Today I finished reading, "The Gabriel Method" by Jon Gabriel. I was drawn to this book because Jon Gabriel is one of the experts on my favorite documentary, "Hungry for Change". I seem to be addicted to learning as much as I can these days about my journey and so looking for books written by experts from my favorite documentary seemed to be a natural next step. I downloaded three books by three different experts and read this one first.
What I enjoyed about this book was the simple approach he has to finding your true self. Like much of what I have read prior to this book, he points out the importance of live, plant foods and feeding our bodies what they really want, not what our mind wants. But what really stuck out to me in this book was his emphasis on visualization.
He describes many reasons why our bodies have turned on the 'FAT programs' to keep us safe from the outside world or from our dieting selves. Not only do we need to tell our bodies that we are safe, but that we need them to turn off our FAT (Famine And Temperature) programs and restore our bodies to a healthier state. He suggests getting these messages across to our bodies while in a meditative state.
I have never been very good at mediation, but thankfully the book came with a CD of an evening visualization session to help me along. Another tool in visualization he asks us to use is a photo of a body of what we want to be. He said that even if we think it is impossible, to use that picture anyway day and night and to start telling our minds that this is what we dream to be.
Along with visualization, he discusses the importance of probiotics, digestive enzymes, and omega-3's in our daily diets. He also talks about how once you give your body what it needs, it will stop craving things that you or society deem as bad and you will start making decisions based on how certain things make you feel. In the same vein, exercise will be the same. Once your body gets fed the proper energy and nutrients, you won't be able to sit still. You will want to get up and move. That is what our bodies are programmed to do, we've just gotten them so out of whack, that they tend to want us to sit on the couch all day and do nothing.
The end of the book is a summary of testimonials from various people who have succeeded on the Gabriel Method. Some lost weight slowly, others very quickly. Jon himself used to be 410 pounds and is now down 200 pounds. What I find the most interesting is that he said he currently has the exact body he visualized having when he was 200 pounds heavier. He did not have to have any kind of surgery to get his skin back in place, it just happened. Doctors were amazed at how his skin was able to snap back into place after years and years of abuse. Jon said this is because it was his body's decision to be thin, he didn't force it. Interesting. I think I will keep up with my visualizations!
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