Naturally Thin the Holistic Way

I’m a big fan of Bethenny Frankel (you may know her from Bravo’s The Real Housewives of New York City) so I picked up her book Naturally Thin and read it cover to cover in less than a week! I was interested to know how her tips matched up with my own holistic philosophy.

I think they’re right on track – especially with the concept that diets dont work — but with one exception: Bethenny admits to skipping meals. I understand this happens sometimes, but it shouldn’t become a habit. Eat only when hungry but please don’t starve yourself!

And now for a snapshot of her “rules” and my interpretation as a holistic Health Counselor:

1. Your Diet is a Bank Account: This one is about being smart and keeping it balanced and varied — the carbs, proteins and fats — for optimal nutrition.

2. You Can Have it All, Just Not All at Once: Everything in moderation but watch the sugar and unhealthy fat intake. Better yet, eliminate those altogether if possible.

3. Taste Everything, Eat Nothing: Not like it sounds, but rather fill up with a fiber-rich healthy snack or small meal before going to a party. This will allow you to taste the delectible items there but you won’t be tempted to make a meal out of them.

4. Pay Attention: Often, we wolf down a meal in the car or in front of the computer or TV which causes us to feel unsatisfied. Be present when you eat and chew thoroughly.

5. Downsize Now!: Be aware of healthy portion sizes and that restuarant meals are often super-sized. Don’t be afraid to take leftovers home and use a smaller salad plate to serve meals at home.

6. Cancel Your Membership in the Clean Plate Club: This is tied to the rule above. When faced with large portion sizes, share or doggie bag it!

Now for my favorites …

7. Check Yourself before You Wreck Yourself: Identify and deconstruct your cravings. Are you lacking the vitamins and minerals your body needs? Is your craving tied to emotions? Before you binge, think about what it is you want to eat. Breathe, drink some water and get clear before the craving takes over.

8. Know Thyself: The concept of bioindividuality means that everyone is different and needs different foods. How and when to eat is not a generality. Get to know what your body needs and how it reacts. This goes for primary foods too like exercise, rest, meditation and self care!

9. Get Real: Ditch the packaged processed foods and go for whole foods – organic and local are best. Keep it simple and skip anything with more than five ingredients or with ingredients you can’t pronounce.

10. Good for You: When in doubt, do what’s good for you. Don’t let your diet keep you from participating in life. Exercise, get adequate sleep and most importantly — LOVE YOURSELF!