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If you are having a difficult time losing weight, taking a closer look at what you are eating and drinking is important. Sustainable weight loss is a combination of a healthy diet and regular exercise, but certain diet hacks can help you see results. Specifically, staying hydrated is an important component of weight loss.
With that in mind, keep reading for the one diet mistake you should never make if you want a flat stomach!
Not Drinking Enough Water
Staying hydrated throughout the day is an essential component of weight loss, and adding more water to your daily routine could help you gain more healthy habits.
According to Healthline, "Water can be really helpful for weight loss. It is 100% calorie-free, helps you burn more calories and may even suppress your appetite if consumed before meals."
Plus, not drinking enough water can lead to you putting on water weight.
Abbey Sharp, RD, tells Eat This, Not That!, "When you're not drinking enough [water], your body holds every drop to prevent severe dehydration."
Water also plays an important role in your metabolism.
"Water’s involved in every type of cellular process in your body, and when you’re dehydrated, they all run less efficiently -- and that includes your metabolism," Trent Nessler, PT, DPT, MPT, managing director of Baptist Sports Medicine in Nashville tells WebMD.
With that in mind, if you are struggling to lose weight, it's a good idea to check your water intake.
Healthline explains, "The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends that men drink at least 101 ounces of water per day, which is a little under 13 cups. They say women should drink at least 74 ounces, which is a little over 9 cups."
