Hi everyone. Don’t forget today’s check in at 9am. Hope to see you all there. We will be going over some journal prompts today.

Hydration is crucial because water, making up about 60% of the body, is vital for nearly every function, including regulating temperature, lubricating joints, delivering nutrients, flushing toxins, and supporting organ function. Staying hydrated boosts energy, improves mood, sharpens cognition, aids digestion, helps prevent kidney stones, and maintains skin health, while dehydration can lead to fatigue, headaches, impaired focus, and reduced physical performance. Key Benefits of Proper Hydration: - Body Temperature Regulation: Water helps maintain a stable internal temperature through sweating. - Joint & Organ Health: Lubricates joints and keeps organs functioning properly. - Nutrient Delivery & Waste Removal: - Energy & Performance: Prevents fatigue, muscle cramps, and supports physical activity. - Cognitive Function: Enhances concentration, memory, and mood. - Digestive Health: Aids digestion and prevents constipation. - Skin Health: Contributes to clearer, healthier-looking skin. - Heart Health: Helps the heart pump blood more easily.  - Signs You Might Need More Water: - Feeling thirsty - Dark yellow or orange urine (pale yellow is good) - Fatigue or lethargy - Headaches - Dizziness  - How Much to Drink: - Needs vary, but general guidelines suggest around 11 cups (women) to 16 cups (men) daily, including fluids from foods like fruits and vegetables.  - Tips for Staying Hydrated: - Drink water consistently throughout the day. - Choose water over sugary drinks. - Eat water-rich foods like fruits and vegetables. - Monitor your urine color as a simple indicator. 

I recently watched the documentary on The Blue Zones, which are regions worldwide with exceptionally high concentrations of people living long, healthy lives (often past 100), identified by researchers like Dan Buettner, including Okinawa (Japan), Sardinia (Italy), Nicoya (Costa Rica), Ikaria (Greece), and Loma Linda (California). I want to share some of the principles I learned from watching this documentary and also in sharing some insight into how to create a healthier way to live without having to move your life to one of these Blue Zones. Their longevity stems from lifestyle factors summarized in nine core principles known as The Power 9 Principles listed below. The Power 9 Principles: 1. Move Naturally Instead of intense gym workouts, centenarians live in environments that nudge them into constant movement. This includes gardening, walking to the store, or doing manual housework. 2. Right Outlook - Purpose: Known as Ikigai in Okinawa or Plan de Vida in Nicoya, having a reason to wake up in the morning can add up to seven years of life expectancy. - Downshift: Longevity leaders have daily rituals to shed stress, such as napping (Ikaria), praying (Loma Linda), or a daily happy hour (Sardinia).  3. Eat Wisely - 80% Rule: People in these zones stop eating when their stomachs are 80% full to prevent overconsumption. - Plant Slant: Beans (lentils, black, soy, fava) are the cornerstone of most centenarian diets. - Wine at 5: Most residents (except Adventists) drink 1–2 glasses of regional red wine daily with friends or food. 4. Connect - Belong: Attending faith-based services, regardless of denomination, can add 4–14 years to life expectancy. - Loved Ones First: Centenarians keep aging parents nearby, commit to a life partner, and invest time in their children. - Right Tribe: Long-lived people choose—or are born into—social circles that support healthy behaviors. For example, Okinawans create moais, groups of five friends committed to each other for life. 

If you are here, that means something sparked your interest enough to join and my intention is to provide enough accountability in this community to help you take actionable steps to improving your overall well-being and health. The questions is do humans have a set of instructions on how to live optimally. Is there an optimal away to eat, drink, breathe, commune? If we were given a set of instructions on how humans were intended to live, what would that look like? I have spent years of my life trying to find the optimal recipe for well-being, and in that search what I have determined is that a dynamic approach is warranted, a committed mindset, awareness, knowledge and compassionate accountability mixed with a modicum of urgency. I have researched and studied a significant amount of information and I have worked at one of the most reputable lifestyle and water fasting clinics in the world for the past 8 years. I believe I can provide individuals stuck in dysfunctional patterns a way to improve their lives through a series of education and tools on this platform. My desire is to support you on your journey of transformation. Actually, it is to support you on your return to your Self. The self that was uninterrupted by society, expectations, unhealthy criticism, self doubt, judgements and toxic load from food and environments. You are able to become whole again! That news is spectacular. There is a path to being at peace and finding joy and health in your life again. My goal is to help you achieve that through community support, accountability, compassion, patience and disciplined action. The body is intelligent and desires for balance. Join this group and keep an eye our for courses, classes, and opportunities to heal body, mind and soul.