114 Joel Fuhrman, M.D.Most Weight Loss Plans Are a Waste of Your Money
What is wrong with every single commercial weight-loss program?
They are all too high in fat and too low in fiber because they cater to
the American love affair with rich, high-fat food.
Weight Watchers' brand foods contain 24 percent of calories from
fat. Lean Cuisine contains 25 percent of calories from fat. The Jenny
Craig program requires the purchase of packaged meals with entrees
such as cheese souffle and Salisbury steak, meals that are almost as
bad as what most Americans eat at home. These commercial diet
plans, since they are not very low in fat, must restrict portion sizes to
offer "low calorie" meals. These "skimpy" portions represent an ob-
solete approach with a dismal track record.
It is merely a matter of time before those trying to keep their por-
tions small increase the amount of food they are eating. The amount
of fiber is insufficient and the nutrient density of the diet is poor.
These diets restrict calories, but because the food choices and meal
plans are so calorie-dense, the dieters must eat tiny portions in order
to lose weight. These choices don't satisfy our desire to eat, and we
wind up craving food and becoming frustrated. When dieters can't
stand eating thimble-size portions anymore and finally eat until sat-
isfied, they put weight on with a vengeance. You may be able to hold
your breath under water for a short period, but when you resurface
you will be hungry for air and will be forced to speed up your respi-
ratory rate. In a similar manner, if you cannot eat small portions for-
ever, it just isn't likely to work for long.You can't eat out of boxes and consume powdered drinks for-
ever, either. If you do lose some weight, you will always gain it back.
Instead, permanent changes in your eating habits must be made.
Learning new recipes and adopting different ways of eating that you
can live with will maintain your weight loss and protect your health
for the rest of your life.You will be amazed how easily and effortlessly you will lose
weight when you adopt a diet that consists primarily of fresh fruits,
vegetables, whole grains, and beans. This is a diet with less than 15
percent of calories from fat. I can assure you that the fat will effort-
lessly melt away from your body. I know how often you have heard
that promise. This time it is true.The result of denying yourself food is that when you go back to
eating normally, fat accumulates even more easily than before be-