Day 3 - Get Hydrated!

[Penni]

True Hydration is an important element for restoring health and in weight loss.

Yes, I know that you've already heard it before, but amount of hydrating liquids you drink absolutely plays a significant role in the big picture of healthy weight loss and in releasing water retention in the body. So many of us have a background of consuming an acidic diet, which creates inflammation and water retention, causing the body to fight to normalize and stabilize pH balance. A body that is constantly dehydrated, or one that is aways struggling to achieve equilibrium, does not have the same resources available to cleanse, release weight and to heal properly. Without embracing this foundational truth and applying it, you will be unable to achieve your ultimate health and weight loss goals.

Your body really is crying out to you for hydration. Water is the basis of all the bodily fluids including digestive juices, blood, urine, lymph and perspiration, digestion, circulation and lubrication. Water is also the essential transport for several nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and even carbohydrates. It serves an important role in all cellular activity. A diet deficient in water can result in many dysfunctions within the body, but the good news is True Hydration can often be a quick fix for many of your ailments.

If your water intake is too low, your body's ability to transport nutrients can become compromised, resulting in a decrease of muscle fullness, and it can create a toxic buildup of ammonia, urea, uric acid, and other substances, which begin to accumulate in the body. Many people with kidney or gallstones suffer from chronic dehydration. Additionally, people with excess mucous in the lungs and body are often suffering from inadequate water intake. The immune system is certainly affected adversely when the body is dehydrated. 

Water is essential for dissolving and transporting nutrients such as oxygen and minerals to the body. When the body is well hydrated it has the necessary resources for digestion, assimilation, metabolism, elimination, and the waste removal in the body. Water intake helps in flushing out toxins from the fat cells, which are stored in fat tissue and released into the bloodstream. In order to burn fat cells, the fat cells first will have to be free of excess water and toxins. The body will hold on to excess water for survival if adequate amounts of water is not supplied.

A little bit on water retention......The amount of water you drink plays a key role in water retention. Water retention, medically known as edema, can be caused due to:

Dehydration: When you are dehydrated, your body excretes less water, and bloating can set in.
Constipation: if you don't have frequent bowel movements, your body tends to absorb poison from partially digested foods in the intestinal tract. The constipation that occurs encourages the body to retain fluids to dilute these poisons. Constipation is, in fact, the most common problem in relation to water retention. 

Rawk Stars - As we begin this Initiative, NOW is the time to Get Hydrated!

This is probably one of the quickest, easiest solutions to some of the challenges that you may be facing. Upping your hydration is easier than radically overhauling your diet and you don't need any special equipment to do it, so nobody here should have ANY excuses on this topic!

Recommendations For True Hydration:

~ Eat a high raw, plant based diet. Not only will a diet rich in juicy raw fruits and vegetables help to hydrate you, it will also add fabulous fiber to your diet, which is essential for the healthy functioning of your body. Good fiber intake is a key for weight loss and weight management. A diet rich in fiber can help to promote fat loss if fiber food replaces fats and sweets. This is possible because these fibrous foods offer fewer calories per gram than fats. These foods have the ability to expand to up to 10 times their weight and size in the stomach. One more reason that the raw food diet RAWKS!

~ Drink HALF your body weight in ounces each day. The math is easy on this: If you weight 200 pounds, make your goal to drink 100 ounces of hydrating fluids daily. Yes, initially you will be going to the bathroom a bit more, but that is a good thing. Plan for it, and know that you're doing your poor dried out body good!

If you are physically active, you'll need to drink even more throughout the day. I can promise you that if you will get truly hydrated, you will not struggle as much with hunger or cravings. Often our minds just think we're hungry, when it's really hydration that is needed to satisfy.

Over this next 11 Week Initiative, please calculate how much fluid you should be drinking and start keeping track of it daily. If you have ordered the Revealing Your Inner Rawk Star materials, you will notice that is the first thing on your daily journal sheet. Track your water intake and see what positive changes occur within days and share it with us here at RFR.

In addition to pure water, you can also add your smoothies, fresh juices, coconut water and herbal teas to this equation. I think you'll find your weight begin to shift and your health begin to improve in a short amount of time when you make the commitment to get Truly Hydrated!

[ishKiia]

This is so true Penni. Although I think it is a max of one gallon per day for your health due to overworking your kidney's after that amount. the information here is very helpful and a great reminder to me that I needed. I drink a lot of juices from greens and things but I Think I will start tracking what I drink for this initiative so that I can refine and be more aware of what I do.

Thank you so much for this post!

Create a great day!

[Linda Duncan]

I agree, and am trying to drink lots of water and juices, and smoothies and juicy fruits while on this 11 week initiative.

[Susan : )]

I love water...I get mine from our local Spring. I have a Culligan Cooler so I always have it at my fingertips. Our whole famly carries around a waterbottle in the house and when we are out! We always feel great! Water is our first drink of choice and the it is ...of course, Green Smoothies! : )

[T]

water is your best friend :) -- i tend to drink about a gallon plus a day even though my calculations say just shy of 3 quarts -- especially in this heat, i seem to drink about 5 or 6 quarts lately -- i have learned that when i think i'm hungry i grab my water jug first to see if i'm really thirsty first :) -- and i don't count any other liquids i drink either -- i find that my skin is less "old" looking when i stay hydrated and i don't have to use much lotion :) --

i was wondering how you infuse water to drink? i mean other than just adding squeezed lemon or lime into the water -- is there a special device you buy or ??

[esther frances]

every morning i fill a big pitcher with water...and before i go to bed, it has to be gone. now i'm gonna measure just how much i've been putting in there ;>)

ok, just measured...it holds 80+ ounces...just a little more than i need! but sometimes i share it with spike, so i'm on target :>)

oh, i just made some water with the goji berries and lemon pictured above. added some ice. sip, sip, munch a goji berry. YUMMY.

[Terry]

I love water. My drink of choice. Already had 185.9 oz. Just keep filling up your bottle and just drink.

[Sharon Shapiro]

Are there any herbal teas that you recommend?

[Angelique Miller]

I agree with the comment about skin...when I'm drinking enough water, my skin looks slightly less wrinkly and I don't need any lip balm. Dry lips are now a big indicator to me that I'm dehydrated.
I also get rid of: tiredness, headaches, and constipation.

[Angela Montague]

Got my water! I have to say I am one of those that doesn't drink enough water but am making a commitment to a full glass of lemon water between meals. I also have everyting ready for quick green smoothies for breakfast. Thank you, Angela M.

[Janet Clark]

We all know we should drink more water, but this is a good reminder to actually DO IT.

[Tanja]

Thanks for the reminder! I measure my water intake with a quart sized canning jar. One down, 3 to go.

[Meghan =)]

thanks for this Penni..i always keep an aluminium water bottle by me throughout the day so I know im staying hydrated. another great way to stay hydrated in the summmer is to drink some watermelon juice...it will definitely quench your thirst on those hot days!