Weight loss. It's not rocket science!

Whilst working hard to lose weight, I realised that losing weight is not rocket science. It's more nutritional science, one would suppose.

There's a great deal of science out there, some genuine science and some pseudo-science about diet and nutrition, some of which impacts on how, or if, we can lose weight

For example there is the myth of how much water we must drink, which is said to have an impact on how much weight we can lose. The idea that we must drink a litre or even two litres of water a day has no basis in science whatsoever. There are a number of theories of how and where the myth started, from inaccurate medical research several decades ago. Some researchers even claimed that the myth can be traced back to a BBC science reporter who misread his shorthand notes and so because his shorthand was so poor, accidentally caused misery and confusion to dieters the whole world over.

Whilst it is true that we do need to keep ourselves rehydrated, it is not true that there is some mythical figure for optimum consumption of water, or that other moisture taken in to the body somehow doesn't count. That glass of milk, the glass of diet shake, the tea, coffee, beer and wine (being careful to be aware of alcohol consumption, naturally) the moisture in the food that we eat, all contribute to our overall consumption of water into our body.

Can too much water be harmful? Yes, it can. Some dieters and exercise fanatics who consume vast quantities of water in the mistaken belief that water is very good for one if one is on a diet have found that they can become addicted to water, sometimes with fatal consequences, as too much water in the body can result in brain damage or even, in extreme cases, death.

Water intoxication (or water drunkenness as it is also known) is a result of the electrolytes in the body becoming too diluted. It's not a common problem, but one all dieters who make water a part of their diet regimen need to think carefully about. One pretty rough rule of thumb is, if you are thirsty, drink. And if you are thirsty all the time and have problems with controlling your weight, might it be time to get a diabetes check at your doctor's surgery?

One of the other things I found out whilst looking at ways of losing weight was that, generally speaking, if one wants to lose weight one must ensure that the amount of calories coming on to your body must be outweighed (if you'll pardon that expression) by the amount of calories going out.

This means that if your consume 1,500 calories a day and burn off 2,000, you will have a gentle and sustainable weight loss over a period of time. Conversely if you consume 2,000 calories a day and only burn off 1,500 calories a day, you will have a significant weight gain over a long period of time.

There are many dieting aids available to the weight conscious amongst us, some potions, some pills, some machines and some psychological assistances by way of hypnosis, etc., and it is very much a case of horses for courses. Many of these aids work, but they might not work for everyone, but so long as they assist is in our goal of burning off more calories than we consume, then they are welcome assistances in our fight against being overweight.

There are, of course, no magic pills that will make us lose weight without exercise. Losing weight still requires a degree of dedication and effort on the part of the dieter. Losing weight in a sensible, sustainable way (no starvation diets, for example!) will help to benefit one in a number of ways such as a reduction in the possibility of heart conditions, less strain on joints and so forth.