FamilyInShape

12 days to a new you- Water

Starting today, why not?  Because it's Friday? Who cares.  Today starts the countdown to the 12 days of a healthier, happier you.

I was thinking how sometimes we want to take these small steps to improve our health and "get in shape" but sometimes it can be overwhelming just to think about it.  I've talked about how important it is to start or keep a to-do list handy but even that can be a chore none of us want to start, not when there are many other chores to tackle.

I decided to follow my own advice and share with you my 12 days to a new you plan.  For the next 12 days I will introduce a change that can only improve your wellbeing.  Each day is added to the next so don't go thinking you can just drink water today and not tomorrow.

We will start by drinking water.  Many times we give up water in the winter time because it's too cold, we "think" we're not thirsty.  But water is an essential nutrient your body craves and needs. Shareen Jegtvig, a Nutrition Guide at About.com writes that your body is about 60-70 percent water, all your organs function better when properly hydrated.  Your body uses water to regulate body temperature and to provide your body with a form of transportation to all the organs.  It is a transport for oxygen to your cells, removes waste and protects joints and organs.  

Photo Credit: treidling

Many choose tap and others go with bottled water.  There are mixed reactions about which is best but in the end, the decision is yours.  Do your homework, check your local water treatment company and read the CDC and FDA files on bottled vs. tap water to gain more information on your local tap water as well as the bottled water that claims to be from a spring somewhere in Iceland.  I go between bottled and filtered tap simply because I don't like to taste mineral in my water.  In an effort to be a little greener we use and reuse our empty bottles so that we have portable bottles of water.

In the end, you choose your fluids and drink enough to stay hydrated but not so much to make yourself sick.  Yes, too much water can make you sick, too much water can kill you.  However, not enough water isn't necessarily good either.  Lack of water can cause muscle spasms, bladder infections, and fatigue. The recommended 6-8 glasses of water per day is not too far fetch.  Listen to your body and drink when you are thirsty. 

Stay hydrated and stay well!

Know your goals and stay on track

Destination: Goal

Photo by: jaycoxfilm

 

Have you ever bought a magazine because something on the cover peaked your interest, only to find that your $4.99 investment had one page dedicated to that topic and the rest was nothing more than one advertisement after another? As a fitness professional, I love to read different magazines, books, and online articles that relate to fitness, nutrition and overall wellbeing. I get really great ideas that I use in class or on my own as well as tips on nutrition. The most popular fitness magazines come loaded with advice, diet tips, new routines, and new equipment. Unfortunately, they also come filled with advertisements…well most magazines do, that’s where they make most of their money I guess.

The problem I had this week, when I attempted to give myself a break from the “must read” items to focus on a couple of really good articles in my latest fitness magazine, was that every time I turned the page there was an advertisement about the “ultimate” body transformation product, or the “best” fat burner, the “fastest” weight loss product, etc. each with a picture of a chiseled woman and her not so wonderful before shot. No, there’s no jealousy here, well, actually maybe a little…they do look awesome, but I doubt they achieved such physique in 60 days with a pill alone. My issue with these ads is that they are trying to convince us that if we take this product we will also have an awesome after picture to show off in a matter of weeks.

It was very frustrating for me because I was really into the article on exercises to tighten my Abdominals and Obliques, also the article on how to increase my energy in the afternoon, etc. But when I turned the page to continue reading I was met with yet another weight loss, calorie burning, body toning pill. Before I knew what hit me I was reading that article instead. If I was really desperate I would have completely disregarded the articles that were trying to teach me proper fitness techniques and nutrition advice to take the easy way out. It is difficult to stay focused on the real issues and what really works when we are constantly being thrown a curve ball.

I decided that if I wanted to really focus here I was going to have to take matters into my own hands….I tore up the magazine! OK maybe not the whole thing. I simply paged through and ripped every section that had the articles I found to be of value, I stapled those together and now I have a much smaller magazine almost completely ad free. Some sneaked in on the back pages but that’s okay because I don’t have the complete article to the picture so it really doesn’t matter. What matters is that I realized, from the beginning, that the “quick” weight loss articles were getting in the way of my learning and I had to do something to keep me focused.

These advertisements are in magazines, newspapers, the radio, but the worst is on TV infomercials. Pick up the remote and change the channel…do not let yourself get caught up in these idealistic advertisements that promise to shape your muscles and trim the fat in six weeks while you eat what you want and skip the gym. I can guarantee that each and every diet pill bottle will advise you to follow a sensible diet and exercise routine; you just have to read the fine print. While you may lose weight taking diet pills, it is only temporary and you are likely to risk more than just the weight gain that comes back, inevitably, after you stop taking the pills.

Go ahead, pick up the magazine but question every advertisement or better yet, tear it up and keep only the good stuff, after all, you bought it for the recipe or the exercise ideas not to be sold countless bottles of body defining products. Stay on track and don’t lose sight of your ultimate destination: your goals. Here’s an ad-free tip from me to you:

To see changes in your body and the way you feel there are four realistic things you must do every day:

Eat nutritious foods

Exercise

Stay hydrated

Sleep/Rest

Stay Well,

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