Time to Lose Weight: 5 Steps to Taking Advantage of Summer's Weight-Loss Astrology

Summer is a traditional time to start a weight-loss program as hot weather and skimpy clothes provide incentive. This year, all of us with pounds to lose are getting a little astrological help from Mars and Saturn in Virgo. Mars moves into Virgo on July 1, giving us a near-perfect opportunity to turn over a healthy new leaf. For my money, this is the best time all year to start a weight-loss program from an astrological perspective, and I plan to practice what I preach. Following are 5 tips to take advantage of the planets' energy, as well as a little bit about the astrology. Next week, I hope to post more tips. 

These tips are mostly sensible, traditional techniques that are advisable regardless of the astrology, but that's exactly the point. Saturn in Virgo is all about the tried and true and the sensible. The problem is, most of the time few of us really want to follow what we know we should do. That changes in July, as we get a boost of energy that can make sensible weight loss more rewarding in practice than it usually is--and more likely to succeed.

First, a few notes on the astrology. Saturn's been in Virgo since last fall, and he'll continue to be there into 2009. Saturn is the premier weight-loss planet; Virgo happens to be associated with food and health. The two together are an unusually potent energy, although it's not going to come up and knock on your door announcing that you have the opportunity of a lifetime. In fact, what we've all been seeing with Saturn in Virgo is the more distressing side of the combination of the symbol for restriction and the symbol for grain and food-stuffs: food shortages, price increases, and food safety issues.

But with food prices rising, that's all the more reason to take advantage of what is clearly a powerful energy at work in the cosmos. Why not get a little personal benefit out of a collective trend, and combine the process of trying to save money on food with the process of shopping to lose weight as well? Furthermore, when Mars enters Virgo on July 1, we get a boost of energy in this sector. It's like Mars is saying "Now's the time to take action on your food plan." Plus, Mars is associated with exercise, and Mars in Virgo can mean exercising for health and weight-loss. It's a rare and excellent combo.

To add to the synergy, the sun will be in Cancer until July 22. Sun=consciousness and Cancer=the emotional components of eating. The good angle between Cancer and Virgo provides an opportunity to use consciousness of your emotional patterns to work with your plan to become fit. There's even some additional support from Mercury and Venus in July, and Jupiter in Capricorn is as good as it gets as far as Jupiter supporting weight loss. That's because Jupiter in Capricorn (sign ruled by Saturn) actually enjoys a system or routine for losing weight. You don't get to say that about Jupiter very often! 

All right, here are 5 steps along with my reasons for recommending them: 

1. Get organized and follow a plan. Saturn rewards organization and planning like no other planet. It's mid-June now, so you have a couple of weeks to investigate a diet plan that is realistic for you, as well as one that fits your budget. The key to weight loss via Saturn is to stick to the rules. If your rule needs to be no snacking after 10 p.m., then your key to success is to follow that rule with no exceptions. Saturn is the enemy of emotional or unconscious eating, and he can help give you motivation to overcome that obstacle to many a dieter's success.
2. Be realistic. Make the rules simply and easy to follow. You need to be able to follow them regardless of variations in your routine and/or stress. If the rule is half an hour of walking first thing every morning, then you need to be able to follow this rule consistently. If the rule doesn't realistically fit in with your lifestyle, then it isn't going to work. Saturn is the ultimate realist and does not reward fantasizing about 'easy' weight loss. He rewards picking a simple plan and sticking to it. In fact, you'll be more likely to be successful if you think about health instead of appearance, and if you reward yourself with a bit of mental congratulations for every single healthy eating choice you make.
3. Take it slow, and go for the long haul. Saturn likes things to last. He doesn't like things that go too quickly but only have short term results. Cutting your calorie intake by 175 calories a day and increasing your exercise by 175 calories a day will not create a huge stress on your lifestyle. But you'd probably lose about 3 pounds a month that way or 36 pounds a year. Helping you lose 35 pounds of fat permanently makes Saturn far happier than helping you go on some extreme diet that will have you yo-yoing back to your old weight in no time. For a lot of people the key toward cutting back is learning how to supress (Saturn) the appetite for unhealthy foods or learning how to cut back on habit eating, emotional eating, convenience eating or unconscious snacking. Taking small steps in these directions during a Saturn transit can pay for a long time, because Saturn helps build sensible habits.
4. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains. Saturn in Virgo is not conducive to success on things like the Atkins diet or other protein-heavy plans. Virgo as a sign relates to plant-based foods and you're more likely to do better on a diet that is largely plant-based. Eating this way is more comfortable during the summer anyway, so the timing is perfect.
5. Pump some iron to kick-start your metabolism. Mars is the planet of weight and strength training. Use July and August while Mars is in the same sign as Saturn to increase your muscle mass and increase your metabolic rate by incorporating modest weights into your regimen. The idea is not to bulk up as that is counter to the Saturn in Virgo influence, so do not use heavy weights if possible. Smaller weights and more reps are preferable. Remember that Virgo sign energy as a whole rewards small and modest steps more than going for broke or getting overly gung ho. Avoid exercise injuries by not overdoing things at first. Personally, I plan to do some walking with weights as I find Virgo energy really appreciates getting out in nature, and I don't have a lot of time for things like long-distance hiking.

All right, hopefully that's enough to get you started thinking about eating healthy this summer. Good luck and wish me luck too!

PS. Since I'm intending to practice what I preach on this, I've arranged with a colleague for discounts on weight-loss CDs and DVDs for any client who wants to join me in starting a program this summer. You'll also get a personalized astrological consultation on weight loss and your particular chart. You can post a comment or send an email through my website (Practical Astrology) if you want details.