Why does drinking extra water on this WOE help with weight loss?

[Razorshock]

Can someone post up the technical/biological reason(s) why drinking more water helps one lose fat? Is it that your body uses more energry processing it, or you burn off extra calories walking to the restroom?

Yes, Atkins WOE does have a natural diuretic effect so I realize that we will need to drink more, but if one does not...how does it slow your weight loss? I don't quite buy the 'flushing out the fat' explainations...does not seem to make much sense.

I still drink my water, but would be more motivated if I knew why.

[californiacasey]

Re: Why does drinking extra water on this WOE help with weight loss?

Well, when you are in ketosis, your body is burning your fat for fuel. The carbon fragments from the burned fat need to leave your body and they basically leave through your exhaled breath (thus the funky breath), through your sweat (some people (myself included) can have strong body odors when working out), and through your urine! The easiest way for the carbon fragments to leave your body is through your urine, so you're flushing out the left-overs from the fat burning process. When you start using the stored energy in those fat cells, you release fat for energy but you also release other things that are stored in your fat, like hormones, toxins and water. You will need to flush these out as well.

When you are eating a "normal" diet that contains a lot of carbs, your body stores 1-4 grams of water PER gram of carb. So you carry around a lot of extra water. When you're in ketosis you're not storing carbs AND neither are you storing the extra water, so you need to drink more water because your body has a smaller supply of stored water.

Hmmm...what else, because eating Atkins means that you have to exercise as well. So when you're exercising you have to drink more water than you normally would.

Drinking water can also help replace other drinks you may normally consume, like coffee, soda, juice etc.

Drinking enough water also helps your kidneys and liver process the fat, hormones, toxins, protein, etc....the water makes life a lot easier for the kidneys and liver.

[divaindubai]

Re: Why does drinking extra water on this WOE help with weight loss?

Wow California Casey! YOu have that down pat! Thanks for the thorough answer!

[californiacasey]

Re: Why does drinking extra water on this WOE help with weight loss?

Razor - Does this help answer your questions?

[SusanQsan]

Re: Why does drinking extra water on this WOE help with weight loss?

Hey thanks for posting your response California Casey! You really know your stuff! It's really interesting to finally learn WHY we have to drink so much H2O.

[californiacasey]

Re: Why does drinking extra water on this WOE help with weight loss?

Thanks...if anyone wants to add to the list of "Whys" that would be great!

[changing]

Re: Why does drinking extra water on this WOE help with weight loss?

Many sources say that cellulite is in part formed/exacerbated when skin cells retain water--one of the suggested treatment options for improving/eliminating cellulite is drinking plentiful amounts of water.

I was a bit skeptical, but I've noticed that in the time since I've upped my water intake to a gallon (128 oz) from my pre-Atkins WoE intake of 15-20 oz a day (severely dehydrated), my posterior cellulite has visibly improved!

Just another benefit to think about.