Water...It's what's good for you! Warning contains language about bathrooms visits.

We have all heard it... 8 glasses of 8 oz of water a day. Well I agreed to a point, drink enough until you don't feel dehydrated, Wrong, actually drink until you pee clear (this amount is different for everyone) this keeps you well hydrated and all your systems work correctly.

As a runner I knew I needed enough to sustain me while I ran so I wouldn't dehydrate and get the runner's trots, (see previous post). I was drinking about 16 to 20 oz of water day. It was enough to keep the trots away and keep me hydrated. But I was still dealing with my stomach issues in the morning before I ran (see previous post).

Then I started to do my morning exercises and I got thirsty, I increased my water to about 48 oz of water a day. I had to pee all the time, then something happened after about a week and a half, my bathroom breaks started to become fewer and I felt like I peed like a normal person, I wasn't going to the bathroom like a pregnant woman in her 9th month. My skin was not as harsh, cracked or dry. And then the most amazing "side effect" of consuming so much water per day, my poop was normal. I didn't have bad poops or runny poops. I started to poop later in the day and not early in the morning. I could get a whole run in and not have to worry about pooping until later. I was so excited, I had solved my poop problem (see previous post) by just increasing my water intake therefore helping my body and organs to function correctly. 

Water: It's What's Good For You! 

Skinny Girl - Fat Girl - Skinny Girl

Well, it has been a while since I have posted. Please forgive me for this lapse, I decided to go off on my own from my personal trainer and didn't realize that I need to work my body beyond running. Running is my staple, my peace and my maintenance, however, to lose weight and to keep it off, I must work my body beyond just running. I actually think this applies to most people, cause running even though I do a lot of it,  4 to 6 miles everyday, on an off week less, my body adapts and the muscles don't work to burn off the fat.

That being said, I but on weight and for the past year, I have been embarrassed and disappointed in myself. Then I realized I made a mistake and I must learn from that mistake, to change and grow from it. So now I have added to my morning/daily routine of working out and running. 

Arms: push ups, triceps dips, biceps curls and triceps extension with free weights. 

Sides and Hips: Side crunches with free weights and obliques turns with weights. 

Abs: exercise ball sit ups, floor crunches, floor leg lifts and floor glut crunches.

Legs: Thighs and gluts with squats, then inner thighs with Pilate squats. 

I change up the counts and reps to keep my muscles changing so they are always working and not relying on memory. Since I started this routine, 5 days a week, I rest on Saturday and Sunday, I have lost weight in my arms and my shirt sleeves fit again (underarm jiggle is less).

My pants are fitting again correctly in the waist and the thighs. 

I also watch my food intake more closely when I have a day that I can't workout or run verses the food intake when I do workout and run. It all works together, food intake (the quality and the quantity) with exercise working the whole body as individual muscles groups and then running, getting the heart rate up as to burn calories/fat.

I have learned that it is a constant battle to lose, tone and maintain our optimal body weight and shape. Don't get discouraged with weight gain or if you get off track for a while, we are all human and we make mistakes. What matters and makes us triumph against this war is when we learn and grow and change from our mistakes.

So from a Fat Girl to a Skinny Girl Running to a Fat Girl Running and back down to a Skinny Girl Running... I have lost, gained and lost again... I will reach my goal.