Last week I introduced a new 6-month program. Designed to help you take control of your health & wellness. For the next 6 months I am going to teach you 6 healthy habits. One habit that you will focus on for the entire month and build on from the previous month(s).

The first habit is WATER. You should be drinking a lot of it.

Let’s face it, succeeding at most things in life really boils down to a few key things. And it’s the same for getting in shape and losing weight. It’s not one thing, like a magic pill or supplement. And it’s not 30 things. Added hype or outrageous claims should be a RED flag too.

We’re talking about fundamentals. Things you already know about. And discipline. Getting yourself to consistently do the things that will ultimately help you achieve your goals; even when you don’t want to.

In my opinion, it’s a simple change in the choices you make. This is not a restrictive diet or rigid exercise program. But you may need to “unlearn” some of the innocent yet destructive habits you’ve developed. And then “learn” some new lifestyle changes that will evolve over time into your new healthy habits.

Here’s what I intend to help you do:

1. Make better choices to simplify your health & wellness initiative;
2. Develop healthy habits and new disciplines that you can enjoy;
3. Succeed at achieving your goal by staying focused and committed;
4. Leverage the “compound effect” to your benefit;

How? By exposing 6 core fundamentals and helping you stick to them every day, until they become habits. Part of your daily routine. Something you seek out with enthusiasm, because the upside and results become so motivating.

For many, this health & wellness goal involves getting into shape and losing weight. Especially this time of year. But I don’t want it to fade into oblivion by February as it usually does for so many. Stick with it and make the first habit part of your routine every day. Drink “water” even when you’re not thirsty. It’s an easy task, but it takes work and you’ll need to remain vigilant.

This week I’d like to review the benefits of water and how it helps our bodies. Take a look at the chart below. It illustrates the percentage of water that your body is comprised of. As you can see, it’s based on your body fat percentage. I found it interesting to learn that the percentages are inversely proportional. A lower body fat percentage results in a higher percentage of water in your body. And visa versa.

So this means as you get leaner and lose fat, you need to consume more water. Your body will typically compensate for this. But you can ensure it happens by staying hydrated throughout the day. Hence, the first habit – drink a lot of water… Link back to last week here.

Water is very important as it hydrates your organs and aids in removing waste and toxins from your system. Muscle contains about 75% water while body fat only contains about 10% water.

Check out this graphic.

Water retention becomes a common topic when you’re trying to lose weight. First off, you should never stop drinking water to lose weight. Excessive water retention is normally the result of a poor diet and lack of adequate exercise. Dehydration is another cause of water retention. And salt has been known to contribute to dehydration.

You may want to re-read the last paragraph.

Here’s my suggestion. Take everything you’ve learned about getting in shape and losing weight, and hit the DELETE button. Then stay with me for 6 months, one new habit per month at a time. What do you have to lose? Not much except for the weight. And think about all you have to gain. New lifelong healthy habits among other things.

Oh, and if you want to lose a lot of weight in a short amount of time, then you are in the wrong place. Bookmark this site and come back here when you’re ready to do it the right way, after that quick fix attempt fails you again.

This week we learned a little more about water. Why it’s important to your body and good health. Next week we’ll look at ways to make it part of your day. Until then, drink more water.

DRINK MORE WATER!!!

Thank you for sharing your time with me. I’d love for you to let me know what you think by leaving a comment. Is the content valuable and helpful? Did anything resonate? Will you take action? What else would you like to see in future posts?

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