With a title like that, you’re probably expecting something really profound. Well, they say the most profound things in life are really simple. And so is this tip: Drink as little water and other liquids as possible during your meals. Why???
Well I remember reading the yogi Master Paramanhansa Yogananda say that if you need to gain weight, drink lots of water with your meals, and when you want to lose or maintain weight, of course do the opposite…drink less with meals. Hmmmmm. In college and for a few years after I always used to down water with my meals, thinking that I would get more full and therefore eat less. But I started researching this idea deeper, especially after my travels to India.
There is scientific theory to back up the idea of drinking less with meals. Large amounts of water and liquids impede the digestive process by diluting gastric juices, such as hydrochloric acid. Many people are already deficient in digestive acids to start, due to their diet. You also dilute the digestive enzymes your body needs for the effective digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Yes, so much of easy weight loss has to do with ease of digestion and properly breaking down foods! When these juices, acids, and enzymes are diluted, you can experience bloating, abdominal distension after meals (NOT pleasant! And not particularly attractive- especially if you are having dinner before going out!), and can have a hard time losing weight and/or maintaining your ideal weight.
Water is a truly a miracle from nature. We are so blessed to have access to clean drinking water that keeps our bodies and its fluids functioning optimally and removes toxins and waste products. But try to drink large quantities of this miracle liquid at least 20 minutes on either side of a meal, and sip only during meals. Cheers! Here’s to your healthy and more effortlessly slimmed down body, and always remember to prepare a post workout snack ahead of time!
(For the science nerds like me, here is a supportive study: In 1910, a study was done on people that drank 3 liters of water with meals for five days in a row. The findings showed: An increase in body weight of an average of two pounds in the five days; increased amount of excretion of urinary nitrogen; increased output of ammonia, due to an increased output of gastric juice; and a decrease in the quantity of bacteria excreted daily.)
I love the content on this site its so informative. Thanks for the great work – It has inspired me to keep going!
Sarah
Thanks so much Sarah!! 🙂
I love it. I am going to start drinking more water with meals starting tonight!
Kim- I hope you mean drinking LESS water with meals!!
🙂
Hello,
I found your topic interesting since I am on my way of losing weight, and have notice that drinking plenty of water with meals seems to make me heavier and now I know. I have also read that drinking lot’s of water before your meal is effective. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Regards,
John
how many days can I stay on the green smoothie drink since I will only be drinking it once a day in the morning and do you have a book out at the stores?
Hey Donna-
Drink the Green Smoothie every morning ideally for the long-term, or at least as many as you can, but minimum of 3.
My book will be coming out in the next year or so, so stay tuned!!
xx Kimberly
O-M-G! A book! I am sooooo in!!!!!!
what about wine? xoxo
Hi I think you are amazing and so informative…I want to try your skin care product it sounds great…I am concerned is it cruelity free..with no animal testing????? PLEASE let me know
Aloha and CHEERS to HEALTH!!!!!!
Hello, first off let me just say how impressed I am with your knowledge and outstanding personality. In wanting to transition over to raw foods, I noticed that many of your recipes contain Agave Nectar. My girlfriend who is a raw foodist said she read a book titled, “Sweet Deception” and in this book it states that Agave Nectar can cause miscarriages. She stop using it instantly because she felt like anything that can cause a miscarriage was not beneficial to the body. Are you aware of such claims and is there another alternative to Agave such as Honey? Do you endorse any books that would help guide me into raw eating that have simple recipes?
Hi Tamara!
The book is coming. 🙂
Thanks for reaching out to email me. You are right- there are issues with Agave. It is great in that is a relatively low-glycemic sweetener, and it is great for raw desserts. Stevia is the best option, but I don’t like how it tastes in many recipes, and I need the perfect liquid form quite often. Lately, I have been switching over more for these needs with maple syrup. On the flip side of Agave, there are still questionable processing issues associated with it, and some believe it can have a slight overall unbalancing effect on the body.
So I use it in moderation. I don’t eat truffles everyday 🙂 and if I am making a hot drink, I use Stevia.
Come visit me again soon!!
xx Kimberly
Hi Kimberly, I wanted to thank you for all of your great advice and the wonderful recipes. I have a my hot mug of water with lemon followed by the DELICIOUS GGS every morning. Since I have began following this great morning routine I have lost 14 lbs. I have replaced my coffee maker with my blender and have completely given up caffeine. I feel so awsome!!! Lots of energy!! I never thought that making such simple changes could be so easy and totally effective. I also have incorporated several of your other healthier recipes into my daily life and it has made such a difference in how I feel. I share all of your tips with friends and family and now have my mother eating healthier as well. I have a 4 yr.old little boy and have tried some of the healthier alternatives that you suggested for children and he is really loving them. I can’t tell you how much I love receiving e-mails from you with new tips and great information. Still don’t have the vitamix blender yet but am saving up a little every week. That is one more goal I have set for myself!! I think that is going to be my reward to myself,(a little incentive to keep on track) Thanks again for the motivation and for really caring about the health and well-being of others. You are such an inspiration. Much Love, Cindy :):):)
Thanks Cindy! Keep it up your doing great!!
Hi Kim! Just wondering if you have a citation for that study? I am doing some research and usually review the methodology, etc. Thanks!
Kimberly,
I just want to tell you i really enjoy your website and all your great tips and information! I love coming on here and reading all these great blogs about promoting healthy and beautiful bodies and i really love the recipes here too!!
Thanks Kimberly for taking time to write these posts and keeping us informed and healthy!
Sincerely,
Margarita M.
Dallas, TX
Kim, I’m underweight and trying to gain weight… Is this a good method for gaining it back? I followed blossoming beauty for 6 months and now I’m reintroducing fruit. Any tips for gaining weight while maintaining BDS lifestyle? Thank you so much for everything!
strange question, but if we cheat on our diet and eat something not so healthy, say a snickers bar, if we drink a lot of water will that make it worse for us or better since the water will make it difficult for us to digest it?
There’s something I’ve always wanted to ask and maybe here I’ll find a competent answer. It’s true that water during meals dilutes the gastric juices, but it also dilutes the consistency of food. Thus, the ratio should remain the same. Where do I go wrong with this conclusion?
Oh, and one more thing I’ve always been curious about! If food shouldn’t be mixed with water, then what is the stance on soups and smoothies? Because they are that exactly – a mix of water and food.
Interesting. I have always thought that drinking plenty of fluids while eating your meal was a good thing. This is the first I have heard that says otherwise. I do know that your body needs a certain amount of water based on the amount of food intake, and requires more for high protein intake, in order to stay hydrated, but I guess the fluid intake can be done before or after the meal.
Thanks for sharing this info.
-Alyssa
Well, it makes sense not to drink water during meals, because the enzymes will dilute. But what does this have to do with losing weight? Drinking water during meals => Diluted enzymes and gastric acid => LESS calories derived from food, MORE calories tossed out of the body => ???Weight loss???