Day 43...Still no sign of water...

Several years ago my father some friends and I were jeeping and hiking around Canyonland's national park. In Canyonland's there isn't water anywhere...it's sandstone canyons as far as you can see. It's a far cry from the lush forests mountain scene that is Yellowstone.
After a morning of driving through the trails of the park, we got out and decided to go on a hike down into a slot canyon. We made sure and took plenty of water. It was then that my friend Bill started with the narrations.
The best way to describe Bill's one man narration of our hike was like, he was reading out of the journal of Tom Hank's character in Castaway.

Bill: Day 4, there are 4 of us still alive.  The sounds through out the night make it nearly impossible for us to sleep.  Our hope is that tomorrow we can find some food.

Bill: Day 12, We've searched every where, no sign of civilization.  Steve's gotten sick, sure hope he pulls through.  Need to find food and water soon.

Bill: Day 47 Still no water, can't take much more of this.

I tell this story, not simply because it's now a running joke in my family (seriously just say in an exasperated voice, "Day 47..." he'll bust up laughing), but because I think an overlooked part of any nutrition plan is water.  Lots and lots of water.
We're bombarded with advertisements and in the grocery store with ads for sports drinks, and diet sodas and who can forget this guy...



There is a feeling out there that it's just water, and somehow adding stuff to it...is always better.  Now don't get me wrong, there is a place for the Juiceman's wonder juices, and there is even a place for Gatorade, however neither of these surpass water in terms of what it'll do for your body.

Let's look at some of the facts about water.  Your body is made up of about 60% water.  Think about that if you way 200 pounds, more than 120 pounds of you is water! 
According to Susan Kleiner, PhD, RD, and author of Power Eating, "Most people are walking around in a moderately dehydrated state."  Remember hearing that we all need 8 glasses a day?  Well according to Dr. Kleiner...that's the bare MINIMUM!!  If you exercise at all...you need more. 

So before I've mentioned this game we're playing.  Part of the game is drinking the right amount of water.  We each have to drink 3 liters a day.  It sounds like a ton, and at first it feels like it, but then it's really not that bad.  In drinking enough water you actually turn of the internal switch that forces your body to store water for fear of dehydration, so by drinking more water, you actually LOSE water weight!  Weird...

The bare minimum is a 8 glasses a day, that's about 2 liters.  The moment you exercise, (and we're all exercising) you need more.  You've increased your metabolism and when you were working out...you expelled 4 cups just by breathing harder, and 1-2 quarts by sweating...all of that needs to be replaced.

The other big plus is that water takes up space.  Yup that's right, it takes up space in my stomach that might other wise be filled with chips or cheese puffs.  It suppresses my appetite.  
I've been drinking 3 L of water every day.  I feel great.  It does take some planning.  I have a large metal water bottle at my desk that I fill up 4 times a day.  Once at home before work, twice at work and then once when I'm home relaxing.

Try it, try drinking 3 liters of water a day.  Give your body some time to get used to it, and see how you feel.  Let me know!

The Status of the Battle

Melissa's Snowmen Pops...there's cake in there..

Alright time for a review.  As I've stated before, I'm trying to lose weight during Christmas time.  I realize that this is quite possibly the WORST time to start a fitness plan, however, I couldn't bring myself to wait until January 1st again!  I've been pretty diligent in some things, and need to work in some other areas. Most importantly I've learned and I've been able to apply what I've learned to making me stronger!

I think I need to clarify one thing first.  I believe that this is an especially difficult undertaking for me.  You see my wife, enjoys cooking, and she's good at it...I mean REALLY good.  Perhaps cook wouldn't be the right word.  I'm thinking a more appropriate word would be a "culinary artiste."  So far she's made dipped chocolates, snowman looking cake pops (these are both a feat of flavor and engineering), caramels,  and meringues.  That does not even take into account the regular food that she makes.  The thought of turning down anything that she makes should be considered an act of treason.

So when this INCREDIBLE food is in the house, what do you do?  Well I've learned to be picky.  I've learned sometimes it's best just to taste the food, enjoy the food, rather than gorge on it.  Because I eat these special foods in small quantities, I want to make sure that everything that goes in my mouth is quality.  What I've found is that although the quality of the food I eat has gone WAY up, because the quantities of food I'm eating have dropped, I'm actually saving money by eating a higher quality food.  And my wallet thanks me.

I've always dreaded working out.  It's always been a hassel.  Maybe it comes from a jack-wad of a High School swimming coach, who felt it was better to mock a guy trying his hardest rather then encourage him to do better.  My coach, John, made work outs painful, and not in the I'm building muscle sort of way, rather the you are a waste of space kind of way.  Ever since then, there has been deep seeded hatred in my mind associated with going out, and lifting weights.  I know that if I'm going to be successful, I'll need to put on my big boy pants and get over it.

So I've tried to change things up with the way I work out.  One thing I'm trying are more intense but shorter work outs, basically a 20 minute interval work out.  That one practice has eliminated the major excuse that seems to find in the morning, that is I look at my clock and notice that it's 6:30 and way to late to go work out.  Nope that's plenty of time to get out of bed, throw on my biking clothes and hop on my bike.

The second thing I've tried is to try different activities for a work out.  Last night for example, I went with my brother in law and played Dodgeball.  I forgot what a workout dodgeball was.  If you've read my posts you've also found that I'm trying Rugby.  I'm fascinated with that sport.  If you get a chance, watch the video I posted on how the sport works.

I've increased my sleep time.  I'm making an effort to get 7 hours of sleep per night.  I can't believe what a difference that's made.  I have more energy in my workouts, I'm thinking more clearly throughout the day.  Some may call me lazy, but I'm calling it smart.

Finally, I'm drinking a lot more.  Yup that's right I might as well say it, Yes My Name is Steve, and I'm a drinker."  Of course I'm drinking water...a LOT of water.  I'm drinking about 3 liters a day.  It sounds like a ton, and it is, but it's been so good for me.  I've found that I feel better.  If you doubt me try reading this 11 benefits for drinking water...  DRINK WATER

Something's GOT to change

This won't win ANYMORE!

Ok so for the past few years, I've been in a war. This war has been waged every single day. I've had my victories. I've had my defeats, but mostly it's been a stalemate. I'm tired of fighting this battle. It'll take work, it'll take discipline, but I will prevail.
In 1999 I was 6 foot 190 lbs. A few years later I was up to 250 pounds. I stopped the gain...but as far as I'm concerned...I'm done.
I've read all sorts of articles about wonder pills, injections, revolutionary fitness equipment, insane diets, hypnosis, even acupuncture. I've read it all and I'm rejecting it, all of it. My strategy is going to have 3 aspects. 1)I'm going to watch and document every single thing I eat 2)I'm going work out with a purpose. 3)I'm going to share every bit of the battle with you. If you want...join me. If you don't need to lose weight but have your own fitness goal...

Every day I'm going to post what I ate. Feel free to criticize, comment or suggest my menu choices.

Every day I'm going to journal my workouts. I'm going to get into better shape for biking next year than I've ever been before. Before biking season starts I'm going to weigh 210 lbs. Down 36 lbs from my current weight. Again feel free to criticize, comment or suggest. I'll share what's working, and what isn't.

I make this promise. This may, or may not work. I may succeed, I may fail, either way I'm going to share this and hopefully, we'll learn something.