Water - Appetite Suppresant??

[simbrooks]

I just thought i would post this and see if anyone else had heard the same thing.

A While back i remember reading about the eating habits of the average person these days and the fact that many people are very dehydrated without noticing it. It seems that some people confuse this thirst for hunger and get on eating, when what they really should be doing is drinking. I cant recall how much water the average person should drink per day, but i personally drink about 2 pints and have found that i can now much more easily run from breakfast through to lunch and then through to dinner without feeling hungry in between (my GF does often mention that 5 mini-meals is better than 3 square meals - another thread).

Does anyone else know anything about this and has anyone else found that they are less hungry due to drinking a little more water each day rather than immeadiately running for the meal/snacks?

[chickdiver]

You are correct, most people consume far too few fluids throughout the day. I drink A LOT of water- 32 ounces at work, and another 32 during my afternoon workout. That's just water- I also consume a lot tea and at least one Diet Coke a day.

[gfisher4792]

Both tea and water seem to work for a lot of people, as far as supressing appetite. At work, I'll have my dependable water bottle, and if I feel a bit hungry, I'll drink some more, and it works for me.

[simbrooks]

Chickdiver: Confusion? Correct in theory of dehydration - too many fluids?

At least another pint in workouts as well, sometimes more.

However, i would think the fact that we are told to drink plenty in OW training might also give divers a pre-determined advantage over average joe who doesnt drink enough. I am not sure if people do drink enough when they dive or do other exercise though. I certainly know on hot days when my GF and i have gone to theme parks etc that we get really dehydrated through the day even though we drink a few pints of water each - really can play a large role down here in FL when you have the sun out! Just remember to add if you are out in the sun through the day. I think out safety person at work suggests that site workers drink something like 4oz every 15 mins - that is a whole lot of water, sipping not gulping.

BTW, i thought this kind of info would be good to know for people who are trying to cut down on their daily food intake to lose weight. There seem to be quite a few in other threads saying they eat too much and i am wondering if this kind of rehydration could be part of an answer for them.

[chickdiver]

Sorry- yea- I just noticed the typo and fixed it.

[simbrooks]

too many, too few, its an easy mistake when they are both very common phrases and if your mind does a little wandering like mine does everyday(!!), just didnt want to give the wrong message to others. I am glad however that others also agree on this action and put it into affect.

[ScubaBaby]

I'm always told I should drink more water (esp. as I have problems with my kidneys). But I can't stand the stuff so I drink a lot of cordials.

But I do agree, I only drink tea now (no hot chocolate anymore) - and I do find it helps to surpress my urge to go to the news agents and buy a box of chocolates. I think I need to go make myself a cuppa!!!

[simbrooks]

My Mum, when i go back to the UK, is constantly trying to get me to drink tea!! I cant really be bothered with tea, i see all of my officemates hovering around the coffee machine every morning - looking ready to kill someone while they wait for it to brew. I just santer past to the water cooler and fill up!

Talking of which i must drink so more water now before i go home and then some more as i go out to the gym.

[ScubaBaby]

I have to have a cup of tea when I get up or I'll be moody for the rest of the day!!! Helps me wake up and means I don't have to waste time having breakfast!!!

I can't believe your still at work - I'm thinking about going to bed!

[simbrooks]

I am at least 5 hours behind you, its late in the work day now, but those on the west coast have at least another 2 hours to go.

[d33ps1x]

Must find that article on "Water Kills". Something about drinking too much. been a couple of months.

[simbrooks]

Too much of any good thing can be toxic, but to drink too much water it would almost have to be running out of your ears!!

[chickdiver]

I have to comment on the tea thing- I'm a southerner- I grew up drinking syrupy sweet iced tea. A couple of years ago I went donw to Miami to visit a friend (who is British), and after driving all night, I was exhausted, and we had some plans for the day. She looked at me and said "I'll make us a nice cup of tea, and it'll fix you right up!" I looked at her rather dubiously but drank the tea. After a week I found I loved the stuff- even put milk in it now! I also found I love crumpets, scones, and clotted cream, must be my Scots/Irish and English genes asserting themselves!

[simbrooks]

Now i know i miss some of the English food that i used to have whilst back there - stop!!!

[HammerNoMore]

A couple of comments on this. Yes drinking lots of water can be an appetite suppressant because it keeps your stomach full. When dieting this can be a double edged sword. It makes it easier to lose weight but your stomach doesn't ever shrink because you are keeping it full of water. This is the kind of thing that leads to Yo-Yo dieting. You loose your desired weight, stop the diet and water and are suddenly very hungry again and the weight comes back.

Second water and exercise can kill. For your average person this is not a grave concern but with long exercise drinking only water leads to a condition known as hyponatremia. As you sweat out the salt, your body strives to keep the correct balance in your tissues. All the water dillutes this balance so it is drawn out of the tissue into nasty places like the lungs. Running a marathon on nothing but water has a pretty good chance of either killing you or leaving you with a lifelong disability. Whenever excercising you should use sports drinks which balance the electolytes to prevent this sort of thing.

Water is definatly a good thing, and as has been said, many people do not get enough of it, but drinking too much can be worse.

James

[CBulla]

The condition of Overhydration, or water intoxication is called hyponatremia.

Here are a few writes on it:
http://www.hhp.ufl.edu/keepingfit/ARTICLE/toomuchwater.htm
http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/hydration/a/aa051200.htm

In a post in the fitness challenge thread I posted my menu for today. There is a lot of water in it, however the water is mixed with foods - just something to think about. :)

Incidentally, I've assisted people who complain of headaches after a dive by giving them a big cup of, can you guess..... WATER! They were simply dehydrated.

[Luckyfishrag]

Most people will benefit from 10 8 oz. cups of water per day. However, if you drink liquids wtih caffine in them, such as coffee, tea, some sodas, you will need to compensate additionally for their diuretic effects. So, you will need to drink equal amounts of water and tea/coffee and THEN ADD the 10 cups per day on top of that.
This will help with body fat loss, cravings, etc... in addition to the right food choices in the right portion sizes at the right times.
Hope this helps!
Lucky :10:

[benncool]

Here is a little arguement that the wife and I have been having. The Atkins diet said that you should drink 64 oz of H2O a day. I drink a lot of seltzer water. I say that the seltzer water counts against the 64 oz. of H2O. She disagrees. (we gave up the Atkins diet btw)

Looking at the Nutrition Facts, seltzer has 0 of the following; Calories,fat, sodium, carbs, surgars and protein. "Contains carbonated water."

Does anyone have a professional opionion?

[HammerNoMore]

Looking at the Nutrition Facts, seltzer has 0 of the following; Calories,fat, sodium, carbs, surgars and protein. "Contains carbonated water."

Does anyone have a professional opionion?
It's water, no problem. However if you start doing those diet carbonated waters that are full of sodium then your wife would be correct.

[ArcticDiver]

Right after air water is essential. So, drink till the pee is clear to light amber. Keep it that way.

When starting to drink more people may find an increased need to urinate. I think that is just flushing out the nasties in the body. Once that is done then it is back to the same toilet frequency as before.

In addition to the things already posted; take a look at your veins. Are they easy to find? Could an ambulance crew get an IV in you easily and quickly? A person can turn "difficult" veins into Easy veins merely by drinking enough water. Easy veins could save your life in an accident or medical emergency.

Just another motivation for drinking enough.

[Greg D.]

all this talk of water is making me thirsty :D

[scubaren]

Read a book last year "The body's many cries for water". The author claimed that many symptoms of illness are really just signs that we are dehydrated and that as we age, our sense of thirst when we need to drink diminishes. His suggestion was drink 1/2 your body weight in ounces of water a day. I tried it for about two months but it just seemed a bit much. Then a nurse friend told me that it may cause heart problems. Now I'm into seltzer - it seems to work for me. During exercise I use water with powdered gatorade, 1 1/2 scoops per quart. I was told during a wilderness first aid course that that is what to do as the suggested three scoops on the container contain more sugar than necessary.