Tracy's Water Rant

There are endless, and I mean ENDLESS articles on-line about the correlation between water and weight loss. Some are full of scientific information that most people could care less about - others are truly just one person’s anectdotal evidence. I’ve been searching for a succinct, easy to understand list of reasons to drive home my point and passion about drinking your water. I think the list below hits all the major points, scientific and otherwise. I hope you will read it , believe it, and ADOPT IT!!!


Water plays an important role in weight loss. Water contains zero calories, has no fat, no cholesterol, and is low in sodium; therefore, it appeals to those wanting to lose weight. Water is also an appetite suppressant. The more water you drink, the less of an appetite you will develop. This is another reason why drinking water can potentially help those who are trying to lose weight.


It is a well known fact that increased water consumption helps metabolize stored fat. In order to do so however, the kidneys must receive a sufficient amount of water. If the kidneys are not receiving enough water, they will end up relying on the liver for help. When the liver is working on its’ own, it breaks down fat and distributes it as energy to different parts of the body. However, if the kidneys are not getting enough water, and need to rely on the liver, the liver no longer breaks down fats in the body. When the liver is overloaded like this, it causes it to store fat in the body instead of breaking it down. By consuming water, the liver will continue to metabolize fat instead of storing it in the body.


Increased water consumption also effects different parts of the body that help us to lose weight. Generally when we drink more water the endocrine gland’s function will improve. When there are signs of improvement an increased amount of fats are used as fuel. So, the more water we drink, the more fats will be fueled.


Drinking water also reduces fluid retention (the opposite to what most people think!), and causes the body to store less fat. Normally when we don’t drink enough water the body will try to store as much fat as it can under the skin. However, when we consume a sufficient amount of water, it makes it harder for the body to store that fat.


Tracy’s Top 5 tips for getting your water every day!


I’ve used different methods at different times, and in different life situations, from full time work, to full time Stay at home mom, to training athlete to make sure I get my 2-3 litres of water consumed per day. I hope you get an idea or two that will help you get your water chug a lug ON! You’ll know you’re on the right track when you stop feeling bloated, your rings don’t get stuck and your pee is very pale yellow!


1. Frosty freeze…..If you need your water to be sub temperatures to enjoy it, then freeze 4 bottles of water overnight and take them with you to work. Put them on your desk and require that two be empty before you can have lunch and 2 more before you go home. Two litres of water without even considering what you drink before and after work


2. Appetizer! When I am in “weight loss” mode, I don’t allow myself to eat a bite of any meal or snack, without downing 1 cup of water. That usually forces me to drink 6 cups of water per day (1.5 litres). Plus, I don’t eat as much when my belly is full of water!



3. Earn a reward! I love love love my coffee, but I know that it’s dehydrating and truly, you should always drink an extra 250ml of water for every serving of caffeine that you consume. So, just like #2 above, I make myself drink a full glass (chug chug chug) of water before I can take that first, luscious, well deserved sip of my piping hot latte!


4. Make it an appointment. Whe I was in a really bad phase of skipping my water due to crazy schedules and lots of travel, I set a one hour watch timer and every time it went off, I drank 1 cup of water - quick and easy, and got me 3 litres of water per day, no problem!.


5. Just too bland? I personally love the taste of water and could gulp down an icy glass in no time flat, but some people hate it. Although I’ve never tried this method, I have many friends who SWEAR by those tiny little crystal lite single dose packs that you dump in your water. Alternatively, you can now buy flavoured water by Dasani, Aquafina and other brands. I’ve tried them - not too shabby and definitley refreshing (and way better for you than a diet coke!)


Happy Dousing!

Why do Runners run?

"Just don't run". How many of you have heard those words from well meaning friends and allies, or perhaps even a health professional trying to help you recover and stay injury free.

For those of us who have the running bug, no words could get deeper under the skin. Running to a runner is like breathing to a human. It's a 'must do', a 'can't live without'. Sometimes I think running is like a drug. It's addictive. It can have negative side effects. It can heal what ails you. Okay, maybe more like a prescriptive medication than an illegal substance.

I've been running now for 18 years. The first run I ever took was on a freezing cold, dark, December 31st, in 1991. I was in Victoria with my very best friend, for New Years' Eve. She had recently lost about 25 pounds and was running regularly. She invited me to come along at 7am for her morning jog. Being 17, overweight, and a bit cocky, I thought "no problem". Yeah Right. I lasted 6 minutes before my lungs turned inside out, my legs turned to rubber and my head was pounding. I slumped back to the hotel. But something happened in that 6 minutes. I was hooked for life.

Since then, I've run everything from 5km quickies, to marathons, though I've never ventured into ultra distance and doubt I ever will. Recently I've been suffering through an overuse/imbalance injury that kept me out of my treads for about 5 months. When I got the clearance to go do a "run" a couple of weeks ago, I couldn't help but appreciate every single step. It got me thinking about why we run. In my humble opinion, this is it:

1. It is simple and cheap and can be done anywhere. Nothing easier when you are travelling than to throw your runners in your bag. I've run in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Various European Countries, Mexico and pretty much every week-end spot I've ever visited

2. It's effective. For anyone looking to lose body fat, trust me, 3-4 runs a week of 10km a piece will be shedding the pounds off your body

3. It's a high. Okay, here's the drug reference again. But it's true! There's this sweet spot during almost every run where you start to feel a little lighter, happier, more mellowed. For most of us, we seek to achieve that moment more often and make it last longer, by running more!

4. It feeds the soul. I actually find myself feeling sorry for people who can't run, or have decided for whatever reason that they hate running. Sure it's tough at the start. But what great achievement doesn't take work? I have had moments of clarity on runs that rival any of Oprah's "Aha's!". I have been brought to tears (seriously) by the beauty of my running surroundings. No matter how good or bad the run is, I always feel a little more humble and a little more part of the human race when I'm done.

So next time a runner friend of yours is complaining to you about their various ailments (the list is endless for ankles, knees and hips), try to stop yourself from saying those 3 words that will burst their bubble and let just a little of their soul slip away. Say anything at all, but just don't say "just don't run!"

PS - Feel like strapping on your shoes now?

And, I'm off and running (no pun intended)

I've been thinking about blogging for a long while now. Thinking about how I don't have the time, but I have a lot of opinions and information I'd like to share. Thinking about how to best do it, make it the most interesting, create the most splash.

and then suddenly I realized what I've really been doing is procratinating! How often do I preach to my clients and participants about procrastinating...and here I was, doing it myself.

And so, here I am - blogspot created, mind full of thoughts, and only a few minutes to post. Stay tuned; I promise it will get better!