PERFECT POSTURE
The way we stand says a lot about us. It can portray our emotions as well as the general health of our bodies. Lifestyles today erode our natural ability for good posture – driving for hours or spending all day at a desk can all affect our posture. Long term, these misalignments can have a big impact on the health of our spines. Safeguarding your spine and posture does not require a large investment in terms of time.
To perfect your posture, stand with your feet hip-distance apart with your weight evenly distributed. Soften your knees as you pull up through your legs. Keep the hips square and level. Lengthen through the spine and contract the abdominals, sucking the belly button into the back of the spine as you extend tall. Drop the rib cage, pulling the lower ribs towards the pubic bone. The shoulders should be down and relaxed, so the neck is as long as possible. Breathe smoothly.
DAY 4
Today’s mantra: I feel strong and focused.
Today’s step target: 10,000
Tip/testimony from volunteer: When you first set out to lose weight, keep as busy as possible with other things so you don’t keep thinking about it – and keep out of the kitchen so you aren’t tempted to open the fridge all the time! Robyn, 52
| On rising | 1 glass of water plus cup of coffee, green tea or tea, or hot water and lemon |
| Suggested activity zone | 15-minute walk (step target 1800–2000) plus abdominal and core stability exercises |
| Breakfast | 2 glasses of water 1 grapefruit followed by 1 slice of stoneground, wholewheat bread with a scrape of butter and yeast extract |
| Mid-morning spruce juice | choose a juice from those listed |
| Suggested activity zone | 20-minute walk (step target 2400) |
| Lunch | 1 glass of water a lunch from the options suggested on pages 71–9 |
| Mid-afternoon | 2 glasses of water |
| snack | a snack from the options listed on page 17 |
| Suggested activity zone | 30-minute walk (step target 3600) |
| Satisfying soup Dinner | 1 bowl of FOG or Immune-boosting soup |
| 2 glasses of water | |
| a Starch Curfew meal from the selection on pages 80–97 | |
| Suggested activity zone | 15–20-minute walk (step target 2200) |
| Bedtime drink | chamomile tea, hot milk or soya milk, or hot water and lemon |
ABDOMINAL EXERCISE TROUBLESHOOTING
Problem: lower tummy muscles “popping out”
Sometimes as we lift, the lower abdominal muscles can “pop” out. This can create less stability in the lower back as well as not helping to flatten the abdominal wall. Here are a couple of solutions to help train the abdominal wall to flatten.
1. Check you have rib – hip connection (see page 23) then place a ruler across your lower abdominal muscles. As you lift, try to keep the ruler in place by focusing on drawing down through the lower abdominal wall – the ruler just gives you a reminder of how to do this.
2. Wear a belt for your abdominal exercises. Buckle it so you have a little movement between your abdominals and the belt. As you lift, focus on keeping your abdominals away from the belt buckle and not pressing against it.
DAY 5
Today’s mantra: My body feels tall and poised.
Today’s step target: 10,000
Tip/testimony from volunteer: When I first started the plan I had to completely re-think my eating habits. Towards the end of the first week I was getting to grips with it – I’d lost 3lb and my energy levels were increasing. Elaine, 33
| On rising | 1 glass of water plus cup of coffee, green tea or tea, or hot water and lemon |
| Suggested activity zone | 15-minute walk (step target 1800) plus abdominal and core stability exercises |
| Breakfast | 2 glasses of water porridge: ⅔ cup oatmeal cooked with ⅔ cup of semi-skimmed milk and garnished with 4 chopped dried apricots cup of tea or coffee |
| Mid-morning spruce juice | choose a juice from those listed |
| Suggested activity zone | 20-minute walk (step target 2400) |
| Lunch | 1 glass of water a lunch from the options suggested |
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Mid-afternoon
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