Today's topic is food and dieting, even though I'm not much on the whole dieting scene. I mean, what is the definition of a diet? First and foremost it is, "the kinds of food that a person, animal, or community habitually eats." So, I do not typically "GO ON" diets. I tried one once. It doesn't restrict any foods, but it restricts calories for 2 weeks, then you get more calories. And after looking at these two, I discovered there's about a dozen MORE metabolism diets out there! Which is right? I don't know, but these two seem to come pretty close and have a lot to offer.
Two Metabolism Diets:
The Curves Diet vs. The Hormone Reset Diet
The Curves Diet
The first one I tried is REALLY COOL!!! Not to say it's easy, though. Since when is making a huge lifestyle change easy? However, it totally makes sense.
The Curves Diet is for women. Yea! Like I said, it doesn't restrict (well, completely eliminate) any foods from your diet. Here's the basic premise.
There are 2 plans: carb sensitive and calorie sensitive. You take some quizzes and surveys to discover which is true for you. You may have to experiment some to truly discover it once you get going.
There are 3 phases:
- Jump Start (2 weeks)
- Take it Off (as long as necessary, till you need a break, or you hit a plateau)
- Keep it Off (monthly - you only have to "diet" - with restricted calories - up to 3 days a month)
It explains metabolism and how eating less SLOWS your metabolism and eating MORE speeds it up. But there's more to it than that. Just read the book. No, I don't get any money from them. But I've been telling people about this book for over a year now. It just makes sense. But sometimes I get tired of counting calories.
Basically, you get 1200 calories a day for 2 weeks. Then you get 1600 calories a day for as long as needed until you need a break from "dieting" or you hit a plateau or you reach your goal. When you decide to move up to level 3, you eat normally until you gain your preset weight gain amount of 3-5 pounds. I find that 3 pounds is easier to handle because once you gain it, you diet for 2-3 days until it comes right back off. The idea is that over time of eating normally 1800-2000 calories a day (or more), you boost your metabolism.
Let's say you hit a plateau. Great! You get to add calories and normal for a few days. I say a few days, because that's how quickly you'll gain those 3 pounds. Then you lose it in 3 days by eating only 1200 calories again - BUT NO MORE THAN 3 DAYS EVEN IF YOU DON'T LOSE ALL 3 POUNDS. Then you eat normal (and healthy, of course). This time, it takes 5-6 days to gain the 3 pounds. Diet for 2 days and lose it. Eat more cals and gain 3 pounds in say, 9 days this time. Diet for a couple days and lose it. Eat normal and this time it might take 3 weeks to gain 3 pounds. You really have to be on your A game with counting the calories though. And you still have to make healthy choices.
The Hormone Reset Diet
This one claims that you can lose up to 15 pounds in 21 days. I'm thinking, "Yeah, right." But
apparently LOTS of people HAVE! I don't have that kind of goal in mind though. The Hormone Reset Diet book is written by Sara Gottfried, MD. She goes into lots of scientific explanations that really help you understand food and your body.
You eliminate 7 categories of foods over 21 days. Every 3 days you eliminate a food associated with a specific hormone and you do it in a specific order. Read the book! When you understand it, you are more willing to follow it.
- red meat and alcohol (progesterone, I think) - chicken and fish and eggs are fine
- sugar (insulin) - you're allowed 15 grams a day, it adds up quick! (20-25 grams is actually the recommended amount; and I average 67!!! I don't even eat a lot of sweets!)
- fruits (leptin, it's what helps you feel full) - berries are allowed
- caffeine (estrogen, I think)
- dairy (growth hormone) - almond milk is recommended
- grains (don't remember, but I say that grain-free is actually the new fad diet these days)
- toxins (testosterone) this includes processed foods and environmental factors such as air, lotions, makeup, shampoo, etc.
The point of doing this is to listen to your body and how it reacts. Your metabolism can reset itself in regards to a single hormone in 3 days. So when you go off red meat and alcohol, you stay off it for the full 21 days. Sugar would be for a solid 18 days. Etc. You don't go hungry because you eat 3-4 cups of vegetables a day. One whole pound.
If during the 21 days, you lose 3-5 ponds during any 3-day elimination, then that is your problem food and is what is causing you to not be able to lose weight. At the end of the 21 days, you do a re-entry phase where you choose the most difficult food whether by hunger, cravings, or whatever. And you add it back in for one meal, at the same meal, for 3 days and note how it affects your body.
I gave it a start, not officially, but trying to prep myself. It helps you discover if you are lactose intolerant or sensitive, casein sensitive, whey sensitive, gluten sensitive, etc. So, why would a person try to go dairy free and get almond milk, then make a smoothie with WHEY protein powder? Duh! (That was me...) I'll get there. Gotta go get that special protein powder! Anyway, I'll let you know how it goes.
YOUR TURN: What dietary change have you implemented that made the most difference in your health and/or weight loss? Have you tried either of these? How did you like them?
Keep on keepin' on...
