We’re eating ourselves into a grave!

Today I am going to give a little tough love! I know that starting a healthy path is rough, I have been there. I know how it feels to look one way in my mind, but see a photograph that looks completely different (My before picture). It is HARD. However, one day I got fed up. I looked unhealthy and felt terrible. If you are battling health or weight you have to reach that breaking point of being “sick and tired of being sick and tired”. The first question once you commit to beginning a healthy life style should not be “Well, can I still eat this?” You’re setting yourself up for failure; that question reveals that you are not ready to change.

The secret is simple; it all starts with the FOOD. What we put into the machine determines what comes out. Yes my friends you can throw away all your diet books, tips, tapes, DVD’s and complete low-carb library because that is the basis of all you need to know. It is the food. It’s the food that makes us thrive or kills us, it’s the food that is giving us energy or drains us and it is the food that adds nutrients or depletes them.

Today in America we are literally killing ourselves with food, and I don’t just mean by being overweight. We are killing our bodies with foreign man-made chemicals, mutated cellular organisms and toxic filler. Our bodies were never designed to eat, digest and use the radical ingredients that are found in our food supply today. The crazy thing is all this death is wrapped up in a cute little cupcake, catchy slogan or hilarious commercial that will bust your gut - literally. Even so called marketed "healthy food" is running around as X-Men mutants of the real thing. 

How have we as a society allowed this extreme dissociation between what we eat and where is comes from? Have we become so distracted by iphones, TV shows, careers and social media to realize that the killer we fear is not outside but in our refrigerator? How many loved ones have to pass away from lifestyle induced diseases like cancer, heart disease and diabetes to make us realize that something is wrong? How does it ever become normal that at the age of 40 doctors in America begin to start people on blood thinners, statins and pharmaceutical cocktails that make us customers forever? Will it ever stop?

I am not coming from a place of judgment because this very well could have been me today, but my hope is that people wake up and THINK. It boils down to the daily seemingly insignificant choices we make to fuel our bodies; to eat a bagel over eating fruit, to forgo vegetables for a pizza, to continually feed our sugar addictions. It has nothing to do with being overweight or thin because thin people are dying of the very same diseases. It is about our health. Think long and hard about what you want for your life. Do you want to battle diseases and prescriptions for the second half of your life or do you want to LIVE?

Start today by educating yourself. Some of my favorite food documentaries are Forks over Knives, Ingrediants, Vegucated and Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead. It is so important to find out where your food comes from. My rule of thumb on everything I eat is: How close is this food to its natural state?  If there are too many steps in the process then I usually don’t eat it. Nutrition doesn’t have to be so complex. Eat life! Most of our diets should be food that is grown and has been in the sun. Give your body a period to detoxify and rid itself from old habits and toxins (detox video).

You deserve to be healthy! You deserve a good life! Give yourself that chance. Share your thoughts comments and questions below. 

Spirit: I was hospitalized

Last week at the closing of my Memorial Day fun, I started to feel extremely fatigue and sore. I woke up to tremendous body aches and pains. As Monday progressed it only got worse and a fever ensued. I was at the point where I was in a ball moaning in pain; I could continue to lay there or I could do something quickly to help my aching body. So it was off to the emergency room.

Upon arriving I was told I had a fever of 103 (my body was trying to burn up some serious toxins). My blood pressure was extremely low and I was nearly dehydrated. I spent many hours hooked up to an IV bringing me saline, pain killers and antibiotics. When the ordeal was over I was told I had a viral infection and sent home with pain killers and antibiotics. The following days were horrible. My temperature bounced back to 103 several times. I was holding ice cubes in my hands, being covered with ice towels and many people prayed over me. If it wasn't for God's grace I really believe I would have still been sick because my tempreture was not budging. 

At the end of my sickness I was left reading the book of Job and wondering why did this happen. I talk every day on my virtual soapbox about being healthy and maintaining a healthy lifestyle that sometimes I take for granted basic health. Having the ability to move freely, walk without being in pain and not being dependent on prescription drugs. This experience was humbling on so many levels. I try to encourage people to attain huge athletic feats but to the sick just walking to the bathroom is like crossing a finish line.

I am happy that I am better now, but I am also glad that I had the experience. It opened my eyes on how I take health for granted.  It also made me realize that I have to slow down. After rethinking my lifestyle the week prior I was running on very little sleep, my diet wasn’t properly balanced and I hadn’t been drinking my normal gallon of water per day. I was setting myself up for failure.

Have you ever had an eye opening health scare? What lifestyle choices do you think make you more susceptible to illness? Share your thoughts and comments. 

FIT FOR LIFE: YOUR NOT SICK YOU'RE THIRSTY

Taking the title of this post from a popular book , I decided to focus this week's fit for life on my favorite beverage on earth WATER! I know this probably comes as no surprise because I shout “healthy” from my virtual soapbox daily however, you may not be aware of how deep my love of water goes. For starters, I must consume a gallon of water per day to feel normal. I am a self proclaimed water sommelier with one sip I can give a short profile on the quality of the water. The motivation behind this fit for life post was not to tell you about why I love water so much but, it is to help you understand the symptoms of a life with little water.

I have experienced all of these symptoms as a result of dehydration. Many of you have probably experienced similar symptoms and may not have known the cause. Well hopefully after reading this you will have some answers.

Headaches. I am very prone to headaches. Growing up, I remember taking Tylenol for headaches at a very young age. I remember my mom joking and telling me “Khaleeqa your brain is just dry.” Well thankfully I listened to her because I believe in some way she was right. When I consumed more water I avoided the headaches. I believe it has something to do with the build up of toxins in your system that cause the headaches. The water dilutes and flushes out toxins, so lack of water causes pain.

Constipation. This was a constant issue when I was overweight. I am not shy about discussing this with people who are trying to lose weight because most of our health issues are related to the digestive track. In general most people can understand that drinking more water helps moves your food faster through your digestive system. In addition it also helps decrease air in your intestines...gas!

Acne. There are many brands and products that will refute water's direct connection with acne and your skin. However, your skin (the largest organ on your body) requires its fair share of water. Without being properly hydrated your skin becomes dry and oils are brought to the surface. This makes your skin more likely for dirt and bacteria to embedded in pours thus producing pimples and blemishes.

Fatigue. Tiredness is an epidemic. You are probably tired right now. Via twitter and facebook I always see updates about someone being sleepy, exhausted, drained. Water intake is directly connected to your energy level. From personal experience if I don't get enough water I immediately feel the need to take a nap. Dehydration of the tissues causes enzymatic activity to slow down thus causing fatigue.

Weight gain. One of the biggest reasons that lack of water causes weight gain is because we tend to confuse thirst with hunger when we are dehydrated. So instead of filling up with water we fill up with food. Think about it, if you have ever been out drinking all night you are usually craving some large meal at 2am when really your body is crying out for water.

Most experts say the way to determine your water intake is to take your body weight in pounds and divide it by 2, this is the number of ounces you should consume daily. American diets are rich in things that dehydrate us such as caffine and sugar so it is very important to not just drink water but drink enough water!

Are there any other symptoms of dehydration you have experienced? Have you ever experienced extreme dehydration? What was your experience like? Please share!