The Cardiologist's Wife

The Fast Diet Plan, Is It For You?

[ Post by Lisa Tedder ][ Post on March 5, 2013 ][ In Diet Tips and Better Eating Ideas ]

Spring break is almost here for many people and perhaps you have a beach trip planned.  If not, you may be thinking that swim suit season is coming in a couple of months so you’d better get in shape.  Wouldn’t it be nice if we worried about staying in shape all year?  Wouldn’t it be better to eat a balanced, healthy diet and exercise year round so that you don’t have to worry how you’ll look at the beach, your friend’s wedding or your high school reunion?  Then all you’d have to worry about is what to wear which is a big enough problem for me.

 

 

Last week I caught a story on Good Morning America on a new diet which is all the rage in Britain – The Fast Diet by Dr. Michael Mosely.  (I watch GMA while I exercise by the way.)  I like to keep up with the better looking diet plans out there in case I want to recommend it.  I often try these diets myself before recommending them.  If the diet plan includes eating real, wholesome foods with plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits, I’m more likely to be interested.  I haven’t gotten the book for The Fast Diet yet (isn’t there always a book?) but I have perused the website and I must admit I’m thinking of giving it a try to see how hard it is.

 

The premise of the diet is that you eat whatever you want 5 days of the week.  Then for 2 days that you chose, you are severely restricted calorie wise.  It is not a complete fast; women eat 500 calories, men 600.  And you don’t eat just anything.  The key is to eat plenty of protein plus some fruits or vegetables and plenty of fluids.  For example, you might eat boiled eggs, plums and a few asparagus spears for breakfast, skip lunch and eat 2 cups of salad topped with several slices of beef for dinner.  Dr. Mosley feels that often we aren’t hungry, we just eat out of boredom or that we are really thirsty and mistake thirst for hunger.  I can agree with that completely.  The book includes a calorie counter and menu plans to make the diet easier.  Dr. Mosley says that not only will you lose weight but that you will be healthier as your risk of diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers drops.  I can agree with that to an extent, not having read the book or seen any scientific data.

 

I think it’s a stretch to say that you can eat whatever you want the other 5 days and still be healthy.  However, GMA did interview several Britons who have had great success on the diet.  One woman said that her appetite in general had decreased and she couldn’t eat such large quantities of food anymore as she used to.  I know that right away I will have trouble on the fast days.  Still, if I needed to lose weight and overhaul my life, I’d at least discuss this diet with my doctor and give it a try.

 

The diet is NOT recommended for pregnant women, those under 18 who are still growing, Type I diabetics, or those with eating disorders.  If you are taking any kind of medication or are under a doctor’s care, check first before beginning any diet.  Dr. Mosley was inspired to develop this diet after finding that his own blood sugar levels were dangerously high.  He worked with American researchers to develop this diet and has seen his blood sugar return to normal levels plus his percentage of body fat dropped from 28% to 20%.

 

My recommendation is to consider this diet plan and work to developing an overall healthy lifestyle.  That means exercise, eating fruits, vegetables and lean protein.  It doesn’t mean there is a magic pill that will do the work for you or that you don’t have to exercise or that you can shove whatever junk in your face and not expect a few spare tires around your waist.

Upadated on March 5, 2013