Discovery
I recently stumbled across a book called The Fast Metabolism Diet by Haylie Pomroy via an email from a bookstore - heres the link www.fastmetabolismdiet.com  Haylie is a celebrity nutritionist, has several clinics throughout the US and works with athletes, celebrities and "normal people" at her clinics.

Decision
The cover of the book states "Lose up to 20 lbs in 28 days".  Haylie talks about viewing the word "diet" differently - DIET now stands for Did I Eat Today?  Basically you eat every 3-4 hours, which means you eat at least 5 times a day, it is a rotation diet, so you eat certain foods on certain days of the week (3 phases in a week), you dont count calories and you kick-start your metabolism so that it is burning calories and working again!

I read through the book and its 50+ recipes and also read some of it to my husband to get his buy-in on this new way of eating.  We thought about it for about a week and decided, lets do this! 

Of course we were both nervous - we LOVE to eat out, processed foods are EASY, and with hectic schedules at work, kids activities in the evenings and weekends, it has become normal in my house to eat a bowl of cereal for dinner or go out to eat at resataurants all weekend.

In the end, we decided it was time to try something different.  Some of you may know, Im a workout fanatic!  I work out every morning at 5:15am doing P90X or Insanity DVDs, 6 days a week.  I then run on the treadmill the 7th day.  But, Im not seeing the results I want because I eat like CRAP.

So, its time for a change and its ONLY 28 days - WE GOT THIS!

Lets GO!
As an accountant, of course I started a spreadsheet!  I put together my own meal maps of foods that I thought my family and I would eat in each of the phases.  I also downloaded the Fast Metabolism app for my iPhone.  I like that it reminds you to eat, drink water and when selecting foods for the day, it helps ensure you have all of the food groups suggested for each meal.
 
Here are the phases during the week:
Phase 1 (Unwind Stress Phase) is on Monday and Tuesday - it consists of lots of carbs and fruit.  You must do at least 1 day of cardio.
Phase 2 (Unlock Fat Phase) is on Wednesday and Thursday - lots of proteins and veggies.  You must do at least 1 day of weight-lifting.
Phase 3 (Unleash Your Metabolism Phase) is on Friday, Saturday and Sunday - all of the above plus healthy fats.  You must do at least 1 day of yoga or stretch.

I think the biggest challenge for Week 1 is going to be my daughters dance competition on Saturday which is an all day event - Im talking 15 hours! I may need to purchase a mini cooler and ice packs so that we are fully prepared for the day. And, Ive got to keep my mind in check and not let temptations get the best of me.

On Sunday I went shopping for all of the foods for the week.  I stuck to the meal map and bought mostly organic by going to Trader Joes and Kowalskis.  Next week, I may check out Whole Foods for more ideas.  Everyone says, preparation is key, so I made sure we have tons of fruits and veggies for snacks and Im doing a lot of prep work at night to make this a success.  I packed up Mondays meals on Sunday night so that we were ready to go in the am - NO EXCUSES! Lets GO!

 

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There are three (3) basic things that you need to know about starting juicing to lose weight. These are specifically about the type of juicer that you can use, considering your special needs and researching recipes or ingredients that are appropriate for you.

Know the kinds of juicers
First and foremost, you have to know what kinds of equipment you can use for juicing. These kinds have their respective benefits and setbacks. In general, there are three (3) kinds of juicers that you can choose from.
 These are specifically the following:
1. Citrus Juicer
This kind of juicer has a reamer that squeezes the fruits. Its main advantage is its easy-clean feature, which is ideal for busy people. However, it can only extract a very limited amount of juice compared with the other two types of juicers.

2. Juice Extractor
Unlike Citrus Juicers, Juice Extractor has blades, which crush fruits into very small pieces. Also, it is a better alternative to Citrus Juicer because it can extract more amount of juice. You can also use it if you are planning to juice harder types of vegetables like carrots, beets and the like. However, the Juice Extractor is a little bit messy to clean up after using.

3. Blender
This is a popular home appliance that purees fruits and vegetables and convert them into juice or fibre forms. According to research, the main benefit of this, aside from producing finer texture of juice, is that its juice has lower impact to the glycemic index.
Aside from these three (3) kinds of juicers, there are also two (2) classifications of juicers, which are either centrifugal juice extractors or cold press juicers.

There are particular cases when one class is more appropriate to use, most especially when you are juicing to lose weight.
1. Centrifugal Juice Extractor
This was the most common juicer before, which uses a fast spinning blade in order to separate the juice from the fruits flesh. However, one disadvantage of this, according to the experts, is when it destroys enzymes in fruits or vegetables because of the heat that the machine produces. This heat oxidizes some nutrients as well, which makes the product "less" nutritious. The good thing about this, however, is that it is cheaper.

2. Cold Press or Masticating Juicer
On the other hand, cold press juicer, which is also known as masticating juicer, crushes and presses the fruit or vegetable in order to yield high amount of juice. The good thing here is that it does not produce heat; hence, giving maximum nutritional benefits.
This is appropriate to use, most especially when you are cleansing or juicing to lose weight.
Moreover, there are also other kinds of juicers. Some of these include single gear, upright, twin-gear (or triturating), as well as wheatgrass juicers.

Know your needs
Aside from knowing the appropriate kind of juicer that you are going to buy and use, it is vital to know your needs as well.
There are some people who have diabetes. In this regard, they should be cautious when juicing a particular kind of fruit, most especially those with high glycemic index. You need to appreciate that not all natural are universally good for the body. Hence, you need to plan ahead and research which kinds of fruits or vegetables would benefit you.

Since you are juicing to lose weight, there are also specific kinds of fruits and vegetables that will provide you maximum benefits while giving you good source of energy. Among the fruits that you can try to juice are apple, pineapple or even banana. On the other hand, you can juice almost any kind of vegetable you want.

You just need to keep in mind that their taste must complement each other.
Research appropriate recipes
As stated above, there are specific kinds of fruits that would be more appropriate for you, depending on your needs and purpose. If you are non-diabetic and will be juicing to lose weight, the following are just some recipes that you might want to try:
1. Apple + Pineapple + Cucumber + Lime Juice
2. Pineapple + Celery + Cucumber + Spinach Juice
3. Pineapple + Apple + Parsley + Kale + Broccoli Juice
4. Apples + Pineapple + Banana Juice
5. Carrots + Apple Juice

Are you wondering why these recipes are recommended when juicing to lose weight? Well, it is because these are rich in fibre, which is good for digestion. They are not just weight loss agents, but detoxifiers as well.
They remove toxins from your system, which makes you healthier aside from sexier.

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Stay Socially Aware:
Weight loss is aesthetic in nature and involves others perception of ourselves. Conjointly it should be the farthest from our primary focus. Obesity is an epidemic in the United States today with many teens and young adults struggling with weight issues.

Stigmas about social acceptance or weight control seem almost obscure.
Some diet for a specific body type or desire to emulate someone they admire albeit celebrity, athlete, etc. Social norms incoherently mask the true reason for weight loss: which is to live a happier and healthier lifespan.

Losing Weight Must Become A Lifestyle:
Unfortunately the best way to keep something routine is the make it mundane, ordinary, and just hard not to do. Incorporate your diet plan into your familys lifestyle by introducing new foods, having activities night like bowling, evening walks at the park or walking in your neighborhood. Everyone emphasizes fitness club memberships but this is the minority not the norm. Most successful weight loss transformations involve a home workout plan and diet transitions.

Mentally energize Yourself:
Weight loss forums are a great way to keep your mind engaged in the weight loss program youre involved in. Dieters all have a common goal; to become healthier, whether losing 20 pounds or 200 pounds. Losing weight is easier when you share daily activities with others, keeping you focused and positive. You can exchange tips, strategies and meal plans which make the diet process a lot easier. Each person is different; use variations of your weight loss program to keep your routine fresh and exciting. Social media sites are also a great way to exchange experiences. Visiting websites and browsing success stories will also keep you motivated.

Most importantly keep a positive frame of mind and the sky the limit.

Physically Prepare Yourself:
Sleeping 6-8 hours a day will increase the effectiveness of your program and allowing your cells to recharge. Incorporating cardio with weight lifting will increase your metabolism and fat burning. Stretching before and post workout is essential for injury prevention and increases flexibility. Perform self assessments every week to ensure youre progressing. Use any equipment that helps you be your best.
Sometimes using a knee brace or gloves goes along way to train weak muscles. Chart your strength gains and adjust your workout accordingly.

 Drink plenty of water and follow your diet plan. Take supplements before during and after workouts to improve performance while staying within your programs guidelines. Keep your body temperature warm with light cardio every workout to improve output.

Perform exercise motions weightless to ensure correct form which is very important when weight is increased. Utilizing this fundamental approach to weight loss keeps you plugged in and focused. Inclusively enjoy your weight loss program and most of all be positive.

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Okay, so today is the morning of the start of the "official" day 6 due to those 2 days I wasnt really able to diet.  So 48 hours to go until the official weigh in on Friday morning to complete 7 complete days of this mainly protein shake diet...man!..I really want some carbs that day! ha!...anyways, the I cant believe todays numbers....maybe something is wrong with my scale!? lol....but here they are:

Weight:  185.8
Fat LBS: 41.4
Fat %:     22.3%

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About- 6 Meals a day Diet plan (Indian Meal Plan):It works. I can say with confidence because me and my husband followed it and got results.

Especially my husband he lost 44lbs (20kgs). He had to reduce weight immediately as he was detected with very high Cholesterol. Doctor gave him 6months to lose weight. And he did following 6 Meals Diet Plan.

Weve many diet plans on net but very few are for Indian meal. And we know Indian meals are very yummy but at the same times its loaded with calories, fats, sugar, carbs and saturated fats.

So here is a meal plan which works. Go ahead and try it.

Rule: Drink 8 oz water before every meal.  Exercise/ Walk 5 times a week for 40min. 

Morning Breakfast (7am-8:00am)  :

Whole wheat Bread slice 2 toasted  and tea/milk.  OR 

Oat meal bowl ½ cup oatmeal boil with 1cup skimmed milk. Add some cut fruits e.g. apple or banana or grapes or strawberries.  OR

 2-3 Idlies with sambhar and very little chutney. It’s good to avoid coconut chutney. Instead try cilantro or mint or onion or tomato or cabbage chutney. OR

1 Boiled egg with Toasted Bread and tea.

Snack Time (9:30am - 10:30am):  

1 Orange OR

1 Cup yogurt/dahi with little cut fruits OR

Sliced carrots 1 Cup OR

Cucumber slices 1 Cup OR

1 Apple OR

2 Cups Water Mellon OR

Hand full Almonds (6-8 in count) OR

Walnut (6-8 Half in counts). OR

Combination of Almonds and Walnut

Lunch Time (12:00- 1:30pm):

2Phulka/Roti (without oil & ghee) , ½ Cup Vegetables curry, 1 Cup Dal, 1 Bowl Salad. OR

1 Cup Cooked Rice (without starch(Maad in Hindi) i.e drain starch from rice when its cooked half way) with  ½ Cup Vegetables curry, 1 Cup Dal, 1 Bowl Salad.

OR Chicken (try to make curries with 2teaspoon oil) Curry in 1Cup with 2 Phulka/Roti (without oil & ghee)  , 1 bowl salad.

Snack Time (3:30am - 4:30am):

1 Orange  OR

1 Cup yogurt with little cut fruits OR

Sliced carrots 1 Cup OR

Cucumber slices 1 Cup OR

1 Apple OR

2 Cups Water Mellon OR

Hand full Almonds (6-8 in count) OR

Walnut(6-8 Half in counts)

Combination of Almonds and Walnut

Dinner (7:00pm – 8:00pm): 1 Phulka/Roti (without oil & ghee), ½ Cup Vegetables curry, 1 Cup Dal, 1 Bowl Salad. OR

Rice (without starch) 1 Cup with, 1 Cup Dal, 1 Bowl Salad. OR

1Cup Chicken Curry (try to make curries with 2teaspoon oil only) with 1 Phulka/Roti (without oil & ghee),  1 bowl salad, ½ cup boiled rice(without starch).

Snack (10:30pm):

1 Glass butter milk OR

lime juice with salt and warm water OR

Water Mellon OR

Any seasonal fruit.

Important Tips:

·  Always try to keep Diet food Indian so you don’t have to compromise in flavor.

• Cook rice in vessel and not pressure cooker so it’s easy to throw rice starch.
• Add soy powder or palak or maythi or ½ cup moong dal in wheat flour while making dough so as to reduce carb intake.
• Add cut vegetables in  Rice to reduce carb intake.
• Plan your meal and snack previous night to avoid hassle or slippage next day.
• Keep oil in small bowl/kattori and put 1/2teaspoon measure oil spoon from measuring set or use tiny flat steel spoon.
• Use water to cook curries instead of oil. Mix garam masala in water add to curries and pressure cook. It’ll come out good.
• Use cooker to speed up cooking process and  use non-stick pan to use less oil.

Quick Tips to Loss 5lbs (2.3kgs) in two weeks:

·   Check weight every week to keep track of weight loss.

• Avoid emotional/pampered eating.  Avoid processed food e.g. Cookies, crackers, Diet Bars, Juices, Diet Cookies, Cakes, Bread.
• Try to eat food in original form. E.g eat fruit instead fruit juice.
• Avoid oily and sweet food.
• Be happy it helps.

Article By: Reena Sharma

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