Sound Dietary Tips

Any form of dietary discipline will yield good results. Sticking to just about any program will help us feel inspired, strong, and powerful. It may also reduce the old waistline. Perhaps the drama comes into the story when we either don't stick to our well laid plans or we jump around from one program to another...low carb one week and low fat the next. By the third week, it's all carbs and all fats all the time.

This is one reason why I believe and trust in ancient health programs. Dietary suggestions that have lasted for 5,000 years are no longer fads. They are most likely true for most people most of the time. Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda are two ancient healing traditions that I've been exposed to. I've personally been powerful healed by Chinese medicinal cures twice and I've been following simple Ayurvedic lifestyle suggestions for long time.

Some dietary tips from Ayurveda that have influenced the Yogic Diet program that I teach and the yogic lifestyle that I aim to live are:

1. Have two glasses of warm water first thing in the morning before any other food, drink, or even teeth brushing. This is hydrating and moves the bowels. See, you really don't need coffee.

2. Eat mostly fruits before noon. When I eat 4-5 servings of fruit before lunch, I always lose weight and feel way more energetic than if I eat grains. This is an Ayurvedic suggestion that I discovered last fall. And this is another way to ensure that I get my 5-7 servings of fruits, veggies, fiber, vitamins, and minerals each day.

3. Eat the large meal of the day at lunch time. Hot basmati rice, beans, lentils, warm veggies, and a small salad...now that's what I call lunch!

4. Take a 10 minute walk after each meal. This so aids in digestion and rids our bodies of that post meal sluggish feeling.

5. Eat a light dinner of mostly cooked vegetables.

Of course, even more important than the food that we eat are the thoughts that we think. Our good health, happiness, weight, beauty, and energy levels are highly determined by our thoughts. Therefore, practices such as silent meditation and thinking about positive outcomes are central to ancient medicines and to the yogic diet program as well.

Must Do Yoga

We have recently relocated from Indonesia to Kuwait. And it looks like this will be a great assignment for our family. Life will be the same, yet different here.

I am also the same and different here. In some ways, I feel like I left some luggage/baggage in Indonesia that I no longer need. For example, in Indonesia I was always on a bit of a diet. I was thinking about cutting carbs and I wouldn't hardly eat rice. But you can be sure that I got my carbs in other ways...because the body must have balance at the end of the day. You know it's true.

Here in Kuwait, I am eating basmati rice every day with my legumes, yogurt, and veggies. I have a bit of raw sugar and whole milk in my chai too. I am no longer on a "diet" and I feel great, look fine, and have lots of energy. I am not gaining weight and I feel very balanced.

I am also the same in this new location. I must do yoga. I experimented with morning exercise classes with my lovely new neighbors and friends and I found myself so off balance! The cardio and intense exercise felt great at the time (like a cup of strong coffee). However, my mind was more agitated and my energy would crash in the afternoons.

When I stay home to do my yoga practice, I feel light, energized, positive, focused, peaceful, clear, and basically happy and pleasant to be around.

Also, at a certain age, pounding and pounding takes its toll on the lower back and knees. Thank God for yoga! I feel so blessed to have this practice.

May your own practices grow and deepen. May they support you through the ups and downs and changes of life. Some practices of the Yogic Diet are: moderate exercise, good nutrition, positive thinking, prayer, study, service, and meditation.

Love and Blessings,
Monique