The Water Challenge

This week my health accountability partner and I are doing a water challenge. There are so many reasons when switching your diet to start with a water challenge first. But let me first describe what we are doing and why.

I want to change my diet (Everyone has a diet. I never understood how you go on a diet; everyone is all ready on one.) to be more consistent with what one should be eating. Less sweets, more fiber, more water, less empty calories. It’s not so much about losing weight as getting healthy. Hopefully the weight does drop and that would be great icing on my proverbial cake that I no longer can eat. Speaking of cake, Jerry hid the rest of my birthday cake in the freezer…. Only my husband would think to use my sensitive teeth against me…

Anyway, I want to gradually switch to a healthier diet. I’ve learned that I do much better at gradual change (Kaizen- slow, continuous improvements) than an all-or-nothing start. I just don’t stick with it when I jump in with both feet. I like to slowly go down the steps. Gradually get used to things. That didn’t work out so well with having a baby, but with my diet and exercise regimen it can.

The first thing to do to help in more ways than I thought possible is to start drinking the appropriate amount of water. Most of the time when we (myself included) grab a bite to eat because we are mildly hungry, it’s because we are thirsty. Not hungry. Hmm. So the number one reason I want to start with water is to curb my appetite, therefore hopefully helping my eating less calories a day. Water also obviously hydrates, giving more energy to work out. Or as we are learning, more energy to get up and pee. Less calories in from curbing appetite; more calories out by getting up to pee. There are so many benefits to water beyond just those such as improved brain function and decreased risk of cancer. And it has no calories! Amazing.

So what exactly is the water challenge? Well, the appropriate amount of water per day is half your weight in ounces. So if you weigh 100 pounds you need to drink 50 ounces of water per day. It’s super easy. Kinda. But you try fitting in as many glasses a day as I need to around feeding and napping routines. Not to mention all the peeing. So far today, I have had about half my intake. But the challenge is we have to do it every day this week. Not just today, every day. And from here on out, not really just this week. Basically, you can say goodbye to any other liquids because you will feel soooo waterlogged the first few days! Which is good, we need more water and less calories! Also, most health gurus allow tea and coffee to also count. But remember they have calories. Water doesn’t. Never forget to count your liquid calories as well! (That was when I learned you can’t drink two big glasses of chocolate milk a day and expect to lose weight! Bummer!)

Anyone else want to accept this challenge?