Introduction

Congratulations! You have taken the first step to transitioning into a happier, healthier and more productive lifestyle. As you begin to implement the lifestyle changes outlined in this program, you will experience increased energy, better sleep patterns, improved libido and a general sense of well-being in addition to the rapid and sustainable change in body composition.

Behavior modification is a crucial component to your success. You must identify bad habits and lifestyle patterns so that you avoid gaining back the weight you lose after completing this program. Repetitive weight loss and gain is hazardous to your health and will shorten your life span. If you go back to the habits that led you here, you can expect the same result.

The dietary portion of this program is designed to identify what foods are most compatible with you and which foods should be eliminated from your diet. By doing this we can achieve rapid, safe and most importantly, permanent weight-loss. You are going to be provided with numerous options when it comes to meal planning. When food choices are bland or limited, boredom sets in and we tend to get off course. You will be provided with foods that you can enjoy as well as foods to avoid. Keep your focus on the plethora of foods that you can have rather than dwelling on the foods that are not good for you. Try to see food as fuel for your body.

We understand that life events happen such as vacations and holidays that can make it challenging to stay on track. Try your best to make the best food choices possible during these trying times. When these minor indiscretions occur it is important to get back on track quickly to maintain consistent weight loss. You don’t have to be perfect to be successful.

There are a couple of very common issues related to eating that we must address. First, it has become commonplace to skip meals on a regular basis. Believe it or not, you will usually make up for it later in the day, rewarding yourself for your deprivation with higher calorie foods and beverages and the pounds start pouring on. Skipping meals can actually cause you to gain weight, specifically in your midsection. That’s right, the dreaded belly fat!

A study conducted at The Ohio State University found that mice that were given all of their food as a single meal and fasted the rest of the day developed insulin resistance in their livers, a sign of pre-diabetes. When the liver doesn’t respond to insulin that tells it to stop producing glucose (sugar), the extra sugar that is produced ends up being stored as fat.

Eating regular meals is important to keep your metabolism burning and keep your blood sugar on an even keel. You are much less likely to overeat at your next meal. You are also more likely to make healthy choices when you eat every meal because you are not desperate to grab anything you can get your hands on. Regular, healthy meals help you to maintain healthy weight because they positively impact your metabolism.

That brings us to our next dietary issue: emotional eating. If you’ve ever made room for dessert even though you’re already full or dove into a pint of ice cream when you’re feeling down, you’ve experienced emotional eating. Emotional eating is using food to make yourself feel better or eating to fill emotional needs, rather than to fill your stomach or fuel your body.

Using food in moderation from time to time as a pick me up, a reward, or to celebrate isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But when eating is your primary emotional coping mechanism and your first impulse is to open the refrigerator whenever you’re upset, angry, lonely, stressed, exhausted, or bored, you get stuck in an unhealthy cycle, the real feeling or problem is never addressed. Unfortunately, the foods that are high in carbs and sugars actually provide a temporary mood enhancement.