Infuse Your Water with Fruity Flavor and Kick the Sodas to the Curb

    It's time to rethink what you're drinking and kick those sugar filled drinks to the curb!

 Water all the way baby, it is your life force, the fountain of youth and health. Did you know that over 60% of the human body is water? Water serves as lubricant for just about every bodily function, all the way down to your cells. Water helps to flush the toxins out of your body, it helps deliver nutrients, and it helps you feel full longer and when you're trying to lose weight that is uber important, right? Staying hydrated is especially important when you are working out hard. Check out my blog post on How to Tell if You Are Dehydrated.

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Most of us when we decide to lose weight we change from our sugar filled soft drinks and juices to diet soda, but more and more research is showing that diet soft drinks are just as bad for you as regular soft drinks just for different reasons and that the diet sodas actually cause weight gain, instead of helping you to lose weight(Diet sodas and Weight Gain).

 With all this in mind it is time to start drinking up the water and kick those sugar filled drinks to the curb. But water can be rather boring, especially to those of us who don't particularly love the taste of water. So, here are some yummy recipes to help you liven up the flavor of your water by adding flavor without adding a bunch of calories or sugar. BOTTOMS UP!

                   FRUIT AND HERB INFUSED WATER

         Servings: 6-8 servings

Ingredients

• fruit -- 2 cups berries, citrus, melons, pineapple...most fruits will work (see recommended amounts in directions)
• herbs -- a sprig of mint, basil, sage, rosemary, tarragon, thyme, or lavender
• water (tap or filtered)
• ice

Directions

Supplies needed: 2 quart pitcher or jar with lid; muddler or wooden spoon

General formula for whatever fruit/herb combo you desire.
1. If using herbs, add a sprig of fresh herbs to jar/pitcher; press and twist with muddler or handle of wooden spoon to bruise leaves and release flavor; don't pulverize the herbs into bits.
2. Add approx. 2 cups of fruit to jar/pitcher; press and twist with muddler or handle of wooden spoon, just enough to release some of the juices
3. Fill jar/pitcher with ice cubes.
4. Add water to top of jar/pitcher.
5. Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Suggested flavor combinations:
ALL CITRUS (no herbs) --  Slice 1 orange, 1 lime, 1 lemon into rounds, then cut the rounds in half. Add to jar and proceed with muddling, add ice & water.
RASPBERRY LIME (no herbs)  -- Quarter 2 limes; with your hands, squeeze the juice into the jar, then throw in the squeezed lime quarters. Add 2 cups raspberries. Muddle, add ice & water.
PINEAPPLE MINT -- Add a sprig of mint to the jar (you can throw in the whole sprig; or, remove the leaves from the sprig, if you prefer to have the mint swimming around and distributing in the jar). Muddle the mint. Add 2 cups pineapple pieces, muddle, add ice & water.
BLACKBERRY SAGE -- Add sage sprig to jar and muddle. Add 2 cups blackberries; muddle, add ice & water.
WATERMELON ROSEMARY --  Add rosemary sprig to jar & muddle. Add 2 cups watermelon cubes; muddle, add ice and water.

**Are you're sick and tired of being sick and tired? Does it seem like no matter what you do you can't lose the weight and keep it off? Maybe you need healthy eating support, fitness support or just need help getting on track to a healthy lifestyle. Then let me tell you all the ways that I can help you to get on a path to success, so you can reach your goals. Fill out this support group application and I'll get back with you ASAP, so we can talk. There are no obligations required. Let's do this!**