How to Lose Water Weight - The Most Effective Techniques!
By: Gemma Darcy
Submitted: 2010-01-05 08:07:59 | Word Count: 860
* LOSING WATER WEIGHT AS PART OF A LOSE WEIGHT PROGRAM
Water weight can be really hard to shift, but many people are going about trying to lose it the wrong way! If you are trying to lose body weight, around your legs, ankles, wrists, feet or even hands, it could be caused by many different things. For many, it is often caused by an increase in sodium, such as salt. Too much salt causes water retention because it causes our bodies to store water in our bodies, as it triggers our thirst mechanism.
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There are many different ways to lose water weight, as part of a weight loss program, but first it might be worthwhile pinpointing the exact reason. As I already mentioned, it could be due to higher intake of salt recently, or even if you have recently started taking different prescription drugs. Medicines such as steroids, estrogen replacement hormones or Blood Pressure tablets can cause you to gain extra water weight as opposed to lose body weight.
So the first step is to consult your doctor about the medication you are on. Sometimes, Blood Pressure Tablets can often cause excessive water weight gain around the ankles, making movement uncomfortable, and sleep difficult, as ankles often have to be raised. You may be able to change medication.
* DRINK PLENTY OF WATER
Secondly, it is important that you drink plenty of water. Many people believe that drinking lots of water is the opposite of what you should be doing to lose water weight, when really, drinking less water can be very counter productive! If you are not drinking enough water during the day, your body will go into 'Survival Mode', retaining every drop you drink, making your water weight problem even worse! Water is the best diuretic you can give to your body, and it is all completely natural, so you should be drinking between 8-10 glasses a day, or enough so that you rarely feel thirsty.
* LIMIT YOUR SALT INTAKE
Make sure your salt intake is limited. High sodium, salt in particular, can cause you to retain water. A bad diet, involving high levels of salt, is often the main cause for water retention. Always check the labels of whatever you buy for salt content, and go through your cupboards at home, you will be surprised which foods contain salt, and a lot of it at that! Aim to buy food products that have a low sodium content in order to reduce the amount of water your body retains.
If you find your water weight is quite bad or you are serious about getting rid of water weight, as part of a lose weight program, it might be worth considering using herbs. Certain herbs help to flush water from your body. Natural herbs can be gentler on the body then your typical over-the-counter methods.
* GINGER IN SMOOTHIES - HMMM
Ginger is great for this usage, you can add it to smoothies if you find the taste a bit harsh. Green tea is also very popular, as not only can it help you to lose water weight naturally, but it has lots of great anti-oxidant properties too, all you need to do is drink a cup or two of it a day.
Another great, but rarely done trick, is just to eat a well balanced diet! Some people forget this factor, but it's actually very important as part of any weight loss program. If you do not get enough protein in your diet, this can cause water weight too, so it is important you try to include fruits and vegetables in your diet, as they can help treat and even prevent water retention.
* HOW ACTIVE ARE YOU?
Increasing your activity levels can also significantly increase your chances of shifting that difficult weight! If you engage in exercises such as bike riding, tennis, or just walking and running, you could help get rid of excess water in your legs and ankles, which is one of the most common water weight areas!
If you still continue to retain water, your final step is to talk to your doctor, usually, these techniques should be working, and if you feel you have given your lose weight program a good run and nothing has improved, there may be an underlying health issue you might need to address!
But, if you follow these tips, you are sure to notice that you will lose water weight, and you will soon be back on the road to being healthy and happy! Whatever you do, it is important to remember you can lose body weight and water weight without having to starve!
