Did you know there is a very incredibly simple and easy way to speed up your fat burning metabolism, while also improving your appearance overnight? No, this isn’t some gimmicky weight loss supplement, fancy workout gizmo or “top secret” dieting strategy. It is quite simple and seemingly apparent but nonetheless extremely effective.

You’ve probably already been told time and time again that you should be drinking plenty of water each day, but do you actually realize just how beneficial water consumption is to your bottom line fat burning results, muscle building progress and overall appearance? You could very well be hindering the progress of a healthy regimen for your body if you are not making a point of drinking plenty of water, at least 64 ounces, on a daily basis. I will lay out the points so that you can see them clearly.

1) Water increases strength and performance in the gym. Studies demonstrate that if you’re the least bit dehydrated it may dramatically reduce your strength and endurance. In fact, merely a 3-4% drop in your body’s water levels will lead to a 10-20% decrease in muscle contractions. When it comes to intense weight training and cardio sessions in the gym, it is critical that your strength and energy levels are always at their best.

2) Injuries can be prevented with water. The joints in your body and the connective tissues can be unduly stressed if you do hard weight training or cardio for a long period of time. One of the ways that water fights this stress is by lubricating the joints and providing a type of cushion around the joints.

3) Water improves digestion. Large macro nutrients such as protein, carbohydrates and fats require water in order to be broken down into their smaller, usable components. In order to ensure that your body is properly utilizing all of the nutrients from the foods you eat, you must ensure that your water intake is high.

4) Water can help your body burn fat. The liver has a number of jobs, but one of its most important tasks is to metabolize fat. However, another one of the liver’s duties is to assist the kidneys, whose main function is to flush out waste products through the urine. You need to drink the correct amount of water each day to eliminate the stress on your kidneys and liver.

If you take less water your liver has to divert its attention to help kidneys instead of burning fat. Consequently, your body fat burning rate will slow down.

5) Increased water consumption decreases water retention. If you have a reduced intake of water, the body reacts by hoarding more water as an instinctive survival mechanism. All of that water will end up in the places you want it least: your face, arms, stomach, butt, thighs, and everywhere else you can think of. You can actually force your body to slim down slightly in just a matter of days by increasing your water intake. Since your body will now be provided with a constant external source of water, it will no longer have any incentive to store excessive amounts.

Keep in mind that your body is already dehydrated if you feel thirsty. For the optimal functioning of your body a certain amount of water is required and if you are consuming that proper amount you should never really feel thirsty throughout a regular, routine day.