Welcome back to Carol's Corner. Another dismal day in Central New York. It was far too cold and damp. In fact I actually turned the heat back on. Well today's outfit, specifically the top has all my favorite color tones. This is in fact another of my thrift store finds from last year. Calling this ” Confetti Rain”. The funky jewelry set I bought in Hawaii when I had my dream vacation in 2010.

These pictures aren't as clear as they should be , hubby was in a hurry.

Was able to combine colors from the blouse with my FitBit combo.

I noticed my watch was turned around my wrist in my picture( hazard of a small wrist). This is another watch from my watch collection.

Ok onto Part 2 on proper hydration and the dangers of over hydration. I think I will have to discuss over hydration tomorrow. I am going to use webmd.com for this in an article titled ” Water and Your Diet: Staying Slim and Regular with H2O”.

Find out if you're getting enough water to keep your metabolism cranking at peak efficiency and your digestive system functioning well.

If you've ever tried to lose weight, you've probably heard a lot about water and weight loss. Can drinking more water really help you lose weight? The short answer is yes–and no.

If you're already well hydrated and getting plenty of water, getting more water into your diet probably won't make a lot of difference. But if you're going through your days a little–or a lot–dehydrated, as many people are, getting enough water could help.

In this article it says that most people are not aware of how much they're drinking , and are not drinking enough-many, as little as half of what they need.

HOW WATER BOOSTS METABOLISM

We know from yesterday that water is involved in every type of cellular process in your body, and when you're dehydrated , they all run less efficiently–and that includes your metabolism. Think of it like your car: if you have enough oil and gas, it will run more efficiently. It's the same with your body.

It says here that your metabolism is basically a series of chemical reactions that take place in your body. Staying hydrated keeps those chemical reactions moving smoothly. Being even 1% dehydrated can cause a significant drop in metabolism.

HUNGRY OR THIRSTY: HOW WATER HELPS DIET

It's also very difficult for the body to tell the difference between hunger and thirst. So if you're walking around feeling a knawing sense of hunger, you might just be dehydrated. Try drinking a glass of water instead of having a snack.

Research has also shown that drinking a glass of water right before a meal helps you to feel more full and eat less. Many, also seem to find that it helps them eat more carefully.

One study, for example, showed that people who drank water before a meal ate an average of 75 fewer calories at each meal. That doesn't sound like a lot–but multiply 75 calories by 365 days a year. Even if you only drink water before dinner every day, you'd consume 27,000 fewer calories over the course of a year. That's almost an eight-pound weight loss.

THE DIGESTIVE HEALTH BENEFITS OF WATER

But getting enough water doesn't just help you regulate how much you eat–it helps you digest it properly as well.

Water allows your kidneys to function properly and filter everything they need to, and allows us to eliminate effectively and not be constipated.

And that's not all. The single biggest cause of painful kidney stones is chronic dehydration. When you don't get enough water, calcium and other minerals build up in your urine and are harder to filter out. They can form the crystals that make up kidney and urinary stones.

Doctors who specialize in pediatric kidney problems report seeing more kidney stones in children in recent years, and they believe it's a combination of factors. Many kids aren't drinking enough water. Also, many kids are overweight and eat a poor diet.

HOW MUCH WATER DO YOU NEED?

How can you know if you're getting enough water to keep your metabolism cranking at peak efficiency and your digestive system functioning? The formula used to be “one size fits all”–Eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. But that's changed, experts say.

It depends on your size and weight,and also on your activity level and where you live. In general, you should try to drink between half an ounce and an ounce of water for each pound you weigh, every day. For example if you weigh 150 pounds , that would be between 75-150 ounces of water a day. If you're living in a hot climate and exercising a lot, you would be at the high end of that range. If your in a cooler climate and more sedentary you'd need less.

Another quick way to check: look in the bowl after you've gone to the bathroom. If your urine is clear or very light yellow and has no odor, you're well hydrated. The darker and more aromatic your urine, the more dehydrated you are.

HOW CAN YOU BUILD MORE WATER CONSUMPTION INTO YOUR DAY?

TRY THESE TIPS:

1.) Carry an insulated sports bottle and fill it up Periodically.

2.) Keep a glass of water on your desk at work.

3.) Keep another glass next to your bed. Many of us wake up dehydrated in the morning.

4.) Switch one glass of soda or cup of coffee for a glass of water.

5.) Drink small amounts of water throughout the day. Six glasses all at once isn't good for you!

So that 's part two . I hope you found some useful and helpful information on proper hydration. Tomorrow we'll discuss the subject of over hydration, which I don't think too many people ever even think of, as being a potential problem. So keep moving ,stay hydrated, and stay motivated. Till next time, God Bless.