If you have tried countless diets, cutting calories and increasing exercise, acting under the “eat less, move more to lose weight” philosophy, this is going to be a treat. Today I’m going to tell you about an approach that says you can eat what you want, move less and still lose weight.

Slow down to increase your metabolism! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: People are not calorie banks but chemistry sets. Most often, when someone finds out I am a Holistic Health Coach, they start asking me questions about what they should eat or apologize for what they eat now. What is often ignored is the key word “Holistic” and the concept that it is more than just food that has an impact on our health. In fact, it is much more. Being able to burn calories and sustain a healthy weight isn’t just about WHAT we eat, but WHO WE ARE BEING when we eat.

In Marc David’s book “The Slow Down Diet” he explains that metabolism is defined as “the sum total of all of the chemical reactions in the body, plus the sum total of all our thoughts, feelings, beliefs and experiences.” Research in the mind-body sciences has demonstrated clearly the connection between what we think and feel and the chemistry of the body. Stress, relaxation, pleasure, depression, prayer, pets and other people have a profound effect on our lives. You could probably think of a time in your life when you were feeling down, had low energy and felt a bit sluggish then someone calls you and says they have two tickets to your favorite band and you’re going! Suddenly your adrenaline kicks in and you can feel your body start humming again, you feel more alive and in a great mood. That’s how quickly your metabolism can change.

We lose power when we surrender our dignity and inner authority to a job, money, hurtful emotions and a life of speed. Personal power and metabolic power are one and the same. I highly recommend reading Marc David’s book. In it, he goes into much greater detail than I can in these 5 minutes, but here I will give you three strategies for turning on your metabolic power:

First, upgrade the quality of your food. Remove any processed, low fat, artificially sweetened, sugar free foods in exchange for nutrient dense, whole foods and organic produce, meats and dairy when possible. For more about when to buy organic, listen to the previous episode #4. When the body is receiving the nutrients it desires, it doesn’t call for more.

Second: don’t skip meals. Did you know that the body naturally metabolizes food most efficiently around noon? So, eat a good quality breakfast, a larger, good quality lunch and a small, good quality dinner. Give the body a chance to digest while you sleep and avoid eating late at night.

Lastly, SLOW DOWN and ENJOY your food. It may sound weird, but practice breathing deeply, put your fork or sandwich down in between bites. Rushing through puts the body in digestive stress which decreases it’s ability to burn calories. Pay attention to things like the smell, texture and taste of the food. In short; be present while you’re eating. Human beings always seek pleasure over pain and eating is one of those great pleasures. But when we rush through it, we miss the experience and the body thinks you skipped it, making you want to eat more. So take time to eat and enjoy!

If you ever need help with your kitchen skills or simple healthy meal ideas, just log onto my website, www.supersimplehealthy.com and check out the list of cooking classes by clicking on the “Schedule Now” button.

Until next time: Keep it simple. Be Healthy.