October's Goal

Officially 3 more goals to go this year! September's Paleo goal was kind of a hit and miss...the first two weeks were good, but I honestly got a little bored with the limited options and decided to kick it to the curb. I wasn't feeling much different anyways so I concluded that it just wasn't for me. Hey, isn't that the whole point of testing these goals out anyway? 

I did start the 24-day Advocare Cleanse on September 24th. I'm about 8 days in, so I'll be sure to do a separate post on that next time and report back once it's over. 

Here's an updated list of my goals for 2014. I think I have come to the conclusion that I do really great in the fitness/exercise related challenges, and not so great in the nutrition/food related ones. 

January – 30 days of Yoga and/or Pilates, Daily Meditation

February – Go Gluten Free 

March – Keep a Food Journal 

April – Do Insanity

May – Vegetarian

June – Do Insanity 

July – Finish Insanity/Water challenge (drink half my weight in ounces a day)

August – Alcohol Free

September – Paleo diet

October – Squat/Ab challenge

November – No sweets or processed sugar

December – No eating out

Yoga and Insanity were amazing at keeping me in shape and motivated, so I thought I'd steer clear of another food goal (because lets be real, I'd probably fail again) and stick with fitness...which I'm better at anyways. 

At first I was going to do a Squat/Ab challenge (similar to what you see below), but I found this calendar on Pinterest and it looked like a good mix of workouts that will target more body parts than just squats and abs.  

    Who doesn't love Burpees? 

Happy almost Friday! Now get to Burpee-ing! 

Upcoming Races

Happy Friday!

Now that it's not 100+ degrees out, running season has official started back for me. I enjoy running just to run, but it's also fun to have some upcoming events in place to help motivate me on those days when I'm not feelin' it. 

Here are a few races I have coming up in the next few months. 

September 27 - ROC Race 5K Austin: I am SO excited for this. I joined a group of people on a team and while it's only a 5K, it includes some really fun obstacles very similar to the show Wipeout! I love that show, so I can't wait to try and attempt some of the same things, like the "Wrecking Ball," "Sweeper," and "Jump Balls." I just hope I don't hurt myself...it's my first obstacle race ever. 

November 16 - Rock 'n Roll Vegas Half Marathon: I've only been to Vegas twice and haven't been back in over 4 years, so I'm pumped to go back with my friend Kristen and do a race down the strip. We are staying at the Luxor, but it'll probably start off pretty calm since we have to run a few days after we arrive. Since it's a Rock 'n Roll race, there is always a headliner...and this year it is none other than SNOOOOOOOOP! I would never pay to go see him on my own, but the fact that he'll be performing at the race makes me oddly happy. The race starts at 4pm, so there will be plenty of time afterwards to get our "Vegas" on. 

November 27 - Turkey Trot 5 Miler: My first Turkey Trot ever! I've always wanted to do one but I usually prefer to be lazy the entire day of Thanksgiving. Not this year! My friend Deanna and I registered a few days ago and I'm hoping it'll start a new tradition. I need to brainstorm costume ideas. I definitely won't feel as guilty eating 8000 calories later in the day. 5 miles = unlimited calories, right? 

December 5 - Lights of Love 5K Austin: Deanna invited me to join her in this charity race for the Ronald McDonald House. It's Christmas themed and has beer at the end, so it didn't take much to convince me. 

January 25 - Austin 3M Half Marathon: I completed this race last year and hit my PR (thanks to the downhill nature of this course). I convinced a bunch of my friends to sign up for it with me this year, so it should be a good time! It's a first half marathon for a bunch of them, so I'm really excited to see how they like it...I've warned them that it's pretty addicting. 

AND THE BIG KAHUNA...

June 14 - Rock 'n Roll Liverpool Half Marathon: Yes sirrrr! Liverpool, England. An international race has been on my bucket list for quite a while. After much thought and discussion, Kristen and I bit the bullet and registered for the race and bought our plane tickets. She's doing the full and I'll be doing the half. We are flying into Dublin first to give us a few days to rest, adjust to the time difference and explore a bit, then we will cross the pond over to England and run our little hearts out. We'll spend a few days there and then return to Dublin for a few more days to recoup and drink Guinness and Jameson, naturally.  I believe a few more girlfriends may join (but not run) so it'll be a fun girls trip! 

I'm sure a few others races may pop up in the Spring. I can't wait to get back into running shape and log some more miles. 

Hope everyone has a good weekend! 

Paleo - 2 Week Check-In

I know everyone is dyingggg to know...have I turned into a cave-woman yet? Not really. 

About two weeks ago, I set my September goal and have been attempting to follow an 80/20 Paleo diet. I would say it has turned out to be more like 70/30, but ratios were never really my thing.

I knew going into this goal that I had to be honest and realistic with myself. With it being football season, it can only mean one thing...consuming some adult beverages and eating some Not-So-Paleo meals more often than not. 

During the work week (AKA zero football times), my breakfasts and lunches are 99% Paleo (everything minus some salad dressings here and there). The trouble comes on the weekends and some evenings during the week when I'm actually a social human being. Eating Paleo at home is extremely easy, because I know what to buy and avoid at the grocery store. Dining out or eating at other people's houses on the weekends is a different story. 

I'm not sure if it's because I'm not 100% in it or what, but I really haven't noticed that big of a difference. For the most part, I have cut out certain foods like hummus, quinoa, rice, black beans, sugar, and most refined carbs like bread/pasta...but I don't really feel a change. I never considered the majority of the above foods "bad" in the first place (everything in moderation), so I haven't decided if I would benefit from going Paleo long-term. 

Maybe it's the 20-30% cheats that ruin any chance I have of progress or feelings of change? Thanks pizza. 

I definitely think this is one of the harder diet-related goals I've had this year. Gluten-free wasn't easy, but it gave me more options that Paleo. And Vegetarian was a breeze compared to both of those. 

Two weeks to go! 

In other news, the weather is amazing now and I'm back into my running-after-work routine. Two months until the Vegas Half Marathon!! I gotta break these bad boys in. 

September's Goal: Paleo Diet

I hope everyone had a great Labor Day! It's safe to say Tuesday is the new Monday today.

Now that we've started a new month, it's time for another monthly goal. 

September: Paleo! Otherwise known as "The Caveman Diet."

For those of you who aren't familiar with the Paleo Diet, there is quite a bit of information here. 

But just as a brief overview, the basics of the diet instruct that you only eat the following:
- Lean proteins (such as beef, chicken, fish, eggs, etc. It's important to pick grass-fed vs. grain fed)
- Fruits and Vegetables (natural fruits and nothing deep fried)
- Healthy Fats (nuts, seeds, avocado, olive oil, etc.)

It suggests avoiding certain kinds of foods, such as:
- Dairy
- Grains
- Processed Foods & Sugars
- Legumes
- Starches
- Alcohol

For the most part, my diet already fits fairly well into this lineup. But there are a few foods that I do regularly eat that aren't allowed, such as beans (sad face for no hummus), quinoa and rice, and peanut butter (yep, peanuts are actually a legume/bean). 

I'm going to try and be realistic here and know that I won't be able to go 100% Caveman (another month of no alcohol...not gonna happen). So instead of setting myself up for failure, I'm going to approach this with an 80/20 mindset. 80% of my diet will be on the Paleo track, while 20% will most likely be "whoops" incidents. I still view certain beans, grains, and other "off-limits" foods as healthy, but my main goal here is to avoid the processed fake "food" as much as possible, and stick with all-natural, multi-ingredient-free choices. If the name of the food isn't actually the name of the food in it, it's not happening (ex: a banana is a banana...chips are not just chips). 

I've heard a lot of pros and cons regarding this diet, so instead of being confused about it, why not try it myself and see how my body reacts? 

Good news - Bacon is allowed. 

Alcohol Free August Recap

Happy Friday!

So, I'm a failure. I completely bombed Alcohol Free August...okay, not completely, but I did drink. Who didn't see that coming, right? 

That being said, I did make it 14 straight days without a drop. Then I had a fun outing planned with some girl friends on August 14th, where I was okay with having a "cheat night." I knew about this night going into my monthly goal, so I had already planned on it happening. This night was going to be one and done. Or so I thought.

Basically, after that evening, I told myself I had ruined my progress and rounded out the rest of August without a care in the world (I don't recommend this mindset). A cheat night turned into a cheat weekend, which turned into I really don't care anymore. 

I will say this...there were only 4 times the entire month where I drank more than 1 alcoholic beverage. Impressed? Small victories, people. The other few times I did have alcohol, only one drink was consumed (i.e. a work happy hour cocktail, a glass of wine with dinner, one margarita with Tex Mex, etc.). All in moderation. 

I'll be posting September's goal next week. I'm pretty excited about it. It does involve cutting back on alcohol again, but come on, it's football season...the likelihood of that happening is slim. 

And on that note: Hope everyone has a great Labor Day Weekend! Stay safe and don't drink too much ;) 

Back to Running

Lately, I've been trying to ease my way back into my usual running groove. After preferring to stay indoors and beat the heat during June & July by completing Insanity, I need to start logging the miles now. 

I have a few upcoming races I've already registered for, with the next one being a half marathon in Las Vegas in November. This gives me about 2 solid months to get my mileage back up. I'm not necessarily out of shape, but it will still take me a few weeks to get back to where I was earlier in the year. I have another half in January and one already set for June 2015 (in Liverpool...more on that soon)! 

Until recently, I hadn't run one mile since May. That's quite the break! But I needed it. It's always a good idea to switch things up and take breaks so you don't burn yourself out. It was also a welcome hiatus for my knee. 

I've kept track with my "daily mile" app and surprisingly, I've only run 203 miles in 2014. This time last year, I was probably close to 75% of the way through my goal and nearing the 750 mile mark. I'm thinking I'll hit close to 500 miles this year. 

August is still extremely hot here in Texas, but I've decided to just deal with it, go in the evenings, and start slow with short distances. My plan is to stick with 3-4 mile runs 3-4 times a week, where hopefully it'll help me slowly get back up to 5-6 mile runs once it eventually cools off within the next few months (with longer runs on the weekends). 

Stairs

If you're looking to mix up your cardio game and build up your leg strength at the same time, might I suggest running stairs? It's an extremely effective way to get your heart rate up while also working your leg and glute muscles. 

Yesterday, my friend Ashley and I, drove about 10 minutes from my apartment to one of the highest points in good ol' Austin, Texas. Mount Bonnell is a popular tourist destination for both locals and visitors. It's known by many as quite the romantic date-night spot and has amazing views overlooking the Lake Austin portion of the Colorado River. It's about 780 feet above sea level...talk about altitude man! See, not all of Texas is flat. :) 

There are 100 stone steps up to the top and 100 (slightly scary ones) back down. Ashley and I completed 10 full reps. You can do the math. 

This is my third time going and I really enjoy it. It's good people watching and it can be completed rather quickly (20-30 minutes). Plus you get to end it with a really great view! 

New Recipes

One of my mini-goals this month is to try out new recipes. See, previously, when I had cable, I "didn't have time" to research recipes, buy the ingredients, and then try making them. Obviously, that was just a dumb excuse I was telling myself because I've created two new dishes so far and each one took less than 10 minutes to do. 

The first recipe I attempted is from PBFingers.com. Since it's so hot out in Texas right now, I went with her Grape Blueberry Mint Popsicles. First, I had to order some popsicle molds. If you don't have any, or are too impatient to wait for them to arrive, you can always freeze the recipe below in a ziploc storage container and eat it like a sherbet. 

Here's the recipe (credit PBFingers.com).

Grape Blueberry Mint Popsicles

Makes 6 popsicles (in my molds)

Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cup fresh red grapes
- 1 cup frozen blueberries
- 7 fresh mint leaves
- 1/4 cup light coconut milk

Directions:
- Blend everything in a blender until smooth
- Pour mixture into popsicle molds (or storage container) and freeze for a minimum of 4 hours.
- If you have trouble getting the popsicles out of the molds, run them under warm water to help loosen     them. 
- Eat up! 

These are amazing little treats after coming back from a hot run or pool day! I did the math and each one is under 25 calories and costs less than .50 cents each. 

For my second recipe, I was on a mission to find a legit replacement for pasta. I LOVE pasta, but know it's not the healthiest option out there. So I searched around and found Spaghetti Squash. I vaguely remember hearing about it before, but thought it would require too much effort and time for what it was worth. After checking out different variations and ways to make it, turns out it takes the same amount of time (or less) as cooking pasta. Below I did my own spin on a healthier version of spaghetti with meat sauce. 

Here's the recipe.

Spaghetti Squash with Ground Turkey and Diced Tomatoes

Makes one serving (I got a small squash, so if you're feeding more people or want leftovers, make sure and buy a bigger one or two small ones)

Ingredients:

- 1 Butternut Squash or Acorn Squash - whatever your store has in stock (but don't get regular yellow       squash) 
- 1 lb Ground Turkey (99% lean)
- 1 can Diced Tomatoes

Directions:

- Wrap the squash in a damp paper towel and microwave for 5-7 minutes (maybe 10 if it's on the larger     side). If you have more time, you can cook the whole squash in the oven for 20-25 minutes on 400         degrees. 

- While the squash is in the microwave, season and brown the ground turkey until cooked. Set aside. 

- Carefully cut the squash in half (long-ways) - it'll be hot! Scoop out the seeds.

- Scrape out the inside of the squash with a fork and heat in a skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes.     This will remove some of the extra moisture so it won't be soggy.

- Quickly heat up the diced tomatoes (microwave or stove) until warm.

- Serve like normal spaghetti and enjoy! I topped mine with a little parm. 

The squash makes the dish a bit sweeter than normal pasta, but I was still a big fan and will be recreating this often. Especially since it only has 40 calories and 8 grams of carbs, compared to 200 calories and 40 grams of carbs for regular pasta (1 cup comparisons). I also went with plain diced tomatoes and seasoned them myself. Most jars of pasta sauce have way too much unnecessary sugar added. 

I think the next recipe on my list will include a crockpot meal of some kind. I've had one for a while and it has yet to leave my cabinets. 

Just Keep Swimming

I wanted to change things up this morning. I get bored easily (I'm surprised I made it through 63 days of Insanity), so in order to avoid weight room redundancy, I decided to throw on my one piece from high school (genuinely shocked it still fit...that was 8 years ago, people!), grab my goggles and a towel and headed to my apartment complex pool at 6:30 this morning. Call me a rebel, but the pool technically isn't open until 8. Oh well! No one was awake anyways. Pretty killer view of downtown Austin, huh? 

I went into it unsure how my body would keep up. I haven't really swam laps for a workout since I was a lifeguard in high school. I went into thinking "10 laps...that should do it." After I finished the 10 laps, I realized it only took me about 15 minutes and I had another 30 minutes to kill. That's when I started to get a little more creative.

Below is the workout I finished this morning. It took me around 40 minutes to complete. I did take a minute or so rest in between sets. 

*Note: I forgot to add "Repeat Set 3x" on Set 3...that'll show me to not close a window before saving. So do Set 3, 3 times. 

Happy Swimming! 

Hop On, Hop Off Treadmill Workout

This morning I wanted to mix it up a bit in my apartment gym. I've done quite a bit with weights the past two mornings, so I felt the need to rest certain muscles today. Some cardio was in order, but I typically get a bit bored on the treadmill. I decided to incorporate a few strength training moves after every 3 minutes on the 'mill.

I took a little inspiration from Julie, over at the Peanut Butter Fingers blog, and created my own Hop On, Hop Off Treadmill workout using some of the same moves she incorporated in her 30 Minute Living Room Workout. 

I set up a little station (a mat and medicine ball) next to one of the two treadmills in our gym and got to work.

If you do not have access to a treadmill or there isn't enough space in your gym to have your own little area for these moves, you can always do the walk/run/walk portion outside and stop anywhere to complete the 5 sets. If people stare, just smile. 

No equipment is required for this, but I did use a 6lb medicine ball for most of the ab moves and squats. 

Here are some links to certain moves, in case you aren't familiar with a few:

- Inchworms

- Curtsy Lunges

- Reverse Crunches

- Russian Twists

- Crazy Ivans

This took me about 30 or so minutes to complete. 

After I was finished, I stayed on the treadmill for 10 more minutes, alternating a 1 minute 3.5mph incline walk and a 1 minute 6.0mph flat run. I left sweaty and properly satisfied my craving for a non-boring cardio morning. 

Happy almost Friday! 

Workout Playlist

Happy Humpday!

I haven't posted a Workout Playlist since I started this blog in January 2013. I figure it's time to update that with some new music and share what's pumpin' me up lately!

Here's what's currently playing:

What are some of your favorite workout songs right now?

Tuesday At Home Workout

Can I just say how happy I am to be done with Insanity? It was an amazing workout and got me into great shape, but I could not wait to finish the 63 day program so that I could get back into the gym and do my own thing. 

This morning I woke up with some excitement to hit up my apartment gym (does that make me weird?)

Other than cardio machines, my complex only has 3 other weight-related machines, so I had to deal with what was provided. I was so ready to lift some iron...sometimes body weight just isn't enough. Below is the workout I completed this morning.

A few of the exercises do involve certain machines, so if your gym does not have these, you can always exchange certain moves for your favorite ones (or see the alternate options below the photo). I focused mainly on arms and core this morning, with a few leg sets thrown in...I'm going to run stairs this evening so I didn't want to wear them out too much. 

The weight amounts are what work for me, so obviously, adjust the weight to your liking. 

Here are the workouts that required a machine. Many subsitutes are available, but here are a few options (with some how-to videos):

 -Lat Pulldowns - Flat Dumbbell Chest Press

 -Seated Rows - Bent Over Barbell Rows

 -Leg Curls - Standing Leg Curls

 -Rear Delts - Flat Dumbbell Flies

 -Leg Extensions - Standing Leg Extensions

 -Upright Ab Crunches - Bow Extensions

After all was said and done, this took me about 45 minutes to complete, including the 10 minute treadmill warm up and short breaks in between sets.

Enjoy! 

August's Goal: Alcohol Free August

Happy Friday!! 

I can't believe it's already August...this year has flown by. 

With that said, it's time for another monthly goal in 2014!

July's Water Challenge was successful for the most part. I kept track daily and tried to aim for 90-95 ounces each day using my handy iPhone app. It's no longer July, but I just caught myself tracking my intake today...a new habit maybe? It was a breeze during the work week, but a little tougher on the weekend...mainly because I was consuming other types of beverages instead...

Which is exactly why this month's goal could not have come at a better time. 

Alcohol Free August. 

I've attempted this many times before and was only 100% successful one time in college (it was a February...the shortest month of the year...go figure). 

If it weren't for alcohol, I would have a six-pack. Seriously. Insanity has kicked my butt and all of my other muscles groups (arms, legs, butt, back, etc.) are toned and strong. The stomach, eh, it could be better. And I blame YOU, alcohol. 

I know it's going to be tough. Weekly happy hours, girls nights, wine with my parents, pool day refreshments - they will all have to be on hold for 30 days. I'm hopeful my friends will understand (and possibly join me). Let's just say I'm prepping myself and my liver for football season :) 

So there you have it - no strict diet goal, no detailed workout plan. Just abstaining from certain drinks. How hard can it be?

On a side note, I have a few other mini goals this month:

- I put my cable on hold for the month. I decided I've been wasting too much of my life watching other people's lives on TV. I need to get out there and start living mine. 

- With all the free time I'll have from no TV or going out drinking, I'm aiming to cook one new recipe a week. I always cook the same things every week and I'm getting tired of it. I never "had time" (AKA my favorite TV shows were on) to research new recipes, go to the store to buy those items, and cook them. If it takes longer to make it than to eat it, I typically won't do it. That will change this month. 

- Mix up the workouts. After 60+ days of Insanity, I'm SOOOOOO bored and ready to have freedom in my workout routines. As much as I enjoy having a plan, it's also great to not have one at times. I'm ready to start running again and hopefully hit up my gym to lift weights and get buff. With all this extra free time, I'm hoping to attend a few group classes each week...you know, to be social and all.  

I still have 2 days of Insanity left (it's a 63 day program), so I'll be posting my review and results next week. 

Have a great weekend! 

Insanity Fit Test #4

Today marks day 53 of me becoming insane. Yes, I'm almost done with Insanity Month #2! 

I completed the 4th Fit Test this morning and was extremely happy with my results. 

I didn't feel like my strength/cardio had changed too much in the past 2 weeks (nothing compared to how I felt after the first 2-3 weeks)...but I'll take what I can get and let the numbers speak for themselves. 

As I've mentioned in past Fit Test posts, you get 60 seconds to do as many reps of each workout as possible, with about a minute break in between. 

Here is a preview of each workout:

Below are my results from today: 

I never thought of myself as a super-competitive person, at least not with other people. But as I've been moving through the program and completing these Fit Tests, I've discovered that I am seriously competitive within myself. I'm so motivated to beat the last test's numbers and find myself pushing as hard as I can to get there. 

I have one week left of the program and part of me CAN'T WAIT (Shaun T is getting on my last nerve), but I know the other part of me will be miss it. 

I'm really wanting to run again, but I'm willing to wait until the summer is over. 

As for the other part of my July goal, I'm still aiming to hit my daily water intake to the best of my ability. I'll recap those numbers at the end of the month. 

Insanity Fit Test #3

Happy Wednesday! 

This is my 6th week of attempting the Insanity program. 

Every few weeks, the program encourages you to take their Fit Test to track your progress.

I completed Fit Test 1 on my first day, June 2nd. Fit Test 2 was completed 14 days later. I made some progress during those first two weeks, but after completing Fit Test 3 this morning, I noticed even more results. 

At the end of Month 1, the program has a "Recovery Week" where you are still doing videos, but the focus is on less impact and more core/balance work. The key here is to rest your body and prep it for Month 2, because let's be honest, Month 2 is psycho. 

Month 2 began last week, so it was time for Fit Test 3 today. 

You get 60 seconds to do as many reps as possible, with about a minute water break in between each workout. 

Here is a preview of what each exercise looks like:

Below are my results:

I was extremely happy with how things went this morning. I'm basically Tanya now. 

For those of you who haven't checked out Insanity before and don't know who Tanya is, she's referred to as "The Machine" and is super intense...Shaun T loves her, everyone else hates her. She's the one who makes you feel like you're slacking during the workout, even though you can't breathe and are about to pass out. 

She's extremely motivating, but super annoying. Her Fit Test numbers are through the roof, so it's awesome when my numbers get close to hers. Anyways, I digress. 

Fit Test 3 was on point and I can feel myself getting stronger and my cardio on par. Fit Test 4 is in two weeks, so I'll be sure to update again! 

July's Goal - Week 1 Check-in

Week one check-in of July's goal is here! 

I challenged myself to drink 2/3 of my weight in water each day for the entire month. That's around 90-95 ounces daily. 

I've been using the Daily Water app on my iPhone to log my consumption and track my progress.

So far, I've been mostly on point. 

According to the app, each glass is 8 ounces. 

Being the first day of my goal, I was gung-ho on Wednesday and drank 120 ounces. I hit 96 on Thursday, but fell a little short on July 4th. Mostly because I was consuming tequila and wine instead, but still managed to hit close to 60 ounces. I've been picking up the slack and have done my best to get back on track this week. 

It's definitely a bit harder than I originally thought, but still extremely doable. If anything, it's making me more conscious of drinking water throughout the day...and all the peeing has me getting up from my desk every hour or so, which I figure is a good thing! 

Oh, and the other part of my goal? Continuing on with Insanity Month #2...

I only have one workout from Month 2 on my current DVD. I'm waiting for my friend to send the rest this week, but that one workout I do have is KILLER! 60 minutes of Max Interval Circuit...yikes. 

Insanity Recap and July's Gooooooooooallllll

Like my title? I figured with the USA soccer game today, it would be a good fit :) 

Now that June is over, it's time for my monthly recap! As most of you know, June's goal was 30 days of Insanity. I have attempted Insanity a few times before, but never moved past week two. 

This time, I was determined. I'm proud to say I finished the 30 day challenge...AND I'm going to continue on throughout July to finish the full 60 day program.

Before and After...I see you abs! 

A little less of a pooch...

Not a tremendous difference in my arms, but Insanity only uses body weight, so no additional weights are incorporated. I think the more noticeable change in this picture is my side area. 

I feel so much stronger and leaner. I decided not to weigh myself before and after. I know that muscle weighs more than fat, so I'm not too sure how much the scale would have budged. I didn't decide to do Insanity for weight loss; I wanted to tone. Strong is the new skinny! 

So I have 30 more days to go...

But that's only part of my July goal. The other half is the water challenge. Since our bodies are made up of around 60ish% of water, I will be aiming to drink 2/3's of my weight in water per day. That's around 90-95 ounces (you can do the math), or close to 3 of these things...

Writing goal times on a water bottle is a good way to stay on track throughout the day. 

I also downloaded a handy little app on my iPhone to help keep up with my intake. It's called "Daily Water" (creative). 

You can set your own goals and check off glasses as you drink. 

There is also a reminder option to notify you when it's time to drink up. 

The rules are: only water, sparkling water, and brewed tea will count towards my daily goal. Other beverages like milk, soda, juice, coffee, alcohol, etc. do not count. 

This will definitely be me during the entire month of July...