You may be surprised to learn that it takes a lot longer to lose water weight from an IV fluid (intravenous fluids) than it does from drinking plain old H2O. This article will tell you exactly how long it takes, so you can plan your water intake accordingly.
The Basics
The first step to taking off the extra pounds is to figure out what is causing you to have extra pounds in the first place. You may be overweight because your diet lacks variety or you may have an underlying health issue that the doctors have yet to diagnose. If you are not sure of the reason, you may want to consult with a doctor or dietician. Just remember—the sooner you figure out what is causing your weight gain, the sooner you can start losing weight.
The Bad News
Let’s get the bad news out of the way first. While it is possible to lose water weight quickly – especially if you are under a lot of stress or have an illness – the average person will lose that weight at a glacial pace. It takes a lot of will power to limit yourself to only drinking water, and for the first couple of weeks, you may experience severe headaches, muscle aches, and increased depression due to a lack of electrolytes (needed for nerve functioning and muscle function). If this is you, then you better buckle down and stay hydrated, because it may be a while before you see any results.
The Good News
Now for the good news. Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to disappear from the drink completely to lose weight. You can start by simply cutting back on your daily fluid intake. For example, if you drink four cups of coffee and run for a train every day, you will lose a pound of water every week. If you reduce your coffee intake to only two cups (a bit less than half), you will start losing weight more quickly. Reducing your daily water intake by a cup or two will make a world of difference. You will still drink plenty of water, but it will not be as detrimental to your waistline as it previously was. You will also experience fewer “hydration sweats,” so that is a positive as well.
If you are still not sure whether or not you want to give the water diet a try, then it may be a good idea to consult with a nutritionist or doctor. They may be able to help you figure out how much water you should be drinking to lose the weight successfully. Just keep in mind that it takes time to see results – if you are used to drinking coffee or other caffeinated beverages, then cutting back may be quite difficult at first. Give it a try for a couple of weeks and see how you feel. If you find that you are not sleeping well or if you are experiencing any other sort of negative side effect, then cut back a bit more and try a more sustainable option (like coffee substitutes or herbal teas) until you find what works best for you.