Has anyone lost weight just by drinking more water?

[DedalusDigglesPocketWatch]

I am really struggling to lose this last 7-10lbs. I am not really a dieter, more aim to eat slightly less and move slightly more.

I have quite an active lifestyle, 2 dcs and 2 horses keep me quite busy! Although I don't ride as much as I would like.

I tend to feel quite bloated most of the time and nearly all the extra weight is around my middle. I also am constipated most of the time (sorry, tmi)

I know I need to drink more, and in my head I think it would help me lose weight, am I really misguided?

It would be healthier for you and good for your system. It might make you stop reaching for the biscuits as sometimes we think we are hungry when we are actually thirsty. If you feel you have excess weight and want to lose some of it you will have to reduce the amount of calories you are consuming. Drinking more water isn't really going to have much of an effect.

Thanks for your reply.
I know that just drinking more won't shift any, but thought it might make me shift the bloated tummy a bit and if I am not denying myself any food, but actively drinking more water I might not feel as hungry iyswim? Does that make sense?

hello! things that I think make me bloated (of course this could just be me):

not drinking enough water
refined carbs like bread, cake, crackers (although not pasta, curiously!)
sugar
artificial sweeteners
very salty food

I think drinking plenty of water definitely helps, and maybe eating more protein (not in a mad Atkins/Dukan way but just upping the lean protein a bit in favour of the carbs)

Thanks.

I now very rarely eat white bread, mostly wholegrain/seeded from the breadmaker. I tried to give up bread for lent, but actually found I was more bloated and constipated I think because I was missing out on wholegrain.

I have started using skimmed milk for myself, and trying to have a bowl of decent cereal in the mornings (porridge, shredded wheat etc) as that makes me less hungry mid morning. I struggle with lunches, they end up a bit processed and salty, and I nearly always drink tea, coke or juice with them. Dinner is normally pretty good, I like to cook mostly from scratch and include plenty of veg, but if I forget to get a glass of water with my dinner, I often won't drink anything else that evening.

I get very thirsty after spending the afternoons at the stable yard, but unless it is cold and I have a cup of tea when I get in, or very hot and I take a drink with me, I don't tend to drink anything when I get in, even though I'm thirsty.

maybe you could get a big multipack of bottled water and dot them around everywhere - one in the car, one at desk, one in grooming kit (mmm hairy water).

I know I drink several litres a day because of how often I have to refill them, but the other thing I thought of was sleep and resting - I definitely feel less bloated if I've had a good night's sleep, sometimes there is not much you can do about this though! It might be that tired = hungry and more prone to eat stuff that wouldn't normally appeal? Also have private theory about low fat foods in line with artificial sweeteners, that I feel less full and sort of paradoxically take in more calories than when I eat fatty things but am not sure about this - given that have been abruptly separated from my beloved alli pills that stop you absorbing a little of the fat in your diet :(

I think you are right. I really don't like diet foods, although I do use countrylife lighter butter instead of the normal, but that is due to a pregnancy/morning sickness thing (yes, 2yrs ago, and I still haven't got over the taste of full fat butter!)

Although the Alli pills would sort out the constipation..... :o

ha yes but they made me do weird unflushable poos

have bravely put up what must be a quite recent pic (judging from clip, this winter anyway) of self getting on horse (I know I know, it's anti-bhs, obviously didn't realise anyone was taking photos!) do my thighs look monstrous on there? (how will you say yes without being rude though?)

Difficult to tell from the slightly blurry picture, but you look normal/quite slim to me!

I don't think there's necessarily any need to drink vast amounts of water, but definitely have a drink when you're thirsty - if it's really difficult to remember or make time to do that, then maybe get in a routine of having a glass of water at certain times of day? e.g. first thing in the morning, when you get in, whatever works for you.

Bloated feeling is more likely caused by something in your diet - some people find wheat seems to cause a problem, for example. Might be worth making some changes just to see if it helps?

thanks ephiny, yes is difficult to tell when I am springing up in the air like that

I can't quite believe I am insecure enough to ask argh

You look pretty damn good!

I tend to bolt my food, so imagine that may have something to do with bloating!

I often wake up in the night feeling very thirsty, so would imagine I don't get enough.

Ok, so today I have drunk 1 cup of tea, 2 coffees and nearly 1litre of water. I will have another glass of water in a minute (when I get up off the sofa!) which is about a third of a litre.

The nhs website advises a minimum of 1.2litres a day.

Strangely I haven't had to pee more than usual.

thanks

is it helping with the, um, poo situation?

maybe we should think of ourselves as horses, they always have access to plenty of drinking water (although it might be my instinct to eat like one that makes me worry about podge so much)

Umm yes :o

Yes I eat like one too!

I didn't drink any water yesterday and I woke in the night desperatefor a wee and a drink. Need to do better today.