Nutrition Tip: How much water does your body really need? 8 glasses, right? WRONG! ...unless you weigh less than 120 pounds. Try this on for size: the most accurate research has determined that we need 1/2 our bodyweight in ounces of water. For example, if I weigh 160 pounds, I need 80 (or more) ounces of water everyday. And this isn't 80 ounces of "liquids" either, it's straight-up water. Sound like too much? Begin replacing whatever else you are drinking with water. You'd be amazed at what water does for your body

WALKING THE WALK, TALKING THE TALK

I had a client comment recently that my diet and lifestyle are pretty 'extreme'. This sort of comment is usually followed by the comments, "Sure you can do that, but it's not realistic for me." I suppose my lifestyle is extreme in this culture we currently live in, full of carboholics afraid to eat meat and fat, people addicted to sugar and fast food, people who don't eat organic food because it is too expensive, people who do not move, and people who don't drink nearly enough water. It's not extreme, it's just how I live; my health is important to me. Feeling good and thinking clearly are important to me. Controlling my weight and having a flat tummy are important to me. It's all a matter of how you prioritize your health. Like many, I used to eat terribly, mostly because I didn't know how to eat well.

Here's a little of my 'extreme' diet:

Monday:

8am 2 organic eggs, 4 pcs organic pork bacon, small redeye coffee from Casablanca Coffee (formerly Kona Coffee) w/ cream and Xylotol (natural sweetener), 24 oz water
10am 3-4 raw organic cashews, 15 oz water
12pm 1 1/2 cups homemade organic chicken soup (all organic: chicken, mushrooms, spinach, celery, green beans,
homemade chicken stock), 12 oz water
2pm workout- strength training, 60 minutes, 10 oz water
3:30pm 3-4 oz organic chicken, 2-3 tbs organic olive oil, small organic apple, 32 oz water
6pm 3 oz organic chicken, 2 tbs organic olive oil, 15 oz water

Tuesday:

8am 3 cups homemade organic chicken soup (see above), small redeye coffee from Casablanca w/ cream and Xylotol, 24 oz water
10am half an organic avocado, 15 oz water
12pm salmon salad from Eveready diner, 16 oz water
2pm workout- strength training, 60 minutes, 10 oz water
3pm organic banana, 2 hard-boiled organic eggs, 32 oz water
5pm other half of organic avocado, 15 oz water
8pm 3 pcs organic pork bacon, 8 oz water

Wednesday:

8am 4 oz organic grass-fed burger patty, half an organic apple, usual small redeye coffee, 24 oz water
10am 1 Cocochia bar (www.livingfuel.com), 32 oz water
12:30pm 1 cup homemade organic chicken soup, 12 oz water
3:45pm 1 organic hard-boiled egg, 12 oz water
6pm 10 raw organic cashews, 12 oz water

Thursday:

8am 2 organic eggs, 4 pcs organic pork bacon, usual small redeye coffee, 24 oz water
10am 2-3 raw organic cashews, 15 oz water
12pm workout- strength training, 60 minutes, 10 oz water
1:30pm 5 oz organic buffalo meat, organic apple, 24 oz water
3:45pm 2 cashews
6pm 1 organic hard-boiled egg, half an organic banana

So there you have it. Some notes:

*I am an extreme fast oxidizer (protein type) and therefore do not feel well when I eat a lot of carbs.
*Grains make me very bloated, cause occasional low back pain, and give me trouble with weight-control, so I don't eat them. To put it another way, I PRIORITIZE how I look and feel. I cut all grains out of my diet about a year and a half ago--I stopped missing them a year and 4 months ago (around when I got saved- coincidence?).
*For optimal mental clarity, good moods, and a ripping fast metabolism, I eat every 2-3 hours regardless of if I am hungry.
*I weigh 130lb which means I need a minimum of 65 oz water a day. I generally drink 100 oz, however.
*All of my water either has Celtic sea salt added or is high quality, such as Trinity, Volvic, Evian, Fiji, or Voss.
*I eat more calories and drink more water on days I workout.
*I have not had ANY fast food, pizza, soda, or cigarettes in 5 years.
*I have been eating organic food for 3 years.
*and I had a glass of wine and dessert at Bonefish Grille last week- yes, I'm human! I try to treat myself like that only once a month, if that.

Keep in mind, this will not work for everyone and that is not my intention with this newsletter. As I mentioned, I am a protein type--you need to know your metabolic type in order to know exactly what your body needs (ratio of carbs to fat/protein). However, the principles are the same:

eat organic food,
drink at least half your bodyweight in ounces of high quality water,
eat whole foods (not processed food out of a can or box),
eat every 2-3 hours,
try to not eat past 7pm (if you do keep it small),
and eat for your metabolic type- everyone needs PROTEIN in every meal!