The state of play
I'm the kind of girl who'll jump at any magazine with the word "diet" on the cover. The thing is, I have the willpower of an oyster sometimes. Maybe the Ayurvedic diet is for me?
I'm in my thirties, I'm an active woman, I work, I don't have children at home (so I'm supposed to have ALL the time in the world to look after myself). But here's the thing: I love to eat out and have a drink now and then, not thinking for two seconds about how many calories a day I'm supposed to be satisfied with. And yet, for some time now, I've been feeling that something wasn't quite right with my body. I'd like to "lose weight". You know, to lose those two-three kilos that cling to you past your thirties and taunt you every morning like never before... I started to think of nothing else but "that".
"Slim is beautiful"... but for whom?
As a journalist by training, I began to see my own body as an "experimental laboratory". Of course, I was well aware of the societal drift towards slimness, the pressure of the professional world (I lived it in my flesh!), and the diktats of magazines and their ideal of the "healthy body". But what exactly are we talking about? And to whom? Who is this ideal woman, perfect weight, perky, "healthy" in body and mind... Does this mean that all others are alienated...? Was that the image I had of myself? Certainly not! And then a little voice inside me said: "Say, how long are you going to keep up this little game with yourself?" Uh... no, I'll stop. I was already feeling better. I'll always remember that day. All over the shelves I'd placed books on Ayurveda. I've been studying this medicine for three years now. What if I looked into it? What if I started by boosting my metabolism and listening to my inner sensations?
The next day I bought the natural products needed for the "Ayurvedic cure". The timing was perfect, as it corresponded to the three months I'd be spending in India. It wasn't a miracle cure to "lose weight" but to help regain lightness and a stable weight. I was delighted, because that's what I wanted: to feel "light" again!
Verdict
As much as I love Ayurveda, let's be honest, I never followed these prescriptions to the letter during those 90 days... I was too afraid of scaring the muffins away from my breakfast! But all the same, I have to admit that I've included Triphala in my daily routine (a miracle, especially after a hearty meal), and that no one will ever make me miss my daily "yoga moment" again. And yes, I've shed those three kilos that had been obsessing me in the first place. Was that the end of the experience? I don't think it was.
After all, what if the ideal diet was to look in the mirror for real and say "stop, I like this body the way it is... imperfect"! And then, how about relearning to respect your eating sensations? To recognize their emotional significance, rather than employing Terminator-like methods to silence them? And what if "dieting" was in fact a desire for well-being, to finally take care of ourselves?
In any case, if there's one thing I'd like you to remember, it's that Ayurveda is indeed "The Art of Moderation". Taste a little of everything and put some love into your dishes. Your mind will thank you!
And if, like me, your neurons are very selective when it comes to losing motivation, if in times of anxiety all roads lead to your fridge: it's okay, just breathe! This is not a diet, it's a way of life. There's no race against the clock. So there's no need to buy the next Elle slimming magazine - you can start again tomorrow!
