What Does a 60-year-old Hottie Know That I Don’t?

Has anyone else read Fit For Life by Harvey and Marilyn Diamond?  I’ve seen mixed feedback online.  On the one hand, the Diamonds (who are divorced now and probably would not like being referred to in the generic plural) are called quacks and frauds. On the other, the gals from Skinny Bitch cited some of their research and my sister said it was a book worth reading over and over again.  I’m not sure, but I do know that this:  If you look like this when you’re old enough to be on Medicare, I’ll listen to your advice about health and nutrition.

Seriously, look at her butt. She's in her 60 for Pete's sake!

Unless someone photoshopped the hell out of these pictures, she's lookin' good.

So, right away, the book draws me in because chapter one is entitled “Diets Don’t Work” and because one of his major premises is that your body is capable of maintaining itself as long as we keep it nourished and allow it to do its job.  I believe all of  that wholeheartedly.

So far, I’ve been intrigued by one thing in particular.  The Diamonds assert that one of the basic tenets of long-term health and weight management is the observation of the body’s natural cycle of elimination.  In short, our bodies spend about 8 hours (noon to 8 pm) hungry and taking in food periodically.  They call this appropriation.  Then, it moves to 8 hours of absorption, digestion, cell repair, etc. from 8 pm to 4 am.  This stage is assimilation.  From 4 am to noon, the body enters the phase of elimination where it cleanses out toxins and whatever is left over from the earlier phase.

To the Diamonds, the elimination phase is key.  If the body does not have time to properly cleanse and protect itself from toxins and waste materials, it will not function properly.  In fact, the body will store these byproducts as far from the organs as possible in fat cells.  If that is true, then it means our bodies will have a vested interest in staying fat!  Could this be why weight just won’t go sometimes?  Could the feeling that my body is not cooperating or even fighting me be real?  I thought that was just how trying to lose weight felt.  Maybe it doesn’t have to be as frustrating as it used to be.

I spent a little time thinking about this idea that the body has a natural cycle that should be respected and observed, and I think that could be true.  It seems that all of nature has a rhythm or a pattern.  Why not my digestive system?  But, then, how do I respect it?  The Diamonds say to eat light, fruit-only breakfasts, if you have to have something at all, until you’re sure your body is ready.  They also advocate eating a diet that is 70% fresh fruits and vegetables in order to maintain hydration.

I’m going to try to observe the body’s rhythms a little more.  I’m going to toss out all the head-trash about 3 meals a day and a balanced breakfast, for a while anyway, and just pay attention to what my body needs and when.  And, and this one is big and difficult but totally essential, I’m going to attempt to put as few toxins in my body as possible.  No processed food.  Nothing fake.  Nothing chemically-laden.  Not even the vegan-friendly fake stuff.  I want nothing but clearly identifiable, largely raw ingredients.  Which means a whole lot of this:and none of this:and just when I was really starting to like it, too.

I think observing the body’s natural cycles and rhythms will be my goal for March.  I’ll keep you posted about how that works.