Today’s gyms are loaded with people desperately trying to transform their sagging bottoms, beer belly tumors, chunky cheeks and flabby triceps into a beautiful, slim, sexy work of art worthy of adorning the cover of the latest fitness magazine. However, while many people are still going to the gym to achieve their goals, increasing numbers of people are turning to hormonal trickery, metabolic stimulants, and surgical procedures (sucking, tucking, stapling and augmentation) to achieve the look they want. In fact, on a recent seminar tour through Australia, I was shocked to see the seemingly sleepy city of Adelaide setting a trend with a new gym complete with a cosmetic surgical center offering a range of cosmetic procedures right up front on the menu of gym services!
Modern Science, or Mother Nature?
Having been in the health and exercise business for over twenty-one years, I can assure you that the fastest way to optimal exercise recovery and the body you’ve always wanted is Mother Nature’s way. What is Mother Nature’s way? Let’s put it this way – have you ever seen a wild animal in its natural habitat that was obese? Have you ever seen a wolf with flabby legs, a deer with love handles or a tiger with a double chin? No! The reason for this is simple – all wild animals follow Mother Nature’s guidelines, conforming to the movement and eating requirements of their unique body plan.
It would seem pretty obvious by comparing the escalating rates of obesity and degenerative disease today with that of our ancestorswould provide us with the proof we need that what we are doing today isn’t working for us – namely diet, exercise and lifestyle factors. So, what do we need to do to look and feel good for the long run?
IT ALL BEGINS IN THE MIND!
That’s right. You’ve got to WANT to be healthy. Diet and lifestyle begin by making the right choices. You don’t need a degree in nutrition or exercise. If you’ve ever been in nature, you already know that using your stomach as a garbage pail isn’t part of the plan! If your desire for change isn’t greater than your resistance to change, change will not happen for you; you may as well stop reading now, have another donut and 30 mg of Prozac!
DRINK PLENTY OF CLEAN WATER
There are billions of water-dependent chemical reactions taking place in your body every second. To keep your biochemistry working correctly, detoxify optimally, and your cells to be healthy, you need drink half your body weight in ounces of quality filtered water daily; a 200 pound person need drink 100oz. water/day. Please be clear about one thing: only water does the job of water, not tea, beer, coffee, juice…just water. Most people notice a rapid improvement in energy levels when drinking adequate amounts of water.
EAT RIGHT FOR “YOUR” METABOLIC TYPE
Each of us is as unique on the inside as we are on the outside. The pure fact that there are more nutritionists and doctors than ever in history, and more sick diseased people than ever in history should make it obvious that we’re not as smart as we think we are! Ignore the books and magazines promoting one-size-fits-all-diets and start eating by your gut instinct. If you crave red meat, eat some good quality red meat. If you crave something sweet, eat real food, like a sweet potato with some butter. Just as you don’t see lions eating leaves or giraffes eating steaks, you must follow your body plan. In my book How To Eat, Move and Be Healthy!, I have a simple test you can take to determine the right proportions of animal vs. vegetable food for you, not your best friend or brother, YOU!
GO ORGANIC
There is plenty of good research showing that organic foods are as much as 40 times more nutritious than commercially farmed foods. While the commercial farming and processed food industries are quick to tell you there are really no nutrient differences, it is important to realize that even if that were true, organic foods do NOT contain pesticide, herbicide, fungicide and rodenticide residues that are very harmful to your health! In addition, many harmful commercial farming chemicals are stored in your fat tissue to protect your organs and nervous system while allowing your liver to process the chemicals at a safe rate. The more commercially farmed meat and produce you eat, the more likely you are to accumulate fat to store dangerous chemicals and this is one of the common reasons people exercising regularly don’t lose weight.
While to some, these, the most basic principles, literally the foundation principles for achieving and maintaining health and vitality may seem challenging, they are far less challenging than cancer or chronic disease in general! As I often tell my students and patients, “one need not live like a monk; living in accord with the foundation principles 80% of the time will provide ample reserve parties, deserts, staying up late, some drinking etc., 20% of the time. Besides, when you are healthy, all aspects of life are more fun!