** ** WATER CHALLENGE ** **

I know here I go again.  I'm always nagging about water.  I figured we are starting fresh with this blog and getting all our ducks in a row, what better time than to talk about the importance of lots of water again.  

So we have been challenged to "COMMIT", SET GOALS, and now DRINK WATER!!

How much water am I talking about?  You've all heard the Eight 8 oz glasses a day, well, that is for the average person.  . A good guide for daily intake is to drink 1 ounce of water for every 2 pounds of body weight. A 200 pound person should be drinking around 100 ounces (12.5 cups) of water in order to gain the benefits of increased energy and metabolism.  When exercising a bit more water should be included to account for water loss from sweating. Drinking water before, during and after exercise will keep energy levels high and help recovery after your workout.

WHY????????????????????

Water makes your metabolism burn calories 3% faster.

Drinking water is important if you're trying to lose weight, some studies have shown that thirst and hunger sensations are triggered together. If there is a slight dehydration the thirst mechanism may be mistaken for hunger and one may eat when the body is actually craving fluid. As most food contains some water, if one doesn't drink much they may be subconsciously driven to eat more to gain the necessary water supply however, you also gain the undesired effects of increased calorie consumption. Drinking more water can help to prevent overeating and benefit weight loss.

Start your day with a glass of water and try to pick three or four times a day when you can have a big glass of water, and then sip in between.  A glass of water before meals will help you not eat as much.   Don't let yourself get thirsty. If you feel thirsty, you're already becoming dehydrated. Drink when you're not thirsty yet.   You will get used to it and start enjoying water.

It's probably a good idea to stop drinking water a good three hours before you go to bed. You know why.

During the first few days of drinking more water than your body is accustomed to, you're running to the bathroom constantly. This can be very discouraging, and it can certainly interfere with an otherwise normal day at work. It seems that the water is coming out just as fast as it's going in, and many people decide that their new hydration habit is fruitless.

Do take heed , though. What is really happening is that your body is flushing itself of the water it has been storing throughout all those years of "survival mode". It takes a while, but this is a beautiful thing happening to you. As you continue to give your body all the water it could ask for, it gets rid of what it doesn't need. It gets rid of the water it was holding onto in your ankles and your hips and thighs, maybe even around your belly. You are excreting much more than you realize. Your body figures it doesn't need to save these stores anymore; it's trusting that the water will keep coming, and if it does, eventually, the flushing (of both the body and the potty) will cease, allowing the human to return to a normal life. It's true. This is called the "breakthrough point."

Health benefits of drinking water

·         regulate appetite

·         increase metabolism

·         boost energy levels

·         less water retention

·         alleviate some headaches

·         help reduce blood pressure

·         help reduce high cholesterol

·         ease joint pain

·         decrease in risk of some cancers

·         less chance developing kidney stones

·         release toxic waste products

·         improves skin

Cautions to consider

One potential but rare side effect of fluid intake can be hypoatremia in which electrolytes become imbalanced.  Try having SMART water when your exercising. 

There is a ton more information on the benefits of drinking lots of water while dieting (and as a lifelong change) but I think I'm done for the night.  

I love you gals and wish you lots of luck and success this week.   

September Weigh-in

Hi guys, I was hoping to blog much sooner than this but I'm having trouble just wanting to talk about it I guess.  I'm weighing in at 185.6 which is only a few ounces up from a week ago but with my last blog I was feeling optimistic and starting to get enthused and wanting to commit and everything but since then I have been in a slump.  I have had a problem with what I guess could be considered binging in the evening.  It comes over me as soon as I finish dinner.  I want something and it doesn't go away.  I know I'm not hungry, I just ate.  I think it's me fighting myself against this diet thing.  So, I've been doing a lot of thinking.  Sometimes I sit and play computer games and I thought how easily I could just go walk for 20 minutes instead of the stupid games.  I know when I'm getting some exercise my mood is better and I am more in control but It is so hard to get this started again.  I just have to get up and do it.  I know.  I haven't been sleeping very well lately so maybe that has something to do with it.  


I am glad to hear everyone blogging.  I tried to comment on Cathy's but I couldn't.  Anyone else having that problem.  Please try to send her a comment.  I had a nice salad lunch with Cheryl today and she is wanting to keep in the program and have me set her up with a blog.  I will go over to her place soon and get her going.  Hopefully you'll be able to comment on her site.  


Sure sorry Cathy is having so much physical troubles.  It makes it that much harder but let me tell you the last time I saw you, your weight loss showed and your picture on the motor cycle  look so much better than mine.  I hate being fat.  


So don't worry gals, I will get the enthusiasm going again I promise.  I refuse to be fat the rest of my life!  


I will be doing the challenge this Sunday so hopefully I can get my mood in the right place.  


Have a great vacations (AGAIN) Annie & Drew.  haha 

Thought on Commitment

Just thought I would forward this on.  It points out again how important commitment is to our success in this journey.  :)

The most important single factor in individual success is COMMITMENT. Commitment ignites action. To commit is to pledge yourself to a certain purpose or line of conduct. It also means practicing your beliefs consistently. There are, therefore, two fundamental conditions for commitment. The first is having a sound set of beliefs. There is an old saying that goes, "Stand for something or you'll fall for anything." The second is faithful adherence to those beliefs with your behavior. Possibly the best description of commitment is "persistence with a purpose".

Cindi's weekly post

Getting started blogging again is just like everything else.  You just gotta jump in and do it.  I meant to get my blog in yesterday.  I'm shooting for an every Wednesday blog.  

Annie's comments on commitment really hit home.  It made me realize I was just hap hazardly making goals and wishes but not really doing anything about it and not making any commitments to myself at all.  I know I want to be thinner and I know some of the steps I need to take to get there but I just keep thinking I will get with it tomorrow or the next day.  I make a few good choices here and there and a few bad choices here and there and pretty much just stay right where I'm at.  I've decided this is a miserable way to be because I'm not reaping the benefits of the life changes I want to make and I'm not getting to do the total opposite either.  I've been hanging in the middle.  I know I felt better when I was getting to the gym (physically and emotionally).  I know I feel better when I eat light and stay away from white flour and sugar.  I know I just feel depressed when I'm not doing anything about my unhealthy predicament.  So here and now I need to commit to myself and to my dear friends (you girls) that I am going to do something about it.

My commitment:

I am going to lose 10 pounds.  When that is gone I will start with another 10 and so on.

I am no longer wishing to lose weight.  I am going to set myself up for success by making a plan and trying my best to stick to it.  

I will drink at least 64oz of water a day

I will eat only whole wheat breads and keep that to a minimum

I will grocery shop with my health in mind.  No junk in the basket - Lots of fruit and veggies

Stay away from sugar.

If a snack is needed in the evening only snack on something healthy and/or light.  Optimally drink tea instead.

The biggy:  Get moving.  Plan on doing something physical minimum 5 days a week.  

Get to the gym on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

BLOG EVERY WEEK to keep motivated and help my sista's on their journey.

Love you guys and good luck!

cindi  

     

I'M BACK

OK here we go!!  


Time to get back into the grove of blogging.  I got Cathy all set up although it will take her some getting used to.  I'm glad to get going again.  I know it helps to put my thoughts down on paper(here) and it should help me become more accountable to myself again.  


I am assuming we are still having a Wednesday weigh in and everyone should try to blog once a week and comment as much as possible.  We all need the communication.  


I hope to set Cheryl up this week or maybe next week with a blog.  She is on the mend and about ready to hit the pavement. 


So hello to everyone and good luck.  I will post again on Wednesday but for now  -  ta ta 

MIA

WOW I didn't realize I've gone three weeks without blogging. What a bad girl. I think I'm holding my own. A few slip ups here and there but haven't felt like binging. Still eating most of the right things just too much of it. We will see come Monday.

I was pleasantly surprised when I tried cooking Buffalo. It was actually good!! I made a Buffalo roast with carrots. It was tender and had absolutely no wild taste. It is sooo much better for you than beef or even chicken. It has less fat, calories, and cholesterol than chicken or beef. Try it you might like it.

Good luck next week everyone.

Backwards :(

Congratulations to the winners!! I knew this month was a bad one but I was hoping to stay the same but I gained 2 lbs, yet grateful I didn't gain 4lbs. That would have been terrible. I am going to get back on track this month and get that exercise in more consistently. This last month it seemed as though I was hungry all all all the time, especially at night. I think it was stress eating with the car being stolen and all. It felt more like an addiction kind of thing where you really need a fix. Well, I overcame 28 years of smoking I guess I can overcome 57 years of eating. haha

So here we go. . . . . . Lets kick butt in April!!