Despite what many people seem to believe, weight loss can be simple, natural and permanent. I am living testimony to this, as I have released around 160 pounds with a lifestyle of raw foods and natural health care, since 2002. At my heaviest, I weighed nearly 300 pounds and was on many medications. These days I am slim, happy, vibrantly healthy and take no medications. In this article, I want to share with you seven simple tips that helped me release the excess weight and keep it off for over six years now:
1. Stop Eating Refined Sugars and Processed Starches
Ingredients such as white sugar, white flour, high fructose corn syrup and other refined/processed/packaged foods are very hard for the body to recognize or use. Foods that contain gluten, such as wheat, are especially challenging to process. Omitting all these kinds of “foods” completely from your intake (e.g. standard bread, cookies, cakes, pasta, pizza, etc.) can lead to remarkable health improvements.
2. Eat at Least 50% Fresh Raw Organic Food
Fresh raw organic foods such as fruits and vegetables are easily recognized and used as fuel for the body. By consuming at least 50% of your intake as fresh, raw, organic food, you can kick-start weight loss and healing. When the body receives fuel it can easily use, it naturally sheds excess weight and moves towards vibrant health.
3. Exercise
These bodies were made to move. However, many people seem rather sedentary. I recommend daily exercise of some kind you enjoy…whether that’s walking, yoga, rebounding, dancing or whatever appeals to you…aim to break a sweat and get your heart rate up at least once daily. Remember that a little consistent daily activity is much more effective over time than random outbursts of intense action.
4. Drink at Least One Green Drink Daily
Green foods such as celery, lettuce, cucumber and so on help us to alkalize, remineralize and balance. I recommend drinking at least one green drink daily.Green vegetable juice is the ideal choice from my perspective. You may also enjoy making green smoothies (blending fruits with green leafy vegetables like spinach, parsley or lettuce). You can even simply mix a dried green powder into water or other liquids.
5. Cleanse the Colon
Colon hydrotherapy can assist remarkably well with detox and releasing old waste. Most people have many pounds of old waste sitting in their intestines. Professional colonics or even enemas at home can profoundly assist weight loss, healing, detox crises and even managing cravings. It is recommended to cleanse the colon at least twice a year.
6. Drink Plenty of Pure Water
Chronic dehydration is common and this isn’t surprising when examining the “Standard American Diet” of processed, dried-out foods, coffee and sugary drinks. Water acts as a carrier, helping flush out toxins. Hydrate your body by eating more fresh foods and drinking clean water daily (e.g. 1/2 oz water for every lb of body weight, so a 120 pound person might drink 60oz of water daily).
7. Chew Your Food Thoroughly
The stomach doesn’t have teeth—digestion truly begins in the mouth. The more you thoroughly chew and insalivate foods, the more you’ll assimilate nutrients. People who chew thoroughly usually also eat less, as the stomach has time to relay to the brain that enough food has been eaten. Aim to chew so thoroughly that each mouthful slides easily down the throat by itself.
I sincerely hope that these simple tips help on your own journey to more vibrant health. Remember to take it slowly, at a pace that feels good to you and that if I can do this, anyone can.
Angela lost an amazing 160 pounds with a raw lifestyle, reversing morbid obesity. Her website, www.RawReform.com shares her remarkable story, along with inspiration for others through videos, before/after pictures and blogs (http://rawreform.blogspot.com). Angela offers books, consultations and lectures internationally. Her book Raw Emotions explores raw transformations beyond the physical level.
