Post 15 / Day 93 ~ Water, Friend or Foe?

I wanted to talk to you a little bit about water; pros, cons and the battle of drinking it.

Personally, I go up and down with this one.  There are days that I am spot on, and get my water in.  Then there are others... which as an after thought, how difficult can it be?

I have been told by doctors, nutritionists, as well as personal trainers alike how important water intake is.  To even make it easier for a person, with the exception of liquor, wine, spirits and beer, most of the beverages that you drink during the day count towards your water intake.  This includes your tea and coffee!

So... if all of this is true, then why is it so difficult to drink the recommended water alottment for one's health?

Are we too busy?  Are we not thinking?  And NO SODA DOES NOT COUNT!! 

I understand that water is not as tasty as a coke, I get it.  But we keep grabbing those pop cans.  Hey, I am not excluding myself from this either.  I try not to drink more than one can per week; some weeks I do awesome and then there are weeks like this last one that I fell off the wagon and had three!  Don't worry, I did some extra walking and cardio to help burn off those extra calories.

What can we do to get our water in?

• add a slice of lemon or you  can make some lemonade
• lime slices are good too!
• Ice tea anyone?
• Crystal Light does the job for many body builders!  Shh don't tell them I told you, but many body builders use it.  snicker, snicker.
• vitamin water anyone?
• add juice... try a 50/50 mixture with your favorite juice.  
• how about those handy little water additives, including added vitamins, energy, focus and other tasty little flavors... just snap and add it to your water bottle! 

What are some ways you drink water?  Let me know and I'll include your ideas.  Let's unite, partner up, anything to help us get our water in!  

Water is so important for hydration purposes, and is excellent for weight loss as well.  Here is a picture showing you the benefits of water for our body.

BUT do not over do it!!  Too much water for you is not good either!  You can get Water intoxication.  For more information on water intake or intoxication, click here.

Too much water CAN kill!  There is a happy medium or moderation FOR EVERYTHING!!!  For more information on too much water disadvantages, click here

You can also read these articles on people dying from too much water intake:

• Man, 35, drank himself to death after consuming too much water

• Woman dies after water-drinking contest
• Dieter died after drinking too much water

Just as everything in "health" goes, please see your physician before dieting as well as what he recommends YOUR water intake should be.

There are also conflicting reports as to whether or not how much water should be drank, and believe or not whether you even need eight 8oz glasses per day.  

Personally, in this hay day of information technology including having the entire world at the reach of my fingertips, I try to research, get more than one  opinion and speak with at least two doctors.  

The final decision lies within myself...  I try to make the best educated decision for myself and my family.

Here's to another glass of water!  Do not over do it, please.

Stay healthy and Think Positive!

Blessings to you and yours. 

Images courtesy of google images.

Post 4 / Day 16 ~ Choosing To Be Natural

There were six goals I was working towards this week..

1. eat BREAKFAST everyday                                              
2. have healthy SNACKS out or prepare a healthy snack in between meals
3. do AT LEAST a half an hour of cardio THREE DAYS
4. water, Water, WATER!
5. stay ACTIVE
6. keep POSITIVE

Is four out of six okay?  I am so happy to say that eating breakfast is one of the hardest things to do.  I am just not hungry when I get up.  However, as I have learned from many nutritionalists, personal trainers, professional body builders, fitness models, articles and doctors... BREAKFAST IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL OF THE DAY.  Well I am happy to say that I ate at least a piece of fruit each day!  Can I get a "whoop, whoop"!

The other three goals I met?  I stayed very active, very positive and drank water.  I did not drink as much as I should have, but I did drink some.  I am trying to at least have water with most meals, to get some water in.  As well as carrying a bottle of water where ever I go.

I know... I did not get cardio in!!  HOWEVER, and this is a big however, I have fit in my size 10 jeans this week!!  I do not know that I have lost any weight, but fitting in a smaller sized jeans is pretty good.   "Whoop, Whoop"! 

I am pretty sure that I can attribute the loss in pant size to being really, really busy lately.  

This weeks goals are making sure I eat the following...

My Daily Food Plan.
Click here for yours.

1. Daily:  eat fruits, whole grains, leafy greens, nuts, carrots and green tea.
2. Three times/week:  Oily fish, yogurt, avocado, broccoli, sweet potato and alcohol.
3. Once/week:  red meat, past and dessert.  Alcohol should fall in this area, however this is My LifeStyle Re-Design custom made for me.  Being that I want to lead a healthy life doing what I love to do, wine is something I love to have with my dinner.  
4. Zero/week:  fast food, soda (club soda ok), processed meals (ie frozen meals), canned soup (I never eat canned soup- home made all the way!) and "Diet" anything!  Not even artificial sweet-ners.*

The only foods that may be tricky for me, would be just eating more of anything.  Especially, when we should be eating 5 to 6 small meals a day.  Just like most of you, I am busy and find it hard to stop to eat.  But I HAVE TO!!  Especially when the result would be a higher metabolism.

Number four for me is not a big deal.  I have always lived by 'my' golden rule of not eating "diet" anything.  I have always felt that it you need to loose weight, then you have no business drinking soda!  

The way I feel about "artificial" anything is ... look at third world countries where they eat everything from the earth and made from scratch.  No processed canned foods etc.   Now, think about this... you do not hear of people dying from cancer or how about heart attack rates?  What about their life expectancy?  They tend to live longer lives.  :)   

Long ago I decided to stay away from processed foods and eat as natural as I can.  

Choose to reinforce your mind positively! Choose an empowering attitude! Choose to overcome unwanted obstacles! Choose to approach change with optimism! Choose to make each day better. Choose to be a magnet of motivation for others. Choose to be thankful for the gracious, glorious gift of CHOICE! Do it every day and DO IT BIG!!!    ~  Jimmy Hagewood

Stay healthy and Think Positive!

Blessings. 

Images courtesy of www.choosemyplate.gov

I am not a doctor or a dietitian, and am not promoting for you to follow "my lifestyle re-design."  This is for my own personal gain (or loss) and not affiliated with wii in any way.  wii is not paying me for this.  I do however advise you to consult your physician before exercise or dieting.  

All contents herein are protected under Copyright laws and can not be used, altered or copied. All accounts herein are written by Cali-Gal/Carla B Karam. Please contact me for permission..Just ask.

Post 3 / Day 9 ~ Breakfast & Snacks Are A Must

For more than a week I have been struggling to get on the right track.  I do good for a day or two, and then before I know it ... I have gotten off track.  But not worry, I find my way back on the right track right away.

The objective here is to eat healthy, stay active, keep a positive outlook and above all make healthy choices.

All week I have implemented parking away from the store's entrance, and taking advantage of the good this does not only for me but for Calley (my five year old daughter) too.  (big smile.)  I ate breakfast two out of seven days, started carrying water everywhere I went, and barely took the time out to sit down for lunch.

Although I stayed VERY active all week long, I did not even get five minutes of cardio in!  So disappointed in myself.  The only thing that is keeping me from getting really down on myself is the fact that I did stay active each day, and that does count for something.  

SO... the goal this week?  To get in at least three days of AT LEAST a half an hour of cardio in.  I will continue to increase my intake of water to the suggested gallon per day, and EAT BREAKFAST!!  I am also going to start sharing recipes, and set up a recipe page here as well.  

When dieting, more common than not, people will cut out breakfast, along with other meals, without realizing that by doing this they are undermining their weight loss efforts.  Furthermore, what they really should be doing is eating every two and a half to three hours.  Basically what you are doing is incorporating healthy snacks in between each of your meals, and increasing your metabolism.

courtesy of recipe.com

Okay.  The plan this week is...

1. eat BREAKFAST everyday                                              
2. have healthy SNACKS out or prepare a healthy snack in between meals
3. do AT LEAST a half an hour of cardio THREE DAYS
4. water, Water, WATER!
5. stay ACTIVE
6. keep POSITIVE

Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day.  ~Author Unknown

Related articles

• A Healthy Breakfast for Weight-Loss Success (everydayhealth.com)
• Boost Your Metabolism With Mini-Meals (everydayhealth.com)

Stay healthy and Think Positive!

Blessings. 

I am not a doctor or a dietitian, and am not promoting for you to follow "my lifestyle re-design."  This is for my own personal gain (or loss) and not affiliated with wii in any way.  wii is not paying me for this.  I do however advise you to consult your physician before exercise or dieting.  

All contents herein are protected under Copyright laws and can not be used, altered or copied. All accounts herein are written by Cali-Gal/Carla B Karam. Please contact me for permission..Just ask.