Water is NOT Overrated. Don’t Skimp on it.

Drinking water is very important and is one of the best ways to maintain your health. It is the best option for hydration. Instead of grabbing, soda, punch, juice, coffee, alcohol…grab water.

It is also gluten-free, sugar-free, nut free, egg free, dairy free, alcohol-free, paleo, aip, keto and whole 30 approved. 😉 So basically it’s for everyone…no excuses.

Why should you stay hydrated by drinking WATER? I’m glad you asked. 🙂 Here are just a few reasons:

  1. To reduce fatigue, increase physical, mental capabilities, and motivation. Especially when exercising…be sure to replace those fluids as you lose them.
  2. To increase energy levels and brain function.
  3. To prevent and eliminate headaches which can be triggered by dehydration.
  4. To help maintain body temperature.
  5. To help/keep things (urine/bowels/toxins) moving along eliminating that waste from your body. It helps with digestion.
  6. To help with absorption.
  7. To help treat kidney stones.
  8. To help prevent hangovers.
  9. To aid in weight loss.

Try to drink about 8 glasses a day.

  1. Drink two when you first get up.
  2. Drink at least one 30 minutes before each meal.
  3. Drink one before your bath.
  4. Drink one before bed or at least 2 hours before bed if you have trouble with sleep or urinary incontinence.

Unfortunately, some people don’t like the taste of water or think its boring.

Here are a few tips that might help you drink more water:

  1. Use filtered, spring, or sparkling natural mineral water.
  2. Keep a cup, glass, or bottle of water available to sip from throughout the day.
  3. Infuse it! Add sliced or chopped fruit…citrus, tropical, berries, melon, and others. Add sliced or chopped vegetables…cucumber, carrots, celery, or even hot or sweet peppers. Add fresh grated, or ground spices…ginger, cinnamon, cayenne pepper; etc. Add herbs…mint, sage, rosemary, basil, cilantro, thyme, lavender; etc. Any variety will do.
  4. Keep a large jug or pitcher filled with the amount that you want to drink for that day. Drink glasses from it throughout the day until it’s gone.

For an extra boost to your health, add apple cider vinegar.

Now drink up!!!

See our Disclosure here.

My favorite infused water is frozen mixed berries with a slice or two of lemon in S.Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water. However, I try to drink filtered or Deer Park Spring Water with lemon & lime or lemon & cucumbers more often.

What is your favorite way to drink your water?

Food Rehab-The Beginning of Week 3

Greetings Gems!

How is everyone? How is your November so far?

My last blog was 2 weeks ago plus one day. You can read it here. I advised that I was going back into Food Rehab.   Well, I did and I am still hanging in there.

A quick reminder of what I’ve chosen to do to cultivate my health. My goal was to eliminate all gluten, grains, dairy, soy, eggs, legumes/nuts, added sugar/sweeteners, and caffeine. The only oils that I cooked with are olive, avocado, and coconut oil. Once or twice I’ve used bacon grease from organic uncured nitrate-free bacon. The only fruit I’ve been eating/using are lemons, limes, and avocado.

Disclaimer: I’ve had a Five Guys Burger in a bowl (no bun) 2 times. Each time I requested grilled onions, green peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, mushrooms, and pickles and NO cheese.  Apparently, they frown upon burgers w/o cheese because each burger had cheese. I ate them both…cheese and all.  Then there’s Cassava Chips w/Sea Salt and Plantain Chips with Cinnamon. These are both healthier snacks but I’ve probably eaten at least one bag of each daily.

Here’s an update on my progress. Drum Roll…I’ve lost about 9lbs and 1 inch off my waist…no thanks to the extra carbs from the chips and starchy vegetables I’ve been enjoying such as sweet potatoes and acorn squash. No, we are not concentrating on numbers but I am keeping you up to date on the scale because weight loss just happens to fall into place when healing is in progress.

23191824_1515988021782853_1703110589_o
My weight Nov 1, 2017
23514871_1528666090515046_1184954001_o
November 14, 2017

The inflammation is slowly decreasing. My joint/muscle/shoulder pain is gone. My sinuses/allergies aren’t as bad. My facial acne started clearing up but it seems to have flared back up after the Five Guys burgers which are cooked in peanut oil.

Adrenal fatigue and brain fog still exists but could be a combination of my working 12-hour shifts…completing 48 hrs in 5 days and sleep deprivation.

There is still obvious hormonal imbalance and insulin intolerance which I know is a result of some of the foods I continue to eat. My emotions are all over the place which could be a direct result of all mentioned above or/and the time of year. Seems like the last few years, the holiday season always puts me in a funk.  This is the time that I miss my angel parents and big sister the most.

One thing I do know for sure is that I’m still feeding my candida. What is candida? Well, it’s a type of fungus residing in or on our bodies. Normally they don’t cause any problems but if the yeast is fed or allowed to multiply it can cause an infection called “Candidiasis.” How do you feed candida? Candida feeds on all types of sugar, starch, moldy foods/yeast, dead tissue, and alcohol. This all includes but is not limited to fruit, starchy vegetables like sweet potatoes/carrots/plantains, fungus type vegetables like mushrooms or leftover foods, and factory farmed meats. Eventually, I will wean myself off all of the last foods mentioned…hopefully by the end of the year and do a Candida Cleanse as well. I will write a blog with more detail about Candida at a later date.

I’m going to continue what I’m doing to bring about a better me. I want to feel better, to be better, and to do better. This can be accomplished if I put my mind to it and use the control that I have within me.

Keep_Going_Quotes7

If you are also taking steps to a better you…good for you! Keep up the good work and no matter how fast or slow you see the results, keep in mind that most of the things you are trying to change, increase, eliminate did not develop overnight so don’t be discouraged if the change doesn’t happen overnight.

What changes are you making to increase your health?

“It’s not about weight loss, it’s about cultivating health.”

Anthony Brown & Group Therapy – Trust In You Lyrics

TRUST IN YOU

You did not create me to worry
You did not create me to fear
But You created me to worship daily
So I’mma leave it all right here

Help me say yeah (You did not create me to worry) no
You did not create me to fear
But You created me (but you created me to worship)
That’s what you made me for, yeah (daily)
(So I’mma leave it all right here)

My hands are raised (my hands are raised because I surrender)
Your will is what’s is best for me (your will is what’s best for me)
Oh, I worship You (I worship you because You’re Jehovah Jireh) you’re Jehovah Jiren
I bow before the King of Kings

No more crying (No more crying no more complaining)
Not fit for crying, not fit for complaining, Lord
(I believe Your word is true)
Oh Lord, you promised never (Lord You promised never to leave me lonely)
To leave me lonely, so this is what I’m going to do (so this is what I’m going to do)

(I will trust in You Lord) I know you’re a healer
I know you will keep me Lord (I will trust in You Lord)
You are my shelter, You’re a world-make (I will trust in You, Lord)
(I will put my trust in You) so I will put my, yes I will put my trust in You
I’ll put my trust in You

You did not create me to worry
You did not create me to fear
But You created me to worship daily
So I’mma leave it all right here

(I will trust in You) trust in
(I will trust in You) trust in you, Lord
(I will put my trust in You) I will put my trust in You

Anthony Brown & Group Therapy – Trust In You Lyrics

Hang On – GEI Feat. Kierra Sheard Lyrics

(Kiki):
What you gonna do when your back’s against the wall?
How’re you gonna smile when it seems all hope is lost?
Tell me.
What you gonna do when you need a little more grace?
How you gone respond when they try to test your faith?

Chorus:
Hang on,
In there (2x)

(Kiki):
What you gonna do when your back’s against the wall?
How’re you gonna smile when it seems all hope is lost?
Tell me.
What you gonna do when you need a little more grace?

How you gone respond when they try to test your faith?

Hang on,
In there
Hang on,
In there

What you gonna do when your strength gets a little weak? (Oooooh)
What song will you sing when you’re feeling incomplete? (Tell me)
Tell me.
What you gonna do when you try and almost slip? (Ooooooh)
What you gonna do when it seems you’re losing your grip? (Hang on)

Chorus:
Hang on (Hang on)
In there (God will walk with ya, yes He will)
Hang on (God is on your side, God is on your side, yeah)
In there (Hang on e-yeah-yeah-eah-eah)
Hang on (If God is for you who can be against you)
In there (No-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no weapon formed against you)
Hang on (I know a God who provides Yeah)
In there (Hang on)
Hang on

Everything He Promised-Lyrics ~Dorinda Clark-Cole

The journey’s been rough,
Lord, knows it’s been tough, but you’re still here.
Friends turn their backs and walk away
Left you without much to say, but you’re still here.

God’s going to do everything He promised.
Said, the Lord is going to do everything that He promised you.
God is going to do everything He promised,
In just a few days you’re going to see Him make a way out of no way for you.

The battle’s been long,
But through it all, you’ve been made strong and you’re still here.
You didn’t think you’ll make it through your night,
It’s a wonder how you survived, but you’re still here.

God’s gonna do everything He promised,
Said, the Lord’s going to do what He promised.
God’s gonna do everything He promised,
In just a few days you’re going to see Him make a way,
You’re gonna see Him make a way…

The God we serve is no liar, He is a promise keeper;
So get ready for your breakthrough, ’cause God is gonna bless you.
They that sow in tears, they’re gonna one day reap in joy
Those that sow with tears, they’re gonna one day reap in joy, so rejoice…

.
(Rejoice, rejoice).

Get ready, get ready,
Get ready it’s harvest time.

Are you ready, are you ready
To receive what God promised us?

Keep praying, keep praying,
Keep praying ’til you see God.

Keep hanging on, keep holding on
To your promises, don’t let go.

He will do it, He will do it,
He will do it ’cause He promised it.

Don’t give up, don’t let go,
What He promised, He will perform.

Don’t give up, don’t let go,
He will do it ’cause He promised it.

Don’t give up, go all the way,
You’re almost there.

Everything He Promised lyrics © Capitol Christian Music Group

To Book or Not to Book-It’s Still Debatable

Yesterday, I was discussing my health issues and journey with a healthy protocol I “was” following with my Dentist yesterday and he told me I should write a book. I told him that he wasn’t the first person to tell me that. He said that he wouldn’t be the last.

He told me that God’s Whisper is real. He really does want us to move closer to Him but even when we get closer sometimes we still don’t listen nor do what is requested/required. That’s when He will use other persons, things, or situations to get His point across.

I told my Dentist I agree for the most part about God’s Whisper and yes I should do whatever to get closer to Him…to hear Him.  🤔However, I’m not sure what that has to do with me writing a book about my health issues and healing journey/protocol…especially since I’ve relapsed for the last 4 months anyway.

Today, my Primary Doctor told me the same thing…I should seriously consider writing a book about my health experiences. She said she doesn’t understand what I’m waiting for since I could probably help a lot of people out there seeking better health naturally. 🙄

Well, I can’t guarantee the book anytime soon but I am presently working on my fb group https://www.facebook.com/groups/515120775543721/ and my blog. Before I even seriously consider the book, I have to get myself totally back on track so that nasty brain fog won’t be a hindrance.

Maybe…maybe not.  

When was the last time God spoke to you through someone else?