I know water is very good for you and I drink lots, but I'm wondering how does drinking water constantly not make you gain weight?
Water has no calories. Therefore no matter how much you drink none of it can be converted and stored as fat.
trhawley had is right. Water has no calories. The only thing that should be a caution, is don't drink so much water that you deplete your eletrolyte levels. That usually only happens if you drink far too much (for most people this would be a gallon or more a day). Of course exactly how much you should drink depends on several factors, such as weight, you activity levels (if you sweat a lot), your climate, etc.
I think a lot of people get confused about short term/long term gain, myself included. This is the way I understand it -
It will seem like you're are gaining weight as you're drinking it because you're taking in however much the water weighs. But your body absorbs the water it needs or pees it out, and there is nothing bad in it (calories, fat, etc.) to stick to you and make you gain the weight in the long run.
If you step on the scale after drinking a ton of water, all the excess weight you see will be from the water - not from actualy weight gain or fat accumulation. You will not gain weight from drinking water!
I was working with a personal trainer a couple of years ago and I was frustrated that my weight had gone up a little bit (and I had started or was about to start my period), but he said to drink lots of water for the week and see what happened. So, during that dreaded week (though I felt like I was huge) I drank about a gallon of water a day, and the next week I weighed with him and I had lost 3 lbs!
Water cleans out toxins from your body, reduces water retention, helps metabolize fat, keeps your skin healthy, and controls hunger!
Drink up!
Thanks everyone! I've been increasing my water intake this week. I usually weigh once a week on Saturday mornings but i decided to weigh myself this morning (Thurs.) Bad move!!! My scales say that I gained six pounds in five days. I was so depressed! I think it's better for me to stay away from my scales and stick to my once a week weigh-ins!
Be aware that drinking large amounts of water in a short time can lead to "water intoxication." This happens when you drink so much water it upsets your electrolyte balance. Here's more information.
