Are you tired, unable to focus, and holding on to stubborn fat? You simply may need to drink more water!

If you want to lose water weight, you have to drink water! That notion may seem odd, but if you are not drinking enough water, your body will actually retain water to compensate for the lack thereof.

Furthermore, fat and other waste products cannot be moved from the body without sufficient water to flush the system. Dr. Howard Flaks, a bariatric (obesity) specialist in Beverly Hills, California says, “By not drinking enough water, many people incur excess body fat, poor muscle tone and size, decreased digestive efficiency and organ function, and increased toxicity in the body, joint and muscle.”

You may already know water is healthy for you, but now scientific studies back up the claims. A study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic found obese dieters who drank two cups of water before each meal lost five pounds more than a group of dieters who didn’t increase their water intake. A year later, the water-drinkers had also kept more of the weight off. Individuals that drink water prior to meals consumed 13% fewer calories at meals. There are two reasons for these positive findings. First, water consumption might encourage the body to produce more heat, boosting your metabolism and burning more calories. Secondly, drinking more water might simply make people less likely to drink a lot of high-calorie beverages.

Even if weight-loss is not your goal, water is still vital to your entire system. The lungs, heart, brain, kidneys and liver all need water to function properly. Lack of water can lead to a host of symptoms, such as water retention, fatigue, thirst, decreased urine, dry skin, headaches, constipation, and dizziness. In severe cases, it can cause extreme thirst, extreme mental confusion, lack of sweating, little to no urination, sunken eyes, and low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat and breathing.

If you want to lose more fat and increase your metabolism, proper water intake should be a priority! Proper water intake will help your entire system function optimally.