It Begins Today, Drumroll Please

I Welcome you to this simple blog about my plan to get fit and stay healthy using Ayurveda's five thousand year old health strategies for balancing the mind and body.

I decided to blog about my 30 day Ayurevda cleanse because I believe that it’s a great way to chart my progress. Besides, I need something to keep me focused and on task which blogging tends to do. I am not going to worry about weighing in or measurements at this point. I think, to obsess about weight loss tends to add stress and urgency to lose weight and if I am noticing I’m not shedding the pounds quick enough, I may just go for a chocolate croissant. Besides don’t you think we know our bodies well enough to know if we have lost weight without stepping on the scale?

We’ve read many books and tried numerous diet fads. Many of us (I’m including you because I pray I’m not alone here) who want to lose weight know what I’m talking about, especially if those pounds are as reluctant as anything to come off. We start diets, cleanses, fasts, anything short of starvation. Most times we get bored and lose interest, especially if the results we are seeking are not immediately achieved.

However, sometimes we discover something that we absolutely find no difficulty in maintaining. For me, it was a green smoothie challenge, which I totally loved. In fact, I’m addicted! It was the easiest challenged ever!!! The problem is the results I was looking for just did not materialize, or should I say, stayed materialized in my midsection, and I have too much junk in my trunk. Darn those extra pounds for loving me so much!!!

I am at a stage in life where I don’t want to be constantly preoccupied about my weight. I want to continue to be healthy and have enough energy to keep up with my 12-year-old son and then have some to spare.

So, this is the thing. I’ve been on this mission since after my son was born when I realized I could not use his birth as an excuse for the extra weight anymore. I kept telling myself “I just had a baby”, but after 12 years, that does not hold water. During the years between when he was born until the present I had many excuses, some I must confess were very creative. My intent is that by starting this blog I will have no more excuses or justifications.

Yesterday, I went to see an Ayurvedic physician (Vaidya). I am pretty impressed with his assessment, which he got by reading my pulse for 30 seconds. Although, I must stress he is not a M.D. and his advice should not be given the same weight as a M.D.. Fortunately, other than wanting to lose some unwanted pounds I am very healthy.

The following is the 30-day program that I am starting today. The only proviso is I will continue to drink my green smoothie in the mornings without the forbidden fruits of course.

His evaluation:
➢ Good pulse, strong, vitality, pleasant
➢ Some blockage, metabolism slow and sluggish
➢ Pressure on mind and nervous system
➢ Heaviness in muscles, tissues, and joints
➢ Some fatigue in joints, weak circulation
➢ Some ama in pulse

His recommendations:
➢ Massage with sesame oil
➢ Be trim tea with honey 3xs daily, prior to breakfast, lunch, and dinner
➢ Barley water 4 cups daily
➢ Exercise very important – 1 hour daily Recommends brisk walk until light sweat

Diet

Breakfast any of the following
1. Greens chopped with garlic, some roasted sesame seeds, few walnuts, pecans or pine nuts. Put into a tortilla with pesto sauce roll and eat.
2. Flat bread with pesto or honey roasted nuts, pumpkin seeds, flax seed, roll in flat bread and eat.
3. Barley water with greens, ginger, basil as soup

Lunch (absolutely no grains)
1. Flat bread 1-2 cups of vegetables, leafy greens, steamed with dal mung, split pea, or red lentils. If desired can have cottage cheese. Steamed chicken or fish only at lunch.
2. Pasta (small portion if necessary with green leafy vegetables)
3. Fruit crisp, pie (thin crust)

Mid-noon snack
➢ Digestive lassi
➢ Herbal tea

Dinner
1. Flatbreads, vegetables, dal soup

Foods to Avoid
➢ Anything raw, cold, frozen, packaged, processed
➢ Mushroom, banana, avocado, cheese, chocolate, ice cream, bread, dairy

Herbal Program (www.mapi.us)
➢ MP 16
➢ V 2352
➢ Aloe vera juice
➢ Digest tone
➢ Be trim tea
➢ Honey

How did I do on my first day?

I added a routine recommended by Deepak Chopra, M.D. from his Perfect Weight book that is to sit at the table mindfully each time I ate no matter how small a portion. I found today it added a ritual to eating that made my meals enjoyable and special.

I know aloe vera juice has amazing healing qualities but it sure taste yucky. This morning, I put it in my smoothie to conceal the taste. Did I say I love smoothies? Yup, I really do.

It was extremely hot today, near 43 degrees. After I picked up my son from camp I suggested we go to Starbucks. Big mistake. Before I knew it we were driving home and I was enjoying a nice cold, icy, green tea frappacino, whipped cream and all! Holly molly, I totally forgot I could not have it. But as soon as it was on my lips I remembered. So to make amends, I drank it entirely mindfully, enjoying each and every cold sip.

Brisk walk? It is way too hot for that, do you think if I stand outside in this heat sweating it counts? Yeah, I didn’t think so either.