Sonoma Diet
Diet that concentrates on what you eat, not on what you can't eat.
BACKGROUND
The trend for destination-inspired weight loss plans continues to grow with the foreign-born Sonoma Diet, inspired by the Mediterranean lifestyle. The Sonoma Diet has received consistent approval from both doctors and experts. Not focused on just losing unwanted pounds, the Sonoma Diet promotes results through food, wine and weight loss, with evident results in only 10 days. Sonoma Diet followers will quickly see that this regimen is not based on deprivation. Instead, you'll lose weight and better your health all while enjoying your favorite wine and flavorful foods. Sonoma has three waves, or phases. You'll start by removing sugars, processed flour products and other unhealthy foods in Wave 1. You'll focus on health and pleasure in Wave 2, where you'll remain until you reach your weight goal.
You'll conclude with Wave 3, where you'll maintain your diet by consuming Sonoma-approved meals and treating yourself to snacks and desserts from time-to-time. While portion size has long been linked to the size of our waistlines, your meals on the Sonoma Diet will focus on large amounts of vegetables and grains and trimmed with lean meats. The Sonoma Diet suggests at breakfast using a 7" plate or two-cup bowl and a 9" plate for lunch and dinner.
FOOD & RECIPES
Some of the foods supported by the Sonoma Diet are almonds, olive oil, fruits like blueberries, grapes and strawberries and vegetables like broccoli, tomatoes and bell peppers.
Individuals following the Sonoma Diet will enjoy a variety of foods throughout the day. Start breakfast with whole grain cereal and milk. Follow with a flavorful lunch like wild rice salad and chicken with hummus and carrots. Quench mid-day cravings with whole wheat pita, cucumbers and yogurt sauce. Pork chops, Brussels sprouts, whole grain bread and fresh fruit will make for a filling dinner, complimented with red wine. The Sonoma Diet will even allow you indulge in an apple-blueberry tart as a sweet after-dinner treat.
EXERCISE
The plan goes easy on exercise. If you aren’t crazy about it, start slow by simply walking and tracking your progress.
EXPENSE
The online program is $4.99 a week.
PRO
You can access the Sonoma Diet in print (a New York Times Bestseller) or online. Sonoma dieters can go online to receive a personalized diet plan, more than 500 recipes and several online tools including a meal planner and weight tracker, as well as an online community.
CON
Too easy on exercise. Gives people an easy out, if they don’t feel it’s important.
CONCLUSION
While the Sonoma Diet has some restrictions, it’s nice to see a plan that centers on the food you get to indulge in. It creates a positive atmosphere that is more conducive to long-term change. While the plan doesn’t stress exercise enough, people should already know that it’s an important aspect of healthy living and can be proactive and find ways to exercise on their own.
common misspellings: Sonoma Deit, Sanoma Diet, Senoma Diet, Sonome
4/30/2008
Sonoma Diet. New Diet Sensation Sonoma Diet Reveiw
Sonoma Diet. Positives and Negatives of the Sonoma Diet
Positives and Negatives of the Sonoma Diet
Sonoma Diet Pros
Simple - The strongest point of Sonoma Diet is that it is very simple - no counting grams or calories. Plate size is used for portion control.
Positive Emphasis - Emphasis is supposedly on what you do eat rather than what you don't, and this is true to an extent. However, the list of forbidden foods is one that is common to, for example, the South Beach Diet, and most of that list is common to all low-carb diets.
Focus on Food - There is an emphasis on eating slowly and savoring food. Partially to this end, a glass of wine is allowed with dinner after the first ten days.
Nutrition - The books talks getting a variety of phytonutrients and antioxidants, partially through "power foods".
I always like it when I see a diet which emphasizes variety and nutrition. Also, whole foods are emphasized (very few processed foods are recommended), which is always a good sign.
Structure - I think that some of the popular low-carb diets lack structure. For those who want more guidance, the Sonoma Diet delivers, but perhaps too much for some.
Sonoma Diet Cons
Very little flexibility in a low-calorie diet - The Wave One menus I analyzed were 900-1100 calories for women and 1100-1300 for men, with 200-300 calories more in Wave Two. This is going to be too low for most people in the first phase, and many people after that, depending upon their size and activity level. Within a few days, those people are going to be ravenous, which isn't sustainable. Very little guidance is given as to what to do when hungry - "a small snack [of plain raw vegetables] to tide you over" doesn't actually work well when you're ready to sink your teeth into the nearest chair.
Vegetable servings limited, especially after first phase - Because it limits volume, it limits low-starch/high fiber vegetables more than any other diet I've seen. This may be an unintended consequence of the diet, but when I tried to follow even the Wave One guidelines in my meals, I kept bumping up against this limitation. One cup of cooked spinach almost fills half of a nine inch plate. One of my favorite breakfasts - two eggs on a mound of vegetables, would never fit on a seven-inch plate. Vegetable serving sizes shrink by half after the first ten days, which to me just isn't acceptable.
Many Forbidden Foods - The Sonoma Diet emphasizes whole foods, which is laudable (and optimal), but this is going to be a big change for most people. Most diets give more "outs" in terms of, for example, sugar substitutes, more fats, or "extra" foods. Many of these are not allowed on the Sonoma Diet.
Danger of carb crash in first phase - Carb crash early on is common to many low-carb diets, but possibly since the Sonoma Diet claims not to be low-carb, it has no method of dealing with it. For help, see Getting Through the First Week.
Inconsistencies and Inaccuracies - To be fair, almost every popular diet has what I perceive to be inconsistencies and inaccuracies. Be aware of these in the Sonoma Diet:
Claims over and over again not to be low in carbohydrate, and repeatedly criticizes low-carb diets, yet the carb levels recommended in the Sonoma Diet are consistent with other reduced carb plans.
Claims that whole wheat bread is less glycemic than white bread. While it's true that heavy breads made partially with cracked wheat are less glycemic than white bread, this is not the case for most 100% whole grain breads in which finely-ground flour is used.
Claims that grains are "the heart and soul of the diet", however, the Sonoma Diet has fewer grain servings than the "Food Pyramid".
Sonoma Diet. Weight Loss Program Sonoma Diet
The Sonoma Diet is one of the latest in the line of commercially successful weight loss programs
The Sonoma Diet is one of the latest in the line of commercially successful weight loss programs available to dieters. It is a program claiming to be based on both a nutritional diet that will not leave your taste buds out of the equation, as well total change of lifestyle, basically promising an exotic experience to its dieters. The founder of the Sonoma Diet program and author of the NY Times Best Selling book, The Sonoma Diet, is Dr. Connie Gutterson. Dr. Gutterson is the leading expert on health benefits derived from the diets of Mediterranean, Latin American and Asian Cuisines, and thus the Sonoma Diet”s basis is on Mediterranean foods. This is where the program gets the majority of its foods (Sonoma, California and the European Mediterranean). Now these locations certainly have some delectable food choices and can be quite exotic, however dieters should look past the marketing claims of the diet and into actual food lists available, as the diet is not extremely flexible and would be difficult to complete if you did like your choices.
The Sonoma Diet is like no other (see pros and cons). It’s a diet in which meals are about celebration, not deprivation! That’s because when you're on The Sonoma Diet, you don’t lose weight by avoiding foods. Instead, you lose weight by enjoying satisfying amounts of some of the best foods on the planet.
The Sonoma Diet was inspired by the Mediterranean diet and emphasizes eating a generous variety of foods that boost your vitality, protect your heart, and improve your overall health.
There’s no "diet food" here — just wholesome, fresh, and delicious everyday foods that are easy to find, even easier to prepare, and proven to help you lose weight and boost your health!
What Is The Sonoma Diet?
The Sonoma Diet is inspired by the Mediterranean way of eating and enjoying food
The Sonoma Diet is a unique weight loss plan that brings together, for the first time, the art and science of food. The appreciation and enjoyment of flavorful meals makes for a healthy eating style that becomes second nature. Simple instructions for the amounts and combinations of food make the plate your guide — and it was all designed so that you can shed pounds safely and easily until you reach your target weight.
The foods and recipes that will get you there have been carefully selected to make you healthier and happier as you lose the weight. The latest knowledge from the fast-evolving world of nutritional research is reflected in the food selection and meal preparations.
But this diet wasn't born in a lab.
The Sonoma Diet was inspired by two special places in the real world, places where the intense enjoyment of an abundance of delicious food is a way of life. The diet gets its name from one of these places: it is inspired by the great-tasting, sun-drenched foods that make California's beautiful Sonoma County a paradise of healthy eating and active lifestyles.
Sonoma cuisine, in turn, is a state of mind and reflection of the way of eating and daily foods enjoyed by the people who live on or near the Mediterranean Sea. The southern Europeans who follow this diet enjoy a bounty of wholesome and delicious fresh foods, including vegetables, whole grains, nuts, olive oil, lean meats, and wine. Sonoma cuisine, with its diverse flavors and emphasis on local fare, is a unique interpretation of the Mediterranean diet.
These two communities — New World and Old World — have something in common besides superb nutritional instincts. They share a festive approach to eating and a heartfelt love of great food that turns every meal into a celebration of life.
Fad Diets Can Be Bad Diets
Fad diets equal bad diets
The "quick-and-easy" diets, as they most often are referred to, emphasize a strict diet that focuses on eliminating particular foods and/or focusing on the consumption of a specific food. The plans usually guarantee quick weight loss within a certain amount of time, which appeals to those who want to shed pounds more quickly than they normally and safely could.
Fad diets have a high rate of failure for a number of reasons. First and most notably, fad diets considerably restrict the amount of a normal calorie intake. This is not only an unhealthy way to lose weight, but usually leaves a person hungry, which in turn makes it impossible to adapt for long and causes the dieter to regain the initial weight they lost.
Secondly, and supported by the American Heart Association, the main failure of fad diets is the lack of a balanced diet, which includes a variety of foods from different food groups that fuel our bodies with the energy we need. Fad diets do not educate a person about the benefits of each food group and does not educate the dieter on a long-term healthy maintenance eating plan or lifestyle changes. Nor do fad diets emphasize the importance of physical activity in a person's daily routine.
According to new results from research conducted on BBC News in September 2007, "Diet Trials" revealed the main reason for the success of a popular "low-carb" diet on the market, and it wasn't because of the lack of carbohydrates. BBC reported that people who initially started the diet mostly lost weight in the beginning stages because of a reduction of water weight, which is not related to fat loss. They added that successful weight loss because of this "low carb" diet probably was in direct relation to the smaller amount of food intake consumed by the dieter, rather than the lack of carbohydrates.
In addition, the BBC added that weight loss on fad diets often is caused by the dieter having fewer food choices available, and basically eating less. In its conclusion, the BBC supported the claim that no evidence has surfaced that any diet will cause weight loss unless it reduces food energy (calories) below the maintenance level.
Though fad diets may promise miracles, in the end they cause a major disappointment when a person gains that weight back. Most importantly, fad diets do not help prevent diseases such as heart disease and cancer. The best and most effective way to lose weight is to eat a balanced diet that includes portions from different food groups in the food pyramid offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This is a diet that is supported by many health organizations and consists of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and fat-free/low-fat dairy products.
Also, diet alone is not the key to success; exercise and diet are a combination that, when separated, results in achieving only half the goal. Engaging in physical activity can help manage and maintain weight loss, and has the added benefit of reducing stress and preventing diseases.
Developing lifelong habits will ensure a healthy daily regimen that includes losing weight and keeping it off, and is supported by the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association.
People who are overweight took time to gain that weight, and it will take time to lose it, as well. So if you choose to spend more money in relation to your diet, do not spend it on plans that ultimately will help you gain weight again. Spend the money on consulting with a dietician or nutritionist and a personal trainer who may guide you to developing a long-term lifestyle change that will be safe and more effective, and will make you feel great.
Kidanu Birhanu, M.D., is medical director of the medical weight management program at Little Company of Mary Hospital and Health Care Centers. Birhanu is a board-certified internist with a special interest in weight management. Birhanu earned his medical degree from the University of Athens School of Medicine, completed his residency in internal medicine at Grant Hospital of Chicago (affiliate of Rush Medical School) and earned a fellowship in geriatrics at the University of Chicago. Please contact the Alliance member of your choice, or call (888) 246-7228 for more information about weight-loss programs. Little Company of Mary Hospital and Health Care Centers is a member of Southland Health Alliance.
4/25/2008
Fad Diets Can Decrease Your Libido
On a fad diet? Lose weight and your libido
Singer Madonna revealed that her husband Guy Ritchie lost his sex drive when he went on the infamous Hollywood Cookie Diet. Desi medical experts confirm a fad diet can kill your libido. Plus, diets that will take the boom out of your bedroom
Guy Ritchie and Madonna
No one can escape from the clutches of the most notorious criminal lurking on the desi urban food circuit fad diets. Luring unsuspecting victims with false promises of svelte bodies, fad diets ultimately take their toll on you. When you succumb to them, not only will your health die a slow death, your sex drive will suffer too. Two sex experts dissect the ill effects of fad diets.
How Madonna’s hubby lost his mojo
Who? Guy Ritchie, filmmaker
Why? He was on the Cookie Diet.
Which means: He substituted breakfast and lunch with low-fat, hunger-suppressing cookies.
What is the Cookie Diet? The Cookie Diet allows only one meal a day dinner. The dinner consists of 6 ounces (170 gms) of chicken, turkey, fish or seafood. The rest of the diet consists of six hunger-suppressing cookies per day. Together with the dinner, it adds up to 800 calories a day, which critics say is too low.
Why it killed his libido: Extreme or fad diets which deny your body of nutrition and essential minerals can physiologically and psychologically affect your sex drive.
Other libido killers
> Stress and tension
> Inter-personal relationship problems
> Excessive caffeine, alcohol and nicotine
Libido boosters
Nutritionist
Purwa Duggal recommends these libido boosters:
Asparagus: This veggie makes it to the list for its high Vitamin E content.
Pumpkin seeds: They are rich in essential Omega 3 fatty acids, which play an important role in sexual health. These seeds also contains zinc, an important ingredient for sustaining sexual desire in women and for production of testosterone in men.
Basil: It improves and increases circulation by providing protection at the cellular level, thereby stimulating sex drive and boosting fertility.
Figs: They are known to be aphrodisiacs, due to their high content of amino acids.
On the trail of the libido killer
On trial: Fad diets
Evidence: Desi sexologists, andrologists and nutritionists say fad diets can extinguish your sex drive.
Testimony 1
Dr Rupin Shah,
Consultant Andrologist at Lilavati Hospital
The body: Fad diets create a deficiency of vital nutrients and minerals in the body, which in turn causes a significant hormonal disturbance and deficiency, and this affects the sex drive.
The mind: Every fad diet carries its own psychological burden. Mood alterations or depression caused by extreme diets can also affect libido.
Women, watch out: Women have increased chances of a libido loss, since their hormonal cycle is more vulnerable.
Testimony 2
Dr Madhav Pakhare,
Sexologist
Fad diets not only have physiological side-effects, but also cause chronic fatigue and mood swings, which can play havoc with your libido. I always advise a nutritious and balanced meal for a healthy sex drive.
Testimony 3
Dr Purwa Duggal,
Head Nutrition Therapist, Wockhardt Hospital
A body can’t take the stress caused due to extreme dieting and over-exercising. It retaliates by suppressing production of fertility hormones, affecting ones’ libido and fertility. As soon as the body weight falls below the critical point, it affects the level of sexual interest and enjoyment.
Most wanted list
2 libido killers you should stay away from
Dr Rupin Shah says mono diets that focus on just one food group, are the worst kind of libido killers.
Stay away from these:
The Atkins Diet
Since most Indian celebs and junta are turning carbophobes (leaving out carbs which are healthy, by the way from their diet) the Atkins is the most notorious criminal. Because it focuses exclusively on a high-fat, high-protein diet, it results in high cholesterol, high triglycarides and impaired kidney function.
Celeb followers: F.R.I.E.N.D.S star Jennifer Aniston. Even Shah Rukh Khan went on a high-protein diet to achieve his six-pack for Om Shanti Om.
The Mono food diet
This involves eating just one food group in one meal.
Celeb follower: Hollywood star Liz Hurley avoids combining carbs and proteins.
4/24/2008
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Fat Burners. Do Fat Burners Work. What Are Fat Burners
Fat Burners. The Facts on Diet Fat Burners
Try to find a conclusive study about just about any dietary supplement, including so-called fat burners, and you're in for a long day. What we do know is that most supplements need further study and, more importantly, the purity of supplements is definitely suspect. Supplements aren't standardized so you don't know if what's listed on the bottle is what you're getting. Plus, no one knows what the long-term effects of these supplements are and, even scarier, how they interact with other medications. So, to answer the question of whether fat burners work, I have to say...uh, I don't know.
Chitosan
What it is: A substance derived from the external skeletons of marine animals, such as crabs
What it does: Chitosan binds to fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K), which prevents the body from absorbing them.
Where it lives: Twin Lab's Diet Fuel With Chitosan, Biotech's Fat-B-Gone With Chitosan
Should you take it? That's up to you. First, there's a concern that Chitosan impairs absorption of carotenoids which the body converts into vitamin A. Second, most experts agree that Chitosan simply doesn't work. A handful of studies suggest that Chitosan might help trim fat, but these studies have not been published in peer-reviewed journals such as JAMA. For more info, see WebMD's take on Chitosan.
Ehpedra
What it is: A powerful herb grown in Mongolia and China. Ephedrine (an extract of Ephedra) is an amphetamine-like compound which stimulates the nervous system and heart.
What it does: An effective treatment for asthma, allergies, and sinus problems. Usually marketed for weight loss, performance enhancement, energy, or body building.
Where it lives: The Original Formula One, Ripped Fuel, Muscletech's Hydroxycut
Should you take it? Um, not without some good research. Since 1994 the FDA has received more than 800 reports of adverse effects associated with products containing Ephedra. These include: high blood pressure, irregular heart rate, nervousness, insomnia, headaches, heart attacks, seizures, strokes and death. What's scary is that many of these problems occurred in young/middle aged, healthy adults who used it for weight loss. The problem often stems from mixing ephedrine with caffeine, a big no-no. Check out the Department of Health & Human Services for detailed info on the problems with Ephedra.
Pyruvate
What it is: HCRC defines Pyruvate as: "a three-carbon (triose) ketoacid produced in the end stages of glycolysis." Translation: Pyruvate is a product of sugar metabolism.
What it does: Marketers claim it can increase fat and weight loss, reduce cholesterol, and improve endurance.
Where it lives: Twin Lab's Pyruvate Fuel, Pinnacle Pyruvate 500
Should you take it? William Sukala, an expert trainer at Health Care Reality Checks says: "The minuscule doses available in commercial supplements have not been proven effective in any available research." Basically, the research that has been done doesn't support marketers' claims. It seems safe right now, but, like everything else, needs further study.
HCA (Hydroxycitrate)
What it is:A natural food substance extracted from the fruit of the Garcina cambogia tree grown in southern India.
What it does: HCA supposedly curbs appetite and increases glycogen storage without affecting muscle or energy levels.
Where it lives: No-Diet Diet, Bio-Max 3000, MicroSlim, and Body Busters (among others)
Should you take it? Not unless you enjoy wasting your money. According to a study published in JAMA, HCA is ineffective for weight loss.
Conclusion
As you can see, the research on fat burners is sketchy at best. No one can say with any certainty that fat burners work or if they are safe to take over a long period of time. What is a proven method of weight loss is exercise coupled with a healthy, low-calorie diet. There are no shortcuts! Instead of wasting your money on something that may not work or harm your health, why not go with what you know will work?
Detox Diets - Losing Weight With Detox Diets
Detox Diets - Losing Weight With Detox Diets
Can you achieve weight loss with a detox diet? There's no doubt about it. Going on a detox diet can help you lose weight. And it can also have many other health benefits as well, leading to better skin, increased energy and just a better overall sense of well-being.
What Is a Detox Diet?
A detox, or detoxification, diet helps the body get rid of some of the toxins that build up in the body over time. These toxins can come from pollution, the preservatives and additives in the foods you eat, things you might be exposed to everyday (like household cleaners and cigarette smoke), and even by-products of your body's own normal functions.
A detox diet also helps your body get rid of waste matter that might have built up in the colon. This old, toxic fecal matter could be responsible for many of your extra pounds. While some people might prefer to go get a colon hydrotherapy cleansing, this isn't an option available to everyone (if you live in California, you are lucky!), so a detox diet can help clear your colon of all that yucky stuff.
Also, these detox diets usually involve eating foods that contain fewer calories and fat than the foods you usually eat. Because you will be burning more calories than you consume, you will lose weight. But just remember that if you go back to putting all kinds of junk food back into your body, that weight certainly isn't going to stay off. So be sure to treat the detox diet as the beginning of a lifestyle change for yourself. It can help you start off the right way, but you'll need to incorporate some other changes in how you eat to keep the weight off.
Most of these detox diets last for a very short period of time, usually running from several days to a month at the most. The things involved depend on the specific diet you choose but, in general, most detox diets include:
Substituting natural, organic foods for foods that contain preservatives, additives, and other chemicals.
Drinking large amounts of water to increase urination, which will help the body get rid of toxins faster.
Eating foods high in fiber to increase the frequency of bowel movements, another way to help your body quickly get rid of toxins.
Consuming foods high in the antioxidants, vitamins and nutrients that are known for their detoxifying properties.
Just Another Diet Trend?
The critics of the detox diet claim that this diet trend, like all those that came before it, is no more effective than anything else that has been put out there. Whenever a new diet trend comes along, people rush to participate, and then claim that it doesn’t work. Not all diets will work for everyone. I tried the Atkins diet for awhile with little or no results, but a man I knew lost nearly thirty pounds on it. However Atkins doesn’t work very well for people who are not significantly overweight, according to some critics and apparently my body.
So, does that mean that the detox diet is more than just another diet trend, or will it fall to the wayside after a bit like every other diet trend. Of my detox dieters, 2 out of three say it’s not a diet trend. It is a method of cleansing the body, which other diet trends simply don’t do. The 3rd dieter says it is a diet trend, but a highly effective diet trend, and if a diet trend is effective then who cares if it’s a trend? Interesting point.
Diet trend and fads usually don’t carry much weight behind their claims. They are simply a theory produced to suggest that the latest Diet trend is the most effective weight loss plan and everyone needs to jump on board before their obesity claims them forever. The detox diet has a different aim, so I really poked around when trying to determine if this was simply just a diet trend or more of a health revolution.
There is overwhelming evidence that Americans and Canadians are in the poorest health overall, considering the health care we have available. The healthcare we have at our fingertips should make us one of the healthiest nations in the world, but we rank very low on the list. Most doctors and scientists contribute this to the foods we put into our body and the chemicals we come in contact with when eating, working, and playing. For the health choices that we have available to us, we have one of the highest rates of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and childhood cancer rates in the world. Of course, we also rank ridiculously high on the list for overweight and obese citizens.
The detox diet is concerned with addressing the overall health of Americans, not just their waistline. The diet trends that have come along have been concerned with treating the waistline issues, but not the overall health. So, is the detox diet just another diet trend? By technical definition, a diet trend meaning any new method of eating introduced into society that creates a sudden onslaught of followers, well then yes. However, it can’t be considered a diet trend by any other definition. It was simply not developed for the same reasons or the same fashion that diet trends hit the market.
Thin people can benefit from the detox diet. Overweight people can benefit from the detox diet. Everyone in between can benefit from the detox diet. The detox diet isn’t targeted for weight loss. Thus it is really about a healthier lifestyle. Detox dieting is geared toward permanent health. After a significant purge of the body’s chemical and toxic build up, the detox diet is geared to long lasting non-toxic lifestyles rather than diet trends, which tend to be geared toward lifestyles that manage weight.
The Cookie Diet. Can You Lose Weight on a Cookie Diet
The Cookie Diet. Can You Lose Weight on a Cookie Diet
The key is a carefully crafted cookie recipe, which suppresses hunger, paired with very specific dinner menu, said Siegal of Siegal Medical Group in Miami.
"On this diet, you have one meal only: dinner," Siegal said. "The dinner consists of 6 ounces of chicken, turkey, fish or seafood."
Along with the lean meat choices, the diet allows one cup of vegetables with dinner. Red meats are discouraged because of their high fat content. The rest of the diet consists of exactly six hunger-suppressing cookies per day, which are baked in Siegal's own bakery in Miami and available only to patients in Siegal's clinics (five in Florida, and one in Montreal.)
The cookies are not for breakfast or for lunch, but rather for whenever the dieter is hungry, though they must eat six a day. The six cookies, plus the one dinner, adds up to 800 calories. Dieters should also consume eight glasses of liquid a day, which includes coffee and tea, Siegal says.
Too Few Calories?
Critics say the diet's requirement of 800 calories a day is too low, and that it lacks nutritional staples that give us the vitamins and minerals we need.
"It's really just another fad diet that will hook people in with the gimmick of being able to eat cookies all day," said Amy Campbell, a nutrition and diabetes educator at the Joslin Clinic in Boston. "While this sounds appealing, a closer look at the details reveals that this is not a nutritious eating plan at all."
The 800 calories a day is below that which is recommended for safe and effective weight loss, and the diet is woefully lacking in fruits and vegetables, as well as calcium, vitamin D4 and fiber, she said.
Siegal says that there have been no problems with the diet in terms of patient safety, and that it is supplemented with vitamins.
Unlike diet pills designed to suppress your appetite, the cookies do not have drugs in them, Siegal said. Instead, the cookies contain amino-acids in the form of hunger-suppressing proteins: oats, rice, whole wheat flour, bran.
"We've worked with this mixture over the years to the point it works quite well as an appetite suppressant," Siegal said. "And it enables someone to eat an 800-calories-a-day diet and not get hungry."
Diet in a Bag
Ela Prieto, a 39-year-old bank executive, lost 51 pounds, shrinking from a size 14 to a size 4. She was on the cookie diet for four and a half months, and then went off the diet and onto a maintenance program for the last two years, on which she eats about 1,200 calories a day, and exercises.
"The first five days, like on every diet, it's not easy," Prieto said. But instead of toting around a salad or a TV dinner, she just put her cookies in a Ziploc bag and kept them with her.
"And I'm not hungry," she said. "The cookies do satisfy."
They cookies are available in chocolate, raisin or coconut — but flavorful, they're not.
"They're not the world's best cookies — but they weren't intended to be," Siegal said. The makers or Oreos and Mrs. Fields shouldn't lose any sleep, he said.
The cookies themselves are low in fiber and two of the flavors are high in saturated fat, which can raise the risk of heart disease, Campbell said.
"Practically anyone who consumes only 800 calories per day will lose weight — the point is that, again, it's not a healthful way to lose weight," she said.
Not Enough Carbs?
Connie Diekman, the director of university nutrition at Washington University in St. Louis, was similarly unimpressed.
The six cookies daily supply a total of 60 grams of carbohydrates, which when added to the 10 from vegetables make the carbohydrate intake a total of 70 grams per day — much below the 100 to 125 grams per day minimum for health, Diekman said. Calorie-wise, each cookie is like a slice of bread, a nutritional mix of several different food types that is probably equivalent to half a serving of lowfat dairy, and half a fruit serving.
"Again, this is a low-carb, low-calorie eating plan that will promote weight loss, but not necessarily body fat change, making it a less-than-healthy choice," she said.
Siegal said that the cookie diet is not something patients would stay on permanently.
"It depends on how much weight you have to lose. Three out of four lose 15 pounds a month," Siegal said. "No one will follow a diet for a lifetime, so we change the method to get them to burn up more calories."
Although five pounds a month is often cited as a sustainable level of weight loss, Siegal says the quicker the better.
"The only people we see who maintain their weight are those who get to the goal set before them," Siegal said.
The Cookie Diet. Is The Hollywood Cookie Diet Safe
The Cookie Diet. Is The Cookie Diet Safe
Siegal's plan is actually a very low-calorie diet, in which six of the special Siegal cookies are eaten when hungry during the day, along with eight glasses of liquid, and only one meal is eaten, dinner, consisting of 6 ounces of lean protein (chicken, turkey, fish or seafood only), plus one cup of vegetables.
The total calorie count of the diet comes out to approximately 800 calories per day, and total carbohydrate intake is about 70 grams per day, making Siegal's program an extremely low-calorie, low carbohydrate diet.
What is not as frequently mentioned is that reportedly, as many as 60 percent of patients on the Cookie Diet are also prescribed appetite suppressant drugs, and another 25 percent are prescribed thyroid hormones.
The cookies, which Siegal claims have amino acids with appetite suppressant properties, are available in chocolate, raisin or coconut flavors, but even Siegal admits that they don't taste very good. Don't look for them on your local store shelves anytime soon, however. Siegal's cookies are available only to patients at his weight loss clinics (five are in Florida, and one is in Montreal), as part of his estimated $400 a month weight loss treatment program.
Is the Cookie Diet Effective?
Some weight loss experts say that any diet that provides only 800 calories a day is bound to work, but at what price? Critics say that the diet provides far too few calories to maintain health and energy, and is seriously lacking in fruits and vegetables. (1 cup a day of vegetables doesn't make a dent in the recommendation that we eat 5-9 servings a day of vegetables and fruit). Others have alleged that the Cookie Diet doesn't provide sufficient vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Even Siegal admits that the Cookie Diet is not meant to be used for long periods of time. Many diet experts say that once people resume normal eating habits, they will regain the weight lost on drastic diets like this one.
What Can You Safely Do to Lose Weight?
In the meantime, put down that box of Oreos, and start thinking about what you CAN you do to safely lose weight!
Some weight loss experts say that any diet that provides only 800 calories a day is bound to work, but at what price? Critics say that the diet provides far too few calories to maintain health and energy, and is seriously lacking in fruits and vegetables. (1 cup a day of vegetables doesn't make a dent in the recommendation that we eat 5-9 servings a day of vegetables and fruit). Others have alleged that the Cookie Diet doesn't provide sufficient vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Even Siegal admits that the Cookie Diet is not meant to be used for long periods of time. Many diet experts say that once people resume normal eating habits, they will regain the weight lost on drastic diets like this one.
4/21/2008
Low-calorie Sweeteners and Weight Gain
Experts Weigh in on Low-calorie Sweeteners and Weight Gain
Do low-calorie sweeteners cause weight gain? This seems to be the burning question these days, and one the media appears completely dazzled by.
A close look at the clinical research, however, reveals the reality - low-calorie sweeteners are helpful, not harmful, in weight loss and weight management efforts. If you consider the way we gain weight - when calories in exceed calories out - replacing the calories from a sugary, high calorie food with a low-calorie sweetened food should help with the weight loss side of the equation.
"The claim that low-calorie sweeteners cause weight gain is based on a few studies that have been met with significant criticism from nutrition experts. The studies in question contradict years of human clinical studies - and practical experience - that show low-calorie sweeteners are useful in facilitating weight loss," explains Jennie McCary, MS, RD, LD, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the New Mexico Dietetic Association.
One article that received wide media coverage, published in Behavioral Neuroscience, linked low-calorie sweeteners with weight gain in rats that ate yogurt sweetened with saccharin. Does that mean human waistlines will expand if light yogurt is part of the daily eating regimen? Not quite. Upon expert review of this study, there were several problems identified in the research, including the small sample size of only 27 rats. In addition, it's important to note that humans and animals such as rats are very different in terms of how they "taste" different sweeteners and what external cues trigger eating. The bottom line is that the study's findings likely have limited, if any, applicability to the real human situation.
Another study that made headlines from the journal Circulation accessed a number of dietary patterns and risk of developing metabolic syndrome based on a population of 9,514 middle-aged men and women enrolled in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study over a nine-year period. There are a variety of symptoms of metabolic syndrome, with weight gain, particularly around the belly, and diabetes among the hallmarks.
One observation of the authors was that people with diets high in diet soda had greater risk of metabolic syndrome. The authors suggested a "reverse causality" between diet soda intake and metabolic syndrome, but what does that mean? Since diabetes is common among people with metabolic syndrome, many of the study participants are likely to be replacing sugar sweetened beverages with diet soda for better blood sugar control. In addition, many of them were probably overweight or obese and trying to decrease caloric intake in an effort to lose weight or not gain additional pounds - which is where low-calorie sweeteners come in as a calorie saving, weight management tool. So it seems reasonable that the correlation between the soda intake and the risk of metabolic syndrome existed not because soda was a "cause," but because the population was more likely to be top consumers of low-calorie products in general.
In contrast, weight management programs generally report a benefit when including low-calorie sweeteners to improve weight loss outcomes. Research in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition examined the effects of the addition of the low-calorie sweetener aspartame in the diet of 168 obese women aged 20 to 60. Women in the group that included aspartame had better results than those without, even after a two-year period. The authors suggested that incorporating aspartame-sweetened foods and beverages within a well-rounded program may help in weight management over the long term. A 2006 Nutrition Bulletin review of relevant studies concluded that "using foods and drinks sweetened with aspartame instead of those sweetened with sucrose is an effective way to maintain and lose weight without reducing the palatability of the diet."
It is not only about calories, but quality of the diet, that matters too. In a study in the Journal of Food Science, consumers of reduced-calorie products - which contain low-calorie sweeteners, were found to have an overall better quality diet and consumed fewer calories than people who chose not to use reduced-calorie products.
"Basically, low-calorie sweeteners are a sweet alternative to sugar and high calorie foods and beverages without breaking the calorie bank," explains McCary. "Using them can help drive calories down in favor of weight loss or maintenance. And, they [low-calorie sweeteners] may even facilitate healthier food choices overall."
Source: Mission Times Courier, San Diego, CA
Atkins Diet. The Cons Of the Atkins Diet
Atkins Diet. The Cons Of the Atkins Diet
However, there are also thousands of individuals who have found success with the Atkins diet. They can speak from personal experience and know that the diet works and it is an effective means of keeping weight off. There are thousands of testimonials that tout the benefits of the low carb way of living.
There are many typical criticisms of the Atkins diet. One of the first is that the diet it too high in fat. The butter, oil and fatty meats that are used in the Atkins diet are a far cry from the low-fat diet fad that recently swept the nation. For many people, the low fat mindset has prevailed and they cannot fathom eating real butter or cream with their meals. It seems like too much fat at first glance. However, those that pay close attention to Dr. Atkins guidelines and follow the program closely know that the diet focuses on good fats. Extra virgin olive oil and other helpful fats are emphasized. The proper use of these oils is important to brain function and mood management.
Another popular Atkins criticism is that it focuses too much on food and not enough on exercise. This is an unfair claim because the Atkins books clearly spell out a need for exercise. There is a lot of attention paid to food choices because they are an integral part of the program, and they are different foods than what people are normally used to eating. However, this does not mean that exercise is not an integral part of the Atkins program. Aerobic and anaerobic exercise regimens are encouraged, and both will greatly increase your weight loss efforts.
Many Atkins critics feel that the diet is hard too keep up in the long term. Critics in this category will admit that Atkins is effective in short-term weight loss efforts, but point out that the lifestyle is hard to maintain over time. However, people who have had long term success with Atkins claim it is one of the easiest diets to follow for significant periods of time. The Atkins plan has rich food that is forbidden on other programs, and it has appetite-suppressing effects. When you combine this with the quick weight loss, a motivating factor for many people, Atkins is easy to stick to long term.
The side effects of Atkins, like constipation and bad breath, have also been a topic that Atkins critics are quick to point out. However, these side effects are not as common as critics make them out to be. If they do occur, the side effects normal only last through the first phase of the diet. Additionally, drinking additional water will normally take care of both problems rather quickly.
There are pros and cons to many diets. If you don't particularly enjoy preparing and eating meat, then Atkins is probably not for you. But if you are considering Atkins, make sure to look beyond the common criticisms for the truth about the diet.
4/14/2008
What To Eat After Weight-Loss Surgery
Gastric bypass diet: What to eat after weight-loss surgery
The gastric bypass diet outlines what you can eat and how much after gastric bypass surgery. Find out ways to establish new eating habits for successful weight loss.
What you eat, how you eat and how much you eat changes after gastric bypass surgery — surgery that alters the anatomy of your digestive system to promote weight loss.
With your stomach pouch reduced to the size of a walnut or small egg and portions of your small intestine bypassed, you'll need to follow a specific diet after gastric bypass surgery. A registered dietitian can assist you in creating this gastric bypass diet, which includes what type and how much food to eat with each meal and the required consistency and texture of the food. Closely following your gastric bypass diet promotes healthier weight loss and better nutrition.
After surgery: The first three months
You won't be allowed to eat for one to two days after the surgery. Then you consume specific foods according to a diet progression. The purpose of the gastric bypass diet progression is to help in the healing process, minimize stress on surgical sites and allow time for your body to adapt to the new eating patterns.
The following are common phases in the gastric bypass diet progression:
Liquids — foods and fluids that are liquid or semiliquid at room temperature and contain mostly water, such as broth, juice, milk, strained cream soup and cooked cereal. In most cases, you stay on a liquid diet for one to two days.
Pureed foods — foods with a consistency of a smooth paste or a thick liquid. Pureed foods contain no distinct pieces. The pureed diet is generally followed for three to four weeks, or as recommended by your dietitian or doctor.
Soft foods — foods that are tender and easy to chew, such as ground or finely diced meats, canned or soft, fresh fruit, and cooked vegetables. You usually eat soft foods for eight weeks before progressing to eating foods of regular consistency with firmer texture as recommended by your dietitian or doctor.
During the diet progression, you eat many small meals a day and sip liquids slowly throughout the day (not with meals). You might first start with six small meals a day, then progress to four meals and finally, when following a regular diet, decrease to three meals a day. Typically, each meal includes protein-rich foods, such as lean meat, low-fat dairy products (yogurt, cheese) or eggs. Protein is important for maintaining and repairing your body after surgery.
How quickly you move from one step to the next depends on how fast your body adjusts to the change in eating patterns and the texture and consistency of food. People usually start eating regular foods with a firmer texture three months after surgery, but it can occur sooner.
Lifelong changes: New eating habits
The changes in your digestive system restrict how much you can eat and drink with each meal. To avoid problems and to ensure you're getting nutrients you need, closely follow these guidelines:
Eat small amounts. Just after surgery, your stomach holds only about 1 ounce of food. Though your stomach stretches over time to hold more food, by the end of three months, you may be able to eat 1 to 1 1/2 cups of food with each meal. Eating too much food not only adds more calories than you need but also may cause pain, nausea and vomiting. Make sure you eat only the recommended amounts and stop eating before you feel full.
Eat and drink slowly. Eating or drinking too quickly may cause dumping syndrome — when foods and liquids enter your small intestine rapidly and in larger amounts than normal, causing nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness and sweating. To prevent dumping syndrome, choose foods and liquids low in fat and sugar, eat and drink slowly, and wait 30 minutes before or after each meal to drink liquids. Take at least 30 minutes to eat your meals and 30 to 60 minutes to drink 1 cup of liquid. Avoid foods high in fat and sugar, such as regular soda, candy and candy bars, and ice cream.
Chew food thoroughly. The new opening that leads from your stomach into your intestine is very small, and larger pieces of food can block the opening. Blockages prevent food from leaving your stomach and could cause vomiting, nausea and abdominal pain. Take small bites of food and chew them to a pureed consistency before swallowing. If you can't chew the food thoroughly, don't swallow it.
Drink liquids between meals. Drinking liquids with your meals can cause pain, nausea and vomiting as well as dumping syndrome. Also, drinking too much liquid at or around mealtime can leave you feeling overly full and prevent you from eating enough nutrient-rich foods. Expect to drink at least 6 to 8 cups (48 to 64 ounces) of fluids a day to prevent dehydration.
Try new foods one at a time. After surgery, certain foods may cause nausea, pain, vomiting or may block the opening of the stomach. The ability to tolerate foods varies from person to person. Try one new food at a time and chew thoroughly before swallowing. If a food causes discomfort, don't eat it. As time passes, you may be able to eat this food. Foods and liquids that commonly cause discomfort include meat, bread, pasta, rice, raw vegetables, milk and carbonated beverages. Food textures not tolerated well include dry, sticky or stringy foods.
Take recommended vitamin and mineral supplements. After surgery, your body has difficulty absorbing certain nutrients because most of your stomach and part of your small intestine are bypassed. To prevent a vitamin or mineral deficiency, take vitamin and mineral supplements regularly. These generally include a multivitamin-multimineral, calcium, iron, vitamin B-12 and vitamin D. Talk to your health care provider about recommended vitamin and mineral supplements following gastric bypass surgery.
Weight loss and weight gain
Within the first two years following surgery, you can expect to lose 50 percent to 60 percent of your excess weight, if you follow the dietary and exercise recommendations. If you continue to follow these recommendations, you can keep most of that weight off long term.
People who regain weight after gastric bypass surgery usually are consuming too many high-calorie foods and beverages and don't exercise enough. And rather than eating three meals a day and perhaps a planned healthy snack, some people engage in a grazing-type eating pattern — eating food all day long. Grazing often leads to consuming too many calories, which causes weight gain.
Successful weight management requires the following healthy habits:
Limit or avoid high-sugar, high-fat foods, which provide many calories but few nutrients.
Minimize unplanned snacking or frequent grazing, which increases calorie intake.
Exercise regularly.
Take the recommended vitamin and mineral supplements.
Attend regular follow-up appointments with your health care provider to review your symptoms and progress and to make sure you don't have any vitamin or mineral deficiencies.
If you aren't losing weight or are regaining weight after surgery, see your doctor. He or she can help assess your eating behaviors and exercise habits and help you confront and overcome any weight-loss obstacles.
Though weight-loss surgery helps you shed the pounds, its success depends on your willingness to adopt lifelong healthy-eating and exercise habits. What you eat and how you eat changes after surgery, but the benefits of weight loss and your improved health are well worth these efforts.
Source: Mayo Clinic
Weight Loss Surgery. Is Weight Loss Surgery Right For You
Weight Loss Surgery. Is Weight Loss Surgery Right For You
1. Meant only for the chronically obese: Weight loss surgery is not for everybody. You must be chronically obese for at least five to six years with a BMI of at least 40 or more. You should have already used all the available weight loss methods and if you cannot lose weight using those methods, then and then only you should opt for weight loss surgery. Before opting for a weight loss surgery, it is imperative that you consult with your doctor about the possible risks and outcomes associated with the surgery. Your doctor may well advise you to follow the ordinary weight loss methods for a little more time before deciding to go under the knife.
To be eligible for the weight loss surgery, your body weight must be at least 100 pounds more than the ideal weight. Weight loss surgery is certainly not for those who are slightly fat!
2. You need to get physically examined: Before you can undergo a weight loss surgery, your doctor will check your health to verify that you can withstand any type of complication that can arise out of this surgery. You may also be required to visit a psychiatrist so as to make sure that you are also mentally prepared to handle all the stress and complications that may follow the surgery.
3. Check for insurance cover: Not many insurance companies cover weight loss surgery, so be sure to check it with your own insurance company prior to opting for the surgery.
4. You need to sign a written content form: Since there are several risks and complications associated with weight loss surgery, or for that matter, any surgery, you are required to sign a consent form whereby you agree that you are aware about the positive outcomes as well as the risks associated with the surgery and that you are responsible for anything bad that might happen to you after the surgery. There is nothing to fear about it as it is just a formality; for your information, the success rate in case of weight loss surgery is very high, but even then, complications may follow.
Weight loss surgery can take several forms although liposuction is the most commonly used method. I hope that this article gives you a fair idea about weight loss surgery. So if you think it is right for you, go ahead!
Spring Clean Your Diet. Get ready For Spring Dieting
Spring Clean Your Diet. Get ready For Spring Dieting
Clean it up. Drink more water and less soda drinks. “Drinks shouldn’t be sticky,” says Pam Davis, R.D., LD., dietitian and diabetes educator, Baylor Medical Center at Garland.
Clean your plate. Ms. Davis also recommends “cleaning” your plate by ditching cheesy casseroles in favor of simple, three-part meals, consisting of a meat, starch and a vegetable. For example, a pork tenderloin, brown rice, and green beans meal would fit the bill.
Toss it out. Go through your pantry and freezer and toss anything that’s old or unhealthy. Don’t keep frozen meat any longer than six months. Label and date any leftovers before you freeze them for later use.
Plan it. Planning your meals makes it less likely you’ll grab fast-food on the fly.
Sit down with your cookbook – or your kids, who will be more likely to eat what they have helped plan – and create a weekly menu.
Practice restaurant savvy. If you eat out, do so wisely. Most restaurant portions are bigger and usually with more sodium or fat. Split a single entrée or order just a half portion if offered by the restaurant.
Top Diet Plans Quick Reviews
Diet Plans Quick Reviews
Diet Plans - The Atkins Diet Plan:
The Atkins Diet is a high-protein, high-fat and low-carbohydrate weight-loss diet popularized by Dr. Robert C. Atkins. It is a form of ketogenic diet.
The science behind how the Atkins diet helps you to lose weight is simple. When you eat very few carbohydrates (which are your usual main source of energy), the body goes into what is called a ‘ketogenic state’ where it must rely on stored fat for energy. As a result, you burn fat quickly and begin to lose weight. This process also makes the body produce compounds called ketones, which initially give dieters a ‘buzz’ or euphoric feeling. Most dieters don’t feel deprived on low-carbohydrates diets for the first several days because they are eating meals high in fat.
Diet Plans - Weight Watchers Diet Plan:
Weight Watchers is a diet program which combines weight loss and exercise ideas. As a membership incentive system it offers special foods, cookbooks and exercise plans for a fee.
Weight Watchers points are awarded for success and the dieter has the support of Weight Watchers groups around the world and chapter members from his or her local group. The advantages are that one can lose weight with others, having the support of others who are fighting the same battles. Weight Watcher products are readily available, and there are hundreds of web sites for support.
Diet Plans - Jenny Craig Weight Loss Program:
The Jenny Craig program offers personalized diet plans, and offers guidance at weekly meetings at Jenny Craig centers.
Participants must follow their personal meal plan, consisting of pre-packaged ‘Jenny’ meals along with healthy fruits and vegetables. The plan encourages healthy lifestyle changes and moderate eating. Clients get a personal touch as they work with counselors to find out their unique caloric needs, and can adjust their goals accordingly.
Diet Plans - The Slim-Fast Plan:
Slim-Fast consists of meal-replacement shakes, snack bars and one real-food dinner, giving a total of around 1200 calories in a single day.
Slim-Fast has been designed to make weight-loss as easy as possible. There is nothing to count, no need to measure portions, you don’t need to eliminate anything from your diet; all foods are OK, and no foods are forbidden. The plan involves 6 small meals/snacks per day, using Slim-Fast products for two meals and a snack and the rest of the day you’re on your own, to prepare a “sensible” dinner. Once you reach your weight-loss goal, just replace one meal a day with a Slim-Fast meal and stick with the healthy lifestyle changes that you have made, such as exercising, and you will maintain your weight.
Diet Plans - The NutriSystem Diet Meal Plan:
The NutriSystem Diet entails eating mainly prepackaged NutriSystem meals until you reach your desired weight. For about $300 you get 28 days worth of entrees, snacks, and desserts delivered to your home.
You begin this diet by selecting the program that best meets your needs: Women’s, Men’s, Silver for Women, Silver for Men, Type 2 Diabetes, or Vegetarian. You can then either let NutriSystem select your meals or you can choose for yourself. Standard programs, such as Women’s or Men’s, offer over 300 different meals to choose from. But subscribers to the other programs have a more limited selection; for example, the vegetarian program lets you choose from about 60 entrees and desserts). Once you enroll in a program, the meals that you select will be delivered to your home. The meals are designed to be quick and convenient and don’t even require refrigeration.
Diet Plans - The South Beach Diet:
The South Beach Diet emphasizes normal portions of lean proteins such as fish and chicken; unlimited amounts of low-glycemic-index vegetables; ample amounts of healthy fats such as olive and canola oil, nuts and avocados; and small portions of “healthy carbs” found in fruit and less-processed grains.
By following this way of eating, the plan promises positive changes in markers of cardiovascular health: lower cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels, along with increased HDL cholesterol levels. There are three phases in this diet. Dieters are encouraged to move back and forth between the different phases as needed to maintain their weight loss.
Phase I is the most restrictive and lasts for two weeks. It emphasizes lean proteins, fat-free or low-fat cheese, nuts, eggs, tofu, legumes, healthy types of fat and low-glycemic-index vegetables. Phase II reintroduces fruit, whole grain bread, rice, pasta and fat-free milk and yogurt. Dieters stay on Phase II until they’ve lost their desired amount of weight. Phase III is for maintenance and should be followed for life.
In summary, there is more than one way to lose weight. Include a fitness routine no matter how small, and you’re guaranteed an easier time bridging the weight loss gap.
A New Plan for Weight Loss
A New Plan for Weight Loss
A shift in strategy may help companies such as Jenny Craig tap into a whole new customer base
Jenny Craig is best known for ads that follow celebrities Valerie Bertinelli and Kirstie Alley in their dramatic weight-loss journeys. Now, the company has recruited Queen Latifah, the heavy-set starlet, to advocate health and well-being, not just shedding pounds.
The company isn't backing off the Bertinelli ads that target people who want to return to the weight of their youth, but the Queen Latifah campaign aims for a different, potentially bigger, consumer base. The new ads suggest consumers can get healthier by losing 5 percent to 10 percent of their body weight.
"We are appealing to that segment of people who have more health-related and perhaps more moderate weight-loss goals, and we had never gone after them before," said Scott Parker, Jenny Craig's vice president of marketing.
After years of showing celebrities and heavy women shedding their excess weight over the course of several weeks, marketers of dieting aids and programs have finally begun to wrap their heads around a simple truth: Their version of skinny has become impossible for some. There's good reason for the maneuver. The weight-loss market has become fiercely competitive, and companies see a chance to expand their share of the overall business by focusing on getting healthy, not slimming down quickly, to attract larger numbers of potential customers.
Selling diet aids isn't easy. Advertisers often use "before" and "after" shots of women who drop dozens of pounds, and then feel comfortable enough to stroll around in a tiny bikini. In reality, dieting is hard work and relies on a consumer's willpower and yen for exercise, so marketers often can't deliver on their original enticements.
Joe Cadle, marketing director for weight control at GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, said consumers "secretly hope for and pine for an easy, fast solution. That's what everyone wants desperately, even though they know it's not true and they know they can't get it."
Like other prominent diet marketers, Glaxo is trying something different. The company worked with the New York office of Boston's Arnold Worldwide to market alli, an over-the-counter diet aid that launched in the United States in June 2007. Ads for alli bear a no-nonsense message by promoting gradual weight loss of one to two pounds a week while encouraging customers to add regular physical activity and healthier eating habits. In other words, losing weight means changing behavior.
Unilever's Slim-Fast has shown a range of women in its TV ads, and its latest include women who are size 12 to 14 - even though the historical average in ads has been sizes 10 to 12, said Virginia Blake West, brand development director for Slim-Fast North America. After consumer research, she said, the company found traditional diet advertising, along with other images in fashion and entertainment, made "people feel doomed from the start. There are a lot of unrealistic promises and a feeling of '. . . Am I really going to be able to succeed?' "
The new push to be healthy and happy - no matter what your size - is showing up on TV shows as well. On Jan. 4, the Lifetime cable channel launched "How to Look Good Naked," in which former "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" star Carson Kressley helps women feel better about their appearance, not try to diet their way to a new one. One woman profiled in an early episode learns how wearing the right undergarments can make a big difference in outer appearance.
The feelings the show embraces are "in the zeitgeist right now," said Susanne Daniels, the cable network's president of entertainment. Lifetime also saw good viewer reaction to two movies it recently aired that put a spotlight on how overweight people are perceived. "To Be Fat Like Me" showed a young woman going undercover in a fat suit to find out how people would react to her, while "Queen Sized" featured the story of an overweight girl who was jokingly nominated for homecoming queen - and decided to make a serious run for the title.
Viewers are less interested in stories about "being perfect and being a size zero and being a model," said Daniels, and more intrigued by "embracing who you are, being healthy."
There's another reason why such messages are becoming more widely embraced - they made a big splash in the marketing world before. In 2004, Unilever's Dove launched a "campaign for real beauty" around the world for its skin-care and beauty products, with ads that used real women - in some cases voluptuous, in other cases elderly, and, in at least one case, bald. Ads asked consumers to decide if the women in question were "oversized" or "outstanding"; "bald" or "beautiful"; "gray" or "gorgeous." Debate over what constituted real beauty ensued.
The Dove promotion helped drive the problems with traditional beauty, fashion, and diet commercials into consumer consciousness, said Karen Grant, senior beauty industry analyst for market researcher NPD Group.
The ad agency that put the idea into action, WPP Group PLC's Ogilvy, estimates the Dove ads have received at least $21.4 million in free publicity from US media coverage. Many competitive beauty advertisers use messages that are "dictatorial - you should look like this," said Mike Hemingway, Ogilvy's global managing director for Dove.
Advertisers are realizing weight-conscious consumers are looking more for a friend than a huckster. When consumers want to rid themselves of excess weight, it's best if they are the ones defining their goals, not the ads, some advertising experts say.
"Some people feel they need to lose 50 pounds. That might be pretty daunting. It might be hard to take that first step because they know they are in for a long journey," suggested Kristen Simmons, chief marketing officer at Young & Rubicam Brands Southern California, a WPP agency that helped craft Jenny Craig's Queen Latifah campaign.
Jenny Craig is hoping Queen Latifah will help customers start their journey.
She isn't your typical weight-loss spokesperson, Parker acknowledged. A rapper who developed into a singer and popular actress ("Chicago," among other films), Latifah conveys a message of "self-empowerment and self-esteem," said Parker. Her website says her autobiographical book, "Ladies First: Revelations of a Strong Woman," is "about being confident and sensual in a big, strong body."
Jenny Craig's aim is to not just "celebrate the 'after,' but we also celebrate the act of taking the first step, and we celebrate the process as well," said Parker. "That's reality. And I think that's going to give us a different kind of brand image in the mind of the consumer."
Source: Globe Correspondent / April 13, 2008 Brian Steinberg is the television editor of Advertising Age.
4/11/2008
Sugar Busters Diet Review
Sugar Busters Diet Review
High glycemic foods are ones that cause a sudden rise in blood sugar levels and many diets, like Sugar Busters, associate these foods with weight gain. The author asserts that carbohydrates, and specifically starches, are toxic foods that lead to an increase in insulin production, which causes our body to store excess sugar and fat and make cholesterol. This book claims that high glycemic foods create a greater insulin response, which leads to more fat storage.
Restricted Foods
The Sugar Busters diet eliminates all refined sugar and flours, including all foods made with these products such as cake, cookies, bread, bagels and crackers. It also eliminates potatoes, corn, carrots and white rice. Small amounts of whole wheat bread and pasta are allowed, as are oats.
Eating on the Sugar Buster's Diet
People who follow the Sugar Busters diet consume about 30% of their calories from carbohydrates, 30% from protein and 40% from fat. The plan encourages a diet rich in meat, poultry, fish, olive oil, dairy and nuts. Some fruits and vegetables are also allowed. And as I mentioned above, you can also eat small amounts of whole wheat bread and pasta.
While on this diet, you are allowed to eat red meat, poultry, fish, olive oil, dairy foods, and nuts. There are certain fruits and vegetables you can eat as well. Oats, small amounts of whole grain bread, and whole-wheat pasta are also permitted. Simple carbs such as pasta, white bread, and white rice are banned. Potatoes and most sugars are also banned.
Does insulin cause weight gain?
There is an ongoing debate as to whether insulin causes weight gain. While it's true that high levels of insulin can cause heart disease, it's not clear that abstaining from sugar completely will get you the results you want. Weight loss while on this diet is probably due to the fact that sugar is very high in calories.
The Sugar Buster Plan
Unlike other low carbohydrate diets like Atkins and The South Beach Diet, this plan does not have phases. In fact, there is very little structure in this diet aside from general recommendations for portion size and meal composition. The book does provide a 14-day sample menu and recipes.
Sugar Busters is a low-carb diet in disguise.
The insulin/weight gain discussion, which is basis for this and other low carbohydrate diets, remains controversial and unproven. While one should be weary of any diet that limits fruits and vegetables, which provide valuable vitamins and nutrients, this diet allows fruits and vegetables from the beginning. And only limits certain varieties. It also allows whole grains in moderation.
Low-carb diets are often just low calorie diets, and low calorie diets are oftentimes portion control diets in disguise. It's amazing how many different ways diets can say, "consume less, consume better." If you want to reduce calories using a low-carb plan try Atkins or South Beach. If you want to control portions and eat more of what you want, try Sonoma or Nutrisystem .
While the diet limits carbohydrates, it does allow whole grain pasta and bread in moderation and only limits certain kinds of fruits and vegetables. Unlike other low carbohydrate diets, it does not include a beginning phase that excludes specific food groups. This diet also encourages lean meats and healthy monounsaturated fats.
Weight Watchers Diet Review For All Lifestyles
Weight Watchers Diet Review For All Lifestyles
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