If you think you already do, this small fact may surprise you:

Your body needs almost 1 litre of water for every 50 pounds of body weight per day to stay well hydrated and function at an optimal level!

Believe me – if you aren’t drinking enough water for your body’s needs you will feel it in one way or another. You will either experience noticeable symptoms, such as lethargy, dry skin, headaches and constipation, or you will be tempting more subtle symptoms that may not be instantly noticeable, such as slow fat loss, a reduced metabolism and in many female cases, a creeping up of cellulite!

For those of you trying to lose weight, even MILD dehydration will slow down your metabolism as much as 3%! You NEED to do everything in your power to help you lose body fat, and making yourself thirsty will do nothing for your fat loss efforts!

As a 13 stone man (180lb) I need nearly 4 litres a day – and that’s before heavy exercise!

For increased energy, more mental focus, accelerated fat loss and simple health you need to drink the right amount of water for your body’s needs. If you’re not getting what you need for your current weight, you’ll need to build up your water intake gradually over a period of weeks, to make the task more achievable and to stop you running for the loo every 5 minutes!

A simple way to do this is to increase your daily intake by ½ a litre each week, as follows:

Week 1: A total of 1 litre of water per day
Week 2: 1.5 litres of water per day
Week 3: 2 litres of water per day
Week 4: 2.5 litres of water per day
Week 5 3 litres of water per day

Continue this pattern until you reach your target intake for your current weight. If you are already drinking a sufficient amount on a daily basis, then well done! Simply adjust your intake by ½ litre each week until you reach your ideal target.

It’s important to sip water throughout the day, since your body can only process slightly more than a glass of water per hour. If you go without water for several hours and then gulp down half a litre, the extra water will not get used, and will simply end up being flushed out of your system and down the loo.

Keep your water bottle with you all day long and don’t neglect it. If need be carry a pack of water in the car boot so that you always have top ups. For convenience sake carry a 500ml bottle in your handbag or rucksack, and fill it up at any available opportunity.

If you want a body that is primed to shed body fat, stay well hydrated. Without enough water in your system you can forget it!

Don’t underestimate the power of water. It wants to be your friend, so welcome it in with open mouths!