8 Weeks to Optimum Health - Beginning

This is a wonderful book if you are interested in health and nutrition and applying it to your life.  The book is written by Dr. Andrew Weil.  I first saw Dr. Weil in an interview on a television show.  He caught my attention in the way he looked at the whole body when diagnosing a condition.  This book went on the market several years ago.  We purchased it and I read it.  I put some of the thoughts of the book into our lifestyle, but did not try the whole program.  I guess now that I am reaching age 45, I am more interested in working and changing my lifestyle to keep my health.

Week One is starting for me today.  Here are the items I am supposed to concentrate on for the first week of this program:

• Throw out Partially Hydrogenated Oils & Transfatty Acids.  Use Extra Virgin Olive Oil.  (This is not much of a problem now since the USDA began regulating the use of these oils.  Dr. Weil was about 10 years ahead of them!)  Throw out artificial sweeteners.  (No problem.  I won't touch them.)  Throw out anything with artificial coloring.  (I'll have to read labels.)  Fat intake should = 30% of calories.  Example:  2000 calories/day = 600 from fat (70 grams).  Keep saturated fats as low as possible.
• Eat broccoli twice this week.  Broccoli is one of the healthiest vegetables.  You can peel the fibrous stems of broccoli and they taste pretty good too.  Eat salmon once this week.  Salmon is high is omega 3's.  Be careful of the source of your Salmon.  Wild Alaskan Salmon is recommended.
• Supplements:  Vitamin C, 200 mg and Vitamin D3, 1000 IU per day.  (I'll have to check with my Doctor on this.)
• Exercise - Walk 10 minutes/day - 5 days this week.
• Mental/Spiritual - make a list of illnesses or injuries you recovered from in the past 2 years.  This exercise helps you realize the healing capacity of your body.  Practice breath observation for 5 minutes everyday - sit comfortably with your back straight, lightly close your eyes, and simply inhale and exhale concentrating on your breath and the points at which one phase changes into the other.  AND buy some flowers.  Flowers show the beauty of nature and delight your senses.  (I think I like LOVE this one!)

Dr. Weil, of course, discusses each of these in detail in his book.

My purpose for beginning this program is to:

1. Lose a little weight.  In the past 6 - 7 months, I have gained a little and my clothing is getting tight.  I'd rather lose weight than buy new clothing.  Definitely!
2. Get on an exercise program.  That has definitely been lacking.  After tax season, I used my bonus to buy a nice elliptical trainer.  It's time to put that into use before my husband and son get on to me!
3. It will do my husband and me a world of good to get our diet back under control.

I'll let you know how my first week goes next week and let you know what the second week looks like.

Healthy living!

Judy :)