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Sunday, February 26, 2012

Water Water Everywhere!





Everyone knows that drinking water is an important part of any healthy lifestyle.  It just helps to keep you hydrated and healthy.  There are soo much good information about how much water to drink and there are also a lot of myths out there.

Five Myths About Drinking Water
by 
April 3, 2008Is bottled water better for you than tap? Or should you choose vitamin-enriched water over sparkling? Experts say, skip it all. None of these products are likely to make you any healthier. Below, we look at five major myths about the benefits of drinking water.
But first, how do you know if you're drinking enough water? Experts say there's an easy way to judge. If you're not thirsty, your fluid intake is likely "just right."
Myth No. 1: Drink Eight Glasses Each DayScientists say there's no clear health benefit to chugging or even sipping water all day. So where does the standard advice of drinking eight glasses each day come from? "Nobody really knows," says Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, a kidney expert at the University of Pennsylvania.
Myth No. 2: Drinking Lots of Water Helps Clear Out ToxinsThe kidneys filter toxins from our bloodstreams. Then the toxins clear through the urine. The question is, does drinking extra water each day improve the function of the kidneys?
"No," says Goldfarb. "In fact, drinking large amounts of water surprisingly tends to reduce the kidney's ability to function as a filter. It's a subtle decline, but definite."
Myth No. 3: Lots of Water Equals Healthier SkinThe body is already 60 percent water. So, if you take a 200-pound man, he's 120 pounds of water.
Adding a few extra glasses of water each day has limited effect. "It's such a tiny part of what's in the body," says Goldfarb. "It's very unlikely that one's getting any benefit." His full editorial is published in the current issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
One study published in 2007 on the cosmetic benefit of drinking water suggests that 500 ml of water increases capillary blood flow in the skin. "But it's unclear whether these changes are clinically significant," says Goldfarb.
Myth No. 4: Drinking Extra Water Leads to Weight LossA more accurate statement may be: Drinking water is a helpful tool for dieters.
"Water is a great strategy for dieters because it has no calories," says Madeline Fernstrom of the University of Pittsburgh. "So you can keep your mouth busy without food and get the sense of satisfaction."
But water is not magical, she adds. Other zero-calorie options such as diet sodas are fine, too.
Myth No. 5: It's Easy to Get Dehydrated During a WorkoutDehydration sets in when a person has lost 2 percent of his or her body weight. So for a 200-pound man, this means losing 4 pounds of water.
Marathon runners, bikers and hikers all need to recognize the signs of dehydration. "It is also obvious that individuals in hot, dry climates have increased need for water," says Goldfarb.
The American College of Sports Medicine recommends that athletes drink 16 ounces of fluids a couple of hours before starting sports practice.
But for a stroll in the park, no water bottle is necessary. Goldfarb's advice: Just drink when you're thirsty.
This doesn't mean that you don't need to drink water.  On the contrary, drinking water helps you feel full and controls cravings.   Sometimes you can feel hungry or fatigued or without focus and its because you are dehydrated.  Bottom line is, water is the perfect drink.  It's zero calories, keeps you alert, looking good (since you're not drinking sugar and additives that affect your skin), and keeps you healthy.

Currently, I am curing my water fatigue by adding some lemon and cucumber to it.  Everytime I drink it I think of this:


LOL!   Drink up!

Much Love,
C



Thursday, February 23, 2012

Lenten Challenge! 40 pounds in 40 days!




I decided to start on a challenge:  40 pounds in 40 days!  Yesterday I posted on Facebook that I am giving up being Fat for Lent.  I am leaving it behind on Fat Tuesday.  At the parades though it was not hard for me to grab an apple instead of king cake and to drink low carb beer.  I didn't want the CRAP in my body.  I think I might actually be kicking this sugar addiction thing!



I think this might be doable!  I am cutting down my grains and carbs and boosting the protein with a boost in my exercise level.  It just happily coincides with the fact that the Crescent City Classic in in that time frame too!



I am getting my two jars of marbles ready to keep track!  For every pound I lose I am going to move a marble from the fat jar to the fit jar.  


Look for updates!


-C

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Pineapple - your own little slice of Hawaii!




I love Pineapple!  It is one of the staples of my diet.  I eat it just about every single day.  However, buying already cut pineapple in the stores can get a little expensive with a tiny container costing you $5 and sometimes more.  However, a whole pineapple will usually yield a lot more than that container and cost you about $3.  

There are a ton of health benefits to pineapple too!

Health benefits of Pineapple fruit

  • Fresh pineapple is storehouse of many health promoting compounds, minerals and vitamins that are essential for optimum health.
  • The fruit is low in calories (provides only 50 cal per 100 g), contains no saturated fats or cholesterol; but rich source of soluble and insoluble dietary fiber like pectin.
  • Pineapple fruit contains a proteolytic enzyme bromelain that digests food by breaking down protein. Bromelain also has anti-inflammatory, anti-clotting and anti-cancer properties. Studies have shown that consumption of pineapple regularly helps fight against arthritis, indigestion and worm infestation. - This is my fave part!  Worm infestation!  LOL!-C  
  • Fresh ananas is an excellent source of antioxidant vitamin; vitamin C. It is required for the collagen synthesis in the body. Collagen is the main structural protein in the body required for maintaining the integrity of blood vessels, skin, organs, and bones. Regular consumption of foods rich in vitamin C helps body protect from scurvy; develop resistance against infectious agents (boosts immunity) and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals from the body.
  • It also contains good amount Vitamin A (provides 58 IU per 100 g) and beta-carotene levels. These compounds are known to have antioxidant properties. Vitamin A is also required maintaining healthy mucus membranes, skin and essential for vision. Studies have suggested that consumption of natural fruits rich in flavonoids helps body to protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.
  • In addition, this fruit is rich in B-complex group of vitamins like folates, thiamin, pyridoxine, riboflavin and minerals like coppermanganese and potassium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids, helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure. Copper is helpful cofactor for red blood cell synthesis. Manganese is a co-factor for the enzyme superoxide dismutase, which is a very powerful free radical scavenger

Helping me with my pineapple addiction is this handy dandy little pineapple slicer and wedger!



 I found it at Bed Bath & Beyond for about $10 and then used one of those coupons.  Here is a breakdown on how easy it is to use this awesome item!

Meet My Pineapple!
I cut the top and bottom off of it!
This is my magic pineapple machine!


Center the middle right on top of the core
and start twisting!  It will work its way
down the whole fruit!
When you break through the bottom just
pull the whole thing back out!
This is what you are left with.  If you're  Martha you can
save this for fruit salad or sherbet of something like
that.  I'm not, so I usually dump it.  (If there is a lot of
fruit around the edge sometimes I'll trim it out with knife.)
Then you have a column of Pineapple in rings!  If you leave
the green slicer thingy on it you can just push down and
make chunks!  



Push the core out of the bottom of the slicer and toss it and
you have a plate full of beautiful rings!
This takes about 3 minutes start to finish!  I grilled one of the rings and put it on my grilled turkey burger with some guacamole!  

Start slicing!

-C

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

A Cry for Help and a Hand Up.



Last night I reached out to an old friend for a hand up.  I have been really struggling with where to start again. When I lost the contest, the NOLA Biggest Loser 2.0 contest over the Summer I had a sort of breakdown.  I felt like I had failed - AGAIN.  Wow.  Big surprise that I was so SURE I was going to do well and I failed AGAIN.  It really hurt.  It was a tough thing to overcome.  Of course I had all of my excuses handy - I was busy with the kids in school, then busy with working.  The week of Thanksgiving break I just stopped and then started EATING.  It was an ugly ugly thing.  I can see it and feel it every single day.

You know what.  I'm DONE.  I am done being mean to me.


I asked for help and the first step is to do SOMETHING and logging my food is a good place to start - and being honest with that log.  So, I INVITE you to keep me in check!  Make me your friend on MyFitnessPal!  Download the free app.  My username is MetryChick.  

I might have slept in this morning - AGAIN, but I did something about it.  I had to run a few errands in the neighborhood so I WALKED to get them done.  It only took me 30 min and I burned 368 calories!  It would have taken me the same time to drive but I saved gas and burned my breakfast off.  

Join me.  

And btw, thanks, 'Nel.

-C