"The eight-week program consists of small steps that build on each other until, by the time you complete it, you have laid the foundation for healthy living. You can then decide how much of the program you want to maintain on a permanent basis. It's all about changing behavior. You are probably not addicted to drugs, but you may have other habits that are keeping you from experiencing optimum health." -Andrew Weil, author of 8 Weeks To Optimum Health
I found this book on my mothers bookshelf... or it found me. - M-Z
WEEK THREE. (of Andrew Weil's Eight-Week program)
Congratulations! You are embarking on an exciting and healthy adventure of restyling your life in order to attain optimum health.
Projects: Both projects this week involve taking further steps to protect you from toxins: chemical toxins in food & energetic toxins in the home.
-Make a commitment to buy organic produce.
You wouldn't think those pretty, shiny red & green apples in the produce section should be avoided. Fruits and vegetables are often sprayed with pesticides, coated with fungicides, or full of toxins that were applied to the soil to betaken up by the roots of the plants. I was so intrigued by the "dirty dozen": The twelve fruits and vegetables that are found to be the most contaminated. -Strawberries, bell peppers, spinach, cherries, peaches, apples, celery, green beans, cucumbers, etc. I was shocked. Shop organic if you can... at least for your fruits, vegetables, and meats.
-If you use an electric blanket, heating pad, clock... STOP. And or course, don't stand next to microwaves.
Both projects this week involved taking further steps to protect yourself from toxins: chemical toxins in your food and energetic toxins in your home. This specific project was more of me "just being conscious." Being aware of the items in your home or everyday life have hazardous ionizing radiation.
Diet:
-Make a conscious effort to eat an extra serving of fruits and vegetables with at least one meal this week.
-Eat fish at least twice this week.
-Replace at least one serving of meat with a soy food of your choice.
I have been a pescatarian since July of 2012. I eat a lot of morning star. Morning star is the largest vegetarian food producer in the world. They use a lot of soybeans to make their products. Here I was thinking I was doing something... eating "healthy". When I started reading this weeks diet I was surprised to find out that soybeans (according to Dr. Weil) should be added to that "dirty dozen" list we discussed previously. So I did some further research on morning star... only to find out they DO NOT use organic product. We learned to read the food labels in week #1, I guess I just "assumed" morning star was using the most organic products ( or didn't even realize there were "bad" fruits & vegetables) It all gets a bit overwhelming. Sometimes, during this 8 weeks, I've thought "Ignorance was bliss" Now that I have acquired all this information, I can't just ignore it. Now, I have to start an organic garden. :)
Supplements:
-With lunch or your largest meal take 400 to 800 IU of vitamin E and 200 micrograms of selenium.
I have to admit I did not go out and purchase the selenium. I plan on doing this program over and over again with the ones I love. Each time I'll get a little closer to getting it perfect.
Exercise:
-Increase your daily walk to twenty minutes.
-Do some simple stretching to improve your flexibility.
I've been guiding myself through yoga stretches for about a year or so now. I look forward to joining my first class next month.
Mental/Spiritual: *Recommendations that fall under this heading are most important.
-Add the next exercise to your breath work.
-Ask friends about inspirational books they recommend on spirituality, self-help, poetry, biography, etc. Select one to start this week.
I am finishing up a book called "Thoughts are Things" for the fourth time. This is a book I read this summer that CHANGED my life. It resonated with me in a way no book has ever did. It put to words feelings I had been having and couldn't explain. It was actually the book that kick started me into a wanting and achieving a healthier lifestyle. The next book up is "The Power of Now" I am on a learning binge and I love it. I am fully aware of the power of learning.
-Make a list of those friends and acquaintances in whose company you feel more alive, happier, and more optimistic. Resolve to spend some time with them one day this week.
I did just this.
Optional (but highly recommended)
-Buy more flowers.
I didn't buy more flowers... I went and picked dandelions and sunflowers in a field. I guess "weeds" still grow in the winter.
-Find out how to grow some of your own food, even if it just in containers on a terrace or patio.
My mother gardened. We had an apple tree in the front yard, a pear tree in the backyard. We grew tomatoes, cucumbers, and herbs. I love gardening. Its nostalgic, its relaxing, and you're growing your own organic food. I will have a garden this spring.
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Overall, this week went great. How did it go for you?
Love,
Maryam
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