Embracing every imperfect step toward a healthier and happier you!

[View in browser] | [Unsubscribe] [Rodale Wellness] FROM THE DESK OF Yuri Elkaim Author of The All-Day Fat-Burning Cookbook [yuri-elkaim-headshot.jpg] Dear wellness seeker, It all started when I was a young boy growing up on man-made processed foods, take-out, fast-food restaurants, and 2-minute microwave dinners. I rarely ate vegetables or fruit and instead navigated my way toward copious amounts of bread, cereal, pasta, and cheese. Not many colors were in my diet. It was pretty white and very unhealthy. As the years went by I suffered with terrible asthma, eczema, and really low energy. I remember eating Shreddies cereal topped with 2 tablespoons of sugar and 2% milk only to find myself experiencing terrible stomachaches for hours afterward. As a teenager, I had no idea what I was doing and I wasn't clued in to how these symptoms would eventually change the course of my life forever. I won't bore you with the entire story, especially since I've described it in detail in my previous books, but here's what happened in a nutshell: At the age of 17, I lost all of the hair on my body in just 6 weeks to an autoimmune condition called alopecia. At the time, neither I nor my doctors had any idea why this happened, but the answer surfaced after several years. As with almost all health problems, including carrying too much body fat, I discovered that what you eat is a major factor. Duh! It took me until my mid-twenties to figure this out, and only after going back to school to study holistic nutrition. Since then, I've overcome most of my health issues and regrown my hair and lost it again several times, as tends to be the way with autoimmune conditions. But more importantly, I've been able to empower a lot of people to take better control of their health and finally lose weight without overhauling their lives with my simple and realistic approach to eating and living well. I get it if you feel like you're "out of control" with your diet, like someone else inside of you is running the show. Whatever your struggle, I'm going to do my very best to help you put an end to it with my new book, [The All-Day Fat-Burning Cookbook]. Yes, that sounds like a bold claim, and perhaps we won't completely eliminate what's been holding you back from losing weight and keeping it off, but we will certainly come close. Unlike many other "perfectly healthy" gurus out there who seem to never slip with their diets, I'm no dietary saint. Yes, I eat well most of the time and love foods that make me look and feel my best, but I've also cut myself a little more slack over the years. During the past 10 years, I've tried pretty much every diet out there so I could better relate to my overweight clients who were considering the very same diets. Unfortunately, like so many others, I ended them within a few days or weeks simply because they weren't realistic and sustainable—at least not for me. I'm a self-proclaimed "healthy foodie." I love great food. Even though I encourage eating gluten-free and more plant-based foods, you won't find me at a nice restaurant turning away a delicious steak tartare spread over nicely toasted crostini with a touch of Dijon mustard and a pickle on top. Mmmm. When people ask me if I'm paleo or vegan, I remind them that I don't believe in labels because they really limit us in this world. I consider myself a "healthatarian" (I guess that's a label, isn't it?) who simply eats real food in a way that resonates with my body, while occasionally (I mean weekly) allowing myself to go off course. I want to encourage you to do the same—if that works for you. And in [The All-Day Fat-Burning Cookbook], I'll show you how to do that without further ruining your metabolism. For us (you and me), it's all about progress, not perfection. It's about the process, not just the outcome. It's about enjoying what we're eating, no matter what that may be, because the guilt and negative energy we project into our food could well be worse than the food itself. I really want to make sure you know what this journey is all about, because it's not about being hard-core anything. It's about embracing every imperfect step you take toward a healthier and happier you. Missed a green smoothie today? No worries! Skipped the salad and went straight for pizza? Don't worry about it. Pick yourself up and start fresh tomorrow. Is tiramisu your favorite dessert? It's certainly mine! Sure, I'm not recommending you eat these foods (at least the latter two) on a regular basis if you want to look and feel your best, but I believe that these "bumps" along the way make it a beautiful journey. We don't sit in our car in the parking lot scarfing down that burger. We don't hide in our closet to scarf down the occasional piece of cake. We enjoy food around a table with our family and friends. There is no food shaming or guilt. Just enjoy the damn food! It's all about being a better version of ourselves every single day. Join me on this journey! Yuri Rainbow Rice Bowl Adapted from [The All-Day Fat-Burning Cookbook] [rainbow-rice-bowl-500.jpg] As its name implies, this bowl is loaded with colors, which is always a good sign that what you're about to eat is full of [health-promoting nutrients]. This bowl is quite substantial and, if you have it for lunch, will likely keep you satisfied well beyond dinner. Rainbow Rice Bowl (Makes 2 servings) Ingredients: - 1 cup brown rice - 2 handfuls kale, ribs and stems removed - 2 cups baby spinach - Juice of 1 lemon - 2 Tablespoons olive oil - 2 Tablespoons tahini - 1 clove garlic, minced - 1 Tablespoon minced scallion - 1 teaspoon sea salt - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper - 1/2 red bell pepper, julienned - 1/2 orange bell pepper, julienned - 1 avocado, sliced Directions: 1. Cook the rice according to package instructions. Meanwhile, in a steamer over high heat, cook the kale and spinach for 5 to 7 minutes, until slightly wilted. 2. In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, oil, tahini, garlic, scallion, salt, and pepper. 3. Place the rice in a serving bowl. Top it with the wilted kale and spinach, bell peppers, and avocado. Drizzle the dressing over the top and serve. Recommended for You: Lose that stubborn weight while enjoying delicious food with this perfect companion to The All-Day Fat-Burning Diet. Now, [The All-Day Fat-Burning Cookbook] makes following the plan a breeze, with quick-and-easy recipes that are presented according to the 5-day food-cycling formula. You will enjoy more than 125 delicious gluten-, dairy-, and soy-free recipes, including 5-minute, 5-ingredient Whipped Coconut Cream and Berries; flavorful, 15-minute Beef and Rice with Spice; and vegetarian BBQ Butternut Squash Steaks. These satisfying recipes will help you stay lean and happy for life. [ORDER NOW] Did a friend forward this e-mail to you? Don't miss a single newsletter. Sign up at [RodaleWellness.com/join]. [facebook] [twitter] [pinterest] [Instagram] [Unsubscribe] [Manage Your Email Preferences] [Privacy Policy] Customer Service Dept., 400 South 10th Street, Emmaus, PA 18098 © 2016 Rodale Inc., all rights reserved 10918