EAT MORE, DRINK MORE... LOSE MORE

Everything has a purpose!  When we realize the purpose of FOOD and WATER for our bodies, if we're honest, we recognize that maybe we haven't been so great at caring for ourselves.

We skip meals, drink loads of coffee, soda, iced tea and energy drinks to keep us from falling asleep at our desks, take on more demanding jobs and activities, which leads to longer evenings and less sleep.  Basically, we RUN ON EMPTY. Then we wonder why we are so tired, anxious, depressed, over or underweight, stressed and put on more and more medications.

We are constantly telling ourselves, we're going to make a change, it's going to be different tomorrow... and then LIFE happens.

What I know is that FOOD is FUEL.  What happens when we do not stop to fuel our car?  It can only go so far and then your are on the side of the road.  For our bodies, unlike cars, replacement parts are hard to come by.  Have you priced a heart attack lately?  I say that jokingly, but in all seriousness it is TIME TO MAKE A CHANGE. 

To understand how our bodies are designed to work and then learn how to make healthy choices and care for our bodies.  I promise, it was the EASIEST thing I've ever done, and my body has thanked me over and over.  I am no longer suffering from headaches I lived with everyday and haven't needed my allergy medication for over 11 years.  I enjoy my food everyday, I feel AMAZING and I am so grateful that I took the time to care for ME instead of caring for all of the other demanding needs around me first.

Tip #1  WATER: 

*  Water is your body's principal chemical component, making up on average, 60 percent of your body weight. Every system in your body depends on water.

*  Water assists digestion, absorption and assimilation of food. If you don't drink enough water you can't get the full benefit of nutrients in the food you eat.

 *  Water is nature’s daily cleanser. It flushes out toxins and impurities while ensuring optimal hydration. Remember, if you don't drink enough water you get constipated and put your kidneys under stress.

*  Your blood is 92 percent water. This is your body's transport system distributing nutrients around the body.

It is recommended to drink half of your body weight in ounces every day for optimum hydration.  This will not come naturally to most of us, so doing it intentionally will have to be planned in your day.  You will feel the difference and your body will thank you.  You will feel less tired and sluggish, your skin and hair will be less dry.  You will even shed some pounds if you need to. 

You actually LOSE a liter of water every day while you are sleeping from sweating, breathing and your first trip to the bathroom.  That needs to be replaced.  What I do FIRST THING is intentionally drink 20 ounces of H2O as soon as I wake up to start my day. 

Tip #2 PROTEIN

*  There are two kinds of protein: animal proteins and incomplete proteins. Animal proteins tend to be complete, they have all of the amino acids to build new proteins. Plant proteins usually do not, so eating a variety of proteins is important.

*  Protein, a necessity for life, is an important component of every cell in the body. Protein serves as the building blocks for all kinds of things in our bodies—very important things like hormones, enzymes, neurotransmitters in the brain, and your immune system. We usually think of it as being used to build and repair and maintain body tissues [like muscle], but behind the scenes it’s involved in every cell of the body.

*  Protein is also used to create red blood cells and it helps keep your hair, skin and fingernails healthy.

*  It’s responsible for helping produce antibodies, which fight off bacteria, viruses and germs, and helps keep your immune system running strong. Studies show that people low on protein are more likely to get sick than people who eat enough of this nutrient.

*  Protein and Weight Loss - Protein sends signals to the brain that keeps us feeling full for longer!  Protein is thermogenic – the metabolic tax for protein is much higher than that of sugar or fat – simply put you burn calories just by digesting the protein.  We need to replenish the building blocks of the muscle tissue – amino acids come from protein, the more protein you eat the more muscle you have, the more fat and calories you burn!

How much protein do you need?

On average women should have approximately 75 grams of protein and 1200
calories each day. If they are over 225 lbs it would depend on the person I am evaluating, but more protein and calories a day.

Men should have around 125 grams of protein and 1800 calories a day. If over 325 lbs, again it would be more based on their evaluation and needs.

I hope this was helpful.  EAT more, FUEL your body and your body will thank you!

Samantha Ditzel

Frooishuhn

1 E Baltimore Ave, Media PA 19063    610.368.8092