Healthy Habits for Fitness

Spring Clean Your Weight Loss Regimen

You may think these habits are helping you lose weight and stay healthy, but the truth is you may be better off without them
By Erin Hicks fitbie
 

You drink 8 glasses of water a day

Why you can shed it: Eight glasses is a general recommendation and doesn’t take into account different lifestyles, says Friedman. “The 8/8 recommendation is a good rule for healthy individuals, meaning that they are active, but it’s not a scientific number.”

Plus, you’re probably consuming water from other sources without even knowing it. Most liquids count toward the water intake goal—except alcohol. So yes, your morning tea or apple juice will count. That said, don’t skip the water fountain altogether.

“It’s true that you can be getting water from the foods you eat, but it usually accounts only for a percentage of what the body needs,” Friedman says. “Every individual has different water-intake needs based on their physiology and activity level.

And if don’t drink until you’re thirsty, it’s already too late, he says. You’re experiencing dehydration.”

Do instead: Friedman recommends having a glass of water right when you wake up in the morning, because you’re bound to be dehydrated after a night of sleep. “I always mix a glass of water with a packet of Emergen-C in the morning instead of having a cup of coffee,” says Friedman.

If you find yourself forgetting to drink enough water, stop focusing on glasses. Instead, fill a half-gallon jug with water and aim to finish it by the end of the day. Hydration is more important to our lives than we think, says Friedman. “The payoff is more energy, better digestion—meaning you’ll get more nutrients from the foods you eat—and better mental focus,” he says.

If you’re not sure how much water you’ve consumed throughout the day, the color of your urine is a good indicator of how hydrated you are. “Ideally the urine should be clear to very light yellow,” says Friedman.

Related: How you set your table can help you lose weight. Find out how!

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