My Favorite (SIMPLE) Metabolism Boosting Drink

Every morning, rain or shine, sick or healthy, at home or on vacation...I do the same thing: drink a glass of warm water with a lemon right after I wake up. I read about this tip several months ago and I've been hooked on it ever since. I drink it BEFORE my coffee and fresh juice.  I found myself craving it each morning. Probably because my body was getting the hydration and vitmains/minerals/enzymes it needed. And even better, my digestive system was super excited about it too because it gave me the kick in the pants (literally) to get out the food and waste from the day before and start fresh that day.

All you have to do is take a glass of warm water, squeeze the juice of half of a lemon into it, and drink it right when you wake up. Repeat this daily. Sometimes, if I want a little extra boost, ill add a pinch or two of cayenne pepper, ginger, or cinnamon. Apple cider vinegar is also a great addition!

Benefits of warm water with a lemon:

1. Stimulates digestive system. Once you get in the habit of doing this (or maybe even after the first time you do this) you will find that it will probably get things moving in your digestive tract...and you'll be heading to the bathroom.
2. Increase hydration. I love how hydrated this makes me feel each morning
3. Help with cleansing and detoxing. The lemon water stimulates your liver to help with detoxing, and helps the digestive tract expel toxins.
4. Improve skin. Thanks to the vitamin C in the lemons.
5. Help with acid reflux and bloating.  
6. Help make your body more alkaline. Despite the fact that lemons may seem acidic they are actually very alkaline when they are digested in our body. Drinking lemon water will help increase the alkalintiy of our body, a key goal in decreasing inflammation and preventing disease. 
7. Support your immune system. Thank you vitamin C! I've also heard it can be helpful if you have a sore throat.
8. Help with weight loss. One by keeping you hydrated and two, because they have pectin fiber which can help fill you up.

"I'm Working Out But Im Gaining Weight???"

Ever wondered, "Well, I am working out, but I am gaining weight or staying at the same weight?" This is the most common question I receive, along with people wondering why they haven't seen any results in a short period of time.

Skinny Fat vs Buff and Toned

As you all should know by now or have heard, muscle weighs more than fat. Its very very true. When you workout, you are striking those muscles into action to immediately start digesting those fat stores! Isnt that awesome?? But unfortunately to some, with that comes a higher number on the scale. These days, diet fads and the media teach us that the lower the number on the scale, the better. This is not necessarily true at all. While it is important to have a healthy BMI, if you are trying to gain muscle or get toned then please stay away from the scales because what you may see might alarm you and discourage you. The number rising simply means that you are creating new muscles to take the place of the fat. See the diagram below. 

See what I mean?

When I lost 45lbs, I did not workout-I did it through diet alone so the weight fell off. However, I was not buff, I was just skinny and cut. If you want muscle than your goal is going to be completely different. You WILL have to eat MORE. The number on the scale will go UP. I have been in the gym for about a month now lifting weights and the number on the scale is going up-however, I am very toned, lean, and cut as I have ever been-NOTHING JIGGLES. At first this was frightening to me! I told my husband, a nutritionist, that it bothered me since my previous mindset had been, the lower the better. But he did reassure me that when you have more muscle than fat, you will certainly gain. After all, thats what "gaining" is all about right?

I doubt Jennifer Nicole Lee cares about the number on her scale.

She weighs 130lbs and has no desire to go lower.

So please dont worry about what the scale says. I know its going to freak you out at first but KEEP GOING!!! 

My Fat Blaster Workout Song List

A good song can do wonders for a good workout. Studies show that most Americans NEED music to get going-I am DEFINITELY one of those people! I have made my own track listing that gets me going in the gym and one that helps push me further.

How I Lost Weight With Juicing

Green Juice, Berry Antioxidant Juice, and Citrus Juice 

Juicing has been a blessing to me. Its opened me up to enjoying veggies, it has done wonders with my hair, skin, and nails, its improved my energy, and its helped me to tone up and lose weight! I was adamant on buying a juicer as soon as my husband and I finished watching two documentaries: Food Matters & Sick, Fat, & Nearly Dead. I remember I went to Target right away and bought my wonderful Dash juicer for $100! I've been drinking my homemade beauty concoction for two months now and my acne is gone and my skin is glowing! I would suggest to anyone that buying a juicer and juicing your own fruits and veggies is the most beneficial thing you can do for yourself. You can juice every morninglike I do, or use it for a detox to cleanse your system.

Here is my homemade beauty concoction:

Sia's Glowing Juice

1 Pineapple

1 Bag Baby Carrots

2 Green Apples

2 Oranges

1 Graprefruit

2 Cucumbers

6 Kiwi

1 Bunch Kale or Spinach

(This should last you a week. I make mine weekly and drink a glass for breakfast)

This is my juicing set up. Only thing missing are my grapefruit, kale & spinach, cucumbers and kiwis that I juice along with these.

Dr. Oz's 3 Day Cleanse & Detox with Grocery Shopping List

If you know anything about juicing, detoxing, or cleansing then you know it is SUPER BENEFICIAL for you. If you are a Dr. Oz fan, then you at least know what he says is indeed true. Below, I have posted Dr. Oz's 3 Day Detox & Cleanse for you to follow. I myself am a juicer and I drink freshly made juice, from my juicer, daily. This is a great detox to begin before a diet change or to simply cleanse your body with the seasons and to tune it up a little.

Good luck!