How to Get Rid of Belly Bulge: Is Dehydration the Culprit?

We’ve all heard the old fitness adage: “Abs are made in the kitchen.”

This is true, but when you hear it, you typically think about the foods you eat, not about your water intake and proper hydration. At least, I don’t. If you do, then high five, you little health nut! 

Humans can survive about three weeks without food; without water, they can only make it about three days. So, while the food you put in your body is important, it’s got nothing on water. There’s a reason we launch probes out into space looking for this stuff; life as we know it depends on good ol’ H2O. 

Water: It’s kind of a big deal.

And yet, more than half of people in the Western world spend nearly three-quarters of their lives chronically dehydrated! Aside from some pretty serious health problems like inflammation, glandular disease, and diabetes (to name a few), dehydration can also lead to immediate changes, like your body storing water under your skin, making you look a little puffy. Lack of hydration can also lead to increased fatigue, but who gets sleepy and reaches for the water instead of a cup of coffee? Not too many people, I would imagine.

Crazy, right?

We already know that when it comes to a flat tummy, sugar is Public Enemy Number 1. But did you realize just how crucial water is in our quest to let go of sugar? Water is what helps our bodies detox all the sugar and other toxins that we consume and encounter every day. If you’re not properly hydrating, you’re not flushing out all of that stuff, and that gunk is staying in your system much longer than it should. Consuming more water can also speed up your metabolism and cut down on fluid retention and the dreaded belly bloat.

So, how do we fix this? DRINK MORE WATER! But the type of water you drink is also important. Before you drink up, here are a few things to consider when it comes to your drinking water:

1. Bottled Doesn’t Always Mean “Better Than Tap.”

Tap water, while technically safe for drinking, contains a slew of contaminants, solid matter, and chemicals that can not only wreak havoc on your stomach and gut, but have been linked to various health issues, including many different types of cancer. Labels that say “filtered” are just bottled tap water, and have not undergone any type of purification process. If you’re going with bottled, look for water that’s purified through reverse osmosis, alkaline, or distilled.

1. Use a GOOD Home Filter

Investing in a good at-home filter can save you money in the long run and will remove any solid matter or chemicals from your tap water, but all filters are not created equal. Compare different filters and read different reviews to see which filter works best. I recommend either a Soma standing filter or a GEPro Elite house filter with under-the-sink reverse osmosis. Also, be sure to replace filters or cartridges as recommended.

1. Don’t Be Fooled by the Fridge Filter

A lot of refrigerators come with an ice and water dispenser. Newer fridges even come complete with a filtration system, so you’re not just drinking tap water from your fridge. Convenient, right? Don’t be fooled. While it’s super handy, fridge water dispensers are equipped with a tubing system, which is a breeding ground for bacteria. You’re not going to see that six-pack anytime soon if you’ve got bacteria in your gut.

Now that you know what kinds of water to drink, let’s talk numbers: You should be drinking at least half of your body weight in ounces of water daily, so if you’re 140 lbs., you should be drinking a minimum of 70 ounces of WATER per day. Notice how I stressed water; tea and coffee don’t count in that number. And if you’re working out or living in a hotter climate, you should be drinking even more water to compensate for the fluid you’re losing through sweat.

Side note: Sweating also results in a loss of electrolytes. Beachbody Performance Hydrate can help with hydration and electrolyte replacement. You can learn more about it here

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Are you awesome about getting your ounces in? Let’s start tracking your intake with a journal or a great app like My Fitness Pal and adding in more water at those times too!