There are a few things that you MUST consume in your healthy eating transformation. I will donate an entry to each of them.
1. Water
This is the easiest thing that you can do to make the biggest difference in your healthy lifestyle change.
How much?
I'm sure you've heard plenty times over that you should drink at least 8 glasses a day. Which is just four 16oz bottles and is very doable, but ideally, each person's body requires a different amount of water so to decipher just how much water you need, take your body weight in pounds and divide that by two. The resulting number is how many ounces of water you should be drinking a day. For example, if you weigh 140lbs, divide that by 2 and you get 70. That is how many ounces of water you should consume daily. That might sound like a lot but when you divide it by 8oz servings, it's just 8.75 glasses a day (round it to 9!)
Certain people's lifestyles require more water consumption. If you're active, add one 8oz glass for every 20 minutes you are active. If you're serious about losing weight you shouldn't drink any alcohol, but if you must, limit it to 2 or 3 glasses a week. You then should balance it out by drinking an equal amount of water for how much alcohol you consumed.
What kind?
Ideally, you should drink just plain water as it comes naturally, but if you absolutely must have something with flavor you have a few options. One of the worst things for your health (and for your midsection) is soda - diet or not so try and cut it out completely. If you must drink it, then have one diet soda with your allowed cheat meal once a week. Other than that, stay far away! There are some great alternatives. An easy way to add a little flavor to your water is to squeeze a lemon or lime wedge into it.
Still not enough? Herbal teas are fine too and some teas actually give you added nutrients. If you add milk or sugar to your tea, you're defeating the purpose of it's weight-loss abilities. If you can't stand the flavor then you haven't had the right tea. For those looking for naturally sweet or very flavorful teas, I am a big fan of loose teas. My favorite? Teavana http://www.teavana.com/default.aspx If you must, you can add one packet of splenda for those 
of you with a sweet tooth. To use Teavana teas you need to get a tea maker (pictured on the left) which can be found on the website (click on the picture to go the exact page). They have a whole ton of teas to choose from. Just make sure you choose one from the herbal tea section. It would also help to read the health info on each tea as well. I recommend the Sweet Fruit Garden tea, Peppermint tea, Carribbean Breeze tea, and Raspberry Sangria tea. All of their teas have added health bonuses
like vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. I get migraines a lot so I drink peppermint tea and it makes it better. According to Teavana, their peppermint tea also, "soothes stomach and throat, calms nerves, and relieves aches and pains. Peppermint helps with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Acid Reflex. " Each of these teas can be made hot or iced. While these teas are good for you, be sure to take in some plain water as well. (And, no that isn't a fruit salad on your right, it's Teavana's Raspberry Sangria tea)
of you with a sweet tooth. To use Teavana teas you need to get a tea maker (pictured on the left) which can be found on the website (click on the picture to go the exact page). They have a whole ton of teas to choose from. Just make sure you choose one from the herbal tea section. It would also help to read the health info on each tea as well. I recommend the Sweet Fruit Garden tea, Peppermint tea, Carribbean Breeze tea, and Raspberry Sangria tea. All of their teas have added health bonuses
like vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. I get migraines a lot so I drink peppermint tea and it makes it better. According to Teavana, their peppermint tea also, "soothes stomach and throat, calms nerves, and relieves aches and pains. Peppermint helps with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Acid Reflex. " Each of these teas can be made hot or iced. While these teas are good for you, be sure to take in some plain water as well. (And, no that isn't a fruit salad on your right, it's Teavana's Raspberry Sangria tea)Tea isn't your thing? Replace your sugary drinks with a bottle of water and a packet of Crystal 
Light On-the-Go. Simply pour one packet into your bottle of water and it transforms into a juice, without all of the extra sugary calories. One packet of Crystal Light's Raspberry Ice is sugar-free and has just 5 calories per serving. A great alternative to soft drinks and juices.
Light On-the-Go. Simply pour one packet into your bottle of water and it transforms into a juice, without all of the extra sugary calories. One packet of Crystal Light's Raspberry Ice is sugar-free and has just 5 calories per serving. A great alternative to soft drinks and juices.Which ever variation you may choose, remember the goal is your water intake. Water is necessary for your body to function, so not only will you be helping your body function better, you will also be healthier - and, trust me, you will feel the difference. So drink up!
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