There is time to achieve that summer-ready body. But inside it must be a summer-ready heart. The two make up the dynamic duo.
Bring out the take-charge person in you. That confident, authoritative, in-control aspect of who you are resides in you, and is just waiting to be acknowledged.
Once you have recognized the dynamic you, allow your dominant self to take over.
Once done, you can relinquish all responsibility to the new you taking over. Everest is you! This is the battle cry of the warrior in you.
So now, we just need a battle plan. A popular saying reads, “The highest mountain to conquer is the self.”
If you take time to reflect on this, the realization will hit you—that every victory or failure is in your hands, and no one else’s. Therefore, there is nobody to blame but yourself. In short, the winner and loser are just waiting to be declared by you.
To do:
1. Have clear goals—Set a clear goal, say, weight loss of 5 lbs in two weeks. This one is easy. Or, a slimmer you (by 10 lbs) in 30 days. This is doable. The same applies to weight gain—you need a goal and deadline.
2. Freedom from the scale—Don’t allow yourself to be enslaved by the weighing scale. Go by the general weight range for men and women.
3. Support group—You need to be with a supportive group of family members and friends. For example, if you are giving up on alcohol, don’t hang out with drinkers.
4. Exercise—Introduce an exercise of your choice which you will enjoy most. For example: yoga, Zumba, boxing, swimming, or just a simple 30-minute brisk walk, when done with regularity (three to four times weekly) will guarantee fat burning.
5. Eat right—Do you want instant weight loss that is safe? This is what you need to do. Analyze and scrutinize everything you are eating. More than what you’re consuming, look into the portions. The fastest way to lose weight is to go 100-percent vegan. Difficult? Then go 50-percent vegetarian. Translation: Half of your plate should be vegetables.
Breakfast:
Green Juice Tonic
Ingredients:
- 1 jicama (singkamas)
- 6 leaves romaine lettuce
- ¼ inch of ginger
- ¼ tsp moringa leaves
- 1 tsp coco-honey or coco sugar
- 1 whole carrot
Mix in a blender and strain, or use a juicer.
Add one cup of fresh fruits. Keep your breakfast fare light and raw. Eat nothing cooked. If you get hungry mid-morning, have one whole apple.
Lunch:
You can eat a portion of protein, a big helping of vegetables and only ¼ cup of carbohydrate. Choice of dessert is limited to ¼ cup serving only.
Mid-afternoon snack:
Eat a whole apple or orange. Add almonds to sustain you until evening.
Dinner:
One big bowl of salad (olive oil/lemon dressing only); baked, steamed or grilled fish/chicken (minus skin); and no dessert. No midnight snacking. If you’re hungry close to bedtime, take your green juice tonic again or eat half an apple.
6. Drink up—Whatever diet you choose to adopt, always remember to drink 10-15 glasses of water daily.
Supplements
These natural helpers boost and speed up metabolism:
- Chili—This raises the thermogenic level (heat level) of the body, thus the effect is a faster metabolism. A blood circulation booster.
- Green tea—An antioxidant tea that strengthens the immune system, and which acts like a natural upper or strong stimulant.
- Garcinia cambogia—This fruit looks like a small pumpkin and is green to pale yellow in color. It has recently received considerable media attention because of its purported effects on weight loss.
- Chromium—This is a mineral our bodies use in small amounts for normal body functions, such as digesting food. Chromium exists in many natural foods, including brewer’s yeast, meat, potatoes (especially the skins), cheeses, molasses, spices, whole-grain breads and cereals. Chromium helps to move blood sugar (glucose) from the bloodstream into the cells to be used as energy and to turn fats, carbohydrates and proteins into energy.
L-carnitine injections
There are various body contouring regimen packages using radio frequency. These are noninvasive and nonsurgical and yield quick results. Add L-carnitine injections to speed up fat burning.
Everything emanates from within. The real glow of summer springs from a heart ready for life and all its wonders. It’s the joie de vivre—the love of life that is the springboard of youthfulness. How do we achieve this?
By recapturing your lost innocence. Look at children; they have a ready smile on their faces, and their desire to explore is spontaneous.
This enthusiastic attitude toward life and people has never left us. It is that part of ourselves which never grows old.
Today’s affirmation: “I am summertime.”
Love and light!
E-mail the author at coryquirino1@yahoo.com