HEALTHY LIVING TIPS

Day 1

TIP #1:  Drink warm lemon water with cayenne pepper first thing in the morning

Don’t worry, I’m not asking you to give up your morning cup of joe if you don’t want to.  I’m simply asking you to hold off on it—you can SO do it!

But why SHOULD you, you ask?  There are tons of reasons!  I’ll outline just a few here.

Aids Digestion 
When you wake up in the morning, your body has gone for many hours without any form of hydration.  So, the very first thing you want to do is rehydrate!  Any water is great, but by making it warm and adding some fresh lemon juice you are helping to flush your digestive system… umm, hello regularity.

Helps Flush Out the Lymphatic System 
To quote the Grinch, “The whooty whaty?”  LOL! Put simply, the lymphatic system is basically the body’s sewer system.  It gets rid of the body’s toxins.  The lemon helps maintain proper levels of stomach acid while the cayenne improves circulation and kick- starts your metabolism by increasing your body temperature.  When combined, your lymphatic system gets a nice little boost.

Boost Your Immunity
Lemons have Vitamin C which we all know helps keep the sniffles away.  Cayenne pepper contains capsaicin which is touted to have immune-boosting properties as well.  If you do happen to get sick, your symptoms will be reduced.

Relieves Joint Pain

The capsaicin in the cayenne pepper has shown promise in alleviating joint pain.  I’m not going to lie, this one sealed the deal for me!  I suffer from chronic joint pain throughout my body, so anything I can do to naturally ease the pain is worth trying.

Happier Skin 
Because of the improved digestion that comes from lemon and cayenne water, your skin will clear up and glow with healthiness. Your production of collagen also gets a nice boost thanks to the Vitamin C in the lemons.  Collagen is what gives your skin firmness and decreases the appearance of wrinkles.  YES PLEASE!!

Helps with Weight Loss and Maintaining a Healthy Weight 

No, it’s not the secret miracle we all have been searching for when it comes to weight loss.  However, lemon water with cayenne when coupled with other healthy habits, can help maintain a healthy weight and even aid in losing a few lbs, too.

TIP #2: Daily Dry Brushing

This is something I just started doing recently on the suggestion of a friend.  I did a little research and thought it was worth incorporating into my daily healthy living routine.  Dry brushing will leave you feeling invigorated and is believed to help tighten skin and help the lymphatic system get rid of toxins more efficiently.

You’ll need a high-quality brush with natural bristles. Ideally, you’ll want two brushes: one with a long handle for those hard-to-reach places and a smaller one.  I got my small one here http://amzn.to/2mJOjjv and the long-handle one here http://amzn.to/2n6PzOR.

You should do your dry brushing unclothed and right before you shower.  It doesn’t take long at all (2-5 minutes).  The hardest thing for me has been to remember to do it before I get in the shower.  Sometimes I’ll already be in the shower when it dawns on me that I didn’t do it.  I’ve now been leaving my brush out on the counter as a reminder.  Hey, whatever it takes, right?

How to Dry Brush:  There are two different schools of thought when it comes to technique.  One says to start at your feet and brush upwards in the direction of your heart.  The other divides the body into lymphatic planes and you brush within each plane (the armpits, groin, and abdomen).  With both methods, start on the left side of your body brushing every part of your body except the face (unless you have a special brush designed for this delicate facial skin), genitals, any areas with rashes or abrasions, and varicose veins.  The amount of pressure you apply should be firm but not painful.  Your skin should have a barely-noticeable rosy glow when you finish and you should feel tingly and invigorated.

I’m hoping that dry brushing really helps with tightening loose skin because, after losing 50 pounds, my skin can use some tightening!  I’ll keep you posted on how it works for me.

Check back in for Day 2 of my Healthy Living Tips and continue to… FUEL UP for a FIT LIFE!