Being Sick really SUCKS!

So this is a little late in the game to be posting about, but I just had to do it.  I'm healthy again and it's been 3 weeks since I've recovered from whatever the heck I had.  And I know that I've posted about being sick with a cold before, but this one was not just a cold and it really threw me for a loop. 

I'm talking about 5 weeks straight of being sick!

 

 

And it really sucked big time.  First it was just a cold...bleh!  But it was an energy-stealing, no-appetite, life-sucking thing that supposedly was just a cold.  Then it turned into what it always turns into for me...a sinus infection.  Yay!  Now for the antibiotics...and as these antibiotics ran their course, somehow my cough got worse, I started to lose my voice and apparently got hit with cold #2.  Woo Hoo!!!!  Yeah...not.

 

So for basically 5 weeks straight I struggled to keep my nutrition in tact and to get in some workouts when I could, because as I've said before, you have to find a way to keep going.  And I tried, I really did.  But overtime, the old cravings came back and the excuses with them.  My metabolism, which had been getting pretty high before, was holding me through this.  Yay!  I wasn't gaining any weight back!  But now that I am 3 weeks out of finally feeling better...guess what?  It's not holding me any more. 

I am still having trouble staying consistent with my workouts.  I am still having trouble staying consistent with eating healthy.  But I am still trying.  Have I gained some weight back?  You betcha!  Am I happy about it?  NO WAY!  Am I going to get up off my butt and do something about it!  HELL YEAH!

 

So why am I even bothering to write all of this?  Who cares if I got sick and then sort of screwed up big time?  Well, I figured you might.  You, who are out there wondering what the heck you are going to do now that you've gotten sick and blown your workouts and eating to smithereens.  I just thought you might like to know that you are not alone, and that we all have to face these little "Life Challenges" sometimes.  And it is hard to get going again.  But I CAN do it.  I just have to keep going until I get consistent again.  And that means you can do it too.

As my own coach recently told me, everytime we face one of these life experiences, we have the CHOICE to react in the way that we are used to, or we can CHOOSE to react differently and make a change. 

I'm going to make a change.

What is the deal with Shakeology?

What is this Shakeology that everyone keeps talking about?  Can't I just get some protein powder?  Won't it do the same thing?

Well, the answer is that it is not just protein powder and no it will not do the same thing.  Yes, Shakeology has protein in it, but it is also a full meal replacement shake.  I know you are thinking, "Big deal, I can get a meal replacement shake anywhere."  Not one like this you can't!  Shakeology is the whole package!

Shakeology is a great way to start the day.  First of all it fills you up.  And it keeps you full for hours!  (I've never had a protein shake keep me full for more than an hour, but that's just me.) 
After a few days on this shake, most people will notice a decrease in their cravings for junk food.  Have you ever heard of a protein shake cutting your cravings?  Yeah, me either.  But this shake does.

There are so many nutrients packed into this one little meal!  It helps support a healthier body and immune system.  It acts as a gentle cleanser for your digestive tract that is safe to use everyday.  And by doing that it helps your body to better absorb the nutrients it needs from all your meals.  It contains prebiotics and probiotics to help support healthy digestion.
And my favorite part is that it contains 70 heathy ingredients from around the world!  These ingredients are grown and harvested in their natural environments so that they don't lose any of their inherent goodness.

Ok, so let's get down to the nitty gritty.  You may be thinking, "Blah, blah, blah, Shakeology is so great!  But it costs so much!"  Well, that's kind of true.  It is one of the most expensive shakes out there on the market.  And here's why.  Remember back there when I explained that the ingredients come from all over the world?  Well, that costs a lot more than if we were to grow all these ingredients here.  But the makers of Shakeology don't want to do that because it would literally ruin the benefits all those ingredients have from growing where they are meant to be grown.  All the different types of soils in various places have different naturally occuring nutrients in them and there is no way to fake that while trying to grown the stuff here.

But let's also take a look at the breakdown.  One bag of Shakeology costs $120.  If you break that down over the 30 days that this bag will supply you with, it costs $4 a day.  That's really not so bad.  Are you really going to tell me that you don't spend that much on yourself for some of your meals during the day?  Do you get a fancy coffee every morning?  I bet it costs more than $4.

And can you really say that it isn't worth $4 to eat the healthiest food out there?  To feel healthier and more energized through your day?  To cut out the cravings for your unhealthy foods?  To lower your cholesterol?  Don't you think you're worth it?  I think you are.
Believe me, I'm not made of money and I don't have one of those trees in my backyard either, but I decided after spending weeks of researching this shake that it was definitely worth it. 

Like what you see? To get even more info or to order go here: I WANT IT!

Still not sure?  For more information: http://www.shakeology.com/web/shakeology/the-blog  And read the entry from Sept. 14th "Why Should I Drink Shakeology."

You know what else you get when you order Shakeology?  A free coach!  Me!  "Hello...Bonus?  Speaking!"
So what are you waiting for? 

How do I drink all this water?

First of all, you should know that you need a minimum of 8 glasses of water a day.  That's 64 oz. of pure, crystal clear, no flavorings added water.  Now I know what you're thinking, "I don't really need that much.  I'm fine with what I drink."  Or maybe you're thinking, "Well, I drink that much fluid.  Coffe and soda count right?" 

WRONG and WRONG!

Here's the thing.  Your body is made up of about 70% water (we all learned this in junior high right?)  And when you keep yourself hydrated properly, your body doesn't have to work as hard on a cellular level to do all the things it needs to do.  But when you don't hydrate properly, your body will start to fall out of balance.  You will end up with more salt and sugar than you need, and the ratios get all thrown off.  And when this happens, your body will start to hold on to the water you do give it, and store it!  So how many pounds of water do you want to carry around with you everyday?

When you drink enough, this is what water can do for you:

So now we get to the nitty gritty.  How the heck do you get all that water in your body each day?  I won't lie to you, some days it is really hard to do, and other days it's not so bad.  The first thing you want to do is get a good water bottles (or a few) and know how much water they hold.  Plan to use these every day.  Fill them up each morning, and make sure you get through them by the end of each day!  See?  So simple! 
Ok, maybe it's not that simple.  So here are a few ideas to help you REMEMBER to get in all your water each day.

**Mark your water bottles at every 8-16oz. and write the time of day you need to finish that amount by (or plan to chug it at that time).  Here's an example:

**You can also set an alarm on your phone to go off every couple of hours to remind you to drink down another glass.   BEEP  BEEP  BEEP  BEEP!  DRINK YOUR WATER!
**When you are home, you can keep an extra bottle in your bathroom (I know, it's a little weird, but it works).  And every time you use the bathroom, chug 8 oz. before you leave.
**Depending on how many times a day you are eating (3-5), you can chug 8-16 oz. 30 minutes before each meal.  That ends up being 5 of your galsses if you are eating 5 meals a day, and 6 glasses if you are eating 3 meals.
**Leave a bottle on your nightstand at night and when you wake up in the morning drink 8-16 oz. first thing.

Enjoy your water!