'I'm a menopause weight loss expert - there's an exact amount of water you need to drink to slim down'

Cherie Jennings / Woman drinking water

Slimmers should be staying hydrated

TikTok / @cheriejennings1 / GETTY IMAGES
Anna Barry

By Anna Barry


Published: 27/09/2024

- 17:46

Updated: 27/09/2024

- 19:17

Drinking more water is "vital" because it is zero-calorie and makes you feel full

Drinking more water is such a simple weight loss hack but many people neglect to do it.

A menopause weight loss expert advised slimmers to drink between half an ounce and one ounce of water per pound that they currently weigh.



Cherie Jennings (@cheriejennings1) offered advice on TikTok to those who want to "hit their weight loss goals sooner".

She said: "Most reference drinking about two litres of water a day - which is about eight glasses of water - just to stay hydrated and maintain a healthy state.

Hand holding glass of water

'Increasing your water intake is vital because it has no calories and it makes you feel full'

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"However, that changes whenever weight loss is one of your big goals. Increasing your water intake is vital because it has no calories and it makes you feel full, so that way you eat less."

Cherie explained that the amount of water a slimmer drinks every day should depend on their activity level and current weight.

The expert said: "In general, for weight loss purposes, you want to drink between half an ounce to one ounce per pound of body weight that you currently are at."

Answering how slimmers can determine where they are at in this range, Cherie claimed that people who are "more sedentary or live in a cooler environment" should aim for around half an ounce of water per pound of body weight.

In contrast, those who "live in a hotter climate or are increasing their activity levels and sweating a lot" should aim to drink one ounce of water per pound of body weight.

Cherie said: "For instance, if you weigh 120lb (8st 8lb) and you are in a hot environment and exercising a lot, then you would want to drink 120 ounces of water a day." This is around 3.5 litres.

However, slimmers who weigh the same amount but live in a cooler environment or aren't as active may only need to drink 60 ounces of water per day.

If you're trying to lose weight and want to up your water intake, it's important to ensure you are drinking enough but not going overboard.

University Hospitals advised: "The widespread belief that you should drink eight, eight-ounce glasses of water a day for good health is a myth. There is no scientific research behind it.

"There’s no standard amount of water you should drink daily – it varies from person to person and depends on health conditions and levels of physical activity.

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Woman on scales

To lose weight, slimmers were advised to drink between half an ounce to one ounce per pound of body weight that they currently are at

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"The National Academy of Medicine estimates an optimal daily fluid intake is approximately 15 cups for healthy men and 11 cups for women. That includes fluids consumed from foods and beverages. About 20 per cent of your daily fluid intake comes from foods.

"A good rule of thumb for healthy people is to drink according to thirst. Older adults may have a decreased level of thirst and should make it a point to drink water even if they’re not thirsty.

"Urine colour is another good gauge of hydration. Light yellow is good. Dark yellow indicates dehydration. Also, you may need to drink more than usual if you have vomiting or diarrhoea."

As for how much water is "too much", the experts answered: "There is no set amount of water that causes water intoxication. The kidneys can process about one litre of fluid per hour, so any amount above that over a number of hours can be risky."

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