I am on Day 5 of a Free 5-Day Happy Hydration Challenge with a wonderful group of women.  We are learning and encouraging each other about the importance of staying hydrated, especially with water.

 I bought 2 new cups before I started the challenge as a motivator but I have to admit that drinking water is something I need to be intentional about.  I get busy and pretty soon the day is halfway gone and I am not where I want to be.   Making right choices isn’t easy.  It comes with effort.  It means I need to set aside something I want to do at that minute and course correct.

Here are a few ideas on how to infuse your water with flavor

Twenty years ago I was a mess. I had headaches, no energy, and brain fog. I was in my life but at the same time I felt like I was looking through a thick piece of plastic watching my life happen. Once my young son asked me how many dimes were in a dollar and I couldn’t find the answer in my mind.  That motivated me to make a doctor’s appointment.  After a 6-hour glucose test, the diagnosis came back that I was hypoglycemic – my blood sugar would dip into the 60’s.  The way I coped – feed myself sugar or simple carbs – feel good for a little bit – then nose dive again with my body screaming for more sugar and simple carbs.  A terribly vicious circle.  I’ve never had a substance abuse problem but I believe their must be some similarities.

That day I left the doctor’s office with a list of foods to avoid and a list of recommended foods. I was relieved that I had an answer but I also felt pretty sorry for myself – okay I’ll admit I was having a full blown pity party for something I enjoyed doing was researching recipes, making those recipes, sharing what I made and eating those recipes.  And now most of those items used for doing what I loved were staring back at me under the column titled AVOID on the piece of paper I held in my hands.

I complained to a friend who had the same condition “Look at all the foods/beverages I can’t have anymore.” She was a little older and lot wiser and she challenged me with “Look at all the foods you can eat.” Later at her house she asked me what I’d like to drink? “Well,” I responded “I can’t have anything but water.” I will never forget her words to me  “No, Debbie, you can choose whatever you want to drink. God gives you the freedom of choice. Now what do you choose?” I did some growing up that day. I’d asked for help – I had received it. I wanted to know what was wrong – I knew. But did I truly want to make the changes necessary to better my life. What was I willing to give up – to learn to do differently? I had to ask myself why would I continue to make choices of putting something in my body that essentially hurt it.

Well, little did I know that someday I would have a blog where I shared recipes, be a health/fitness coach and be running a water challenge. God does have a sense of humor. Over the years my body has been my classroom as new health issues have come up but the same truth repeats itself – we are to honor our bodies and I think the best way we can do that is to stick to as many foods/beverages that are as close to what God put on this earth.

So I’m going to touch on soda…I used to be a soda drinker 20 years ago.  Then I bought into the occasional diet soda thinking calories were all that mattered. When we are thinking of fueling our body/hydrating our body just because it’s liquid doesn’t mean it counts like water. Be intentional with what you are putting in your body – it will will make a difference in the way you feel, think and what kind of energy you have. 

Now I don’t know about you but I’m heading to the kitchen to refill my water bottle.

To follow my nutrition/fitness journey and read how I’ve lost 16 inches in 4 months click HERE  I have a new 21-Day Challenge Group starting on June 29th.  The program I am using, 21 Day Fix, as well as as 21 Day Fix Extreme is  on sale through the month of June so it’s a great time to jump on board.  For those that battle hypoglycemia, the highs and lows of blood sugar that sugar and simple carbs produce this program is a great fit.  I eat 6 times a day using the nutrition program and it’s amazing how this allows my blood sugar to remain stable throughout the day.  I’m just a message away at debra.hallock@gmail.com.  We Can Do This Together.

My lastest published before and after pictures: