The Biggest Loser Diet Review
The Biggest Loser Diet is a plan based on the popular TV show on NBC. This is a low-calorie diet of balanced portion-control and exercise that follows The Biggest Loser pyramid of 4-3-2-1 : four servings of fruits and vegetables, three servings of lean protein, two servings of whole grains and one extra serving of the other three. The plan will lead to significant weight loss, lower cholesterol, decreased blood pressure, and increased energy level.
The 12-week program was created by Tufts University obesity clinician and researcher Dr. Michael Dansinger, MD, dietitian Cheryl Forberg RD, writer Maggie Greenwood-Robinson, PhD, and fitness trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels.
The Biggest Loser Diet takes a similar approach to a lot of body-building and fitness diets with its regimen of small, frequent meals containing plenty of fiber and protein. "Appetite stimulating" foods are to avoided, such as simple carbs like bread, pasta, and potatoes. The book includes one-week sample meal plans for 1,200-, 1,500- and 1,800-calorie diets. Break-down of carbohydrates, protein and fat is 45% - 30% - 25%. The dieter is to keep daily logs of food intake and, similar to most other diets, are encouraged to drink as much water as they can. Water makes you full. At least that's the theory among thin people and weight loss experts (Who are mostly thin as well).
The book contains a detailed cardio and strength-training program that starts at 30 minutes per day and increases over time to an hour. For support, the plan recommends joining the online Biggest Loser Club with its meal plans, recipes, customized fitness information, and journal for $5 per week.
According to the book, you can avoid "yo-yo" dieting and ultimately maintain your weight loss by following these rules:
1. Eat a healthy breakfast every day
2. Enjoy fruit and/or vegetables with every meal
3. Have protein with all meals and snacks
4. Stay active
5. Plan your meals, snacks, and exercise
The Biggest Loser Diet is simply sensible balanced nutrition and exercise. Every legitimate weight loss expert and dietition will endorse this diet, it's entirely made-up of the standard recommendations.
My problem is the level of calorie restriction and advocacy of dull forms of exercise. A 1200-1600 calorie per day diet is going to be really rough for a person with a high body mass index when they've been eating everything they want and in any quantities before. Telling somebody who consumes 4000+ calories per day that they are only allowed to eat 1200 calories is insane. They will blow apart at some point, crash to the ground and gain all the weight back.
As far as the exercise, as long as you accept the reality you must workout, you need to find something that you like to do that burns lots of calories. Examples include hiking, running, cycling, climbing, tennis, etc...
The fact is, well-intentioned sensible diets fail in the long-term at about the same rate as diet scams. Pick a diet that leads to a new healthy lifestyle and a higher level of activity and you'll find success where others fail.
