WE all know drinking plenty of water is a simple way to boost your physical health. But could it be a secret weapon in fighting fat, too?
As someone who’s worked hard to lose 5st over the past two years – after tipping the scales at 14st 10lbs – I’ve seen first-hand the benefits of cutting out sugar and snacks while moving my body more.
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Thanks to calorie counting and long daily walks, I’ve gone from a size 16-18 to a 10-12, shedding the excess pounds that had crept on since having my kids, now 20 and 17.
But in recent months, my progress has plateaued, and, post-Christmas, my weight edged back up to 10st 1lb – a few pounds over the ideal BMI for my petite 5ft 1in frame.
The one thing I haven’t changed? My daily habit of five to six black coffees (no sugar), a couple of teas, and four cold cans of Pepsi Max.
I’m not much of an alcohol drinker, apart from the occasional cocktail, and I’ll admit I drink very little water because, let’s face it, it’s not the most exciting option.
That’s why I was intrigued when I came across research from Japanese scientists suggesting that fizzy water might be the missing piece of the puzzle.
According to studies at Tesseikai Neurosurgery Hospital, the carbon dioxide in sparkling water could speed up the absorption of glucose into red blood cells, boosting metabolism.
It works by minimising spikes and dips in blood sugar levels, allowing the body to burn fat more effectively for energy between meals.
Dieters have long claimed that sparkling water is more filling than still and helps curb hunger pangs.
But could swapping my go-to drinks for fizzy water really help kick-start my weight loss again? I know the science is limited, and the study’s author emphasised that sparkling water isn’t a magic solution on its own.
Still, with nothing to lose, I decided to give it a go – cutting out all other drinks and sticking solely to sparkling water for two weeks, alongside my usual healthy meals.
The question is: can I stick to it – and will it actually work?
DAY ONE
I’m a creature of habit and like to start my day at 6.30am with a black coffee in the garden, while I come round and write my to-do list.
I quickly realise that a glass of water – even the fancy, fizzy variety – doesn’t quite bring the comfort and pep of that hot caffeine hit.
Luckily, I like the taste of it and the novelty gets me through the first day, especially as it feels like more of a treat than if I was restricted to plain old tap water.
I also feel pretty virtuous.
What I don’t enjoy is the headache that creeps in as the caffeine withdrawal starts to take effect.
I’d tried to cut down a bit in preparation, but it wasn’t enough and my body isn’t happy.
My pre-bedtime cup of tea is also sorely missed as I watch telly with a glass of the fizzy stuff instead.
DAY THREE
After a couple of days, I’ve noticed the caffeine withdrawal headaches and feelings of sluggishness subside. Now, the only craving is a psychological one.
My days are built around my hot drinks, particularly when it comes to work.
As a self-employed psychotherapist and author, I work from home and making those cuppas breaks up the day.
It also gives me a way to connect with other humans and I make sure I schedule regular coffee dates with friends.
I find the smell of it too tempting to order only water, so suggest to mates that we do walks for the duration of my test – another healthy choice.
There’s also another side effect. Because I’m now glugging two to three litres of carbonated water per day, I’m going to the toilet a lot more, too. Which has to be a good thing, right?
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The 5 best exercises to lose weight
By Lucy Gornall, personal trainer and health journalist
EXERCISE can be intimidating and hard to devote yourself to. So how do you find the right workout for you?
As a PT and fitness journalist, I’ve tried everything.
I’ve taken part in endless fitness competitions, marathons and I maintain a regime of runs, strength training and Pilates.
Fitness is so entrenched in my life, I stick to it even at Christmas!
The key is finding an activity you love that can become a habit.
My top five forms of exercise, especially if you’re trying to lose weight, are:
- Walking
- Running
- Pilates
- High-intensity interval training (HIIT)
- Strength training
DAY SEVEN
If you fill your body with a gassy liquid, inevitably there’s going to be excess air – as I’m finding out.
While I usually have glasses of fizzy soda in my diet, drinking nothing but sparkling water means I’m finding myself burping a fair bit more.
My tummy feels a bit bloated and fuller too, which I suppose is no bad thing if it stops me overeating.
But it’s getting boring having the same drink over and over.
I’ve noticed an unexpected knock-on effect on my snacking habits
I enviously watch my daughter sip a hot chocolate and fantasise about cupping my hands around a steaming mug of something tasty.
Still, it could be worse – I could be restricted to plain old tap water.
At least this has something interesting to it and, if you weren’t being as strict, you could jazz it up with slices of citrus fruit, cucumber or mint.
I go to a friend’s house for dinner and she’s kindly bought some fizzy water in cans, which feels rather fancy.
DAY TEN
The finishing line is in sight, which is spurring me on through the boredom of this test.
There’s also another motivator – my skin is looking the best it has in years.
It’s much plumper, feels less dry and my fine lines seem a lot less visible.
People have even commented on how well I’m looking. Who needs a fancy moisturiser when a bottle of Perrier does the trick?
I’ve noticed an unexpected knock-on effect on my snacking habits, too.
I’m a terrible emotional eater, grabbing for chocolate for a quick pick-me-up, or a bagel to stave off boredom in the evening.
When I was making six or more hot drinks a day, there was a lot of time spent loitering in the kitchen.
Despite putting weights there in a bid to exercise while the kettle boiled, more often than not I was foraging through cupboards for a little something to nibble, especially before bed.
But now I’m only there for seconds while I grab a fresh bottle of water, this habit has almost disappeared. Win-win.
DAY 14
The final day of my experiment arrives and I’m delighted to have stuck it out – but I can’t wait for that first coffee tomorrow.
I’m feeling a bit healthier and more energetic, but as I step on the scales, I’m not convinced I’ve actually lost weight.
Alongside the water, I’ve been eating three meals a day – usually cereal like Special K with skimmed milk – at 11am, a protein-rich salad for lunch and a veggie lasagne or mushroom risotto for dinner – as well as walking daily.
To my delight, I’ve dropped 4lbs and am back down to 9st 11lbs. It’s a real result and I feel incredibly positive.
Having already slimmed down so much, it was frightening to feel the momentum slipping and this has given me renewed confidence to stay on track.
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MY VERDICT
I was sceptical about whether a change as simple as only sipping fizzy water would kickstart my diet.
But whether it’s those bubbles of CO2, the natural effects of drinking more H2O or other associated habit changes, this experiment has helped me shed pounds and change my mindset.
I also felt like I was nurturing my body, rather than grabbing caffeinated or sweet-tasting drinks for a quick hit of satisfaction.
I won’t be quitting the coffee any time soon – that first cup was heaven, even if I did feel wired afterwards.
But now I’ve swapped out my Pepsi Max for sparkling water and will experiment with ways to make it more varied.
I bought Tesco Elmhurst Sparkling Mineral Water, which costs £1.75 for four 2L bottles, an amount that would last me three days at least.
Buying a 24 pack of Pepsi Max is £10.50 – which works out at £1.75 per day, if I drink four cans. Not to mention a daily coffee out costing £3.50 or more.
That’s £5.25 a day compared to around 58p for the water – a saving of £63 over two weeks.
I’m now curious to see if I can keep the weight loss going, but either way, my experiment has helped me get a grip on my diet and feel more in control again.
