Health Challenge #1

Hi everyone! WOW my Internet has been down for a few days. I am sure you all are sick of looking at that last post and wondering if I am just procrastinating on the health challenge!! LOL, ALRIGHT, I have a few people who want to do this health challenge with me.
NOTE!!!! I am NOT a personal trainer or health expert, I just a woman/mom who wants to be healthier. I know I said that I was going to write "my story" but I am thinking for now lets just do these challenges and encourage each other. I think "my story" will come but I need some time to write it and think about it. Also While I really do appreciate my friends telling me about products to help me, I feel I really need to try and work this into my daily life. I have tried so many pills etc. and I think and know that the answer is to change my attitude and view of my health and the way I eat. This is just a forum and way for me to be accountable and share. So thank you to all my friends who want to help, I love you.

Anyone can jump in and do this at any time. Even if you do not need weight loss, we all need to be healthy and to love the bodies GOD gave us.

WEEK #1 ~ I want to talk about WATER, oh yes, WATER. I have learned some pretty AMAZING things about water lately that I want to share with you. What are the great things about water, well it is free, it is life giving. Everything in our world revolves around water. So why is it in many of our diets that we do not drink it. We do not give ourselves that gift?

Water is pretty amazing. There are so many health benefits of water

" Water is your extra weight's worst enemy. You will find that with appropriate water consumption, your weight and extra pounds will begin to shed. Many beverages that people consume throughout the day are high in calories and high in sugar. This includes soda, juice and alcoholic beverages. Water however, has no fat, calories, sugar or carbs, and will curb your thirst much more effectively than any other beverage. Therefore, with your calorie and fat intake reduced by water replacing those high calorie beverages, you will undoubtedly notice visible weight loss within several weeks. Another benefit of drinking ample amounts of water is that water will suppress your appetite, because water naturally fills your stomach. "
Read this whole article about the benefits of water here

SO what if I do not like water? What if I am addicted to caffeine soda? what if I can not remember, etc. etc. etc. Excuses are how we got into this mess in the first place, right?

O.k. I am sooooo bad at this. First of all my vice is Soda. BAD, caffeine laden soda, and yes I drink diet but.... There are so many bad side effects of soda.

1) It leads to Obesity it has a TON of sugar. And even if it does not your body can produce the insulin anyway because it is thinking that it has the sugar.
2) It causes bloating
3) It disperses vitamins from your other foods
4) It blocks calcium and leads to osteoporosis
5) It does not suppress appetite so you get twice the calories

There are so many more. I never liked it I hardly EVER drank it. But then Coke came out with Vanilla Coke and I was hooked, and it is hard to find now and I hated the calories so I switched to diet, but still now I have the habit. And I have told myself I can stop any time BUT I AM addicted so how to stop this vicious cycle?

Read this:

"Research by Johns Hopkins University examining the difference in consumption of caffeinated vs. decaffeinated sodas show that consumption is driven by the "mood-altering and physical dependence of caffeine." To avoid "withdrawal symptoms, similar to symptoms of excess by tapering down slowly, and begin by replacing one of your regular, caffeinated sodas with a non-caffeinated soda every day for four days, then replace that non-caffeinated soda with an equal amount of clear, pure water. For variety, try sodium-free club soda, and add a squeeze of lime and/or lemon. Eventually, you'll wean yourself off the sugary stuff, and you'll feel so much better. Avoid the "added caffeine" drinks like Coca-Cola's Surge or Pepsi's Josta. Mountain Dew contains 55 milligrams of caffeine per 12-ounce can; Sunkist has 40, Coke 45, Pepsi 37, Sprite zero. "
From Austin Adventure Boot camp (you should read this article)

I highly recommend reading all the links that I share with you in this post. They are very informational.

I also have been reading about the benefits of LEMONS and how drinking organic lemons in your water a few times a day has AMAZING health benefits, Make sure and read all of it to get to all the amazing things it can do!!!

Her is the link if you want to know more about this. Read Here



I have more very cool things about water that I want to share, but for now we will start with this and I will post more later.

HEALTH CHALLENGE #1
* Drink at least 8-10 8oz. glasses of water EVERY DAY.
* Stop drinking Soda.

I know these 2 things will be hard. I have started it this week and I am struggling with the no diet soda thing... but I will keep on it because it is important.
Even if you need to swat the soda with something else for now. that is fine.
Also if you can not stop soon and have to taper off, at least add drinking the water.
These are your challenges for this first one. I would love to hear how you are doing and what great beverages you have found that are good and work for you!!

xoxoxo Keri