Working on Me-April 2019

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I feel like I am stuck starting and stopping, starting and stopping, starting and stopping on my healthy lifestyle journey.  I am tired of doing that, and I am getting back to my journey.  I have improved my mental health from the last couple of years, but my physical health still needs work. 

I still have my gym membership and my workout journal, but did not go to the gym as often as I wanted to. Some of that was due to my mental health, but a lot of it was due to me allowing my tiredness to be an excuse.  So far, I have only been to the gym once this year, and that is definitely not where I wanted to at this point this year.  No more making excuses because I am tired of not liking what I see in the mirror.  I have not even taken professional pictures with my daughter because of my weight, but she deserves to have pictures with me despite how I feel about myself.

So what steps am I taking now?

I have started drinking water with lemon. I love my infusion water bottle.

I do not have a problem drinking water, but the lemon water helps give me a boost with digestion, and helps me not crave soda. 

Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water (Some Proven, Some not)

1. It promotes hydration.

            -Water is good for hydration and adding lemon helps add flavor.

2. It’s a good source of vitamin C.

           -Lemons are not a fruit high in vitamin C, but it still helpful. The risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and high blood pressure may be reduced by vitamin C.

3. It supports weight loss.

            -The effects of lemon water on weight loss need to be proven in humans, but showed significant results on weight loss in mouse studies.

4.  It improves your skin quality.

            -It may reduce wrinkles, dry skin from aging, and damage from the sun.

5.  It aids digestion.

            -Warm or hot lemon water can be used as a morning laxative to aid in constipation.

6.  It freshens breath.

            -Lemon may stimulate saliva, and water prevents dry mouth, which could lead to bad breath.

7.  It helps prevent kidney stones.

            -Citric acid found in lemons may assist with preventing kidney stones.

All this information and more can be found in the article 7 Ways Your Body Benefits from Lemon Water.

I also drink aloe vera juice.  I like aloe vera juice with berries.

I can drink it without adding it to another beverage. 

Benefits of drinking aloe vera juice include:

1.  Alkalinity.

            -Keeps pH levels in balance. (pH stands for ‘potential of Hydrogen)

2.  Hydration.

            -The aloe vera plant is water-dense.

3.  Liver function.

            -Aloe vera juice helps detoxify the liver.

4.  Constipation.

            -Helps with constipation by adding water to intestines.

5.  Clear skin.

            -May help with skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis, and dermatitis.

6.  Nutritious boost.

            -Aloe vera has many nutrients.

7.  Heartburn relief.

           -May assist with heartburn relief by helping control acid secretion in the stomach.

8.  Digestive benefits.

            -Helps boosts digestion and may assist with other digestion issues. 

9. Beauty hacks.

           -Aloe vera can be used for many beauty hacks, such as treated irritated scalp, makeup remover, and sunburn soother.  I use it to help my scalp.

For more on the benefits, side effects and drug interactions, click on this article 9 Healthy Benefits of Drinking Aloe Vera Juice.

I am also doing a 30-day squat challenge.  Squats are my favorite. 

My goal weight is still 170, and last I weighed was at 240.  I have not weighed myself again, but will in May. 

Are you working on any health goals?  Feel free to share so we can support each other.