Dr. Ian K. Smith, the weight loss guru, wants to help everyone feel their healthiest this summer. His new book, The Met Flex Diet: Burn Better Fuel, Burn More Fat, is a definitive guide to more efficient weight loss practices to get stronger and leaner bodies. "It's a six-week program to help people improve their metabolic flexibility and lose weight while lowering their blood pressure and cholesterol levels," he tells EBONY. The book offers advice on what to eat, as well as the most optimal times to nourish your body for lasting changes.

Here are Smith's 4 wellness tips to look and feel your best this summer.

Get Moving

The first thing to do is to get your body in motion. "If you want to work out in a gym, that's great. If you want to exercise at home, that's wonderful," Smith declares. "You’ve got to find some way to incorporate movement into your daily routine, at least 20 to 30 minutes of real movement."

The Met Flex Diet_Amazon Ian K Smith
The Met Flex Diet
Ian K. Smith (Harvest, April 4, 2023)

Price: $20

shop at Amazon

Eat Cleaner

Losing weight isn't just about reducing your calories. Choosing the right type of calories to put in your body is key. "It's not about eating perfectly but just choosing better and cleaner foods and less processed ingredients." Smith shares meal plans, as well as recipes, in his book to help people meet their weight loss goals.

Take a Break

A stressful life can wreak havoc on the best healthy life intentions. "People need to find ways to destress and enjoy themselves, to do things that bring them joy that have nothing to do with work," says Smith. "Learn to live in the moment and just have a good time."

Invest in Mental Health

Investing in your mental health can keep you focused on your goals, your happiness and your well-being. "In all the years I've been a physician, this is the greatest opportunity African Americans have had to talk about something that we have avoided and been afraid to talk about. Mental health has been very stigmatized in our communities," Dr. Smith shares. "Unfortunately, there have been a lot of people who have died from mental illness or who have unnecessarily lived very difficult lives because they didn't get treatment for mental health. Acknowledging that mental health affects us all and that it’s not an indication of your intelligence or your masculinity is a great moment for us." Dr. Smith encourages people to be more accepting of mental health practices and open up and seek help when needed.