The Ultimate New York Diet

 

Be warned: the Ultimate New York Diet is a DIET in the most punitive sense of the word, and is not for the undisciplined. Celebrity fitness trainer David Kirsch says you can "expect to lose up to 14 pounds, five inches off your waist, and a heavy percentage of body fat during the first two weeks of the plan alone". And supermodel Heidi Klum backs that claim up...having put herself on the Ultimate New York plan to successfully drop baby weight in advance of a Victoria's Secret fashion show. Though I like Heidi, admire her successes and her stunning beauty, I can't separate the fact that her career - her business empire - is her image. She's got a lot more riding on dropping baby weight than the rest of us, so I find her weight issues and solutions rather...difficult to identify with. In any event, the bottom line on Ultimate New York is that it's a tough combo of severe calorie restriction and lengthy, intense physical exercise. It works, but it ain't a walk in the park.

Phase 1
Two weeks long. Allowed: nuts, chicken breast, mushrooms, egg whites, salmon, low-starch vegetables, and lots of whey protein. Banned: alcohol, bread, starchy carbs, dairy, coffee, sweets, fruit and most fats. Daily Calories: 800-1,000.

Phase 2
Two weeks long. Phase one, plus the addition of one extra daily carbohydrate serving (beans, sweet potatoes, berries, apples).
Calories: 900-1,000

Phase 3 (the "lifelong" phase)
Some of the forbidden foods in Phase 1 can be introduced in moderation.

FYI: Meal replacement shakes are a big factor in the meal plans. These are great for short term calorie reduction, but obviously not sustainable as a lifestyle. Also, vitamin supplements and high fiber meal replacement powders are recommended to accelerate weight loss and improve overall health, though I suspect it's also because they fill in the nutritional gaps caused by a lack dairy, fruits and whole grains.

There is a comprehensive section on exercise - workouts are illustrated with pictures and diagrams - and working out is recommended for 45-90 minutes a day. The Ultimate New York Diet is a no-fail plan if you can stick with it. Good luck.