Here Is What I Found In My Bottled Water!

4 Comments

This tall glass of water looks refreshing, right?

Well, it’s not.  Pardon my language but it’s bullshit!   Don’t be hoodwinked by the appearance of anything.

If I come across as annoyed.  I am.

One sip and I knew I screwed up.  Big time!  Sweeter than fruit juice.  Like really disgusting.   The artificial sweetener left a repugnant after taste. It was late in the evening and I was upstairs in the bedroom all ready to chill, but that didn’t stop me from racing downstairs half naked to examine the label.

If you are new to Lexa’s Journal, about two months ago, I moved over 700 miles away from what has been home to me for 50 years.  I’m becoming acquainted with the grocery stores in my new home town. Successfully finding my favorite brands is tricky. The store didn’t have my favorite brand, so I settled (too quickly) on the store brand.

I wasn’t wearing my reading glasses.  Too quickly scanning the label resulted in a major faux pas.  I mistakenly saw all zeros under the Nutritional Facts, so I missed the 10mg of sodium (per serving).

Four (4) servings per bottle are 40mg of sodium!

Water should NOT contain sodium. But that’s not what literally irked me.  Keep reading.


What freaked me out was the list of ingredients.   The content is supposed to be water!! Ha!!

Nine ingredients in a bottle of flavored water is unacceptable!!

Gimmie a break!  By the way, it’s peach flavored.  Do you see peaches anywhere in the ingredient list?  Nope!  Ugh!!

  1. Carbonated Water
  2. Citric Acid
  3. Malic Acid
  4. Potassium Citrate
  5. Potassium Benzoate (Preservative)
  6. Sucralose
  7. Acesulfame Potassium
  8. Natural Flavor
  9. Neotame

Most of the ingredients are additives that enhance the flavor.  It’s the flavor of Sucralose that set off my taste buds’ bells and whistles!!   Sucralose is an artificial sweetener. Search the net and you will find plenty of articles debating the facts and opinions about the safety and risk of artificial sweeteners. I’m not interested.

I don’t want any forms of artificial sweeteners in anything I consume, especially my water.  So if I can’t find my receipts to return the muck, I’ll take the loss and trash the remaining three bottles.

Sometimes late evening (after dinner), I enjoy sipping sparkling water from a large wine glass.  It’s a mental thing (substitute for wine) but it works for me.

Below is the label from the brand of sparkling water that I usually drink. Look at the difference in the labels. There are only two ingredients and… there is no sodium in the water. Of course, the “natural flavor” isn’t defined but I’ll still take this over nasty muck with nine ingredients.

The point of this post is to encourage you to stay diligent; read the both the nutritional and ingredient labels.  Oh and, if you wear reading glasses, carry them with you.

When you eliminate specific elements from your diet and you unknowingly consume it, in most cases, you will know.  You will either taste it or, if you pay close attention, you will notice that your body will adversely respond.  You may experience bloating, an upset stomach, a headache or something else.  In my situation, the strong and phony taste of sugar captured my attention.

To anyone in the path of a hurricane or who have already been impacted by one, I’m praying for you all.  Stay safe.

Peace and love.

 

 

 

Got Water?

Leave a comment

plant

Looking at this picture, it is obvious that my plant is thirsty and dehydrated. Inwardly, the body responds the same way.

While I chug close to a gallon of water every day, I’m not always so kind to my plants. It’s a good thing that I own plants that are hard to kill.  You know, the type that can survive longer than a week without water, but bounce back after being nourished and fed.  I know, shame on me!

Do you drink water daily?  How much?  A glass? An 8 ounce bottle of water?  Well if you are on a weight loss or get in shape journey, a good start is to drink more water.

Experts estimate that water makes up about 60 percent of the body’s composition. The body uses water every day for regular body functions such as breathing, urinating, and more. Our body needs water to maintain balance and for our organs to work properly.

Did you know that drinking water can increase your energy level?  Yup!  It’s true.

Water Helps Energize Muscles. Cells that don’t maintain their balance of fluids and electrolytes shrivel, which can result in muscle fatigue. “When muscle cells don’t have adequate fluids, they don’t work as well and performance can suffer.       –WebMD

To meet your fitness goals, you must quit drinking soda, juices, and other sugar laced beverages and commit to drink more water. By eliminating your sugar intake, you’re going to drastically reduce your sugar and calorie intake. Did you know that…

 A typical 16-ounce bottle of soda has 44 grams sugar, or about 11 teaspoons (or more).

A few of my strategies to drink more water include:

  1. Drink a tall glass of water first thing in the morning.
  2. Add fresh fruit such as a lemon, cucumber slices, or orange slices to your water.
  3. Set goals throughout the day such as 1 liter before work, another liter by lunch time, and another liter before and or after dinner.
  4. Carry a water bottle and drink from it  everywhere you go.
  5. If you feel adventurous and are seriously committed to drinking water, buy a gallon bottle.  Use a marker to show your hourly goals on the jug.
  6. Drink water before each meal; you will eat less.
  7. When you are away from home, strategize so you know where the clean bathrooms are.  Be ready for hourly bathroom visits.
  8. Not to be gross or anything, but the clearer in color your urine, the better.
  9. Drink water before, during, and after every workout.
  10. If you use a journal to track your food intake, include water intake as well.
  11. When you find a system that works for you, stick with it.

Don’t think about the water, just drink it! 🙂

Read More About Water

10 Life-Changing Reasons To Drink More Water

Your Muscles Are Thirsty

12 Unexpected Reasons To Drink More Water This Year

10 Ways to Drink More Water

Leg day… Week 17

Leave a comment

gru·el·ing
[groo-uh-ling, groo-ling]

1. exhausting; very tiring; arduously severe: the grueling Boston marathon
2. any trying or exhausting procedure or experience.

G R U E L I N G!!     Is the only way to describe yesterday’s leg workout   All of the exercises, or shall I say the “amount of weight,” made for a profusely nitty-gritty, and nasty workout.

If I had to pinpoint which exercise took me over the edge…  I’d have to say the seated leg presses tops the list.

I did:

  • Three (3) rounds each starting at 270+   (Six 45 pounds weights, three on each side,  plus the weight of the equipment)
  • 6-8 Reps.  After a set is completed, I pause for a second (literally) and one (1) weight is removed…  On to the next 6-8 counts, then another weight is removed…
  • …the process continues until I am pressing with only the weight of the machine

At any moment, I expected my hamstrings to explode.  With pure ugliness on my face, all the willpower and determination I could muscle up, and with my friend’s encouragement, I did it!

I barely stood up…  feeling like big foot had risen again!!  I could only feebly wobble a few steps before gaining composure.  Lol!!   My “friend” kicked my butt yesterday.  Did I say “friend?”  Lol!

Umm … what else?  My first time using the HOIST!!   If you ask me, the “Beast” is a better suited name for this equipment.  Don’t let the smooth and sleek look of it fool you; it will work your gluts very well.

20140204-123342.jpg

While I’d I’d like to post videos of my workouts, my friend and trainer is all about business. Just putzing around for an extra few seconds will get me dirty looks.  If I take time to snap snap or shoot a video, I can’t even begin to imagine what she will have me doing.  Take for example, if I let a weight down too quickly– the rep doesn’t count… do it again!

I respect her knowledge and commitment toward my goal and cannot ask for any more from her.  So for now, I will have to tell you about my workouts.

Last weeks Barbell Squats to a Bench had my hamstrings and gluts aching for nearly a week.  Yesterday we, I mean “I” did deeper squats down to a stepper with four risers on each side.  We’re— why do I keep saying, “We?”   Lol!  I do about three sets of everything.  Heavier weights nets eight reps; a tad bit lighter nets 12 reps.  Either case, with each rep, I’m pushing harder.

I am stretched out in the bed now, resting my achy muscles and trying to finish today’s one gallon water bottle.  I started out strong at work, but then slowed down around 5 p.m.

Today's water consumption progress.

Today’s water consumption progress.

B’Dazzle’s school had a mandatory parent meeting at 6 p.m., So I slowed up on the water because I didn’t want to keep jumping up and down to go to the bathroom. Workout days are easy to drink water than rest days. The frigid temperatures here in Jersey does not entice me to drink water. Every day I force myself to chug it down.

I’m looking forward to a few heat waves this summer.  Give me steamy hot weather any day. This cold weather stinks. And I’m going to sleep.

Sweet dreams!

A New Take on Cucumbers

9 Comments

20130608-234053.jpg

Doesn’t the image above look refreshing? Even more than refreshing it was surprisingly delightful! “It” being an ice-cold cup of fresh cucumber water.

Yesterday while my son received loc maintenance at KinHairitage Salon and Spa, I was offered a refreshing glass of cucumber water. Fresh lemon water is my fetish and has been for many years. But I admit, the cucumber flavored water took the flavor of water to an entirely new level and offers me a new way to flavor up my water.

Water provides nourishment to our body, to our skin, and to our natural and lovely curls. Even the lemon flavored water gets boring so I can’t wait to switch it up this week.

If you’re looking for a new twist or a way to increase your water intake, give it a try. Below are a few interesting links that I found about drinking cucumber water.

8 Reasons Why You Should Drink Cucumber Water

Cucumber Water:  The Most Refreshing Drink Ever?

Double the Detox With These Water Additions