Tag Archives: caffeine

Keeping hydrated with H2 OH!

  By Ann • May 28, 2013

One of the challenges in this month’s Monthly Challenge was to concentrate on water intake.

Water is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Keeping yourself hydrated is a vital part of life. Water makes up 60 percent of your body weight, according to USGS.

There is varying information on how much water each person should drink. At the very least six servings a day should be consumed. I have read eight servings is essential. (A serving is 8 ounces.)

I have also read that whatever your weight is, let’s say 140 pounds, you should drink half your weight in water. So for my example, 80 ounces a day.

If you drink caffeine and/or alcohol it is important to stay hydrated. If you exercise consider increasing your water intake somewhat as well.

According to a Mayo Clinic article, water flushes toxins out of vital organs, carries nutrients to your cells and provides a moist environment for ear, nose and throat tissues. … Even mild dehydration can drain your energy and make you tired.

Most of us probably experience mild symptoms when dehydrated such as low energy, headache and thirst. But there are severe complications that can come with being dehydrated.

… Continue reading →

It’s time to Spring Forward

  By Ann • March 9, 2013 , , , ,

It’s that time of year again. Most places in North America will Spring Forward tomorrow at 2 a.m.

To my Arizona family: No more confusion. Starting tomorrow we will be back in the same time zone. (For those of you who don’t know, Arizona doesn’t participate in Daylight Saving Time.)

I hate Springing Forward or Falling Back. The time change, only one hour, completely messes me up.

Normally my preparation for the time change means no difference in my routine. I make sure to keep up with my exercise and healthy eating. But I am nursing a cold. I don’t exercise when I am sick (and depending on the illness I eat whatever I feel like.)

Usually I try to make sure to take the 6 p.m. Restorative yoga class Sunday nights. I think that helps with sleep. But depending on how I feel and if I can breathe through my stuffed-up nose …

Sometimes the Restorative yoga teacher gives us tips if we are having trouble sleeping. A good stretch while lying on your back: Spread your arms and hands and your feet and yours legs and then let go.

This is my advice on how to deal with … Continue reading →

Long weekend for me

  By Ann • February 11, 2013 , ,

As I have posted lately that lots of changes are going on in my life right now, especially at work. And frankly, I am having a hard time dealing with them.

I am finding myself more emotional than normal, exhausted, deflated …

Last Monday I decided it would be a good idea for me to take Friday off from work.

That night Curt and I were chatting and decided to head to Monterey over the past weekend to watch our good family friend Tag play golf at Pebble Beach. Beautiful golf course, sun and sometimes an occasional adult beverage to carry around and sip.

Friday morning I headed to the gym, showered, walked to Peet’s for coffee and oatmeal and sat down and utilized the free wi-fi for a bit to work on some blog posts, including this one. I ran some errands and did some stuff just for me. I did some shopping, got a mani/pedi and was a lady who lunches, which is my dream job.

My spare time lately is quite limited and I don’t want to spend most of it running errands, cleaning the house, paying bills, etc., which seems to be the norm lately. I … Continue reading →

My heart goes out to babies

  By Ann • December 9, 2012 ,

Peet’s near my gym has gotten me into helping a couple of “new” charities.

A few years ago there was a representative from a women’s day drop-in center, which I still support to this day. In fact, I just took some toiletry donations over there about a week ago.

Today after spin I grabbed a soy latte and noticed a set up for a charity called Loved Twice, which is geared toward helping babies.

According to the Loved Twice website, the organization helps underprivileged newborns in the San Francisco Bay Area community, giving disadvantaged babies a better start in life.

At the coffee shop you could donate clothes or money. I threw in a little money.

I plan to knit some baby hats for the organization. Not sure if I will have them done in time for Christmas. But that doesn’t matter. I can donate anytime.

There are so many charities and people out there who need our help. And I know I can’t help everyone. I try to focus on children, food banks, women (centers to help women, whether day center or shelter and Planned Parenthood), a little with animals …

Curt and I also like to support our … Continue reading →

Dealing with that pesky time change

  By Ann • November 3, 2012 , , , ,

Ugh, I seriously hate time change.

Most places in North America will Fall Back tomorrow at 2 a.m. Most areas of the world have already Fallen Back.

You can see the whole schedule here.

My body just doesn’t do well whether we lose an hour or gain an hour.

I wrote about Springing Forward in March.

If I have time tomorrow I would like to take the 6 p.m. Restorative Yoga class. I think that will really help me sleep better tomorrow night. (My schedule is gonna be a little tight tomorrow so I hope to make it to Restorative Yoga–if not, maybe I can practice on my own–take my own tips below.)

Sometimes the Restorative yoga teacher gives us tips if we are having trouble sleeping. A good stretch while lying on your back: Spread your arms and hands and your feet and yours legs and then let go.

My advise to all who need some extra help tomorrow morning:

Longing for regular, healthy routine

  By Ann • October 20, 2012 , , ,

So the Go Fit Girl! October Monthly Challenge has been really tough for me. (Click here to take you to the Facebook event.)

I am having a hard time for a variety of reasons: birthday; Oakland A’s playoff games; many dinners eating out; travel; Charlotte; work conference where vendors and law firms wine and dine.

In addition to all of the things I just listed I am having a bumpy time in life. It’s nothing major. But you know how sometimes you encounter bumps and hurdles?

Well, I am in that mode right now.

I have been drinking way more than normal, drinking a lot more caffeine, eating super unhealthy and rarely exercising.

I am looking forward to Monday when I plan to get out of this funk and rally back to my routine and healthy lifestyle.

I will be back to my regular exercise routine along with getting back to cooking meals for myself and eating so much better.

And I also plan to be back to my regular blogging routine as well.

This weekend I plan to nap, lounge, relax but also get some things done that I have been neglecting around the house. Oh, and … Continue reading →

Minus 1 drink, abs/core work are featured in this Monthly Challenge

  By Ann • October 2, 2012 , , , ,

The first Go Fit Girl! Monthly Challenge seemed successful. Trying to increase or get your water intake to at least 48-64 ounces a day and either trying yoga for the first time or if a regular yogi, trying a new teacher or new kind of class/practice.

Today launches Go Fit Girl’s October Monthly Challenge.

And the challenges are:

Nutrition: Minus 1.

Do you drink more than one cup of coffee a day, how about numerous Diet Cokes? Do you have more than one glass of wine or beer when you get home at night?

If you are a regular soda drinker, whether regular or diet (I know there are a bunch of Diet Coke heads out there) or caffeine or booze … try to eliminated just one a day every day this month. If you want to cut the amount down by more feel free.

If you normally drink 10 Diet Cokes a day, try to just have nine. If you have three cups of coffee each morning, try to just have two. For booze, either try to just drink on the weekends (my normal alcohol intake is Friday through Sunday) or if you regularly drink during the week … Continue reading →

Major Munchie Monday

  By Ann • September 24, 2012 , , , ,

Wow, I don’t know what happened today.

All day all I wanted to do was eat. I had the munchies. I wanted to eat carrots and I wanted to eat candy and I wanted to eat chips and just about anything else I could get my hands on.

Since back to a healthy routine I probably haven’t had more than a couple of pieces of candy in one day. Normally I don’t have any.

I lost count on the amount of Rolos, Reese’s, and Peanut M&Ms that went in my mouth.

It’s a good thing I gave myself some wiggle room to work with when hitting my goal weight minus two.

I don’t know if the munchies were because I have been awesome in the healthy lifestyle and needed a break or because of my cycle or because I gave myself permission to have whatever I want starting Wednesday (but I actually started Monday) or or just because today was a day with major munchies and snacking needed.

I did go to my regular Monday night gym class and sweated a ton of calories off. Woo-hoo! And then I came home and made a high veggie dinner with a … Continue reading →

Taking care of No. 1

  By Ann • September 13, 2012 , ,

As a woman I have to remind myself that I need to take care of me, too.

I have a long commute to work and a long day during the week as I get up between 5:15 and 5:30 most mornings. At times my job can be demanding and stressful.

Even though I am not a mother I am usually worrying about someone else or thinking about someone else or making sure things get done for someone else.

In order to take care of others we have to take care of No. 1 first. Otherwise we really can’t take care of others as well as we think we should.

Lately I have been getting a massage once a month. For years I have gotten massages regularly. And when money is OK I make sure to do it more often.

Today I got a massage from my awesome massage therapist Thanh at Bellissima Day Spa in Berkeley, where I have been going for more than seven years. Thanh is amazing with her hands. She is also a good, kind and hard working person. She cares about me and the feeling is mutual.

Today as she was working me I realized … Continue reading →

Ms. Crabby Pants comes out …

  By Ann • May 22, 2012 , , ,

…

Work has been busy, exhausting, overwhelming, frustrating, etc. lately.

Sometimes I deal with stress well and other times I don’t.

I have been really trying to and focusing on practicing yoga “off the mat” while at work the past few weeks.

Sometimes I am successful and other times not so much.

I wrote about practicing yoga off the mat a couple of weeks ago as well.

I have been focusing on my breathing and to not instantly react or say something but to take a breath or two or choose my words wisely or choose not to say anything at all. Sometimes I am successful and sometimes I am not.

And when I am not successful Ms. Crabby Pants comes out …

But I am working on it and thinking about it almost constantly.

I wonder if the excess caffeine is a good idea or a bad idea? Hmmm.

I have to say that I know my spinning and yoga practice are helping to keep it somewhat at bay. I am able to work out some of my frustrations as well as work on my breathing and practicing calmness.