Water. Drink it.
So I write this post not only to remind you, oh kind reader, but to remind myself.
As we move into the hotter months of the year, it is more important than ever to drink enough water. Simple rule – 8 by 8 – 8 glasses of 8 ounces per day. And it’s nice to spread it out – you could gulp all that water down in one sitting, but your body can’t absorb it as well.
Drinking enough water has myriad health benefits – from preventing headaches, improving mental clarity, to improving digestion and weight loss. Most healthy adults get abou 30% of their water from the food they eat, and the remaining from all kinds of fluids that you drink. So especially on a hot day when you might not eat as much (heat sometimes depresses appetite) make sure you make up your fluids in beverage form.
If you need to add some flavor to make your water go down a little better, try a little vitamin powder like EmergencyC or Airborne. Or add just a little juice, lemon, honey, or mint to add some flavor (Mexico has it right with the agua fresca thing – super refreshing!). The amount of preservatives, additives, and other nasty junk that’s in sports drinks and energy drinks is not good for your body! ! There is some dispute about whether drinks that also have caffeine or sugar in them are as hydrating. It seems that after scientific study, it’s all about what your body is used to. If you normally drink caffeine, then the same amount of caffeine in your coffee will not dehydrate you. But upping your dosage can change your hydration level, so be careful on those quadruple espresso days to also have some water!
Say nay sayers to all this water drinking point to scientific studies that focus on the minimum amount of water that the body needs to survive. Which really is not my point. Yes, we can survive on as little as one liter a day. However, your body will not only survive, but thrive, on a much higher hydration diet. Drink up!
Any good tips on how you stay hydrated? Favorite flavors of Emergen-C? Share with us below in the comments field….
Stomach Sized Portions
It’s the plates.
Plates used to be.. I would assume, a more reasonable size. I’m sure you’ve heard all this before, but especially at restaurants, plates are now a lot bigger than they used to be.
So if you’re trying to be healthy, maybe find your optimal weight, maybe just not have a food coma after lunch, look at your portion size.
Do you know how big your stomach is? Apparently only about the size of your fist. One fist. That’s pretty damn small. Of course, when you eat it expands to hold approximately a quart or more of food. Apparently it can hold up to 5 quarts (I think I’ve probably done this at Sneha/Grand Indian buffet, but I wouldn’t recommend it).
So when eating, try to consider the size of your stomach and what you’re putting in there. Try to put in.. maybe 2 fists of food? Instead of 10? Not only will you digest your food better, you’ll avoid a lot of food coma problems by not overloading your body with too much food all at once.
To good health… (and tasty Indian food).
If you have particular tips for keeping down your portion size – or tips on your favorite Indian restaurant please share them below in the comments field.
Do you rest enough?
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but sleep and rest of vitality important to your health. They are sadly also highly underrated by popular American culture. It seems like many people emulate “successful” people around them who are super busy. They see these successful, busy people cutting short on their sleep and rest and making do with coffee and sugar and adrenaline. Pretty soon everyone thinks that rest and sleep must be short changed if one is going to be successful.
Don’t buy it! One of the best ways to lose weight, feel more fit, do better at work, and even have more friends is to Get Enough Rest and Sleep.
I separate those two because I feel like they are both important. Of course, quality and quantity of sleep are important. Are you getting enough? If you wake up in the morning on your own without an alarm clock, you’re getting enough sleep. If that sounds patently absurd (you always snooze 17 times and are still exhausted when you drag yourself out of bed) then perhaps you should look into making your bedtime earlier. I mean, do you really need to watch that extra episode of TV?
Rest is an even more underrated concept in America (interesting note – if you Google Rest you gets lots of info on the programming language, and some pages on restful sleep – but no pages on rest – it’s that underrated). Everyone has different things that are restful to them – some extroverts “rest” most when they are with people and enjoying themselves socially. Many introverts “rest” by themselves, whether walking, gardening, reading, or what have you. Some forms of exercise can be restful (like yoga or pilates), but I think it’s good to set aside time outside the gym to do whatever you find the most restful. I am always amazed at how much faster my body trains (gets in shape, stronger, slimmer, etc) if I am taking an hour or two per day to rest.
What I find particularly restful is filling up with beauty. I feel almost like I am drinking in beautiful sights or sounds. This can be walking through a beautiful natural setting, a garden, or even sitting in my backyard and watching the alleycats and birds. Listening to beautiful music, or watching beautiful dancing can also be very fulfilling.
This kind of rest helps me to recharge, and I think is a missing element for many people who struggle with their weight and fitness. They keep pushing harder and harder to try and lose those 5 pounds, but the harder they struggle the less rested they feel, and their body resists.
Rest and sleep tell your body that all is well, and when all is well, your body natural relaxes into its ideal fitness level.
What do you do to rest and relax? Share your tips with all of us below in the comments field…
