Sharon Lebon shopping at GFS, Missoula, MT

As the New Year is fast approaching, and those holiday pounds are weighing us down, I want to share with you the lifestyle adjustments I have made to keep my weight steady, and my body healthy.   I emphasize “lifestyle adjustments” or “changes” as I do not believe in quick weight loss diets that stress your body and your mind. All of us have experienced the disappointment of losing weight only to have the same pounds return in record time.  There is no quick fix for weight gain, so just forget the promises of the “diet-du-jour”. Just think, if you lose weight at the rate of 1 lb per week, by June 1st, 2012, you will have lost 22 lbs. of fat – wow!

1. Drink water instead of soda. Drink coconut water instead of sports drinks. After your first cup of coffee, drink green tea.  Since our body is made of 65-90% water, you need to keep replenishing your cells.  Soda is contains chemicals and diet soda contains Aspartame, which is poison to the body according to many medical experts.  Coconut water is delicious and natural and contains the electrolytes your body craves after exercise.  Green tea has a million health benefits so put it in your cabinet. It also comes with wonderful flavors such as lime, which is wonderfully refreshing iced in the summer.
2. Eat whole foods only and eat clean. I prefer organic whole foods but depending upon where you live, organic can be more expensive. The price of organic foods is coming down though as the demand increases.  The Good Food Store in Missoula, Montana is a great place for natural and bulk organic foods. Also, I find that buying from a local farmer’s market can cut the price, and can also be invigorating as you shop with like-minded people. A wonderful book, and series of books, is The Eat-Clean Diet Recharged by Tosca Reno, www.eatcleandiet.com.  This book is a practical, no-nonsense, “how-to” book to change your eating habits. It has a suggested menu for losing weight, families, gluten-free and vegan.
3. Consider eating raw.  I know that this sounds drastic, but you probably are incorporating many raw foods into your diet already. That salad at lunch is raw. The fruit you eat is raw.  Sure it would be great to eat all raw, but let’s be realistic as “cooking” raw can take all day. So make the choices that work for you. If you cannot eat all raw, and I can’t, strive for 50% – 50% to start, and try to work your way up to 80% raw and 20% cooked food.  There are some wonderful books I can recommend:Raw Food/Real World: 100 Recipes to Get the Glow by Matthew Kenney and Sarma Melngailis http://www.kenneycuisine.com/matthew-kenney/Raw Food Made Easy For 1 or 2 People by Jennifer Cornbleet http://www.learnrawfood.com/Hooked on Raw: Rejuvenate Your Body and Soul With Nature’s Living Foods by Rhio http://www.rawfoodinfo.com/home/home_a.html
4. Make your sweet treat dark chocolate. A wonderful 80% – 90% cocoa content chocolate square will soothe your sweet tooth while providing powerful anti-oxidants that improve blood circulation and fight disease.
5. Sleep.  After all you do your body needs to rest.  During sleep your body rebuilds and rejuvenates itself leading to better overall health.  Don’t skimp here – sleep is extremely important.

Wow, that’s a lot of changes!  I know, but even adapting one or two of them, or modifying a few of them, can lead to better health as well as weight loss.

Now, one last thing: this is the best book on cutting edge health that I have ever read.  I have worked with Dr. Ping Wu at the Ping Clinic for several years and believe in her philosophy of proactive preventive healthcare.  This book can change your life – all for the better.  Be Young and Beyond by Taichi Tzu, Ph.D., and Ping Wu, M.D., Ph.D. http://www.beyoungandbeyond.com/

Happy New Year.  Eat, Sleep and Dress Well.
Sharon Lebon

Sharon LeBon is not a medical expert. Please consult with your physician before beginning any new diet or exercise plan.