Marc David - The slow down diet: eating for pleasure, energy, and weight loss

Acknowledgments

A book is a very personal creation, yet anyone who has contributed to me or touched my life will somehow find their afterglow in these pages. Mark Hymanthanks for being a great friend, powerful ally, soul brother, and intellectual coconspirator. Kathy Jackmanyouve been my project angel, soul sister, and cosmic cheerleader for whats true and real. Douglas Brady has never wavered from his assignment as a soul mate and warrior of the heart. Thanks for being here. David Cohen has deeply and abundantly fulfilled the role of the brother I never had, while Rusty Cohen has magically showed up as the special cousin I always wanted. Dharani Burnham has been a loving friend, sweet inspiration, and high-level house female. Joan Berry has been a truly wise woman, and graceful healer. Youve been magnificent.

Thank you James Kimo Nelson, my elder brother on the journeya hui ho; Pier Paolo de Angelis, my lobello Italiano; Mark Kelso, magical male museyoure always with me, even when you are; Kathie Swift and Jim Conzo, my favorite nutritionists in the world; Tom Jackman, fellow treasure hunter for life.

Other friends I give thanks to: Michael Magic Johnson, Arti Ross-Kelso, Jordan Blank, Toinette Lippe, Tara and Francis Grace, Gudni Gunarsson, Lisa Dove Settli, Brooke Loenig, Alexis Miles, Christopher Brinton, David Piver, Jonathan Kalman, Carolyn Sudha Lundeen, Lori Davis, Lorna Sass, Stephen and Sandy Muss, Dan and Deborah Howard, Carl Bendix, John Dekadt, Greg Zelonka, Alex Souri, Alex Bloomstein, Doug McKenzie, Esther Cohen, and Rivka Zahler. And a special thanks to Stefanie Clements for being a project muse and graphic designer extraordinaire.

Much love to my family tribe who have been faithful and ever present: the GoldstonesRhonda, Tony, Jonathan, and Andrewweve had so many wonderful times together. Brad Cohen always inspires me simply by being Bradgenerous and loving. Jeffrey Cohen always keeps me smiling and plotting my next move. Rick Cohen is my favorite alpha male and awes me with his huge heart. Whats up Brendan and Courtney!

More Cohens to appreciate: Jason, Mitchell, Jodi, Matthew, Ben, Pilar, Aunt Bunny, and Uncle David. Also in my heart are Ceil Sherry, Arnie and Shelly Bengis, David Bengis, Reeva and Dennis Goldblum, and Gabriella Bengis, who has been the greatest mother for my child that a man could ask for.

My deep gratitude goes out to the staff, guests, and extended families of the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health and Canyon Ranch in the Berkshirestwo wonderfully bright lights in the world of healing and transformation. Sonoma State University was a special place to educate both mind and soul. Heartfelt shout outs to Joshua Rosenthal, author, friend, and nutrition leader extraordinaire, and to the amazing students and staff at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. And much gratitude to some of my favorite nutrition experts and authors: Jeff Bland, Ann Louise Gittleman, Sally Fallon, John Robbins, Ward Dean, Annmarie Colbin, Sid Baker, Leo Galland, Linda Page, and Andrew Weil. Theres room under the tent for everyone.

Some of the memorable thought leaders who have found their way into my bloodstream include James Hillman, Larry Dossey, Ken Wilber, Robert Bly, Lao Tzu, Oscar Wilde, and Martin Luther King. Michael Marcus of Bizen Japanese Restaurant has kept me well nourished and in constant awe of the mystical side of sushi. Mana Foods, the Paia Fish Market, and the Haiku Deli have also served up memorable meals. Jacobs Pillow has provided unforgettable dance.

Thanks to the Rock People, the Whale and Dolphin Nations, the Mets, the Patriots, the kids and teachers of the Great Barrington Waldorf School and the Haleakala Waldorf School, the Jamaicans, Hera Dura, Apple Computer, Disney, the Peapod Team of Johnson & Johnson, the Bad Dogs, the Venetians, and the Brazilians.

For me, place has often been as special and necessary as people. Thank you to the Green River, Monument Mountain, Kennedy Park, Big Beach, Little Beach, Baldwin Beach, La Perouse, Big Island, the Gunks, Hawk Meadow, Belize, Boulder, Buena Vista, and Brooklyn.

Im so grateful to all the wonderful staff at Inner Traditions/Healing Arts Press, including Jon Graham, Susan Davidson, and Jeanie Levitan. Thanks for doing such great work in the world.

Respect and honor to all my ancestors and relations whove passed on: my grandparents Charles and Molly Cohen and Jack and Esther Weinstein; Uncle Sid, Uncle Jerry, Uncle Eddy, and of course my beloved parents, Sid and Rachel Cohen, who provided for me a ground of deep care and commitment.

Lastly, my thanks to the Creator of All for a beautiful life and for sending down Skye, my special son, fellow rock collector, sports fanatic, and my favorite guy forever.

Preface

This may be the most unique and life-changing diet book youll ever read. It will go against much of what youve learned previously about eating healthy and losing weight. It will challenge some of the most cherished advice the experts have offered. It wont disfavor you with yet another dietary prescription that dictates precisely what to eat, when to eat it, and how much. Nor will it seduce you with a system thats difficult to follow and so destined to fall by the wayside.

Rather, this book will show you how to optimize metabolism no matter what you choose to eat. It will teach you how to access the wisdom of the greatest dietary authority on planet Earth: the nutritionist within you. And in doing so, it will put you in touch with the information that matters most for your health, energy, and weight.

If youve been trying to lighten your load by following all the latest diets but without any lasting success, this book will show you why and what to do about it. If you feel frustrated and confused by the news of all the conflicting nutrition systems that bombard the airwaves, these pages will provide the insights and relief youve been hoping for and that you well deserve. The Slow Down Diet gives you an eight-week program that is different from any youve embarked on before: one that is easy to follow and yields powerful changes in body and being that are meaningful, lasting, and deep. Ultimately, it will help bring the gifts of the soul into your dietary world and in doing so will awaken an inner fire that is the true source of your power.

Enjoya new metabolic you is about to be born!

Introduction

Life cannot wait for the sciences to catch up and prove its existence.... Life is fired at us point blank.

JOSE ORTEGA Y GASSET

In Polynesian folklore, Maui is a demigod without equal; the beautiful Hawaiian island is named in his honor. A clever trickster with superhuman strength, Mauis most extraordinary and memorable exploit was his capture of the sun.

Soon after Maui raised up the sky to allow humans to walk upright and to clear the way for Sun to rise to an elevated position from the lower world, trouble began. Sun selfishly proceeded to race through the sky rather than arc across the heavens at a leisurely pace. This gave the people little time to fish, grow food, or dry their tapa cloth. They grew sick and unhappy.

With sage advice from his grandmother, Maui devised a plan to aid the suffering people. For many days he hid at the eastern end of the tallest volcano, Haleakala, and calculated Suns daily path. He returned home to make sixteen strong ropes from his sisters hair as he prepared to use his legendary strength to lasso Sun.

The next morning, as Sun rose over Haleakala and began its self-indulgent flight across the sky, Maui grabbed the first ray to appear and tied it to a strong wiliwili tree. He soon had all sixteen rays secured.