3 LIFE HACKS FOR YOUR SUMMER WAISTLINE

An unconventional approach to weight optimization

BY TRACY DUHS, PHD

Summertime means less clothing and more skin. This may cause anxiety for some, but it doesn’t have to. One of the top questions I hear as a director of a wellness retreat center is: “What can I do to achieve my optimal weight goals?” Here are three simple, proven methods.

1. DRINK ENOUGH STRUCTURED WATER
One of the most overlooked wellness hacks is cellular hydration. Why is this important to your waistline? For many reasons, one being that the first indicator of dehydration may be hunger pangs—not thirst. When you are thirsty, you can feel hungry! One NYU Medical School study revealed that 100 percent of nighttime hunger cravings were eliminated by drinking 8 ounces of water. So, in lieu of eating a late-night snack, drink up for a svelte waistline.

Choosing structured water (described in detail at tracyduhs.com) may help you achieve optimally adequate intracellular hydration.

To quote Bernhard Ratheiser, mechanical engineer and co-founder of the Institute for Water and Environmental Improvement, “Water is the source, receiver and memory of ‘information,’ or electromagnetic waves. Just as water can take on healing, positive information, it can also store negative characteristics. Unfortunately, these frequently toxic characteristics are not removed in standard water purification processes. Only special physical procedures can cancel out these frequencies.”

2. GET 15 TO 20 MINUTES OF SUNLIGHT DAILY
The benefits of adequate daily sun exposure are numerous. One particular benefit I believe plays a key role in weight management is its ability to improve serotonin (the happiness chemical) levels in your body. Sunbathing can also help improve sleep. Quality sleep is essential for healthy circadian rhythms and hormone balance. When the hormones are out of balance cortisol levels may elevate in the evening, increasing hunger for glucose or simple carbohydrates. When our serotonin levels are low, our energy and drive decreases and we tend to be less active. This is not friendly to the waistline.

So, get your daily dose of healthy sun exposure. But, just like Goldie Locks and the Three Bears—not too much or too little—just the right amount is needed for long-term health.

3. CONSUME A DAILY DOSE OF VITAL GREENS
The hypothalamus is responsible for feelings of hunger and fullness. Your hypothalamus has requirements for turning off its hunger signals. Two particular requirements are adequate nutrition and fiber. The standard American diet is deficient in both. This is why many people are overeating yet underfed. Their brain is telling them they are hungry even though they just ate.

What helps many of my clients is a daily dose of quality mixed greens (for example, Spirulina and Cracked Cell Wall Chlorella) with one green apple for fiber. To make things simple, you can blend the ingredients with ice and water to make a morning smoothie. This can be helpful in curbing cravings throughout the day. For an easy and tasty green smoothie recipe and more information about weight optimization and structured water, visit tracyduhs.com.

Tracy Duhs is an herbalist, alchemist, and specialist in integrative medicine. She founded The Sanctuary Wellness Experience, offering customized three-day wellness retreats, sound therapy, hydration therapy, herbal elixirs, structural integrative massage, and more.