Hiya there,
Thought I would respond to the water question.
I think it does help to be fair, I didn't believe it to start with, but if nothing else it helps get rid of the taste in my mouth.
I HATE water but hell I am drinking it as much as I can. I never go over 5 litres a day, as I think my day would then revolve around drinking and peeing, and although I want to lose weight, I don't want to spend that time in the toilet. But I do regularly drink around 5 litres.
If you split it into pints it is easier (ish).
xx