WATER & Feeling Bloated

Cabbage, broccoli, kale, apples and avocados have all been known to cause bloating. Eating too much salt can also cause water retention, which can leave you feeling puffy. Plus, downing lots of fiber -- especially from supplements -- without drinking enough water is a fast track to a gassy gut.

FEELING BLOATED?

If you are feeling and looking bloated, check your sodium intake. If you look in the mirror and find yourself holding onto water, you need to either lower your sodium intake or increase your water intake.

WILL WATER HELP ME LOSE WEIGHT?

You bet it will! I know what you are thinking, that if you drink a lot of water you will get bloated and retain water which will make you weigh more. However, this isn't the case. If you aren't drinking enough water, your body will hold on to whatever water is already in your body and will not excrete any.

This means the water in your body will be used for normal bodily functions and will cause you to appear bloated. The only way to get rid of that bloated look is to actually drink more water. By doing so, your body will function much better and your metabolism will start to increase and will help you burn calories more efficiently.

If you want to burn even more calories while drinking water then you want to make sure the water is ice cold. Your body needs to warm up the water in order for it to be used properly. Warming up the water uses energy, which uses calories. This in turn will help you burn extra calories throughout the day.

WATER CLEANSES THE BODY

In the world of bodybuilding, high protein diets are what make up a large percentage of the population. With that being said, the body needs to cleanse itself from the urea and ketones which is brought on by high protein consumption. It is necessary to get rid of all these toxins in the body to help the kidneys function optimally.

WHAT IS SO IMPORTANT ABOUT WATER?

The human body cannot make or store water so it is necessary to drink water throughout the day to replace what you eliminated. Water makes up makes up about 60 percent of body weight and is involved in almost every bodily process.

HOW MUCH WATER DO WE NEED TO DRINK?

As a rule of thumb, everyone should strive for eight cups of water each day, which amounts to around two quarts. You can also figure out how much water you need to drink by taking your bodyweight in pounds and multiplying it by 0.55 to figure out how many ounces you need.

So a 200 pound individual would need 110 ounces of water a day (200 x 0.55 = 110). Obviously, if you are an athlete or avid exerciser, you will need more water so you can replace what you lost during a workout.

HULK GAINS!

One Week Free Meal Plan Prep Guide

One week meal plan just to get you started on your way to a healthier lifestyle. There is even a bonus in there for you! All you have to do is click HERE.

If you would like a meal plan specifically for you, they are available but for 3 week or 6 week plan.  Click HERE .

Get rid of those love handles!

The Best Way to Get Your Best Body

You shell out money for a gym membership, but pushing weight by yourself may not be the best way to pack on muscle and shed that winter belly. New research from the University of California, Los Angeles, found that exercising with a personal trainer can increase your strength, cardiovascular fitness, and lean body mass more effectively than flying solo at a health club.

For the study, 34 healthy men at the same Equinox gym exercised at least three days a week for 12 weeks. Half of the men worked out alone, following their own program, and the other half worked out with a personal trainer. At the end of the 12 weeks, men working with a trainer chest pressed 42 percent more weight and leg pressed 35 percent more than they had at the beginning. The self-trained guys increased their chest press 19 percent and their leg press 23 percent. 

Also, when asked to run on a treadmill until exhaustion, men in the personal trainer group saw their cardiovascular performance improve by 7 percent from the study's start. The solo group saw no gain. The personal trainers also helped their patrons increase lean body mass—which helps you look toned and strong—by 2.8 pounds, while the solo group stayed stagnant.

It wasn’t that the self-trained guys spent their time at the snack bar. They actually worked out 22 minutes more each week than the trainer-assisted guys. So why didn’t their workouts pay off as much? When you’re observed by a professional, it makes you work harder and smarter, says study author Thomas Storer, Ph.D. Plus, a trainer will pick up on small—but important—cues as you exercise and tailor workout routines to fit your needs. They can help you break through plateaus, stay injury-free, and challenge your muscles in new ways, says Storer.

While hiring a personal trainer can increase your gains, not just any trainer will do. You need to pick an effective trainer—otherwise you’ll waste your time and money for an injury.