Fat Flush Plan - Diet Plan Outline
I started this diet as a lifestyle change, not to lose weight. I
strongly believe in preventative measures to stay healthy.
Pros: The Fat Flush® Plan is based on sound research, done by a nutritionist with many years of experience studying "real-life" people and what they ingest. By following the principles in the book, I have lost weight, have not gained it back, and have experienced many health benefits. I did not experience dramatic changes, because I had already adopted some of the book's recommendations long before I read the Fat Flush® book: pesticide, hormone, antibiotic-free produce and meat, caffeinated beverages rarely, greater intake of filtered water, less preservative-filled foods. I am also in my 20s. This may be why I did not experience any dramatic effects, but I did have benefits: hormones seem more regulated, which affects my mood and my skin; I lost weight (I was only 10 pounds overweight at most); I feel more energetic and healthy; I sleep better; I enjoy the ritual of preparing certain foods for myself; and I have become a more creative cook, using many herbs and spices. The book provides some very useful nutrition information, including ratings of fruits and vegetables by a glycemic index, which helped explain why I had more sugar cravings after eating certain foods. It is not a "fad diet" to me - it is a total lifestyle diet, one that I can live with (with some minor changes). It is realistic - I found many ways to adapt it to my life, and didn't have a problem modifying certain parts that I did not agree with. There are some major food principles that can be gleaned from this diet, if nothing else.
Food boredom has not been a problem for me, because where I have cut certain foods out of my diet, I have replaced them with others. I have also learned or created new recipes.
Cons: If one wants to follow this plan religiously for any period of time, it quickly becomes expensive, especially if one is used to purchasing preservative-laden foods. It requires one to cook and prepare food, which takes up a fair amount of time, and to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. It strongly recommends totally giving up caffeine and sugar. The supplements for losing weight are optional, but the recommended foods, such as completely unsweetened cranberry juice, whey protein, high-lignan flax oil, and organic foods are not for the poor. Certain products are hard to get in most of the U.S. except by mail. I have no guilt about not adhering strictly to this diet, though. The exercise recommendations are specific and may not appeal to many people, but I have kept my own routine and still experienced many benefits from the diet. The book does not make suggestions for people who are allergic to certain foods or substances recommended for the diet. This diet is extremely difficult for vegans, at least in the 2-week "flush" period, as far as having diversity in their diet.
Commentary: all diets that lead to a net decrease in calories will result in weight loss, but unless the diet is sustainable indefinately, it will usually result in the weight gained back. One must always ask themselves: can I follow this diet regimen for the rest of my life? In my opinion, The Fat Flush® Plan, along with most "diet" books, make weight loss complicated in order to sell a book or product. Basic nutrition (Food Guide Pyramid), recommended by most registered dietitions, along with addition of daily exercise to your life is really the only thing that works in the long-term. We are much bigger fans of lifestyle exercise activities such as tennis, hiking, walking, cycling, dancing, climbing, etcetera... These are the type of activities that you don't think of as exercise and sustain themselves in the long-term. Add a basic food program or one of the simple and inexpensive online programs for structure and support, and you have the best possible option for success.