Last year I wrote this post.
And my thinking on it has evolved since then.
So, I’m bringing it back, along with some updates.
Here we go…
One of the eating strategies I teach is called “Slow Down to Speed Up.”
It’s about eating slower.
Eating slower, with awareness.
Eating slower to get results like weight loss, better health, and more enjoyment.
Because eating slower gives you time to notice you’re satisfied, time to digest, time to savour…
When you eat fast, you don’t have time for any of that.
And the goal of slow versus fast is very different.
Eating fast is about getting it over with, getting through it so you can get to what’s next.
Eating slow is about the moment, awareness of how it feels, smells, and tastes.
Slow is about the journey.
Fast is all about the destination.
And slow has so many other benefits, too…
Less rushing, less stress
Rushing is a habit for some of us.
It’s one way of doing life.
If this is you, you’re constantly rushing to get to work, rushing to appointments, rushing to classes, and even rushing to get to bed.
You find yourself consistently late, out of breath, and feeling guilty.
And you’re chronically stressed.
Rushing is draining.
It feels desperate.
Because you want to be somewhere else NOW.
Even weight loss and fitness can be things you rush.
Because you want to lose the weight and be fit now.
So, you drastically restrict what food you allow yourself to eat.
You deprive yourself of foods that you love.
You exercise like crazy.
And in depriving and restricting and doing crazy workouts, you also increase your stress.
More stress makes weight loss more difficult, and so you get yourself into a vicious circle.
And the only antidote is to slow down.
However, when you’re addicted to rushing, slowing down can feel counter-productive, like you’re not getting things done.
When in fact it’s the opposite.
Slowing down will get you where you want to be in a way that feels good, consistent, clean, and rooted.
Fast feels bad, erratic, sloppy, and untethered.
Slow leads to lasting results, fast leads to having to do it again and again.
Better relationships
Imagine being in a hurry when it comes to a romantic relationsip.
You meet someone, and then you pursue them with desperate energy.
You want this relationship to move forward NOW.
You restrict your time, so you’re spending almost all your free time with this person.
And you deprive yourself from all the things you enjoyed before they were around.
Will that relationship last?
Probably not very long.
I know I’m generalizing here…
But desperate, graspy energy generally won’t get you anything deep or worth keeping.
And it’ll lead to exhaustion, because you’re in constant fear of losing what you’ve got.
So, slow down and increase your chances of a deeper, lasting relationship.
Stronger muscles, higher metabolism
The latest word in exercise is that eccentric resistance exercises build more muscle.
They also keep your muscles more flexible, with less risk of injury.
And the key to eccentric exercise is to go SLOW.
If you’re not familiar with eccentric muscle contraction, it’s the part of the exercise where you’re releasing the weight or the tension.
For example, the eccentric part of a bicep curl is when you lower the weight.
And the eccentric part of squat is when you lower into the squat.
And the SLOWER you lower, the more benefit you get.
By slow, I mean like a count of 3, 5, or 10 seconds for that movement.
So, consider slowing down to increase lean muscle.
And bonus… More lean muscle means higher metabolism and stronger bones.
The tortoise and the hare
You probably remember the story of the tortoise and the hare.
The hare was fast, rushing out of the gate, and quickly getting tired, needing to take frequent breaks.
While the tortoise stayed focused, and moved slowly forward, one step at a time.
And, as you know, the tortoise won the race.
Not in spite of her slow, steady ways; but because of them.
The slow advantage
Slow gives you time to think.
Consider.
Experiment.
Fail.
And try again.
Knowing all along that slow WILL get you there.
No rush.
Slow keeps you moving forward.
And ironically, it’s not always as slow as you think.
Because going slow gets results that don’t come from pushing, or forcing, or struggling.
You get results over time, allowing new habits to form without almost no effort.
Results that actually have roots and depth.
And that stick around.
Where do you need to slow down?
Are you constantly rushing to get to somewhere or something?
Do the holidays make it worse?
I’ve gotten really aware of when I’m rushing.
It shows up as shallow breathing, tightening in my chest, and an upset stomach.
And it doesn’t feel good.
So, I don’t often rush anymore.
And I also notice that when my clients aren’t in a rush, when they’re open to slowing down and doing one thing at a time, they get better results.
I believe slowing down is the new way to speed up.
Keep moving forward… slow and steady,
Debbie
P.S. If you’re looking for a better way to move forward – with calm and grace – amp up your health, fitness, and your life in general, join me for my 6-month Midlife and Menopause Coaching Program… Start by booking a free consultation 🙂