Living It With Lisa

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There is no need to say more after watching this!  It’s Up Time. Well said!

Most of you know I have a  H  U G E aversion, might I even say disgust for sodas.  I am on the other hand a H U G E advocate of drinking more water.  And for good reason.

This summer I bought a new water bottle for Tommy (grandson) and me because he was not drinking enough water.  To make it fun and so that he would realize how much water he was drinking we each got a Camelbak BPA-free water bottle.  I got the liter size and he got the 1/2 liter.  That way when he would race me to drink more water … he always won with finishing his bottle first!  We carried it everywhere we went.  He knew that there was nothing else to drink until one bottle was gone.  Then he might get lemonaide or juice.  Then we would start on the next bottle.  You would be surprised at how many days all he drank was water.  With no ice mind you.

Here is the back story on me.  I grew up in a household where the only soda in the house was Root Beer and that was for Daddy’s Root Beer Floats!  P E R I O D.  And yes he did share with his girls!

When I left home I did drink sodas for a while but realized early on that if you are thirsty and you reach for a soda you are NOT quenching your thirst at all.  Water quenches your thirst.  By the time a person feels thirsty, your body is telling you it needs water and you are becoming dehydrated.

Think about this.  Why is breakfast the most important meal of the day?  You just slept for 6-8 hours with nothing to fuel your body.  Well you also haven’t had a drink of water either.  When you wake up each morning you should drink a glass … yes 8 ounces of water.

I will say that was the hardest thing for me to do when I was training for my first triathlon.  So I kept water by my bed and I would sit on the edge of the bed and make myself drink the water before I went to the bathroom.   I was shocked at what a difference it made in my day.  It set the pace for staying hydrated during the day and an unexpected benefit came along with it.  My dry skin became nonexistent.

Well that makes perfect sense since up to 70 percent of the human body weight is composed of water. Muscle is made up of nearly 75 percent water.  Fat is made up of about 50 percent water. Bones are also composed of about 50 percent water.

However, fat tissue does not have as much water as lean tissue.  So, if you are overweight it does not mean that you are carrying more water weight. Sorry!  If you are overweight it means you are carrying more fat.  Plain and simple.

Every system in your body needs water. Water flushes toxins out of vital organs, carries nutrients to your cells and provides a moist environment for ear, nose and throat tissues.  Your body requires water to function properly.

I try to drink two liters each day.  I have found that if I have a water bottle I KNOW what I have drank each day as opposed to trying to count the glasses of water during the day.

Here are some additional reasons to drink your water:

- One glass of water can alleviate late night hunger

- Drinking at least 5 glasses of water each day can reduce the incidence of colon cancer, bladder cancer and breast cancer.

- Drinking the recommended 8 to 10 glasses of water a can can ease joint pain AND help you maintain your weight levels.

- Soft drinks, coffee, and tea, while made up almost entirely of water, also contain caffeine. Caffeine can act as a mild diuretic, preventing water from traveling to necessary locations in the body.

Water Trivia:  20 Interesting and Useful Water Facts

“You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” Christopher Columbus

I watched this video today and you may want to watch it more than once and let it really sink in .   Ariane at First 30 Days was right.  It says it all.

What is the one thing that holds you back ….. nothing but FEAR!   In love, in life, in finding your passion, in discovery, in growth, in your job search, in everything.  Fear.  We should embrace fear as it can be our green light to go!

Watch this video and ask yourself what is stopping you from reaching out and grabbing what you want in life?  You are not alone.  You believe in you.  So face it and grab it!

There are many today who are reflecting on the loved ones they have lost … on 9/11 and on on any other day.

This year has been a year of loss in our family.  As many know we lost our grandson Austin to SIDS just days before he was 3 months old.   Several months later I lost my dear and cherished friend Cynthia and last month Vic lost his beloved Uncle Little.

Uncle Little’s life was full of love, both giving and receiving.  He was the brother that stepped in to help his sister with 3 little children when Vic’s father was tragically killed.  He was the Uncle that threw the ball to both Vic and Joel and taught them how to excel at sports and life.  He was the unwavering Gator fan who never missed a game unless his nephew was playing for the Seminoles that night.  He was the Great Uncle who came to every football game and sports event for Tyler and Carter.  He was the good and faithful friend who was always ready to help in any situation.  He was a giver and didn’t look for accolades.

I am only sorry that I didn’t get to know him like all the others in attendance at his service because he lived a life that we should all be proud of.  During the time of sharing a friend of 49 years stood and mentioned the poem THE DASH and that Uncle Little’s life was full and how blessed we were to have been the recipients how he spent his dash.

So as you remember those you have loved and lost, think about how are YOU spending your dash.

“Opportunity dances with those who are ready on the dance floor.” H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Most of you know that I am a Dancing With The Stars fan. Seriously! Many of the stars really get outside their comfort zones and it is great exercise.  It shows us that determination and perseverance do produce results even when you are not in your element.

It is interesting that many times the star doesn’t have a dancing bone in their body.  Yes, it does make for good television, but for me it is watching what goes on behind the scenes and how they overcome what is obviously a road block to pull it out by show time.   We have seen that in each season, where someone is kept by audience vote purely because they want the underdog to have just one more shot. Yes, Cloris Leachman was a dancer but she ultimately was more of a performer, which we all embraced. It was as if we couldn’t believe what we were seeing. The oldest performer to date on DWTS, yet she could do leg lifts, spins and splits with the best of them.

As you watch this video embrace your inner “Cloris Leachman” and never underestimate someone with the power of passion.  It is not about what others think you should do, because of who you are or how old you are.  It is about how you feel inside. You can do anything you set your mind to do.

How passionate you are about life?

Take a moment and while you are watching think about what YOU would really enjoy doing now and in your twilight years and put it on your vision board.  Don’t stare at it.  Do something about it … everyday. The ole gal in the video didn’t become a salsa dancer overnight.

So ..do you want to be barely moving from chair to bed or dancing in the moonlight?

I am gonna be dancin’!

Have you ever had a day where the “rain” just wouldn’t go away?  Are  you still be full of gratitude?  Are you dancing in the rain?   Understanding the power of gratitude can change your life forever.

Sarah Breathnach said it best …”When we choose not to focus on what’s missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present … we experience heaven on earth.”

Take a moment to reflect, to focus, to be aware and to be grateful.

“Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass…
it’s about learning how to dance in the rain!”

Click here:  Dancing in the Rain Movie

Attitude and persistence.  What an incredible life story.  If you are thinking your life is less than perfect, then you will find this story inspirational.  Try doing everything with no arms.  Crack eggs, put on makeup, change diapers and drive a car. 

We gathered a few days ago with with friends and family for the July 4th holiday.  Please watch and share this moving video as we continue to celebrate our LIBERTY and FREEDOM.   

Enjoy! 

Let’s pay homage to the hardest working woman in the world … MOM …

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxTSNwQUtVM