I don't do New Year’s Resolutions, but I find myself thinking about visions or themes for the season. As we move into winter I am thinking more about my body. It’s so covered up all the time I hardly see it in the cold months. Flannel to bed, long underwear, and layers in the morning. Scarf, socks. Blankets. We keep the house at 66 (18 celsius) degrees during the day and 61 (16 celsius) at night. I’m chilly. So I move my body more. Jogging in place. Yoga stretches. Arm circles. Let lifts. All the old-fashioned Jack Lalanne sort of stuff.
My vision for this season is to feed myself well.
Ayurveda tells us that we are naturally hungrier in the winter. Our agni - appetite and digestive fires - are stoked when the weather gets colder. The extra heat in the belly warms us up and encourages us to eat more to fuel the flames.
I see this in the number of birds at my bird feeder. They are hungry sweet little finches.
So I’m hungry. The cabinets are so stocked with food you’d think a blizzard was imminent. Nearly everything I cook these days is soup. Or bread and butter.
I’m one of those people who lost a shit ton of weight years ago and kept it off. 60 pounds. Been off, for the most part, for nearly 15 years. I tell you this because: 1) I’m proud of that fact. 2) It doesn’t really matter. You still get hungry and you still eat cupcakes, potatoes, and bread. 3) When I weighed over 200 pounds I didn’t feel so cold or so hungry. Funny that.
I don’t do many weight-related newsletters, but we watched a show on NOVA last night about obesity called The Truth About Fat. One of the doctors said, “It’s not your fault. It’s a disease”.
I think it’s a bit more complicated than that. Mental health, as well as physical health, go together — you can’t have one without the other. In my new book (out in July) The Beginner’s Guide to Ayurvedic Home Remedies: Ancient Healing for Modern Life, every remedy I offer has a food component. It’s not just obesity that can be healed by proper eating and lifestyle choices (along with therapy and even medication if needed), but EVERYTHING can be healed, or at least supported by feeding ourselves properly. And it’s not that hard. You just have to be ready to make the effort. It’s worth it.
It’s not about being skinny cause lord knows I’m not! It’s about being healthy. It’s about longevity. It’s about aging with flexible and lubricated joints, excellent lung capacity, and healthy elimination. It’s about achieving deep, healing sleep. It’s about loving yourself.
Here’s a passage from my book about how to lose weight (if you have to. If you don’t need to lose weight, just skip over this):
© Fair Winds Press
Eat less dairy, wheat, and sugar and more greens, grains, and beans.
Eat two meals a day, if possible. The meal between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. is the largest of the day.
Do not eat anything at all after 7 p.m.
Stay hydrated, but not overly so. Sip water and herbal tea throughout the day.
Take one triphala tablet after every meal, or two before bed, for regular bowel movements and a colon cleanse.
Move your body somehow, some way, every day. A brisk walk outside is the very best. Or a mix of stretching, aerobic, and strengthening exercise, at least 30 minutes every other day.
AND:
• Avoid dairy, wheat, and sugar.
• Eat more greens, grains, and beans.
• Avoid ALL processed food. No fast food. No food with more than seven ingredients on the label.
• No soda or carbonated drinks (kombucha is okay).
• Reduce alcohol to one drink, once or twice a week. None at all works too. A good substitute for a drink is kombucha or KeVita, which is a water-based kefir drink. They are naturally sweet and fill your gut with good bacteria.
• Your largest meal is lunch.
• Your smallest meal is dinner.
• No food AT ALL after dinner.
• No Snacks AT ALL. Eat your food at your meals.
• Each meal is two handfuls of food, which is a small bowl.
• If you are not hungry, don’t eat.
• Move every day whether it is walking, stretching, or yoga. Do a more intense workout 1 or 2 days a week, for at least 30 minutes.
• Go to sleep by 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. and wake up by or before 7 a.m.
• Lose weight at a good steady pace. No matter your age or gender.
There you have it. Also, it’s a good idea to check in with an Ayurvedic practitioner as Ayurveda bases its recommendations and treatments on the individual’s unique needs.
So go on and make that resolution, or create your vision. Tell me what it is. I want to be inspired!
Happy everything and more,
xo
Susan
I'm so hungry
Wonderful . I was just listening to this interview . https://youtu.be/rxN-Agy1kfU
It looks like science may be catching up to ancient wisdom. Wonderful information Susan. Will get the book for sure .
I agree with Karol. Your advice is very practical and doable. I loved it.