Dan Gould Posted May 9, 2012 Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 I know all about the "drink lots of water through the day" theory of weight loss. But can anyone confirm or deny the theory that a big glass of water first thing in the morning "jump-starts" your metabolism and aids in weight loss? Since October I've stuck with the "eat small meals more often" plan and its kinda weird - my weight came down about 8 pounds by New Years, and not changed a bit since then. Yet last weekend I discovered that three pairs of pants I couldn't wear before now fit comfortably, and I am actually two notches tighter in my belt. My only exercise since late January has been this plan: http://www.hundredpushups.com/ which I've done pretty well with but I don't see how a pushup regimen would produce the kind of muscle mass gain that would counteract what is clearly coming off of my waist. Anyway - I'm obviously pleased with the way my fitness is improving but I am wondering if anyone can vouch for this "glass of water first thing in the A.M." theory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.:.impossible Posted May 9, 2012 Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 I can't vouch for it, but it is a habit of mine. I drink as much water a day as I can. I've become an avid runner over the past few years with a few hiatuses, so hydration is necessary or running is hell. I went from 188 to 173 in a matter of weeks after my last hiatus. Everyone's body type is different, but this is significant in my opinion. The only thing I changed was my sedentary habits, which resulted in an increase in water intake out of necessity. I run at least 3 miles a day 5-6 days a week. Don't stop your push-up regimen. If anything, it is burning calories and changing your body's metabolism. I'm no expert, so take all of this with a glass of water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Gould Posted May 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 I think I'll take it with 30 glasses of water - that's how I'm going to test this theory, be very consistent with it for 30 days and see what happens. It was my boss who recommended it; my problem is that if I didn't leave a glass of water on the counter the night before, I'd sleepwalk through feeding the dogs, pouring my coffee and trudging back upstairs and never drink the magical glass of water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.:.impossible Posted May 9, 2012 Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 Haha! Keep us posted. I think hydration in general is a good thing. Do you drink soda? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Gould Posted May 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 (edited) I drank it until about a year ago when the girls in the office tried to convince me that if I'd cut out my diet soda consumption, the weight would fall off. So I did and saw zero change. I switched to water, mostly, with iced tea if I am out and the occasional beer. Edited May 9, 2012 by Dan Gould Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikelz777 Posted May 9, 2012 Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 (edited) I'm not so sure about the metabolism jump start thing. Wouldn't that require some actual calories to digest in order to get things going? I've read where you should try and shoot for half your body weight in ounces of water each day. Ex. A 200 pound guy should shoot for 100 ounces of water each day. Drink a glass of that allotment before each meal and only eat until you are no longer hungry. I guess the idea behind that is you'll eat less food because you're filling yourself up with so much water. Edited May 9, 2012 by mikelz777 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardbopjazz Posted May 9, 2012 Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 I can tell you a glass of beer first thing in the morning doesn't work. I have to try the water approach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertoart Posted May 9, 2012 Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 Gotta be better for ya than soft drink. If you plan to drink that much water however, make sure your always near a toilet. I can tell you a glass of beer first thing in the morning doesn't work. I have to try the water approach. Nice work if you can get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WD45 Posted May 9, 2012 Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 I'v elong been intrigued by the "hara hachi bu" way of thinking when it comes to eating. Don't eat until full -- only 8 parts out of ten. It takes some getting used to, but now I even apply it at Thanksgiving, believe it or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete C Posted May 9, 2012 Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 (edited) Water in the morning sounds like voodoo science to me. I have an arcane secret to losing weight: I consume less food than usual, and the food I consume is less caloric. I like food too much to maintain a year-round optimal diet, so I let myself yo-yo within a manageable 5-10 pound range. When I gain it back I can usually lose it on a 3-week austerity diet. I also keep diets interesting by falling back on foods that are less caloric and still interesting, so when I go to restaurants they're generally Japanese, Middle Eastern and Vietnamese, cuisines with lighter cooking styles, that tend to grill lean chicken without skin, do well with fish and low fat vegetarian dishes, etc. I also eat more fresh fruit in my diet period, and every time I ask myself why I forget to eat them when I'm in anything goes mode. Here's my more formal thoughts on dieting: http://petercherches.blogspot.com/2007/10/dieting.html Edited May 9, 2012 by Pete C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rostasi Posted May 9, 2012 Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 I'v elong been intrigued by the "hara hachi bu" way of thinking when it comes to eating. Don't eat until full -- only 8 parts out of ten. It takes some getting used to, but now I even apply it at Thanksgiving, believe it or not. I think this is good too. Many people seem to eat until they feel it - with that particular time steadily increasing with the slow expansion of the stomach. Generally, you're not supposed to be aware of your body parts: aware of your eyes by seeing spots or hearing your ears as they ring or having muscles that are sore, for example, are not desired, so why would you want to eat to the point when you actually feel your stomach? Drinking a good amount of water is a smart idea: good for the skin, digestion, and just as a general restorative method - especially as you get older. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GA Russell Posted May 9, 2012 Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 I drink a lot of coffee, both regular and decaf. No calories in black coffee, right? (I'm just guessing.) Wouldn't that be the same as drinking water? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Gould Posted May 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 Theoretically it ought to be better - more caffeine, more energy, more calorie burning, right? but I think the idea is plain water. Its funny though - other guys whose weight has gone up and then down can attest to this I am sure - but when I bought these pants originally, I'm quite sure I was pissed because I was buying a bigger size. Now, when its the same size as it ever was, I'm psyched because I fit into them again. Its all in the perspective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete C Posted May 9, 2012 Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 I drink a lot of coffee, both regular and decaf. No calories in black coffee, right? (I'm just guessing.) Wouldn't that be the same as drinking water? Not the same thing at all. Coffee is a diuretic, so it'll ultimately make you want to replace the water. Only trace calories in black coffee from the oils. I don't know if stimulants have anything to do with burning calories, but they definitely help suppress appetite (which is why Dexedrine was the diet pill of choice for years). So the moral is you should drink coffee when you're smoking weed, and hopefully they'll fight each other over the munchies. Generally, you're not supposed to be aware of your body parts: I can think of at least one notable exception. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim McG Posted May 9, 2012 Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 (edited) I drink a lot of coffee, both regular and decaf. No calories in black coffee, right? (I'm just guessing.) Wouldn't that be the same as drinking water? FWIW... I drink coffee, too...but it is a diuretic. The water hydrates your body where coffee causes you to pee it out. As often as I can, I drink 5-7 pints of H2O a day, but I think I'll give Dan's suggestion a try: One glass to start the day. My metabolism came to a high-speed screeching stop in my 30s. So, it's worth a try. Oh, and diet soda or sodas of any kind are the worst. The sodium content and the sweetness causes you to hold water in fat cells and makes you crave sweets. I quit that stuff and lost weight. Carbs and wine are my nemesis. Edited May 9, 2012 by GoodSpeak Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim R Posted May 9, 2012 Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 Drinking a good amount of water is a smart idea: good for the skin, digestion, and just as a general restorative method - especially as you get older. It can also help to prevent kidney stones, and most of us are in the increased-risk demographic for those (and most of us live where the weather is currently getting warmer, which adds another layer to the importance of drinking plenty of water). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John L Posted May 9, 2012 Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 I've been getting jump starts from water in the morning for years, three glasses of it. I just make sure and put a lot of coffee in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster_Ties Posted May 9, 2012 Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 (edited) I saw a recent BBC doc recently on-line, that measured people's "hunger" both when they drank a couple big glasses of water before each meal, and when they didn't. And they ALSO measured people's "hunger" when they made a sort of "soup" out of the exact same food that combined the water and the non-water food. Drinking the extra water has some effect, but fairly slight. The thing that REALLY had an effect was the "soup" option of (essentially) drinking the water and consuming the food AT THE SAME TIME (in one impossible to separate "combined" package). The soup oprion won, hands-down, and by a mile (iirc). (I think I've got a reddit thread about it saved (which is where I first saw it), that I might be able to find, if I dig a little.) Edited May 9, 2012 by Rooster_Ties Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete C Posted May 9, 2012 Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 Makes sense--the nutrients in the food will satisfy those hunger pangs that are not necessarily all in the stomach, and the water will fill out what you're consuming to give you a fuller feeling in the gut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzmoose Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 So the moral is you should drink coffee when you're smoking weed, and hopefully they'll fight each other over the munchies. I've uh..heard this works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BERIGAN Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 Dan, you not like to pay for water, but store brands of purified water (Like Kroger) are often $2.99 for a 24 pack of 16.9 oz bottles. I drink a lot more water when I have bottles of water, and you can put it on the counter too the night before...I have to have water with me at night. Bottled water is much more convenient than a glass of water, IMO. Taste doesn't change either, like a glass of water does overnight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Gould Posted May 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 Thanks for the suggestion Conrad but its not really an issue for me. Plus we've got one of those faucet filter thingamabobs, works pretty good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BERIGAN Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 Ok, I just thought it sounded like you would have to put the glass of water out the night before...putting a bottle of water, say on top of the dog food, less likely to forget! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete C Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 Dan, you not like to pay for water, but store brands of purified water (Like Kroger) are often $2.99 for a 24 pack of 16.9 oz bottles. I drink a lot more water when I have bottles of water, and you can put it on the counter too the night before...I have to have water with me at night. Bottled water is much more convenient than a glass of water, IMO. Taste doesn't change either, like a glass of water does overnight. Bottles can be reused, or you can buy decent reusable water bottles without petrochemical leakage, still have your water in a bottle, do your part for the environment, and not waste your money on what's usually just treated tap water, and not pay people for something you're already paying for if you pay water taxes. Many if not most U.S. cities have perfectly safe, drinkable tap water, the only real issue in some places being hardness (like S.F. & D.C. -- and London). I'm lucky to live in NYC, where the tap water is as good as anything in a bottle. If I lived in S.F. or D.C. I'd have a good filtration system, but when I visit I do buy bottled water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave James Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 Its funny though - other guys whose weight has gone up and then down can attest to this I am sure - but when I bought these pants originally, I'm quite sure I was pissed because I was buying a bigger size. Now, when its the same size as it ever was, I'm psyched because I fit into them again. Its all in the perspective. To put this in a musical context, it's like selling a box set that cost you $100 for $50 and then turning around and buying another box set for $100 and convincing yourself that it only cost $50. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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