since she is often before the public at prestigious events. Her usual
effervescent spirit and zest is greatly diminished because of her weight
gain. Roberta related her frustration with one of the popular lowcarb diets
that she is trying to follow. “I’m miserable. I have awful cravings for bread,
and feel totally out of control, and I’ve lost only 4 pounds in 3 months,” she
said. I counseled Roberta about the risks associated with lowcarb dieting.
Her blood test revealed a sluggish thyroid. I placed Roberta on the Perfect
10 Diet and prescribed a thyroid hormone pill. She returned in 2 months;
her thyroid was back to normal and she lost 17 pounds. Roberta continued
to follow the Perfect 10 Diet and lost a total of 30 pounds in the following
year. She regained her enthusiasm along with her self-confidence.
A Typical Day on the Perfect 10 Diet
BREAKFAST: WholeWheat Bagel with Cream Cheese and 1 Orange
OPTIONAL MIDMORNING SNACK: ½ Cup Grapes
LUNCH: Grilled Tuna with Mixed Vegetables
OPTIONAL MIDAFTERNOON SNACK: Vegetable Juice
DINNER: Squash Soup and 1 Slice of WholeWheat Bread