You may have heard that lemon water is good for you. In fact, it's so good for you, that many health experts say you should start your day with lemon water every morning. I'm going to give you some tips on making your first drink of the day easier. I'm often in a rush making breakfasts and packing lunches and don't have the time to cut a lemon in half, juice it, and prepare my lemon water. So I came up with a very simple way to make sure I drink up every morning. Why? Lemons contain: calcium, potassium, vitamin C, pectin and bioflavonoids. Lemons have medicinal and antibacterial properties, contain traces of iron and vitamin A as well.
Here's a quick list of many more reasons lemon water is so beneficial and should be part of your daily routine:
Lemon is an excellent source of vitamin C, an essential nutrient that protects the body against immune system invasions
Lemons contain pectin fiber which helps keep you feeling fuller longer helping you lose weight
Lemons balance and maintain the pH levels in the body--an alkaline body is less prone to disease and foods high in acid make a body more alkaline
Having warm lemon juice early in the morning helps flush out toxins and gets your digestion off to a healthy start
Lemons aid in digestion and encourages the production of bile--the fluid that breaks down fat and makes losing fat that much eaiser
Lemons are a great source citric acid, potassium, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium
Lemons help prevent the growth and multiplication of pathogenic bacteria that cause infections and diseases
Lemons help reduce pain and inflammation in joints and knees dissolving uric acid
Lemons help cure the common cold
The potassium content in lemons helps nourish brain and nerve cells
Lemons strengthen the liver by providing energy to the liver enzymes when they are too dilute
Lemons help balance the calcium and oxygen levels in the liver
Lemons benefit the skin by preventing the formation of wrinkles and acne
Lemons help maintain the health of the eyes and helps fight against eye problems
Lemons aid in the production of digestive juices
Lemon juice helps replenish body salts especially after a strenuous workout session
Lemon juice is very acidic and can harm the enamel of your teeth. It is advised to thoroughly rinse your mouth after drinking your daily dose of lemon water. DO NOT BRUSH immediately after unless you want to scale the enamel right off your teeth.
Now that you know so much about the health benefits of lemon water, here's how to make your mornings easier.
Step One: Line up some cute little silicone muffin liners on a cookie sheet. Make sure you use the citrus colored liners.
Step two: Juice your lemons. Yes, I juice by hand.
Step three: Fill your silicone liners with lemon juice.
Step four: Place the lemon juice filled liners into your freezer and freeze.
I boiled some eggs the other day because I need an easy and quick protein source for when my pregnant belly gets me feeling queasy.
Then I remembered how much I loathe peeling boiled eggs. It hurts my poor little fingers. (Sensitive fingers was also my reason for quitting bass guitar in middle school--it HURT!)
So I thought for a minute how I could make it easy and painless. Then my favorite multipurpose utility item came to mind....no not duct tape. A mason jar!
Watch this quick video to see just how simple it is:
I like to make it homemade because the store bought stuff featured here:
has soybean oil in it. YUCK!
So, now that I know better, I do better. I make it at home. It's simple. Here's how I do it--with pictures.
First, buy a 25 lb bag of USA grown chickpeas. What? you don't live in chickpea country like I do? Well, canned will do too. But I'm going to show you how to do this from scratch. Like, scratchey scratch.
Good. Now rip open the bag and scoop out a cup. (I actually used 4 cups of dry chickpeas, and that was a little too much for lil' ol' me.)
Next, rinse them under water, because they came from a field and rode in the back of a grain truck. They may be a little dusty. Then put them in a pot and add three cups of water for every cup of chickpeas. And add a teaspoon of salt. Bring to a boil, then simmer the chickpeas for 10 minutes. After ten minutes, you can dump the water and chickpeas into a crockpot.
Let the chickpeas cook on high for 3 hours, then turn it down to low for 6-8 more. I actually went a bit longer (I slept in a little the next morning) and they were fine. They're going to get ground up anyway.
So next, you'll want to drain the chickpeas in a colander. Then you'll throw them into a food processor or high powered blender with these other ingredients:
The spices can be changed to your liking. My husband likes to add jalapenos or veggies from a hot and spicy mix my best friend gave us for Christmas. I am a simple girl though. The easier the better in my eyes.
So once you have the ingredients in the food processor, you can blend it up.
From this
To this
Then give your best taste-tester a little taste.....
Watch him eat it happily.....
I love my little ginger!
And get a thumbs up!
The best part about this recipe is the cost! Here's a sheet with the breakdown.
I love math. Well, I love elementary math at least. If you use store bought hummus, you're looking at about $6 for 32 ounces. Homemade from canned chickpeas is about $2.00. Homemade from dry chickpeas is only about 50 cents. That is a saving I like to brag about.
Eat up! All those good fats will keep your skin supple and young looking.
My friend, Shawna, is a Beachbody Coach. She posted a link to a sale online and I thought I should support her, so I bought the Turbo Fire workout system. Little did I know that my "supportive purchase" would turn me into an eager exerciser, and get me so excited to see results.
I have had an elliptical in my garage (I fired it--it wasn't working). I used it. I could go for over an hour on that thing, music blaring in my ears from my tiny little ipod. Music motivates me. And even though I love my ipod playlist, my elliptical had to go. You see, I started Turbo Fire. I love those workouts! I love Chalene!
I also have had other workout DVDs: Denise Austin, Tae Bo, Cindy Crawford's workout, Biggest Loser workouts, and Mari Windsor Pilates. Some of the previously mentioned DVDs were rarely played because the hosts were either crazy annoying, or the music and host motivation was lacking. I surely thought the Biggest Loser DVDs would be motivating-- I mean, have you watched a season of that show? Those contestants (the successful ones) lose SO MUCH weight! Bob yells at them and they move. Not me so much. I mean, I tried. But I think the music was lacking, I just didn't stick with it. I do like the Pilates DVDs. They always make me feel good afterward, I guess I won't be donating those to the public library--I donated them to a friend instead. Cindy Crawford's workout is challenging, but she makes really silly faces and mangles her lips into duck lips while she's breathing--it's annoying. And I think Denise Austin ate a cheerleader--she's a nice lady I'm sure. She's really fit. But she is the ultimate in annoying.
Now Chalene, she is great. She is so motivating and positive without being too cheerleader-y, and she's real. She sings along in one workout to "Push It" and says it's the first rap song she learned. She is positive and upbeat, always asking for more from you and reminding you to use proper form throughout each workout. I really like her style.
The Turbo Fire soundtrack is amazing too! Many of the songs are actually on my ipod workout playlist.
Here are my so horribly embarrassing before photos:
I honestly did not think I looked that bad. Sure, I know about my varicose veins. They are one reason why I am really motivated to get into shape. But I didn't think my belly, arms, and butt were that flabby. I suppose it's a good thing that my body image (in my head) was positive--I'm not a person that thinks negatively, so I have that going for me. But I will admit, these photos were a wake up call.
Fast forward to one year later:
I have lost 26.5 pounds and 33.25 inches! After I finished a round of TurboFire, I moved on to Focus T25. Man is Shaun T motivating! I love that guy! My favorite round of T25 is round 2, it's challenging and I love all the burpees! Yup, I said it. I LOVE BURPEES!
After T25, a new program that really interested me was The 21 Day Fix. Because really, who can't make a 21 day commitment? The day I received that package, I was so excited, but the tiny little food containers scared me a bit. I had a reality check when I plated my first meal. It was a lot of food!
I love the workouts in 21 DF because anyone can do anything for one minute right? And since the workouts are comprised of simple movements and are only 30 minutes long, I handle them like a champ. But, some of them have me screaming for Shaun T. Autumn is a slave driver! I hate her while I'm dripping with sweat and my muscles are screaming, but the next day when my muscles are sore and I know I am getting the results I want, I am thanking her deep, deep down.
After doing a few rounds of 21 Day Fix but having three vein surgeries mixed in there, I ordered PiYo, Chalene Johnson's newest program, because well, I LOVE Chalene! I am just getting started on PiYo--I tried to do a workout the other day after a 21 DF workout, but my hands were so sweaty I kept slipping. LOL! I've since completed Define Upper Body and I was very sore the next day.
Here are my one year progress photos. I am very happy with the results. Especially my abs, and my lack of varicose veins. Oh, and my smile! I love that I have a smile that beams now!
I love the new body I have. I love the energy I have. I love the example I'm setting for my kids. And I love the future I have--it's so bright, I gotta wear shades! (Corny I know!)
Here's a little ditty about my journey.
Since my progress photos were taken (only two weeks ago) I've lost another 3 inches overall. Commitment works!
My goals for the next year are to get my legs in even better shape. I have a photo that is my inspiration. Now if only I could find it.......
