Day 184: Importance of water

I am terrible at drinking water.  I drink it, but never enough.  I don't drink enough of anything.  In fact the last two days I was supposed to drink 80 oz of water, but going from 8 oz ot 80 oz was a stretch.  I know for sure I got about 65-70 oz a day.  So, if I have survived all these years without 80 oz of water, what will it do for me now?  So I did a little research and found:
(This information was taken from: http://www.mangosteen-natural-remedies.com/benefits-of-drinking-water.html)
I realized I can benefit from water, even if I have deprived my body from enough of it on a daily basis.  I have noticed that I have been going to the bathroom more, but I have to say, I do feel better at the end of the day, more refreshed.  So read on!

Top 11 Health Benefits of Drinking Water

You will be amazed of the benefits of drinking water as follow:

1. Lose weight: Drinking water helps you lose weight because it flushes down the by-products of fat breakdown. Drinking water reduces hunger, it’s an effective appetite suppressant so you’ll eat less. Plus, water has zero calories. Here are the further details on how to achieve fat loss by drinking water.
2. Natural Remedy for Headache: Helps to relieve headache and back pains due to dehydration. Although there are many other reasons contribute to headache, dehydration is the common one.
3. Look Younger with Healthier Skin: You’ll look younger when your skin is properly hydrated. Water helps to replenish skin tissues, moisturizes skin and increase skin elasticity.
4. Better Productivity at Work: Your brain is mostly made up of water, thus drinking water helps you think better, be more alert and more concentrate.
5. Better Exercise: Drinking water regulates your body temperature. You’ll feel more energetic when doing exercises and water helps to fuel your muscle.
6. Helps in Digestion and Constipation: Drinking water raises your metabolism because it helps in digestion. Fiber and water goes hand in hand so that you can have your daily bowel movement.
7. Less Cramps and Sprains: Proper hydration helps keep your joints and muscles lubricated, so you’ll less likely get cramps and sprains.
8. Less Likely to Get Sick and Feel Healthy:Drinking plenty of water helps fight against flu and other ailments like kidney stones and heart attack. Water adds with lemon is used for ailments like respiratory disease, intestinal problems, rheumatism and arthritis etc. Another words one of the benefits of drinking water can improve our immune system. Follow this link for further information on how lemon water can improve your health.
9. Relieves Fatigue: Water is used by the body to help flush out toxins and waste products from the body. If your body lacks of water, your heart, for instance, need to work harder to pump out the oxygenated blood to all cells, so are the rest of the vital organs, your organs will be exhausted and so are you.
10. Good Mood: Your body fells very good that’s why you soul feels happy.
11. Reduce the Risk of Cancer: Related to the digestive system, some studies show that drinking a healthy amount of water may reduce the risks of bladder cancer and colon cancer. Water dilutes the concentration of cancer-causing agents in the urine and shortens the time in which they are in contact with bladder lining.

Can you see the importance of water to your body after understanding the above benefits of drinking water?

Day 183: I stepped on the scale and...

Although I don't report my weight on days other than Monday, I do step on the scale all the time.  It is never a surprise (but a let down, yes) and I have been known to pray a small prayer before stepping on the scale.  It is more begging for the numbers to change, rather than a prayer.  I go through phases where I don't weigh myself for a week too, however, it seems those phases are short.

I did step on the scale today and a smile spread across my face.  I am not going to share the numbers until Monday.  I did talk to one of my friends who is doing great on a diet plan, and she showed me the menu and food she is eating.  Yesterday I did it.  I did it and today I stepped on the scale, and I smiled!

Does anyone want to do this food menu with me, and report weight loss on Mondays?  If so post a comment with your name, the amount of weeks you want to do it.  Then on Mondays you too can post your weight on my blog via a comment, also if you are a blogger you too can add a link to your blog.  It will be fun to see how everyone does.  I am hoping it works for me and you.

The first two days eat:
2 eggs for breakfast
1/2 Orange in the morning the other 1/2 in the afternoon
Unlimited proteins
Unlimited raw green vegetables (no peas)
80 oz of water
1/4 tsp of Morton's Lite Salt

After those days you can eat:
2 portions of protein
4 portions of veggies
2 portions of fruit
1 portion of fat
2 portions of starch
1 portion of milk
80 oz of water

Sample menu:
BREAKFAST
1 egg + 2 oz of cottage cheese (1/2 protein)
1/2 cup blueberries (1 fruit)

SNACK
1 cup of asparagus (1 veggie)

LUNCH
3 oz skinless chicken breast (1/2 protein)
1 piece of 45 cal whole wheat bread (1 starch)
side salad with fat-free dressing (1 veggie)

SNACK
1 small apple (1 fruit)

DINNER
4 oz Steak with 1 tbsp of horseradish (1 protien)
2 cups Salad (2 veggie) with 1 tsp olive oil (1 fat) and vinegar dressing
1/4 cup cooked brown rice (1 starch)
1 cup of milk (1 milk)

WATER
drink 80 oz of water throughout the day

Day 182: Tuesdays with Heidi

I had such a good training weekend, then yesterday the weather was so hot I didn't think that I should go for a walk, and now today, my Gabey is sick.  It is so crazy how life gets thrown a wrench when things start going well.  I was going to title this blog post Twofer Tuesdays, because I expected to get in two work outs today.  Now I will aim for one, once the hubs gets home.

I can honestly say my least favorite thing is a sick kid.  I feel so sad for them.  Both my kids do something different, my daughter is quiet and just wants to be held.  My son, screams and wants to be held.  I would do anything to make them better.  However, while they are sick they both like to be held.  I would trade that for a healthy kid in an instant, but since I can't, I do enjoy the snuggly kid.  Last night my Gabe fell asleep in my arms.  I loved that.  I let him sleep in my bed and he kept grabbing my hand and even putting his hand on my cheek while he was sleeping.  Sweet boy!

So, today we will rest, drink plenty of fluids and get healthy.

Day 180: Sunny Monday

Nothing is better than waking up before the kids, enjoying a full cup of joe alone and looking out the window at the beautiful Minnesota sunshine.  I think today we will go swimming someplace!  I am looking forward to it, my kids LOVE to swim.

I am a little frustrated at the scale.  I am guessing that the weight will come off this week, but I did so good last week that I thought for sure I'd see a fun change on the scale this week...but only 2 ounces less.  I walked like a mad woman the past two days and no weight loss.  I know it doesn't always come off the way we like, but seeing a little pay off from my past two days would have been nice.  Maybe next Monday!  :o)

In the mean time, I will continue to walk, may institute Cheryl's two a days, and focus on Jo's water challenge as well this week.  I keep trying to drink more water, and I just don't follow through.  This week, I will. I also haven't been doing much weight lifting and I know that can help lots.  So this week I will focus on those.

I know I am getting healthier and more fit.  I know my body is changing, I can see it!  So I won't let the scale discourage me, not today!

Weight 188.4

Day 179: Minnesota Sunday

I love Minnesota in the summer, long days, warm weather. Even the storms are fun.  I love Minnesota in the summer.  I walked another 12.2 miles today (see map below).  It took me just over 3 hours.  It was a nice walk. I listened to music, thought about people I love and enjoyed the exercise.  I felt like I could feel all the muscles in my legs as I was walking and although that felt good then, it is starting to hurt now!  :o)
Monday is a rest day, and I plan on doing that!  :o)

It was not my intent to offend anyone regarding my comment about those I walked past yesterday, just an observation...

Last night after my run, I went to Target to buy some new exercise pants.  The ones I wore all day yesterday were slipping down.  It was frustrating to continually pull up my pants.  Although new clothes are not in the budget, a new pair of workout pants was do-able.  I was so excited, the last pair of pants I bought from Target were XXL, these pair of pants were L!  I was so excited.  It feels good.

Enjoy your week.

Weigh in tomorrow...

Day 178: What a journey: 23 miles today.

Today I was to walk 18 miles in preparation for the Breast Cancer 3 day.  I thought I'd change it up a bit, since I am also training for a 10 mile run in September.  I set off on my journey this morning via bike.  I biked from my house to Lake Calhoun.  It is about 10 miles.  I didn't mind the first 5 but the last 5 were through downtown, and I had to stop at many stop lights which made it less exciting. It took me 55 minutes. I got to Calhoun and met Kim (we missed Krista today) we ran 3.2 miles in 32 minutes.  Kim can run much faster but all I could commit to was an 11 minute mile.  We had a fun time running.  It was over so fast!  Then I stopped for lunch before my next journey, from Lake Calhoun back to Roseville.  It was a great walk, and I made some amazing time my first hour, but decided to take the last 5 miles a little slower, as to not injure myself.   I made the 10 mile walk in just about 2.5 hours. Tomorrow I get to walk 15 miles.  So I will walk to church in South Minneapolis it is 8 miles each way.  I may consider walking home, but may also do 8 miles in the evening.  We will see how I feel in the morning.

As I was walking through Minneapolis today, I noticed how people looked at me.  I was wearing knee-length spandex yoga/walking pants and a tank top.  Not fashion first, comfort first, I am exercising.   I am not a size 4 or even a size 14.  You can see on peoples faces as they looked at me.  It was rude and disheartening.  I would have thought people would think like I tend too...she is out losing weight, but instead their looks were almost that they were embarrassed for me.  They needn't feel that way, because I am not embarrassed, I am working it!  I am feeling good.  I was bee-bopping to music, smiling and generally enjoying myself.  Ironically these were the people drinking their large frappuccinos weighing in at a whopping 650 calories, and likely the same folks out drinking and eating last night, but there they sit, skinny on the outside...and past them I walk, skinny on the inside.

When you do that much alone time, you have time to think.  I thought about life and how good it is.  I thought much about Beth, my sister (in law)'s mom who is battling breast cancer right now.  I thought that I can do this to raise awareness, so more people do their self breast exams.  (Have you done yours this month? If not, do it right now, my blog will wait)  I thought about how I am doing this to raise money to help stop cancer.  Then I started to think, I hope myself or my daughter, mom, siblings, friends don't ever have to know the pain and hardship of breast cancer.  I will walk, my feet may get sore.  I will walk, my back may hurt...but I will walk.

Day 173: BMI, Milage and Cancer...

Yesterday was a great day!  We started off at church, a great message, my heart reminded me just how amazing our God is.  He loves us, no matter how we have dealt with our lives.  He waits for us, and still loves us, but allows us to make the choice!

So, I use LIVESTRONG My Plate, a tool to measure my weight, exercise and food diary.  I really like it.  There are many tools on there.  One of them is they calculate your BMI.  :o)  I started out as an OBESE woman my BMI was 33.  Anything over 30 is obese, I checked my BMI yesterday...and I am the proud owner of an OVER WEIGHT BMI of 28!  I was so excited to NOT be obese anymore.  When I hit 24 I will be in NORMAL range!  That seems so doable!!  Yeah!  It really was a freeing feeling.  I actually felt more normal sized yesterday.

I have raking in the milage as I train for the Breast Cancer 3 day.  Yesterday I did 8.7 miles at a 14 minute mile pace.  I walked alone with some good music.  I had a great time doing so too.  I felt clarity, I felt clean and for the first time in years, I felt like an average person exercising.  I usually feel like a fat girl exercising.  So, to have this feeling was again, freeing.  :o)

The reason I started walking was to do something, anything to help the stop of Breast Cancer.  If you have been following me long enough you know my connection to breast cancer.  My very best friend from college, Kimberly, had to endure the loss of her mother.  Her mother suffered with cancer for over 14 years.  She lost the battle, breast cancer took one of her breasts before the cancer took her life.  Within a few weeks of find that information at, my Aunt Roxanne had to endure breast cancer for a second time.  She has won the battle two times.  This year, my sister-in-law's mom (Beth) is fighting the fight.  In fact she will endure the 3 treatment of chemo this week.  She is bald, she is getting through and she is tough.  I know winning the battle is in her future.  Look down, look around, those breasts you have need saving.  Maybe not today, but maybe someday.  1 in 8 women will get breast cancer, maybe that will be you, or your daughter, your mother, sister, best friend.  Until we can stop it, it stops at nothing.  It also affects the men in our lives.  I have decided that as long as I can walk, each year I will walk in the Breast Cancer 3 day.  In order to even walk, we have to raise $2300.  Last year I raise over $3000, this year I have only raised $690.  I do need your help.  If you can make a donation, to save the boobies in your life, that'd be amazing.  However, right now, today, I am just trying to save Beth's boobies.  You can make your donation by clicking here.  Anything you can give will be a blessing!  When my training gets hard, all I have to do is think of the survivors, and their treatment and I can keep walking.  Let's save the boobies!!!

7 miles and deep fried goodness...

Yesterday morning I woke up early, and started walking.  I needed to walk 10 miles for my training for the Breast Cancer 3 day training.  So I figured if I could walk 7 or 8 miles then, I'd get the last few miles in while I was at Valleyfair.  So I did walk 7 miles, I finished it in 94 minutes.  Pretty good speed.  I felt good, and even healthy!
Then off to one of the least healthy places, Valleyfair!  On our way Gary and I stopped at Subway (after my dearest bosom friend, Kathleen, talked it up the other day, I couldn't stop thinking about it) so I started the day very healthy!
After many rides and even some waterpark, the weather changed on us and the park shut down for over an hour.  So, what else should we do besides indulge in the nasty Valleyfair fare.  I started with a Spicy Gyro. It was so good! Then Sammi had this deep fried cheese on a stick, it was SO GOOD.  I had never even heard of it.  It was so good, that I had to get one too.  The cheese coated my teeth and mouth and I had to kind of pry it off later.  What is a place like that, without Funnel Cakes?  So Sammi, Floyd and I shared one.  It was NASTY, it was so good!
I do have to say that I did plan on eating nasty there.  I allow myself a few days a year to just forgo my diet.  This is one of them, the other one is the state fair, and my first/last day in Seattle I indulge in a Dick's cheeseburger and fries.  I enjoyed the treats and know that it will be another year before I have cheese on a stick again.
The park was fun!  We did get to ride all the rides, that we wanted too!
Gotta get ready for church and worship my Amazing God!
Have a great day!

Day 171: Garden Day

I was craving a snack and didn't have much in my house (a good thing, cuz if it is there, I eat it) so I walked out to the garden and plucked a zucchini, squash and green tomatoes and a jalepeno.   After washing and slicing them, I lightly brushed with EVOO and sea salt, popped them in the oven at 400 for 10 and flipped them for 7 more mins.  

These crunchy tasty treats were healthy, and only took a few minutes!

So worth it.

For dinner tonight I made spaghetti, and put the squash in the sauce, I fried up some green tomatoes (I baked mine) and we had a nice, colorful meal.

Love that!

Day 170: Work it out!

Well, during MONTHS and months of wanting to see change and not seeing it, I fell off my motivated wagon.  I feel like the first months when I started this 7 months ago I was seeing change, I was eating well and I was exercising.  For some reason I thought it'd get easier and I could lighten up.  However that is NOT the case.  It actually got harder to lose the weight and if I really want this weight to come off I have to work harder and harder.
It does all come down to calories in vs calories out.  So documenting my food intake on Livestrong MyPlate does help.  I also tend to eat too much sugar and being with PCOS I need to keep a good eye on my sugar intake.  OR SO I THOUGHT!  I went to the Gyno this past week for my annual appointment and guess what I found out!  I no longer need to take Metformin for pre-diabetes.  In fact she said my numbers were in the low side of normal.  I for the past 5 years have been taking Metformin for my blood sugar!  So, although I didn't see much change on the scale, my body is getting healthier!  :o)
I will continue to to soldier on.  This morning I woke up at 5:15 and did a 2 mile run in 20 minutes.  Last night I walked with Sammi for 5 miles and we did it in 60 minutes.  It felt so good, and we motored a fast past.  We had great conversation, and it just felt good.

I think this morning the kids and I may go biking with some of the neighbors!  :o)
Healthy living feels good.

Day 169: Busted out out of 190s!

Howdy folks!
After months of being in and around 190, I finally saw 189 today!  It is hard to stay motivated when i do not see any changes on the scale.  However, today was a big day for me.  I was so happy to see this change in numbers!  Yeah!  Yeah!!!!  Now I just need to keep on moving in the right direction!

This week I went for a long bike ride (pulling two 3 year olds in the bike trailer) on Monday and then yesterday I walked to Como pushing the kids in the stroller, I have been very wise about eating and I can see it!

I think I needed this little change in the scale.  I have not been motivated to write, and share my journey since it was at a stall, but that is reality.  It is a marathon even though I want it to be a sprint.  I really need to work on drinking more water, I think that will help too.  I just don't ever drink enough water.  I am not drinking lots of other stuff, like soda, I just don't drink anything and I need to work on that.

Well, I am a happy girl!  Thought you'd like to know!

Heidi
weight 189.6!!!!