Are you looking for a magic elixir – perhaps a detox formula or some celebrity-endorsed pills – which will somehow magically melt your weight away?
It’s a nice, optimistic idea, isn’t it?
And how very splendid…if only it worked.
We know it doesn’t though, don’t we ladies.
It simply cannot.
Because…
You. Cannot. Subtract. By. Addition.
Read that again.
It’s worth getting your beautiful head around.
You cannot SUBTRACT something (as in, your weight), by ADDING something (pills, detox pills or ‘slimming foods’) to your daily intake.
Add more to your daily intake, and the total on the scale will increase. So says infant school maths.
Sure, detox formulas and appetite suppressants will certainly not add to your weight (so in that respect they are ‘slimming’ foods), but NOTHING you add to your diet will help you subtract weight.
Good. I’m pleased we’re clear on that.
Now, let’s pause a moment.
Breathe.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Good work.
I know I’ve just said, “There’s no such thing as a magic elixir for weight loss ….”
Well, actually there is. Or at least, it’s the closest thing I’ve come across.
Today I read a study which backs up my assumption with hard evidence.
Research presented at the American Chemical Society in Boston demonstrated that increased water consumption is an effective weight loss strategy.
It’s not just folklore ; )
This study found that obese dieters who drank two glasses of water before each meal lost 5 pounds more than the group of dieters who didn’t increase their water intake.
And a year later, the water-drinkers had also kept more of the weight off.
So there you go ladies, two glasses of water before each meal.
Need More Reasons To Drink Up?
If you’re one of these ya-can-lead-em-to-water-but-ya-can’t-make-em-drink types and you need even more proof of water’s weight loss efficacy, the next bit is especially for you.
You probably already know that your body comprises roughly 75% water. Did you know that very often when we feel hungry, we’re actually just thirsty?
According to Dr Batmanghelidj, author of the ground-breaking book Your Body’s Many Cries for Water, many of the aches and pains that we experience on a daily basis, including hunger, are actually the preliminary effects of dehydration.
And since it’s virtually impossible to tell the difference between this ‘thirst signal’ and authentic hunger, the best thing to do is drink water before you sit down to eat.
If you’re not hungry afterwards, you’ll know that “hunger signal” was thirst – and no matter how much food you ate, it would never quite feel like it ‘hit the spot’.
And if you’re still hungry after your water, then dig in.
Cheers ladies, and c’mon in … the water’s lovely : )
Love etc, Avril
