philosophy, which defines the search for health as a positive thing. Health is quality of life in all its dimensions, which may vary from one individual to the next. We need to look at health as a natural and positive force that we each carry within us, and understand that it is within our own power to nurture. Quality of life as a parameter is attracting growing interest among scientists. There are even ‘how to be happy’ classes at Harvard University.
The word ‘diet’ comes from the ancient Greek term diaita. But, interestingly, this word didn’t mean to the Greeks what it does today; rather, it meant ‘way of life’ or ‘lifestyle’. In antiquity, living a health-conscious life was the obvious thing to do. This meant a disciplined approach to eating, including regular periods of fasting. Physical exercise and spirituality were also considered an important part of a healthy life. Diaita was far more than just a way to help people shed a few pounds, which is what the term ‘diet’ tends to mean now. This is also in keeping with the Viva Mayr approach to dieting. It is not a quick-fix to help you shed pounds (although it will do that), but an approach to adopt for life, to ensure that you not only stay thin, but also – more importantly – healthy.
Dr Mayr, the Austrian physician and Viva Mayr namesake, said: ‘Nutrition is the result of the food we eat and our digestive system.’ In other words, what matters is what we make of the food we eat.
When we eat a certain food – fish, meat, vegetable or potato – its nutrients do not go directly to the cells of our bodies. Our cells would not know how to make use of nutrients in this form. Instead, our digestive systems turn the food we eat into nutrients that our bodies can absorb and assimilate. Only then can we really make use of the energy and nutrients contained in food. Rather than saying ‘you are what you eat’, Dr Stossier and followers of Mayr would say ‘you are what you digest’.
I am really excited about this book. It will provide the logic that I and so many others have been looking for, and explain the essential principles behind a thinner, healthier life. My aim is to take Dr Stossier’s vast knowledge and expertise and present it to you in an easily digestible (pardon the pun) form of 14 main sections, set out as days of the plan. I will explain the reasons why it is so crucial that you overhaul your eating habits, and also how you can do so – easily and without too much pain, and for an enormous amount of gain.
Dr Stossier tells me that just by changing my eating habits I can put an end to my on-going digestive problems, lose weight, age better, feel better, sleep better, have more energy and clearer skin, concentrate on my work more effectively, and avoid major illnesses and disorders such as heart disease and asthma.
It seems a small price to pay for such a huge reward. I am keen to find out more.
Day One The FIRST day of the REST of your LIFE
You are about to discover:
How to prepare yourself practically and emotionally to begin the Viva Mayr Diet
How to make the famous Viva Mayr spelt bread
The shopping list you’ll need to stock your cupboards with everything you’ll need to get started
Breakfast
Green tea, and fruit muesli with nuts (see here)
Lunch
Vegetable salad with chicken strips, and fresh berry cream (see here)
Dinner
Soft polenta with steamed vegetables and herbs (see here)
This is the first day of the rest of your healthy, slim life. It’s an exciting day. There are challenges ahead, but the rewards are huge. At the end of the 14 sections that comprise this book, you will be healthier and slimmer, and you will look and feel better. If you ever feel as though you can’t go on, remember that these first few days are the toughest, but they are worth it. You are changing a lifetime of bad habits in order to hit your ideal weight, and also stay healthy and young-looking. That’s a lot of reward, so of course there has to be some effort – even if it’s minimal.
If you can, try to pick a weekend for the beginning of the diet, so you can prepare yourself and begin eating well on Saturday, and then launch into the body of the diet itself on Sunday.
So here is how you begin. You go shopping. Great start, eh? But sadly not for Louboutin shoes; rather, you’ll be shopping for food that will enhance your health and keep you slim. During the 14 days that this book guides you through, you will be shown what to eat, how to eat it, when to eat it, and how to cook it. At the end of the book we provide recipes for every menu, designed to help you to take on board the focus of that section. So, for Day Three, which is all about chewing, you’ll find a menu, with recipes at the back of the book, to encourage you to chew properly. Today we will look at the sorts of foods you need to stock up on to eat the Viva Mayr way. We will also be looking at how best to prepare yourself in other ways – such as mentally and physically.
If you’re anything like me, the minute you know you’re going on a diet you eat and drink everything you know you shouldn’t. This is a mistake. Starting on a hangover is not a good idea. If you are hungover and tired, your body craves quick fixes like sugar and carbs to boost your energy levels, so starting a diet becomes doubly difficult. The ideal way to start would really be to fast the day before, so you would enjoy the taste and texture of all the healthy new foods. But I know this is not feasible for everyone, and fasting should never done without the supervision of a doctor. So give the fasting a miss and, for now, use this preparation day as a day to eat well (the recipes for today should be easy to make without too much extra shopping and effort), make the famous Viva Mayr spelt bread and think about the task ahead.
It’s worth every ounce of effort
This is not something insignificant you have chosen to do. This is a huge undertaking that will transform the way you look and feel. I’d like you to think about exactly what it is you want to achieve and make a note of it. This would be my list:
• Lose weight.
• Sleep better.
• Have more energy.
• Look and feel better.
• Get rid of a pot belly and digestive complaints that have been plaguing me for years.
You can achieve this and more by sticking with me through these 14 days of the Viva Mayr cure. Remember that people pay thousands of pounds to go to the clinic – to learn all the things you are about to learn, and to eat the way you are going to eat for the next 14 days. What’s more, you’ll find that after your 14 days, your habits will have changed dramatically, and you’ll be embracing a new way of eating, and a new way of thinking about what, when and how you eat. Viva Mayr is not a quick fix; this is permanent change we are talking about here. With this book, you have the opportunity
