belly fat, stress, anxiety, depression, hair loss, skin problems, concentration problems, and hormonal issues. If you are having those issues, chances are you’re dehydrated as well. How do you know if you’re dehydrated?

One easy way to tell if your dehydrated is by looking at your urine when you go to the bathroom. It should be a light yellow color with no odor. If there is a strong odor and it is dark yellow, you need to be drinking more water. A strong odor can also mean infections. Make sure you go to the Dr if you notice a strong odor every time you use the bathroom. And also if you notice any traces of blood or have any pain.

Once you drink enough to notice your urine become a light yellow, you’re on the right track! Keep going. Don’t stop.

If you have trouble getting hydrated or simple forget to, you may need to outsmart yourself and use tips and tricks so that you will be successful. Simple tricks like a new water bottle can help you make getting healthy more fun. If you are thinking about drinking water constantly, it may be frustrating and you won’t have time for anything else like work. But if you have cute water bottle for instance, you might want to drink more often without realizing it.

Here are 10 hacks that will help you stay hydrated throughout the day and help you concentrate. Keep focus and reduce your stress levels.

1. Buy a big water bottle with markings on the side.

Buy a water bottle that you like to look at and that is fun to drink from. There are plenty of water bottles out there that have markings on the side and give you a time limit to drink a certain amount. It is helpful to keep a goal. Keeping small attainable goals throughout the day also helps raise dopamine levels. When raise your dopamine levels and increases your happy hormones, you decreases your stress hormones. So it is a win-win! Hydrate your organs by keeping small attainable goals and increase your mood overall.

2. Buy a straw to fidget with during the day.

If you are sitting at your desk all day, you might get bored. While doing work or mundane chores, sometimes it helps to have something to fidget with. I have found the silicone straws the most fun and stimulating to fidget with. I end up biting, flicking, spinning, grabbing them all while drinking water. Half the time, I drink all of my water without realizing it.

You can also buy charms to put on your straw to spin or twirl around. Anything like this to fidget with is a must have to trick your brain into drinking water to de-stress.

You can also buy soft straws that are easy to clean. Straws can be a real pain to clean. There are silicone straws that snap apart and back together again for easy cleanup.

3. Add drops of lemon, lime, or Celtic sea
salt.

Just a teaspoon of sea salt will help regulate your cortisol levels and also give you the nutrients you need for hydration. Celtic sea salt is an excellent source of magnesium and is a great source of natural electrolyte. Adding a lemon or a lime also helps keep your body hydrated with some more natural electrolytes. It also is a great source of vitamin C and other minerals. It will decrease that bland water taste that you want to avoid.

Sometimes I add some ginger and lemon to my water as well. The ginger helps me immensely with belly bloat. The lemon has helped me a lot with colds and flus as well. The acidic juice helps to cut through phlegm and keep my chest all clear.

4. Add ice to your water.

By adding ice to your water, the cold sensation will make it easier to drink. Adding anything to your senses will improve dopamine and trick your brain into thinking the activity is fun. It is also a tad bit more satisfying.

I have ADD and the sound of the ice swirling in my cup is soothing and relaxing to me. Certain sounds help me focus and stay on task while reducing stress. It may sound silly, but just one simple thing like ice can help relaxation and concentration.

This can also make you want to drink more just to hear the clinking of the ice cubes in your water. You’ll keep drinking without even realizing it.

5. Make sure when you buy a water bottle you get one that is fun and exciting to you!

Get water bottles that you like in the style that you want. Get a water bottle that you love to carry around like an accessory. You’ll be more inclined to keep it with you every day and all day. A unique sense of style will also help make sure no one accidentally takes it.

For an extra health benefit, try to focus on metal or glass water bottles. This avoids the harmful chemicals in plastics. Any sort of chemical like those in plastics will cause the body even more stress. You want to reduce stress and cortisol, not add to it.

6. Make sure you drink one cup of water per each cup of caffeinated drink, coffee or tea.

Caffeine and coffee dehydrate you. You’ll want to make sure you drink one extra cup of water per cup of coffee. A lot of people don’t realize how much more they are dehydrating themselves with additional beverages. Keep up the hydration with adding more water to your routine after any of these types of beverages.

7. Get some fancy ice cubes to chew on.

By crunching on ice cubes during the day you are getting hydrated and you are also stimulating your mind. Ice cubes can be very relaxing to crunch on, especially if you need something to fidget with. There are so many neat ice cube makers out there! Some are cubed, some are crushed, some are little cylinders and small spheres. My personal favorite is the tiny crushed ice. Pick which one is exciting and fun for you.

An added bonus for crunching on ice is that you won’t be crunching on snacks out of boredom. Your brain won’t notice the difference between the activities. It’ll just be glad it’s getting the stimulation. And by crunching on ice, you’re hydrating and not adding those extra calories.

8. Eat watermelon!

Watermelon is an excellent source of water and vitamins. It taste delicious and is really great for you. What an easy water to increase your water intake without drinking. Watermelon is full of fiber as well.

If you get bored with just drinking tons of plain water every day, try eating some watermelon or cucumber. Cucumber is also an excellent source of water and nutrients. You can bring them both to work for snacks too.

9. Buy washable ice cubes.

If you don’t like having tons of ice in your water, you can buy washable ice cubes. This is especially useful for the drinks that you have flavored and you don’t want them to be watered down. Simply put them in the freezer and take them out when you’re ready to put them in your drink. They are easy to wash and look really cute in your cup!

10. Make sure to add your name to your water bottle!

This is really helpful if you’re in an office or at home. If your little kids often drink from your water bottle, you won’t be able to keep track of how much you drank for the day. Try and keep your name on your water bottle if possible. You also don’t want anybody else’s germs getting on your water bottle at work.

I hope you try some of these tricks to get you hydrated today! Your body and hormones will love you for it. You deserve to love the body you’re in. Make sure to try them all and share with your friends. You’ll be amazed at how much more clearer you think and how much more awake feel. Your skin might even clear up and start glowing.

Let us know if these tricks have helped you stay hydrated or if you have any others to share for yourself.