Drink Up!

Your water that is! We all know that you should be drinking 8 glasses of water a day....but how many of us actually follow through with this? To do this you should be drinking 64 ounces of water a day.


Incredible as it may seem, water is quite possibly the single most important catalyst in losing weight and keeping it off. Although most of us take it for granted, water may be the only true "magic potion" for permanent weight loss! Water suppresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolize stored fat. Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to increase, while an increase in water intake can actually reduce fat deposits.

Here's why: The kidneys can't function properly without enough water. When the kidneys don't work to capacity, some of their load is dumped onto the liver. One of the liver's primary functions is to metabolize stored fat into usable energy for the body. If the liver has to do some of the kidney's work, it can't operate at full throttle. As a result, it metabolizes less fat, more fat remains stored in the body, and weight loss stops. Drinking enough water is the best treatment for fluid retention. When the body gets less water, it perceives this as a threat to survival and begins to hold on to every drop. Water is stored in extra cellular spaces (outside the cells). This shows up as swollen feet, legs and hands. Diuretics offer a temporary solution at best. They force out stored water along with some essential nutrients. Again, the body perceives a threat and will replace the lost water at the first opportunity. Thus, the condition quickly returns. The best way to overcome the problem of water retention is to give the body what it needs…PLENTY OF WATER. Only then will the stored water be released.

If you drink soda, make sure that you do not count this towards your 8 glasses of water. A good way to make sure you are getting all of the water you need is to carry a water bottle with you and keep filling it through out your day. Make sure you always have water with you in the car.

Try this move...

Push-Ups are one of the world's oldest exercises. Unfortunately today, Push-Ups are only used by the military, as part of sport conditioning and to set records for the Guiness Book. Push-ups will focus on toning your shoulders and upper back.

How to do:

1.Assume a prone position on the floor with your body weight supported by your hands and balls of your feet.

2. Your hands should be placed in line with your shoulders and your fingers should be pointed in at a 45 degree angle.

3. Lower your body until your chest nearly touches the floor and then raise yourself.

4. For variety your elbows can jut outward, remain close to thebody or you can perform the movement between benches for agreater range of motion.

Healthy Recipe of the Week

Crab Chowder
Low Cal/Low Fat
Preparation time : 20 minutes
Cooking time : 30 minutes
6 Servings

1 slice uncooked bacon diced

1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 spring fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
1 1/2 cups clam juice or fish stock
6 small red potatoes
1 pound crab meat
2 cups reduced fat (2%) milk
1 red pepper diced
1 teaspoon chopped, fresh dill

1. Put the bacon in a soup pot and heat over low heat. Add the onion, celery, thyme and bay leaf, turn the heat up to medium, and cook until the vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes.

2. Dice the potatoes and add them to the soup pot with the clam juice. Simmer until the potatoes are just tender, about 10 minutes. Add the milk, peppers, crab and dill and cook until the crab is just heated through. Remove the thyme and bay leaf. Adjust the salt and pepper to taste.
Nutrition Facts: Serving Size 1 cup, Amount Per Serving: Calories 233 Protein 22 g Total Carbohydrate 33g Dietary Fiber 4g Soluble Fiber 0 g Insoluble Fiber 0 g Sugar 8 g Total Fat 3g Saturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 1g