How much water should you be drinking?

Do you know how much water you should be drinking every day? Do you go by the old adage that 8 glasses is enough? I have been doing some research on this topic and I found several good articles explaining why water is so important to weight loss and how much water you actually need to be drinking everyday!

This article explains why the body needs water to lose weight and why you will have a harder time losing if you are dehydrated. The article basically says that water is important for the following reasons:

1. A healthy diet to lose weight includes a lot of fiber... if you aren't drinking enough water AND eating increased fiber, it will back up the plumbing, if you know what I mean. Nobody wants to walk around with that constipated feeling, so drink your water!
2. Water helps muscles contract and lubricates joints... If you hydrate properly, you will be walking around a little more normal the day after you work out... not as much soreness is a good thing!
3. Dehydration can make you tired! Who has two thumbs and doesn't feel like working out when they are tired? This girl right here!

I can give you all the reasons in the world as to why you should be drinking water, but that won't help you at all if you don't know HOW much water to drink!

I found this article by the Mayo clinic that does an excellent job of explaining how much water is recommended to drink for guys and gals.

I also found a water drinking calculator to help you determine the right amount of water for you!

By the way, did you know that drinking a glass of water right before you eat a meal can help fill you up so you don't over eat? Good to know!

Hope this helps! Have a great day!

-M

Please note that none of this article has been approved or even looked at by a medical doctor, nor is it intended to take the place of you talking to your doctor. If you have additional questions on how much water to drink, I encourage you to talk to you health care professional or a licensed dietitian.

Epiphanie!

This morning, my husband had an epiphanie.

Let's start from the begining. Last night, I did not make dinner. I had cereal (and some other things later, like hummus, grilled veggies, chicken breast after my workout, etc), my daughter had fruit and granola and my husband said he wasn't really hungry when he got home from work. Fine by me!

Later in the night, when he was finally hungry, he just munched on pizza rolls and some other junk we had laying around.

This morning, he looks at me while making his lunch and says, "I am always super hungry in the mornings when you don't cook dinner the night before. It is like the food I make doesn't fill me up as much..."

*Ding ding ding* Tell him what he has won Johnny!

I am not the type of wife who will nag (Ok, let's be honest. I TRY to be the type of wife that does not nag!) When I started my weight loss journey, I told S that I would not force him into any changes but I would not be making two dinners, one for him and one for me. I also told him that I would not be picking out junk food to keep in the house and that if he wanted it, he would have to come to the store and pick it out. Since that time, 5 or 6 weeks ago, he has lost 30 pounds. I am not kidding. 30. pounds. And he still eats whatever he wants for two meals a day!

Now that he is starting to realize healthier choices make him feel better, and keep him full for longer, I am seeing him start to make healthier choices. When we go to the store now, he does not pick out as many pre-packaged, processed foods and mostly sticks to fruits and veggies. It is amazing how people will follow you if you gently guide them instead of trying to force them into your way of thinking!!

How are you helping your family get into shape? Are you taking walks together? Are your eating habits influencing them to follow in your shoes?

Have a great day!

-M

Lunch recipe!!! Hummus please!

Sooo, last night was not a good night for me. It was weigh in night, which I usually am looking forward to! Unfortunately last night yielded no results at all. None. Zip. Zilch. Nada. (Any other ways I can say that I lost zero pounds over the past week?) Then the excuses started… I was sick, I didn’t work out, I ate a lot of junk, I did not drink enough water, blah blah blah. No more! As soon as I saw that I had not lost anything, I turned on my Jillian Michael’s exercise video and sweated it out for 39 minutes. (Yes, I keep track… Some of those videos are long and as some will say, “Ain’t nobody got time for that!)

Anyway, this is meant to be a motivation for some of you that may have hit a plateau! Just keep working! If you don’t lose or, *gasp* gain in a week, just keep going. Celebrate every single pound lost to date and keep working towards your goal!

I tried something new for my lunch today and I thought I would share the recipe with everyone!

Ingredients:

1 Flatout brand flat bread – Light original (2 WW points +)

2 Tablespoons Sabra brand Hummus – Artichoke and Spinach (2 WW points +)

A handful of cherry tomatoes cut in half (0 WW points +)

A quarter of a cucumber, peeled and cut into bite size pieces  (0 WW points +)

What you do:

Spread the hummus all over the flat bread. Lick spoon. (Licking the spoon is optional, I don’t let any of my points go to waste ;)

Sprinkle on the tomatoes and cucumbers

A light sprinkle of salt and pepper

Roll up the flatbread

Eat!

-Please note that I included the name brands of the items that I used because that is what I looked up in the WW points plus database. If you substitute anything, or change quantities, make sure you re-calculate the points!

I will say that this roll up was delish! The only thing I would recommend is that you do not put this together ahead of time (like, in the morning). It got a little soggy. Just bring it all to work with you and assemble at your desk.

The cucumbers gave the roll up a nice crunch and the tomatoes added the perfect amount of acidity. I paired the roll up with a Yoplait 100 calorie greek yogart, water and a baggie of carrots. Yum!

Keep strong this week and remember to celebrate the good and over look the -not so good- stuff!

-M

Meet me! Start here!

Well hello there! This blog is about me but is dedicated to helping you! Two months ago, I started to make some changes in my life and began making smarter choices. Today I am 26 pounds lighter and still losing! I would love for you to come along on this adventure with me. Maybe you find a recipe of mine that you love, or a workout routine that is a good fit with you... whatever you are looking for to help motivate you to get healthy, I hope you find it!

About me: I am "M" and I live in Ohio in a SUPER small town. I love to cook and I cannot bake to save my own life. I am married to "S" and we have been married for six years. He is the love of my life. They say everyone needs a support person in their life and he is mine! He is calm where I am neurotic. He is my "You jump, I jump" person. Too corny? Moving on! We have a beautiful -almost- 21 month old little girl, "K". She loves to help in the kitchen, draw on everything and anything and she loves all of her animals.

Thank you so much for stopping by... I am hoping to have some recipes posted a little later tonight!