Six days a week, dieters are encouraged to eat six
small meals consisting of one serving of protein and
one serving of carbohydrate. Meals should be con-
sumed about two to three hours apart. The benefit of
this practice, according to Phillips, is that it keeps the
metabolismelevated and energy levels stable.
Two of the daily meals should include vegetable
servings, and 1 tablespoon of healthy fat is encouraged
daily. Alternatively, three servings of fatty fish such as
salmon could be consumed weekly to meet the healthy
fat requirement.
On the seventh day, Eating for Life encourages a day
of less restrained eating, in which dieters eat reasonable
portions of unauthorized foods they’ve been craving
throughout the week. Eating for Life does not prohibit
particular foods, but encourages readers to save them for
the‘‘freeday’’andsavorthepleasuretheyprovide.This
practice will help readers sustain healthy eating choices
the rest of the time, Phillips maintains.
To aid in weight loss, Phillips says readers should
choose from 82 ‘‘authorized foods,’’ divided into five
food categories, including proteins, vegetarian proteins,
carbohydrates, vegetables, and fats. Recommended
protein foods include lean red meat (including beef,
buffalo, and venison), poultry (chicken and turkey),
fish and shellfish, egg whites and egg substitutes, or
low-fat cottage cheese; recommended carbohydrate
sources include fruit, sweet potatoes, brown rice, oat-
meal, barley, and whole-grain breads.
A sample daily menu might include:breakfast: zesty breakfast burrito
midmorning: chocolate-mint nutrition shake
lunch: grilled chicken soup
midafternoon: strawberry-frost nutrition shake
dinner: grilled salmon and potato
late evening: cinnamon roll supreme nutrition shake
As part of the Eating for Life method, it is sug-
gested that dieters plan their meals and grocery lists in
advance and record their protein and carbohydrate
servings daily. Phillips also suggests that dieters
drink 10 cups ofwatereach day.
Eating for Life does not prohibit alcohol orcaf-
feineconsumption, but suggests limiting both.
Eating for Life also advocates portion control as
an essential practice for weight loss. For example, a
protein serving is about the size of a person’s palm,
whereas a carbohydrate serving should be about the
size of the person’s clenched fist. Counting calories or
points or measuring food portions with a scale do not
play a role in the Eating for Life plan.
Eating for Life also recommends readers partic-
ipate in weight or resistance training three days a week
and cardiovascular exercise three times a week. Doing
so will help dieters build and maintain muscle mass,
which is crucial for the body’s ability to burn fat,
Phillips says.Function
Eating for Life is a program adopted by people
who wish to lose weight or who are seeking a nutrition
program to support their bodybuilding or resistance
training efforts.Benefits
Because of the six-day-a-week recommended
exercise plan described in Body for Life, Eating for
Life may work well for people who are serious about
weight training for health and fitness. This plan may
also benefit people who desire regimented eating and
exercise programs as they attempt to lose weight.
The six small meals a day and regular exercise
recommended in the Eating for Life plan are sound
strategies for weight loss. However, the strict nature of
the diet (readers are admonished to adhere to a list of
authorized foods) may make it difficult for a person to
maintain any weight loss long-term.Precautions
Although Eating for Life does not formally
require their use, supplements including meal replace-
ment shakes and protein bars are frequently recom-
mended by Phillips. Dieters are encouraged to
consume up to three meal replacement products or
shakes daily, such as the Myoplex brand marketed
by EAS, the performance supplement company
started by Phillips. These supplements can be difficult
to find in conventional grocery outlets as well as
expensive. For example, 20 servings of the Myoplex
protein powder often recommended in Eating for Life
and Body for Life starts at $59.95 on the EAS website
(www.eas.com). Myoplex and other supplements rec-
ommended by Phillips are also available at health food
and supplement chain stores, such as GNC, or online.
Eating for Life does not exclude vegetarian eaters,
however, Phillips admits it may be difficult for vegans
(people who do not eat any animal products, including
eggs or dairy products) to find enough varied protein
sources to eat according to the Eating for Life plan.Eating for Life