Lose Weight – Fast
A Couples Journey to Renewed Health and Happiness
Although neither of my parents have a weight problem, they sometimes get distraught by aging bodies and extra unwanted pounds they claim are nearly impossible to lose. Any attempt to shed them either takes an eternity, requires constant thought and planning, or fails altogether, until a year ago.
It seems hypocritical for me to be touting about any diet because I am not a big fan of temporary fixes or trendy substitutions to practical nutrition. But when I heard about “The Fast Diet,” its popularity in the UK, and the testimony from my parents, I was intrigued.
The Fast Diet, the book by Dr. Michael Mosley and the former columnist for The National, Mimi Spencer, that has been topping Amazon’s book charts and taking the UK by storm states, “this seems less like a monotonous calorie-counting trudge through the week and more like an achievable challenge.”
The secret behind the diet is fasting for just two days a week and eating as you normally would the rest of the week. On the two fasting days, adults consume about 25-percent of normal calorie intake, about 500 calories for women and 600 for men.
What happens after the brain is deprived of food is scientific and spectacular. It starts producing a protein called brain derived neurotrophic factors. Repair and revitalization of dying neurons in the brain begins which makes you feel happier and smarter.
This protein can also help to reverse and further delay the progression of diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and other ocular diseases.
“The trick is to keep busy on the fast days,” says Spencer. “Drink black tea or coffee. Have a Fast Friend who’s on the same regime and ‘gets it’ and can offer support if you’re feeling hungry. If you’re really desperate, a little snack is okay—carrots and hummus, a handful of almonds.” And remember that tomorrow is another day, a day when you can eat freely.
“As your appetite changes and you’ve weaned yourself off constant grazing and high-calorie, quick-release carb foods, you stop craving foods that you once relied upon and you start wanting to eat more healthily, even on non-fast days. It’s a positive feedback loop,” says Spencer.
This article was originally printed in The Monticello News April, 2013, when my parents began this new, two days on, five off way of life. A year later and an accomplished, combined loss of 25 pounds, they are firm believers in this type of eating lifestyle.
Both of my parents are in their seventies and have lived through, heard about and quickly rejected many fitness trends and diets.
Although they were never fat, they have gained a clarity and understanding of the adverse effects of carrying even a little extra weight. Their testimony is all I need to hear to trust this strategy works.
All you really have to do is spend a few minutes in their presence to know that something is markedly different. Not only have they shed pounds—but they have relieved themselves, five out of seven days, of having to worry about the nutritional cost of their next morsel of food.
Sure the two fast days were challenging in the beginning, according to my mom, “but after finding a rhythm, she says, “it became easy.” After a two month adjustment period of periodic light- headedness, some “hunger” headaches and sleeping pattern adjustments on fast days, they feel better, have a reduced number of colds, look younger and are healthier and happier than ever.
On fast days they are satisfied with a healthy 150-calorie breakfast and an early dinner that usually consists of 300-400 calorie, vegetable and bean soups or stews. The result: mental alertness, increased levels of energy, an enlightened relationship with food and no calorie counting the other five days.
For questions or comments email: suzannemcginnis@me.com