A colleague and I conducted a telephone coaching support group last week. I am so excited by the results that I just had to share. Everyone on the call particpated, in some fashion, in a 5-day low-glycemic (high fiber) cleanse that, with our help/coaching/tips allowed their bodies to take a much-needed break from the standard American diet.
The way they had been eating had been causing them to gain weight, feel sluggish in the afternoons, and have some pretty nasty carbohydrate cravings. And now, after only 5 days low-glycemic eating, the five people who actually reported their results released a total of 28.5 pounds! That’s more than 5 pounds per person (on average) GONE! They also reported (every single person!) increased energy and not having that “need to take a nap” crash feeling in the afternoons. And I am happy to say that my flatter belly fit into a pair of last summer’s shorts quite comfortably.
How did this happen? Well, we used a system called RESET, a system I have used and recommended to my nutrition coaching clients for seven years. We taught about several solutions to common diet problems and debunked some myths about low-fat dieting, certain “health foods” you should never eat, and what it really takes to get a flat belly.
First, we talked about the glycemic index solution. This is only a part, but a very important part, of learning to eat in a way that tastes good, fills you up, keeps you full, and gets rid of carb cravings. We also talked about the glycemic load, another important part that’s a little more esoteric but is really at the heart of understanding how food affects your digestive system and your metabolism.
You see, the body does this miraculous thing after just a few days of eating this way. And I’m not talking about a diet. I don’t believe in diets. Instead, this is a way of giving your body really good, healthy, fresh, delicious food–stuff you probably eat anyway. It’s not a secret diet or anything. It makes sense, your body loves it, and, for most people who do this, they begin to lose weight, release fat, get more energetic, sleep better, and generally feel better.
Yes, there are clinical studies about how all this works, and I bet you’ve heard of some “diets” that are based on this very simple concept: Mediterranean diet, the South Beach diet, the Zone diet, the 17-Day diet. Check out just about any grocery store magazine headlines about “how to lose 20 pounds and 5 inches in 30 days.” This is the stuff they are talking about.
So, how do you go about doing this for yourself? Well, you learn about the glycemic index solution, you shift your eating habits for a few days to reset your metabolism, you stick with it for as long as you wish, and voila! Quick weight loss to begin with, then sustained and pretty easy weight loss over a period of time.
Exercise? Yes, you can do some of this too, but the good news is that you don’t have to spend hours in the gym. Just the basics–30 minutes, 3-5 times a week–is enough to boost your metabolism and develop healthy habits.
I personally did not do the entire system last week. I ate low-glycemic meals but did not do the “cleanse” the first five days as the participants did. I have done it before successfully and have lost up to 6 pounds in a week. Still, even by modifying it slightly, I lost a respectable 3 pounds, and I hardly changed a thing. Healthy lifestyle habits do the trick to lose weight and release fat. You can get “bikini ready” in a few weeks if you want to, or you can simply feel better in your clothes.
If you have ever done this super easy cleanse to lose weight and want to share, I’d love to hear from you. Or if you want to learn more about how eating low-glycemic is a really effective anti-aging tool, please leave your comments below.
Today’s post is another little drip from Vitamin Soup, and it is dedicated to my friend, Karen, who is crystal clear about what this vitamin means to her. But before we jump into that, I want to run something by you. 
