Being a diet provider for half my life now, I have tried a few. This one works simply because it is simple. I’ve tried a plethora of diet regimens and they all tend to fail at one time or another, mostly due to a failure of determination to keep up the good work. With this one, that principle is the same, but at least this regimen is simple.
THREE: Meals per day. Breakfast, lunch and tea should be observed, and normal ‘one plate’ meals should be eaten, ie without ‘seconds’. The goal is simply to eat to fill the stomach but not to excess. see quantity; go for the typical average amounts and some fat can be enjoyed. Make sure you get at least two servings of grains and five servings of vegetables in these three meals.
TWO: Pieces of fruit per day. I usually recommend this between meals so we have something to look forward to that can stave off hunger pangs. Snacks per se on this diet are ruled out. Snacking is probably the worst and most dangerous concept for the person looking to lose weight. Resolve to stop snacking forever. This is the most important weight loss step. Food is fuel and should not be consumed to satisfy comfort needs.
A: Treat weekly. Admittedly, it’s impossible to expect people to go without birthday cake, ice cream, or a bit of chocolate. One serving a week won’t hurt, but the trick is to be self-disciplined enough to put up with this ONE pleasure and enjoy it, using the power of delayed gratification.
The wonderful book of Mr. Scott Peck Wisdom of the road less traveled talks about the principle of delaying gratification as “a process of programming the pain and pleasure of life in such a way as to enhance the pleasure by meeting and experiencing the pain first and overcoming it. It’s the only decent way to live.” “[1]
Don’t get too scientific about this process. Our constant application over weeks, months, and indeed years, is far more important. The extra weight we might be carrying now will only leave our bodies forever if we put on the right clothes to support weight loss.
Do not make or create more flexibility in your diet than these rules or, of course, the advice you may receive from your doctor. Self-discipline is the key. Add one day to another, then another; before you know it you will have formed new clothes and weight loss will be the inevitable result.
Copyright © 2008, SJ Wickham. All rights reserved throughout the world.
[1] Mr Scott Peck, Wisdom of the road less traveled (Kansas City, Ariel Books – Andrews McKeel Publishing, 2001), p. 28
