Like many of us, perhaps there were many excesses during the holiday season? Did you have one too many chocolate kisses? A slice of or an extra slice of that special cake ? Rich foods you normally pass up – did you make an exception last week because it’s … the holiday season ? Did your yoga practice or exercise program get off the track because … it’s the holiday season? It’s a celebration feast or you were traveling or … you had out of town guests? They are all valid reasons/excuses … it was the holiday season ! We are lucky to even have this “problem” as sadly, unlike the reports in the mainstream, many had another kind of a problem – a bit of hunger, yes, in USA, supposedly the richest country in the world.
So for the lucky ones who truly experienced if not the spiritual, at least the physical “abundance”, we come back to the mat, the studios, the gyms, the tracks, the weights … with all kind of New Years Resolution – most typically to lead a more healthy lifestyle and on the superficial level, to many lucky ones who got to indulge (I did not say gluttony!) – that means – weight loss.
In that vein, it is noted that if you slip into the excesses, the binges, the let go and eat whatever comes your way during the last 30+ days, most are feeling a bit of “guilt” and go into shaking off that guilt by setting unrealistic New Years Resolution. Guilt is not a good way to start the year – Let go of Guilt, Shame, Fear …
To lose weight – isn’t it simple ? You exercise more and you eat less. Simple, No? Actually No. You can eat more and exercise “right” with intelligence … That “exercise” does not just mean mindless workouts but a work-in to better balance the nervous system and the hormones, glands/chemicals in our body – and for our internal organs to function with more effectiveness and efficiently to keep disease at bay. Seemingly counter-intuitive, yoga style such as Restorative Yoga actually aids in weight management as another name for this style is called a “Rest & Digest” yoga and it’s about not only digesting in a physical sense but in a psychic sense as well … No surprise, I lost 10 lbs once I was doing regular restorative practice – Before, I was burning enough calories and I was eating less calories but … Our body is not based on simple arithmetic of calorie count – it’s more complicated. We are each, complicated but the solution is surprisingly … simple.
So … one thing we do want to do is give our digestion a little break – meaning, it’s been worked to overdrive during the holiday season to digest digest and eliminate and your GIT is a bit … tired. In fact, so tired from the irregularity from travels or excesses from indulging and no longer functioning to digest optimally nor eliminate properly. It’s like after too much partying, one is … tired. Let’s give our GIT a little break the first 2 weeks of 2016. It’s in the Japanese tradition as well to PAUSE 7 days after the New Year by cleansing the system by eating a very simple plain food, “Nanakusagayu” – seven herbs porridge…
It’s not dieting but cleansing… so difficult living in the regular world where “celebration” is synonymous with eating – nothing wrong with that as long as it’s truly nourishing. EAT, Eat, eat … it’s okay after pressing that PAUSE button. Then that REFRESH button.
Apparently Americans on the average gain 5-10 lbs during the holiday season – gasp ! And as I fearfully got on the scale I had avoided, I am an “average” – from 116lb to 121lbs. I am so … normal? I indulged in MOCHI too much … it shows.
So … what to do?
Exploring how to do it without losing my energy and level of activity…
or some might say, “sense of humor”:)
Researching. Just cutting out refined white sugar and any kind of meat may have to do for now.
Kushi’s Macrobiotic-ish meals to start as soon as I finish these wonderful biscotti baked by a student.
Barbara’s Biscotti, Bravo Biscotti is delicious … sharing:)
Thank you Barbara for such a sweet gift ! Your Biscotti is delicious. I love the scent of cinnamon – such a treat.
Thank you !
Reminded, cleansing and purifying is not about austerity but … nourishing and loving everything that was made with love and care – which includes none other than …YOU. When food is made with love and care, it’s all good.
The energy in bedded in that food is that of … love and care. How could it not be …
GOOD.
photos to follow …
