Discover why water consumption must be at the top of your list in your quest for a fit, healthy and athletic body.
Though you probably don't think about it often, water is the most essential element, next to air, to your survival. The simple combination of two parts hydrogen, one part oxygen makes up more than two thirds of your body and is involved in a host of bodily functions that we routinely take for granted.
Just to name a few:
* Water works to regulate the thermal condition of your body * Water serves as a lubricant in your joints * Water helps flush toxins from your blood * Water gives your skin a clear, glowing complexion * Water assists with digestion, pulling all the usable nutrients out of foods * Water aides in disease prevention (Drinking 8 glasses a day has shown to reduce your chance of colon cancer by 45% and bladder cancer by 50%)
What about fitness and fat-loss?
You've probably heard that you need to drink plenty of water in order to drop weight, but did you ever wonder why? What does water have to do with decreasing your calories and increasing your activity level in an effort to shed pounds?
1. Water is a natural appetite suppressant
Fill your stomach with a glass of water before each meal and you will find that you won't eat as much. This also works on snacking throughout the day, keep hydrated all day long and watch as your desire to snack decreases.
2. Water increases your body's ability to efficiently metabolize fat
This process begins with your kidneys receiving enough water to function at their peak, which in turn helps your liver reach optimal efficiency in removing toxins and waste from your blood. With your liver working at maximum capacity, fat will be metabolized at a higher rate. This means a decrease in your overall body fat. (And who doesn't want that?)
3. Water is the perfect substitute for high calorie beverages
Want to super-charge your fitness results this summer? Well, this is the most effective way to utilize water toward your waist-shrinking efforts. Most of us consume more than our share of calorie-packed beverages. Smoothies, shakes, frozen mochas, soft drinks...you get the idea. When you trade your high calorie beverages in for a tall glass of water you will expedite your results in a major way.
The Other Side of the Story...
Now you know that drinking sufficient amounts of water will help you reach your fitness goals faster than ever, but you should also know that failing to drink enough water comes with serious consequences...
* Your body will shift into "preserve" mode - which means you will store more fat. * Bodily functions will slow - leading to an overall decrease in energy levels. * Headaches will become an expected nuisance - your brain is over 70% water.
To avoid dehydration here are 5 Hydration Tips:
Tip #1: Caffeinated beverages - such as coffee, soft drinks or energy drinks - cause your body to lose water. After you enjoy a dose of caffeine replace the lost water by drinking 2 times that amount in water.
Tip #2: Add a slice of lemon to your water to spice things up.
Tip #3: Always carry water with you throughout your day - keep a bottle in the car, at your workplace and next to your bed.
Tip #4: Exercise and hot summer days both increase your body's water requirements - make a mental note to drink before, during and after exercise or while out on a hot day.
Tip #5: Make it a habit to begin your day with a large glass of water then drink a glass before each meal and one between meals.
The proceeding modified versions of the classic push-up will help plumpen your supporting chest muscles that rest just above your breasts.
1. Leaning wall breast lifting push-up
Stand two-feet away from a wall. Now place your hands together and form a triangle by touching the thumbs and pointer fingers of your hands. Next lower your hands so that they are directly in front of your breasts.
Extend your hands in front of you until they touch the wall. Now lean forward on your toes until your forehead touches the wall. Then, with your hands remaining on the wall, immediately push away from the wall using your arms and upper chest strength, until you are upright again. For optimal results, aim to keep your entire body firm throughout this movement.
Repeat this movement 5-10 times, leaning against the wall and coming upright. You should feel this exercise in your arms and upper chest.
As your chest and arms become more powerful, do three sets of this exercise while performing 5-25 repetitions.
2. Bent knee push-up
You can perform another version of the leaning wall push-up on the floor. Position yourself on your hands and knees on a cushioned mat, ensuring that your knees are comfortably supported.
Now move your hands outward and upward into a position that allows you to lift your upper body weight, while resting on your knees. Lower your upper body until your forearms are parallel with the floor. Lift your upper body until your arms are straightened.
Try to keep the body area between your knees and back straight as you lift yourself upward and move downward. Repeat this movement 5-10 times. As you increase your upper body strength, do three sets of the bent-knee push-up doing 10-25 repetitions.
3. Door breaker push-up
This exercise truly makes strength building much easier. Simply stand about two-feet away from an open doorway. Extend and place your hands at shoulder height on either side of the doorway.
Lean forward on your toes until your chest is flush with the opening of the doorway. Now push yourself upright again. Repeat this movement 5-10 times. As your upper body strength grows, do three sets of the door breaker push-up doing 10-25 repetitions.
Breast firming exercise safety tips
To get the most from these breast accentuating moves, ensure that you:
a. Hold your upper body firm and straight during the upward and downward movements; and
b. Practice positioning your hands so that you avoid straining your wrists.
After four weeks of performing these modified military exercises just three to four times per week, you should enjoy breasts that almost stand at attention rather than droop to the call of gravity.
Both Machelle Lee & Naweko Nicole Dial are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Machelle Lee has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness, Anger Control and Health. Machelle Lee owns and operates The Invisible Gym in Santa Cruz, CA. Her mission is to inspire people to become physically active and enjoy the benefits of a balanced, healthy lifestyle. For more information and questions you can visit her website.. Machelle Lee's top article generates over 9900 views. to your Favourites.
Naweko Nicole Dial has sinced written about articles on various topics from Acne Treatment, Finances and Acne Treatment. Naweko Nicole Dial San-Joyz pioneered the acne trigger approach to naturally controlling acne in her internationally published book, "Acne Messages". San-Joyz continues to serve the acne community by developing customized. Naweko Nicole Dial's top article generates over 18100 views. to your Favourites.