Water, Water Everywhere....but how much should I drink?

  
 I am on a
mission. A mission to get physically fit, lose weight, and just in general
be HEALTHY.  I am eating healthier, am embarking on daily exercise, and
making myself form healthier habits. Why is this happening you may
ask?

     
Well, there are a variety of reasons. First off, I turned ::gulp:: 39 this
year. Yep...just one...more ...year and I will be 40. Now, I don't care
that I am turning 40...but I do care that I will be turning 40 and be
the heaviest I have ever been in my life, I feel terrible most of the time,
and I haven't reached some goals for my health by the time I turned 39,
nevertheless 40. The idea of turning 40 and feeling like this, or worse,
still wearing a ::gulp:: women's 22, or worse, just rocked me HUGELY.
SOMETHING has to change...and now. So, it is.

   
I am entirely changing what, when, and how I eat. I am doing supplements
even more religiously than I have in the past (and trust me, if you know me,
I am a vitamin and supplement freak). I am doing protein shakes twice
a day, sometimes three times, to grow muscle as I lose fat, and I am going
to exercise a minimum of 4 times a week again. 

   
I am also going to drink LOTS of water everyday. No more sugary sodas. They
are OUT. Completely. Its hard...I am such a Pepsi junky. Oy. And Mountain
Dew. But no more. They shall not pass these lips again. But water ....ahh.....

 
Water. It is all around us. For most of us in North America, it is as easy
to access. A simple walk across the room and we have all the water we can
easily drink. But, most of us don't do that. To drink water, it is
bottled, iced, filtered, given fancy names like Evian, Aavante, Deer Park. I
know personally, because we have an older home with iron pipes, I can't
STAND the taste of our water. I want to put a filter on the kitchen faucet,
and I have a good Amway one, but it needs a new filter insert which hasn't
been in the budget. Gotta get that. But in the meanwhile, we buy bottled
water. Deer Park is our current favorite.  Some brands taste like icky
plastic...some are ridiculously expensive. Deer Park is median in price,
readily available, and fits the bill in the taste department.

 
Water is sooo necessary to the body. Most of us get our liquid from
food, sodas, teas, fruit drinks, etc. and set aside the idea of drinking
just water with a shrug and pass it by. The thing is, anytime we drink
something other than water, our bodies have to work hard to get the water
out of what we drink. The kidneys have to work harder, fat isn't washed out
of the system as efficiently, and the body just doesn't work as well as it
should when it is denied water. Think of our bodies as an engine in which
water is the oil that keeps all the systems cooled down and lubricated so
they can do their jobs. Let's consider a few things:

~ water
makes up as much as 60% of our body's weight

~every
system in the body depends on water to function properly

~mild
dehydration — as little as a 1 percent to 2 percent loss of your body weight
— can sap your energy and lead to feeling dog tired

 
Mild dehydration can occur when the body is down on water by as little as 1
or 2 percent of its body weight. Which means, in essence, the more you
weigh, the more water you should drink to maintain healthy body systems.
Excessive thirst, fatigue, headache, dry mouth, infrequent urination, muscle
weakness, dizziness, lightheadness....these are just a few of the symptoms
of dehydration. By the time you have reached the point of experiencing one
or more of these symptoms your body is already in distress and NEEDS WATER
NOW. Next time you have a headache coming on, try water loading and wait on
reaching for the pain meds.

 
Ok, so water is important, but how much is really necessary for good
health? Well, it depends. lol Great answer hm?

 
The normal, healthy adult loses between 1.5 and 2 liters of water a day
through perspiration, exhalation, urination, etc. Through food you usually
get about 20% of what your body requires in water intake...so by drinking 8
cups, or 2 liters of water a day, you are doing good to your body.     

 
If you exercise, drinking water before exercising will give you what your
body needs for endurance: 1 to 2 cups of water depending on whether you are
doing an endurance exercise or a short bout of exercise. During exercise you
should drink to replace additional fluids replaced by perspiring, and if you
work really hard a sports drink may be necessary to replace the sodium lost
in hard exercise.

  
If it is extremely hot, you need to increase your water intake to replace
what your body has lost through the natural process of, again, sweating! As
good as that sweet, sugary drink is when you are thirsty, you are feeding
your taste buds and not the rest of your body. Drinks loaded with caffeine
and sugar, or caffeine and artificial sweeteners, or just artificial
sweeteners, put a strain on the kidneys as they work to remove the things
your body DOESN'T need from what you have drunk. Think water first: treat
drinks second.

 
Hey I love sweet sugary drinks too....but water is the best!

 
Of course, if you are pregnant or breast feeding, you need to up your water
intake. When someone else is dependent on your for their water and beverage,
you need to up that water intake! The Institute of Medicine recommends
pregnant women drink 2.3 liters of water a day (about 10 cups), and nursing
women drink 3.1 liters (about 13 cups) of water a day. So let's go
moms...drink drink drink! ;o)

 
So anywho... water.. what's the big deal? Well, basically, most of us want
to be fit and/or lose weight...we don't want headaches...we want to feel
good and have energy. If, as they say, most Americans walk around
dehydrated, that could be WHY we don't feel that great. We are a nation of
pill poppers, but not a nation of water drinkers. Water is cheaper than
pills....its easier on the liver and brain, no side effects unless you drink
some from Mexico, so why don't we DO it.

 
Ok...you don't like the taste of it, you say? So add a slice of lime,
orange, lemon or grapefruit. Do it with LOTS of ice. Put it in the freezer
til it has ice in it *my favorite method* and drink it down! Get in a
minimum of 8 cups a day of just regular water...join me in my quest to FEEL
better! How's this for a challenge... I will do a daily check in... keep an
update on my water intake. I challenge YOU to get in your minimum of 8 cups
of water a day. Cold...room temp...half frozen...over ice...whatever it
takes. Drink one cup an hour...but drink that water! Here's to less
headaches...better health...less pills...less muscle aches and MORE ENERGY!
Do this with me for a month and see if you don't feel better.

 
Like the dude that sells the gazelles in the infomercials says "Comon...you
can doooittttt!"

                                                                                                     
  ~Kathie

   Do you have pet peeves? I am going to assume that you probably have one or two, as most of us have have had them at one time or another. Some of us have minor pet peeves: the toothpaste being squeezed in the middle, wet towels left on the floor, lights left on in empty rooms, cigarette butts left in glasses *ooch...that is one of mine...thank heavens no one in my inner circle smokes*, shoes left lying about, that sort of thing. Most of these are benign, incidental things. The reason why they are pet peeves is usually because they are minor behaviors people around us have that irritate us to the point where we become twitchy. Ranting usually follows the one of the aforementioned behaviors when it happens for the 101st time, followed by yelling and sometimes the tossing across the room of the offending objects. ::insert innocent look here...who me? ...though there was the one time with a pair of purple size 4 girl's flip-flops that I turned my ankle on, but we won't go there..ugly...very ugly...::

   I don't have many pet peeves of the ones mentioned above...the ciggy butts in cups and plates grossed me out in a most indescribable way growing up. My mother was a smoker. I HATED when she did that and wasn't able to break her of the habit. I don't care where the tube of toothpaste is squeezed, as long as I can find it when I need to use it. Generally shoes in our house stay on the ceramic tiles by the entrance door, or in the basket, else they are a hazard to keeping ankles intact. Wet towels rarely find their way to the floor here, because everyone knows they get moldy and that is ... just...too...nasty. My husband is the one who does light patrol throughout the rooms so I never have a chance to let that bother me.

   Now I do have a few minor things that drive me to twitchin'. Repeating myself when I have asked someone to do something makes me absolutely livid. Ok, that is an issue I have obviously. But if you are looking at me and hear me when I am speaking to you, and acknowledge that I just DID speak, why should I need to say everything...again...that I just said? And probably again? And in the midst of it remain civil and not turn into the proverbial Irish banshee? Ooo that drives me NUTS.

   See what having a tween does to a formerly sane woman? EGADS.

   Another minor pet peeve I have is that I can't STAND when someone asks a question and then when I give an answer they say "Are you sure?"

   Yes I am sure.

  "Are you sure because *insert reason X, Y, or Z..."

   I am pretty sure I said ::insert yes or no here:: and that I said it was fine.

  " But are you reaaally sure because..."

   At that point I am probably gritting my teeth and trying to not explode with impatience, because for danged sure I know they heard my answer and is there something in my demeanor that makes them think that I am either addled, simple, or in need of remedial teaching? I was asked a question, I gave an answer. I was sure about what I said when I said it because at 39 I have a pretty good command of English, my native language, which we were speaking by the way. Why is it that you have to repeatedly ask me if I am sure that I meant what I said? If you are unsure about your own answers that is fine, but I gave you my answer SO SHUT IT OFF ALREADY. I know often the repeated questioning is done out of concern and care but GREAT HEAVENS ABOVE that irritates the bejeebers out of me.

  I have some other pet peeves that are closer to the median than the minor. People who don't use turn signals to change lanes or turn set my teeth on edge ::OH I guess Chevy trucks are now made with optional turn signals in the 2004 and 2005 models, eh?::. Drivers that have the flipping cell phone stuck up against their head and have NO CLUE they are driving. Well they sure as heck don't ACT like they remember they are driving! If it is that important...PULL THE STINKIN CAR OVER AND MAKE YOUR CALL! Or maybe buy a headset. Get a dash clip so the phone can be used hands free. But it is abundantly clear that you REALLY STINK at multitasking, and I don't have the money to replace my vehicle, and neither my family members nor I have spare body parts. PUT THE DURNED PHONE DOWN AND CONCENTRATE ON DRIVING!

  Guess that is definitely more than a minor pet peeve...look at all those capitol letters!

  Oh I know another one... RUDE people in checkout lines in stores.

  We have all been there: stuck behind a slow person, in a line where the register is acting up and the poor salesperson is stymied, the person in line just happens to have issues, or maybe even they are taking an inordinately long time to do what appears to be a simple task. We all realize what is going on. But why do Rude Robbie and Raunchy Rhonda have to stand behind me grouching and pitching a fit and mumbling under their breath. Look...you got issues with someone? Stand up and speak it! Have the cohunes to speak up and voice your disapproval. But you won't DO that will you ole grumpy pants? NO...because you will look like a full blown BOOB. Everyone knows it is taking too long. You really aren't the ONLY one hear after all. Why do you have to make everyone else miserable with your nasty kibitzing? You got a problem, move to another line, but stop grouching in my ear. You are in my bubble. You are invading my personal space with your nastiness. BACK OUT OF MY BUBBLE BUDDY!!!! I was happy til you stepped into my bubble with your grouchin'...STEP OFF.

  I guard my bubble closely. No mumblers, cell phone abusers or cigarette-butt-in-dish people allowed in my bubble.

   I have a more serious pet peeve which had I, unfortunately, had the occurrence to experience this past week.

   I think my biggest pet peeve is dealing with the aftermath of people who call themselves Christians who pick and chose what parts of the gospel to employ in their daily lives, and what parts of the Gospel they chose to employ when dealing with others. To clarify, because this is disjointed and as clear as mud...read further...

   They think they are acting Godly. After all, they are "guarding the flock", they are "fruit inspectors", and lets not forget ye olde "being an encourager for behavior that glorifies God."

   I seem to recall the Pharisees making the very same claims. The Pharisees were quite proud of the fact that they could stand back and point out the wrong doings of those around them. They took great pleasure in not only informing that...that... sinner of his/her sin, but doing so in a public forum. Christ has something to say about this action...

  This week I stood on the edges of a group of women and watched stones being thrown at a close friend of mine. She doesn't fit any standard mold that these women want her to fit. She is saucy, she is brassy...she is often irreverent, boisterous and flowery in her language. The Lord saved her out of a life of drugs and abuse, both self imposed and imposed on her by those around her. She is an original...created by God and He loves her JUST the way He created her. She loves God in a way these women will never understand, because she doesn't use churchese, and because she is her own person. An individual. Real. A rebel. She is who God made her, and won't change that to please them. She will not stop enjoying what she enjoys because they tell her not to. Legalistic views about what Christians are and aren't don't enter her personal "bubble". She is who she is.  

  They... can't... stand... it.

  It drives them absolutely mad because she won't kowtow to their legalistic finger pointing, and they refuse to respect her and agree to disagree on matters that are not eternal, and that are matters of personal conviction, not Biblically mandates.

  It seems that almost quarterly, and usually on the full moon, a few ladies on this particular e-list decide to engage in a good ole fashioned round of stone hurling. Generally my friend, being that she is who she is, is the one who has the bulleseye painted on her backside. This past week, the stones were hurled over the use of words and phrases deemed unChristlike, not pleasing to God and inappropriate for a Christian women's e-list, initially by one woman in particular, and then by a disharmonious joining in of others. These ladies rallied around this public flogging quicker than they respond to requests for prayer, faster than a response to a report of a broken bone, and faster than a "me too" when a gal makes a statement about craving chocolate. That's right my friends....my friend was publicly dragged through the mud and chastised for using the word...*looks round to see who's listening*

freakin'

  Yes...freakin. As in "Those freakin' people are making me crazy!" and "I am so freakin' mad I could SCREAM!"

  OK...I will give some of them the benefit of the doubt. Yes, I understand that freakin' is a nominal swear word to some. But when you have a large group of people who live in varied areas, come from a variety of cultures, backgrounds and ages, you need to realize that not everyone is going to think, act and BE just like you. It doesn't mean that those who don't fit YOUR mold, your mold mind you, not Christ's, are wrong in being who they are, but it might mean that you and I, may need to pause a moment and reexamine what we think about someone, their actions, and often their words. Are they really uncouth and rough  Or are they just being who they are, from where they grew up from the culture they are in. Not everyone speaks churchese...and how presumptuous to assume that they aren't "all they can be in Christ" because they aren't just like all the North American church ladies.

  Now all this said, there is definitely a place for going to someone with concerns or issues. This is Biblically mandated and is extremely important. BUT PEOPLE....it is NOT to be done in public! You don't tear someone down in front of their peers in order to "build them up"! This is addressed in Matthew 18...if you have an issue with a brother who has sinned against you, then go to him in private about it. I doubt there is a one among us who could handle public disdain without feeling wounded, and what an addition of insult to injury by assuming someone being wounded by public chastisement is too self centered.
 

  This is the part of the Gospel that these "sisters" so conveniently decided to forgo. And when I pointed this out  I was either ignored, told I was being "cliquey" (yeah I loved being called cliquey because I don't bitch at someone in publicblike was being done and I stand up for the person) or blown off totally with excuses of "it wasn't meant to be mean spirited". Can we talk about unChristlike behavior unbefitting a Christian women's e-list??!!
 

  Look... sin is sin. Whether you meant to do it or not isn't the issue. The issue is that you refuse to acknowledge your own problems, yet you are more than willing to not only point out what you perceive as someone else's sins or wrongdoing, but you do so in a way that is hurtful, directly against Christ's teachings and then claim to do so to glorify God. Cliquey my great aunt Mabel.
 

  When something like this occurs it reminds me of the terrorism going on world wide.It is like dropping a grenade in a plaza full of people because you are mad at the man who spit on the statue of the town hero. You might hit the man, but you are more likely to destroy the statue and the plaza in the process, along with a bunch of other people who were standing by when the grenade went off...collateral damage? Oh well so sorry...
 

  For the last 22 years I have watched people who define themselves by their Christian walk make the horrible mistake of crucifying someone for what they perceive as sin. Whether they are sins or not isn't the issue here...what is the issue is how we address what we see as a problem. Is it done in a loving and compassionate way *as Christ did*, with an eye towards not only correction and growth, but also an eye towards mercy and grace *again like Christ*? Or is it the usual rushing in with outraged sensibilities, making sure that this person knows what they have done wrong and are told about it * erm, way NOT like Christ*?  I have seen so more people who have been driven away from God, from fellowship of other believers, and from seeking what God has for them from this "righteous" and misplaced behavior than I have seen embrace what is brought in in the form of correction. Obviously this method is highly ineffective in application. In examining the scriptures, and seeing how Christ is portrayed, what his actions entailed in bringing the lost to him, and in correcting saints who were in sin, I never saw him lambaste people with legalism while rallying 20 others around to add "yeahs" and "me toos".
 

  This is my biggest pet peeve in life: people dispensing rules and correction, without discernment, without wisdom for the situation. And on top of it claiming that that is what God wants them to do.

  I have a bad taste in my mouth this week...and it has nothing to do with cups and plates used as ashtrays, repeatedly being asked "Are you sure?", or people in $50K SUVs who have cell phones epoxied to their left ear. Its going to take a long time to wash the taste of this out...

  I am guarding my bubble a bit closer today. I think I will add "no self righteous legalism allowed" to those who aren't allowed in my bubble. If its going to burst I want it to burst with joy...not because of the prickliness of uninvited judges.

                                                                                                                                                                              ~Kathie

ROADKILL TV

    This may
be a "Duh no kidding!" statement but I am going to make it anyway.

   TV just
AIN'T the same as it used to be.

    I admit
while the tube does hold a certain allure, my current TV watching runs along
the lines of HGTV shows ( I am ADDICTED to home improvement shows. HEY...I
have a house that is over 200 years old...its legit! ), any and all of the
Law & Order shows ( I think there may be a part of me that is a frustrated
pathologist or detective ), and several SciFi Channel shows such as Stargate
9 and Stargate Atlantis which are up there in the favs list, though I rarely
catch them.

   What I
really want to know is,  why is there more roadkill on TV than on Route 66,
I95 and the I70 combined?

    Perhaps I
should back up a pace or two and define Roadkill TV.

    Webster's
Dictionary defines roadkill as  "An
animal or animals killed by being struck by a motor vehicle."

   Katt's
official dictionary defines Roadkill TV as
"A TV show that you really probably shouldn't  want to watch
but you are drawn to it because it is... just...so...bad."
I think of it this way: Driving down a road
lined with trees, ahead in the distance you see an unidentifiable lump. "Oh
man...yuck" you think, "I am not going to look at that", and have every
honest intention of moving your eyes away from Squishy the Squirrel, Ricky
the Roadkill Raccoon, or Pete the Road Pizza Possum. Yet...as you get closer
to the aforementioned lump, there is a compulsion that is almost
irresistible pulling your eyes towards...IT. Whatever IT is.  That is part
of the compulsion. You just GOTTA know what it is. The morbid curiosity that
hits is irresistible.

  So you
look.

  ::GAG::

   You know
you shouldn't have looked. "Oh gross oh gross...why did I LOOK at that!" You
knew you shouldn't have. It was gross, nasty...the vision of it is burned
into your brain. Not to mention the smell that wafted into you vehicle, if
ever so briefly. Inevitably a groan and a "Oh man...that is BAD" follows
viewing

    There is
a show advertised, or you are channel surfing and come across one (much like
hitting a lump on the road with your front right tire). You know it is going
to be kinda weird and gross, will have nothing redeeming about it, and you
likely regret watching it, but you do anyway.

 Now THAT my
friend is Roadkill TV.

   Channel
surfing will reveal a veritable smorgasbord of Roadkill TV. They are
breeding like rabbits, be it on cable or non-cable stations! Jerry Springer,
Maury Povich, Montel Williams, along with  various and sundry variations on
the same theme that are local  to you to name a few.

  These shows
pride themselves on having people on who have the most base behavior
(Tune in tomorrow to Jerry, to see
3 women who have 20 children between them. None of the children have the
same fathers...in fact...they don't know WHO the father's really are, but
for the last 15 years their husbands have believed that they are the
children's dads! How will the "dads" react when the truth is revealed. Oh
and for a real twist, one of the mom's is really a lesbian...can you spot
the "passer"?),
and the most bizarre behavior
( Tomorrow on Maury, meet Joni the
Jaguar. Not only has she tattooed herself to look like a jaguar and  had her
eyes surgically changed to cat like pupils, but she lives in a tree wearing
only her tattooed feline skin!)
or the most disgusting behaviors
(Next week this time on Montel we will
meet Joey. Joey only eats toes. Pig toes, chicken toes, monkey toes. What is
up with Joey's toe fetish? Tune in to find out!).

  
Oh and we have to include all
the "reality" TV shows ::snort:: Talk about and oxymoron! There is VERY
little that is real about any of the shows such as The Apprentice, Big
Brother, Elimidate, Fifth Wheel, The Real World (aren't they up to season 44
on that thing?!). etc. Everything is choreographed to be the MOST
outrageous, MOST crazed, MOST dramatic...whatever ... it is that happens.
Now I admit...I have had my share of Reality show TV. I have sat on the
phone with a friend and  DIED laughing over shows such as Fifth Wheel and
Elimidate. When Ted Nugent had his own reality show, I sat fascinated by the
bizarre behaviors of certain cast members. I was giggling like a fiend at
Ted Nugent's wicked sense of humor and pranks.

  Obviously I
have issues.

  Oh...and
the Osbournes. This show is unique among both the reality show and road kill
genre. In spite of their sailor mouths, rehab-needing lives, and lack of
adequate house training for their animals, there is definitely love in that
family, as bizarre as that may seem. Who can forget Ozzie's trips for HUGE
burritos? Sharon's winning battle with cancer? There are the items flung
over the privacy wall from the Osbourne's yard to the obnoxious neighbors;
Sharon's crosses hanging all over the house side by side with Ozzie's
gargoyles. All in all a fascinating show, but I would definitely give it at
least two Road Pizzas on the Roadkill TV Scale.

  Lets take a
peek at our rating scale:

  
This is a Road Pizza.

 TV shows are
rated on a scale of 1-5 based on their "ripeness".

Freshly killed, not too stinky, but still makes one squeamish to look at

Squished and
slightly smelly.

Ooo getting ripe
there! Roll the window up Martha!

The
vultures have been at it and its 90 in the shade. Pull out the Level 4
filtration mask

::gagging and crossing eyes::
No brain matter or eyes left. The soft parts go first. Press the pedal
to 90 so you don't toss your Olive Garden Soup and Salad lunch.

 
Based on the above rating scale,
here are Katt's ratings on some Roadkill TV shows:

 

The Osbourne's ( too sassy
to only get one Pizza!)

Maury
Povich (He escapes getting a  five but JUST barely...but I have never
watched an entire show, I admit)

Montel
Williams
(going
by what I personally know of his show but I could be off, I admit it)

 

Fifth Wheel (this show really show be called Pick a Skeaze. 'Nuff said)

Elimidate
(Not as sleazy as Fifth Wheel, and much funnier)

+++
Jerry Springer
( I
mean, ADMIT IT...he is THE KING of Roadkill TV! He is pretty much off the
scale. For Jerry we would have to invent a new scale. )

The Surreal Life
on MTV (I have to admit this is my latest favorite. I mean COMON! Vanilla
Ice and Arnold from Different Strokes living in the same house? BUHAHAHAH)

    
So there you have today's addition of Roadkill TV. Disagree if you will.
That is fine. Is there someone out there who can be the Ebert to my Roeper?
Or you can be Roeper...I'll let you pick. Do you have a notable show for the
Roadkill TV Revue?

     Now before you get it
into your head that I actually watch this stuff all the time, realize I
don't. Only  during PMS time or when I am having insomnia, or when
recovering from a particularly heinous virus do the big steaming piles of
Roadkill TV show up in my family room.

   That's my story and I
am sticking to it. ;^)
                                                                                                                ~ Kathie

  
   
 ~Introducing
Perry~ 

   


            We
added a 2nd Keeshond to the house. I drove to Wheeling, WV yesterday to 
pick him up from someone who very graciously met me after pulling him from
a  pound where he was picked up as a stray. It was a five hour drive one
way,  which wasn't terrible, but today I feel like someone wrung me out and
hung me out to line dry. LOL

   
      He's a really pretty boy,
and will be even more so after he gains weight, is well fed and nourished
and his coat grows in completely. I think someone shaved his coat  last year
and it is just growing back in. That is what it looks like to me at any
rate. )   

   
    He is a total  GOOF compared
to Shia the Princess. I can't tell if it is the way he is, or  if it is
because of all he has been through. He reminds me of a clumsy 4  year old
boy!  He hasn't had any accidents in the house, and is behaving well. He is
a clown though!

   
   Friday he has his vet
appointment for shots and a good once over. 

          He appears in
perfect health, and I pray the vet check confirms that! He does have a spot
on his     neck where he had a wound or abcess and the fur is all caught up.
I am going to trim the fur away so I can get a better look at it, and clean
the area up. Its icky. Poor thing probably was bitten by a spider or ran
into a stick or something else sharp and was injured before he was picked up
by the dog catcher.

          Remind me one day
to talk about people who dump dogs in high kill shelters and pounds like
used tissues. It happens far far too often and is a subject that ticks me
off to no end. He is a lucky     one...thousands more that are just as
loving and sweet never get a second chance.

       

                                                

Blessings...  
                                                          
   

   
Kathie