What is in your cup this morning? 10 reasons to start your day with hot lemon water!

What's in your cup this morning? Here are 10 reasons to start your day with hot lemon water! 

1) Aids Digestion. Lemon juice flushes out unwanted materials and toxins from the body. It’s atomic composition is similar to saliva and the hydrochloric acid of digestive juices. It encourages the liver to produce bile which is an acid that is required for digestion. Lemons are also high in minerals and vitamins and help loosen toxins, in the digestive tract. The digestive qualities of lemon juice help to relieve symptoms of indigestion, such as heartburn, belching and bloating.

2) Cleanses Your System / is a Diuretic. Lemon juice helps flush out unwanted materials in part because lemons increase the rate of urination in the body. Therefore toxins are released at a faster rate which helps keep your urinary tract healthy. The citric acid in lemons helps maximize enzyme function, which stimulates the liver and aids in detoxification.

3) Boosts Your Immune System. Lemons are high in vitamin C, which is great for fighting colds. They’re high in potassium, which stimulates brain and nerve function. Potassium also helps control blood pressure. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) found in lemons demonstrates anti-inflammatory effects, and is used as complementary support for asthma and other respiratory symptoms plus it enhances iron absorption in the body; iron plays an important role in immune function. Lemons also contain saponins, which show antimicrobial properties that may help keep cold and flu at bay.

4) Balances pH Levels. Lemons are one of the most alkalizing foods for the body. Sure, they are acidic on their own, but inside our bodies they’re alkaline (the citric acid does not create acidity in the body once metabolized). Lemons contain both citric and ascorbic acid, weak acids easily metabolized from the body allowing the mineral content of lemons to help alkalize the blood. Disease states only occur when the body pH is acidic. Drinking lemon water regularly can help to remove overall acidity in the body, including uric acid in the joints, which is one of the primary causes of pain and inflammation.

5) Clears Skin. The vitamin C component as well as other antioxidants helps decrease wrinkles and blemishes and it helps to combat free radical damage. Vitamin C is vital for healthy glowing skin while its alkaline nature kills some types of bacteria known to cause acne. It can actually be applied directly to scars or age spots to help reduce their appearance. Since lemon water purges toxins from your blood, it would also be helping to keep your skin clear of blemishes from the inside out. The vitamin C contained in the lemon rejuvenates the skin from within your body.

6) Energizes You and Enhances Your Mood. The energy a human receives from food comes from the atoms and molecules in your food. A reaction occurs when the positive charged ions from food enter the digestive tract and interact with the negative charged enzymes. Lemon is one of the few foods that contain more negative charged ions, providing your body with more energy when it enters the digestive tract. The scent of lemon also has mood enhancing and energizing properties. The smell of lemon juice can brighten your mood and help clear your mind. Lemon can also help reduce anxiety and depression.

7) Promotes Healing. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C), found in abundance in lemons, promotes wound healing, and is an essential nutrient in the maintenance of healthy bones, connective tissue, and cartilage. vitamin C is an essential nutrient in the maintenance of good health and recovery from stress and injury.

 Freshens Breath. Besides fresher breath, lemons have been known to help relieve tooth pain and gingivitis. Be aware that citric acid can erode tooth enamel, so you should be mindful of this. No not brush your teeth just after drinking your lemon water. It is best to brush your teeth first, then drink your lemon water, or wait a significant amount of time after to brush your teeth. Additionally, you can rinse your mouth with purified water after you finish your lemon water.

9) Hydrates Your Lymph System. Warm water and lemon juice supports the immune system by hydrating and replacing fluids lost by your body. When your body is deprived of water, you can definitely feel the side effects, which include: feeling tired, sluggish, decreased immune function, constipation, lack of energy, low/high blood pressure, lack of sleep, lack of mental clarity and feeling stressed, just to name a few.

10) Aids in Weight Loss. Lemons are high in pectin fiber, which helps fight hunger cravings. Studies have shown people who maintain a more alkaline diet, do in fact lose weight faster. I personally find myself making better choices throughout the day, if I start my day off right, by making a health conscious choice to drink warm lemon water first thing every morning BEFORE I eat or drink anything else!


http://www.beachbodycoach.com/sarahbowiethawl

Carbs and the skinny on them

The Carb Lover's Diet: 4 Tips for Losing Weight without Losing Your Mind
By Whitney Provost

www.beachbodycoach.com/sarahbowiethawl

 I love carbs. If my last meal on earth is warm bread with olive oil and a glass of wine, I'll die happy. But I love to be fit and lean too. So I know that if I want rock-hard buns, I'll occasionally have to skip the cinnamon buns. I don't live without carbs, but I do make better choices so I can still fit in my jeans. Here's how I do it.

Carbohydrates are essential for good health. They fuel the muscles and cells so our bodies can function. Without them, we'd be as active as three-toed sloths. And while low-carb diets can be great for jump-starting weight loss, they're not for everyone. When I go low-carb, I feel murderous within a week. So what works for me?

What does a carb lover's weight loss diet look like?

As I get older, I can't get away with eating as much as I used to. So when I've overindulged a few too many times, here's what a typical day of back-to-basics eating might look like:

Breakfast: Shakeology^®with 1 Tbsp. peanut butter and one small banana.

Midmorning: Protein pancake. (Grind 1/2 cup of oatmeal in a food processor, then whisk it together in a bowl with 5 egg whites, 2 packets of stevia, a small handful of raisins, and cinnamon to taste. Lightly coat a small 8-inch nonstick pan with cooking spray, preheat over medium heat, pour in batter, and cook until pancake is brown on one side. Flip and cook until the other side is brown.) I make several of these on the weekend, wrap them individually in aluminum foil, and store in the fridge. Before work I just grab one and go.

Lunch: Large salad with kidney beans, cucumbers, bell peppers, and salsa.

Afternoon (if I'm hungry): Fat-free Greek yogurt with berries and cinnamon.

Dinner: Grilled chicken with steamed vegetables or salad. Or whole-grain pasta with marinara sauce, chicken sausage, and vegetables.

1. I eat plenty of "good" carbs. First, I make sure that the majority of my carb intake consists of the so-called good carbs—oats, brown rice, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, and beans are some of my favorites. I also eat plenty of vegetables, and even fruit (OMG!). These foods contain tons of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and protein, so I get lots of energy-boosting nutrition and I stay full longer.
   
   I'll be the first to admit that I'm not immune to the lure of cookies and candy, but I've learned through a lot of trial and error that these things don't make me feel very good once the initial sugar rush wears off. Since I'd rather be alert than snoozing at my desk in the afternoon, I just can't eat like that too often. Besides, too many treats and I don't fit into my pants. Not a bonus.
2. I try to eat most of my carbs earlier in the day and around workouts. When I start my day with some satisfying carbs and protein, I just feel better. Oatmeal with a little protein powder added at the end, or Shakeology^® with peanut butter and a banana, and I'm off to a pretty good start. I also like to eat some carbs around my workouts. If I'm hungry, I'll eat a piece of fruit or some berries with fat-free Greek yogurt about an hour before I train. Afterward I'll have a whey protein shake with fruit, or P90X^® Results and Recovery Formula^® if it's a particularly brutal workout. Dinnertime usually means chicken and a large salad, although I do love pasta with marinara sauce, or even cheese, crackers, and fruit. So whatever choice I make, I just eat it and enjoy it. The next day, I'll probably eat more vegetables and protein to balance things out a bit.
3. If I really want it, I eat it. Sometimes a hot-fudge sundae is the only thing that'll cure my craving. So I eat one. 
   
   I'm serious—when I decide I simply must have ice cream, I eat enough to be satisfied and then I move on. The difference is that I usually substitute that treat for whatever healthy meal I'd eat around the same time. So if the only suitable dinner choice is a hot-fudge sundae, so be it. (For obvious reasons, this cannot be a frequent occurrence. Besides, it tastes soooo much better when you really want it.)
4. Can you lose weight eating like this? Simply put, yes. As long as you're eating fewer calories than you're burning, you will lose weight on a higher-carb diet. When I need to lose weight (after a few too many pizza dinners, for example) I eat the same as always, but I cut down my portion sizes. I still get all the flavors and textures I love without feeling deprived. And I bump up my workout intensity so I'm burning more calories each time. 
   
   If you're like me, you love to eat all kinds of carbs. But I know that in order to be as lean as I want, I need to make good choices most of the time and keep up with my workouts (I'm on a T-25  right now). As much as I'd love to eat bread and butter all day long, I wouldn't look or feel very good. I often stop and ask myself what's more important, this bowl of pasta or fitting into my skinny jeans again? One decadent meal will not derail a week's worth of healthy eating. It may slow down my progress, that's true, but I'll get where I want to be eventually. And even better, I'll be healthy, happy, and sane!

How Can I maintain my results?

Ask the Expert: How Can I Maintain My Results?

By Steve Edwards

Article from beach body.com
http://www.beachbodycoach.com/sarahbowiethawl

Congratulations! You're done with INSANITY®, P90X®, or another Beachbody® program, and you love the results. But you're also sick of hammering your body every day and watching each calorie you put into your mouth. So, what now? Can you keep your new body without all the work?

Yes and no. In order to function well, you need to move and properly fuel your body. But the fitter you are, the easier it is to stay fit. This means you can maintain your fitness with much less effort than it took to get there.

The following checklist will assuage the fears you have about losing your new body or reverting to the unhealthy habits you've worked so hard to change, and provide you with a sensible plan to maintain your results.

Lesson 1: Take a break!

Before you worry about keeping your results, you should celebrate. You've earned it! Your fitness won't fall apart overnight, and a break will give you physical and—more importantly—mental relief from worrying about training, diet, and results.

Don't worry about losing fitness. A little time off will actually improve your fitness by allowing your body to heal microtrauma (natural breakdown of muscle and connective tissue) incurred during regimented training. If you're in need of convincing, consider that professional athletes are forced by their trainers to take full-stop breaks at the end of each season.

Too much time off, however, will start things sliding the other way. The length of your break should be related to the length of your program. If you've done a month of INSANITY: THE ASYLUM®, a week off is plenty. If you completed 90 days of P90X or P90X2®, you've got close to a month of leeway before your fitness will begin to suffer.

You can exercise during this break and I strongly recommend it. Just make it fun and, absolutely, don't follow a regimented program. This is the time to take your newfound fitness for a drive around the block. If you've ever thought there was something you'd like to try, now's the time.

Lesson 2: Without a maintenance plan, expect to keep your results for about as long as it took you to get them.

It takes approximately 3 weeks off to fully undo 3 weeks of training, while it may take 3 months to fully lose 90 days’ worth of effort—it takes about the same amount of time to lose your fitness as it took for you to attain it.

But since starting at square one sucks (remember?), you never want to wait too long to restart your training. The break you took in Lesson 1 should transition straight into a maintenance plan. If you got in shape for something like a vacation, class reunion, or another type of indulgence-oriented function, you need a plan (if you didn't start with one) for continuing. Hopefully your new healthy habits have been well ingrained and you'll soon begin to miss the endorphin rush of your daily exercise sessions.

Lesson 3: Create a maintenance schedule

To maintain your fitness, you'll need around half the volume of your training program. The two simplest ways to do this are with full workouts every other day or with half workouts 6 days per week.

For the full workout plan, pick workouts to do every other day. The workout you do can be based on what you feel like you need. The downside is that it can be boring, which is why we offer many maintenance workouts, like P90X ONE on ONE®, INSANITY Fast and Furious, Brazil Butt Lift® Master Series, and so on. You can also mix and match from other workout programs, take classes at the gym, or play sports. The key is that you push your body in the way it was accustomed to during your training program.

Doing half workouts is trickier because you're probably going to have to abridge your workouts. Instead of "just Pushing Play," it's up to you to structure your workout. A good general guideline is to warm up, do one or two rounds of exercises, and then fast-forward to the workout's cooldown (or do a cooldown on your own). About 80% of a workout's value happens during the first few sets. And while that may put you 20% under elite fitness, it's perfectly fine for maintenance.

With either schedule, you'll want to make sure you're not doing similar workouts too close to each other. Don't do plyometrics or work similar body parts back to back.

Lesson 4: Continue to push yourself.

Just because you're working out less doesn't mean you can slack off. Your workouts should improve over time while you're maintaining, the same way they improved over time during your program. Your goal during each workout is still to lift more weight, move faster, jump higher, go deeper into stretches, and mimic the trainers as much as possible. Your body needs to be pushed. If it's not, it will regress.

Lesson 5: Eat how you did when you were out of shape and your results will melt away.

For a few days, or even longer, it will seem like you can now inhale burgers, beers, and everything else that you've been denying yourself without any consequences. This won't last.

It's a fun perk, but it's simply your body's new raging metabolism trying to heal microtrauma. The fitter you are, the slower your body is to show regressions. And while your new, fitter body will endure splurges much better than it did before, it is not, and will never be, immune. It's like the saying goes, you can't out-exercise a bad diet. At least you can't forever.

Lesson 6: You don't need to eat as strict a diet as you did during your program.

On the flip side, you don't need to eat like you have a fitness competition coming up unless, well, you have a fitness competition coming up. In fact, you probably shouldn't. Beachbody programs are "boot camps." They are designed to be very strict. Real life should be more relaxed and include indulgences. Fitness competitors don't stay in competition shape all the time, and neither should you.

There are a few popular maintenance strategies incorporated by fit people. One is the 80/20 rule. Keep 80% of your diet relatively clean so that you can let your hair down with the remaining 20%. Another is workweeks on and weekends off.

Whatever you do, just remember that your new body needs more calories to maintain than it did when you began your program. That's because your muscle-to-fat ratio is higher than it was when you started, so your metabolism is higher. Food is also essential for rebuilding the breakdown caused by your workouts, all of which means you need (or get) to eat more.

Ultimately, your goal is to stop calorie counting and learn to eat based on how your body feels. If you're lacking energy, eat more. Avoid excessive eating by stopping before you're full and realizing that when you overeat you feel sluggish and uncomfortable. By eating intuitively, you can maintain your physique more easily than by measuring every morsel you put in your mouth.

Lesson 7: You can't maintain forever.

A solid maintenance plan can keep you fit for a long time. However, if you want the level of fitness you had after your last program, you're going to require a reboot every so often, as in reboot camp. There's simply no way around the fact that elite fitness requires sacrifice, hard work, and getting out of your comfort zone from time to time. P90X2, anyone?