What No One Tells You
Today we dive into drinking your water! I bet you are going to walk away “mind blown” when you realize how essential this is to your weight loss.
S: I’m Sharlene Styles, certified holistic nutritionist, life coach and metabolism mechanic.
C: I’m Cheryl Gordon. I help midlife women sleep better, feel stronger and lose weight with the tools of yoga and mindfulness. “I’m too busy to drink water”… “I don’t like the taste of water”… “does coffee count?” Sound familiar from your clients Sharlene?
S: Yup — all the time. And the one I hear most is, “I know I should drink more water, but…”
And that “but” is often the reason their metabolism is feeling sluggish.
When we’re dehydrated — even just mildly — everything slows down: digestion, energy, mental clarity, and especially detoxification. And when your detox pathways are sluggish, your body can have a harder time releasing stored fat. Why? Because toxins are often stored in fat cells — and your body will actually hold on to fat as a buffer if it doesn’t feel safe or supported enough to detox properly.
C: That’s such a good point. And I think most people don’t realize that detox isn’t just about green juices or cleanses. It’s happening 24/7 in the background. One of the biggest mechanisms of detoxification is breathing. As a yoga teacher, I always have to get that info in there.
S: And as a holistic nutritionist, I want to repeat that detox is not a one-week event, it’s a full-time job for your body. And two of the biggest players in that process are your liver and your gut.
Your liver is like your internal filtration system. It helps break down hormones, process toxins, and metabolize fats. But if it’s overwhelmed — maybe from alcohol, medications, stress, or even just a poor diet — it doesn’t function as efficiently. And that can lead to hormonal imbalances, like excess estrogen, which is a big contributor to weight gain in the midsection.
Then there’s the gut. A healthy gut helps eliminate waste, supports the immune system, and plays a huge role in hormone metabolism — especially estrogen. If you’re constipated or your gut bacteria are out of balance, your body may reabsorb toxins or excess hormones instead of getting rid of them.
So when the liver and gut aren’t functioning optimally, your whole system gets bogged down. And weight loss — especially in midlife — becomes so much harder, no matter how “clean” your diet is.
C: Sharlene, there is so much to learn about gut health. This is where you work a lot with your clients right?
S: I offer a FREE five day gut health menu plan on my website.
C: Water helps the liver flush out toxins and function optimally, supporting nutrient absorption and overall bodily functions. AND adequate hydration supports nutrient absorption, waste elimination, and a healthy gut microbiome, while dehydration can lead to constipation, bloating, and other digestive issues.
S: Stools are another key mechanism of detoxification so I really need to talk poop with my clients. It can be such a common sense fix to suggest more water to fix that belly bloat.
C: And now I’m coming back to the nervous system. Stress can interfere with regularity. Flushing out stress, through movement and adequate hydration, can improve elimination.
Here’s another clue as to why hydration helps to shrink the belly.
We’ve talked about staying at home base. This is the range where our logical brain is in charge. When we get into the orange zone, it’s kinda like a toddler grabbed the keys to the SUV and is heading out the door. Ack! Our dreams and goals do not live in the orange zone.
Long before we register conscious thirst, the brain notices dehydration. It’s processed as a potential survival threat ie stress. Because this might be a common pattern, the habit brain has experience that food contains hydration. Let’s send out cravings and urges! The system doesn’t really need food per se, but that’s a sure fire strategy to deal with this situation.
This is a great strategy to deal with urges to eat. Maybe you’re not sure if you’re really hungry. Try drinking 8 oz of water and waiting 10 minutes. Carefully attune to how you feel in the meantime, Are you bothered or stressed? Are you fatigued? Do you need a break from the computer? Do you need a hug?
Bringing more awareness to hydration, understanding why unconscious thirst is so challenging for your system, taking some steps to remedy dehydration is like a super power to reduce that belly.
S: So let’s talk strategy — because just knowing we need to drink more water isn’t enough, right? We need simple ways to make it happen.
One of the easiest things you can do is carry a water bottle with you everywhere — seriously, treat it like your phone. If it’s within reach, you’re way more likely to sip throughout the day.
Personally, I aim for three litres a day, spaced around meals. I drink one full liter on waking before breakfast, one before lunch, and another before dinner. That timing also helps with digestion and reduces the urge to mindlessly snack.
Now — about adding flavours to water. I’m not a huge fan of flavouring your water for a couple of reasons. First, anything that stimulates digestion — even something like lemon or fruit — can make you feel hungry when your body doesn’t actually need food. And second, even natural sugars from fruit infusions can subtly impact blood sugar, especially if you’re sipping all day long.
But… I also get it. If adding some flavour is the only way you’ll actually drink it, then do you. Just try to keep it clean and minimal — maybe a few herbs like mint or a splash of cucumber instead of fruit-heavy blends.
The key here is consistency. Your body thrives on hydration — and so does your metabolism.
C: I use a 32 oz water bottle that is filled twice a day. It is my side kick everywhere I go and then I know for sure where my hydration is at.
S: Great plan. I also find it’s much easier to stay on track using larger containersinstead of those little 500 ml bottles — it just gets confusing trying to count how many you’ve had when you’re aiming for 2 to 3 litres a day and then there’s the whole environment thing on top of that too.
Another tip I share with clients is to consider adding electrolytes to their water. When you’re well-hydrated but still feeling fatigued or foggy, it could be a sign that you’re flushing out important minerals like magnesium, sodium, and potassium. A pinch of high-quality sea salt or a clean electrolyte mix with no sweeteners can help keep things balanced — and support energy, muscle function, and even your mood.
And on that note, in our next episode, we’ll be diving into something just as vital: community and connection. Because feeling supported and emotionally nourished plays a huge role in sustainable weight loss — and really, in every area of well-being.
In the meantime, you can find more resources on our websites:
👉 www.purenaturalhealth.ca
👉 www.cherylgordonyt.com
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