Was going slow with results and frustrated and then things perked up w/ Pritikin diet

B

Brian Guzman

New member
Just over 3 months ago, I decided I was gonna drop the 25 lbs I put on. I went all out with getting into the gym 6 days a week putting in at least 10 hours a week in slow cardio. I WAS getting results, but they were not satisfying for the amount of work I was doing. I dropped like 4-5 lbs in a month with all that work. I kept that pace up for about 3 months, each month losing maybe 4 lbs and being frustrated that things werent moving at least a little quicker. Finally, I started reading the Pritikin books and things changed nicely. Now I only work out 4-6 hours a week but I am dropping 2-3 lbs a week and FEEL much better too.

Here's what I learned and why it works so well:

Even though I was trying to be conscious of keeping my calories under control, I basically was taking the approach of: "I am sick of changing my eating to do a diet, I just want to eat the things I like in moderation and keep exercising and enjoy the process." That sounds logical but it did not play out that well. What ended up happening is that I was gravitating to sugary foods very often and that created a constant sugar craving that would not let up and that was blocking my fat loss. Ugh! I was getting extremely frustrated because I had come across a few books that were suggesting this notion of "eat whatever you like and enjoy it because diet modifications never work in the long term!" Well, I can tell you that some of you out there will NOT succeed with that philosophy. If you make that an excuse to eat a lot of sugar and fat, you will not support yourself with good, SATIATING foods that are low calorie.

The way out

The way I turned it around is this. I read the books by Robert Pritikin (those are the very best btw on the Pritikin diet). In Pritikin they teach that you want to keep striving to eat: high fiber, fruits, vegetables and a lot of complex carbs. The idea is to eat foods that are low in calorie density, thats means foods that are not jam packed with calories with little satisfaction, like say french fries.

This truly is a NO hunger, healthy, smart approach to weight loss. If you eat in this high fiber, low fat way, your calories will just naturally drop with NO calorie monitoring, it is super cool.

Also, this diet has been studied now for 30 YEARS and there have been like 110 studies showing this diet kicks ass and works better than most other things out there. Not just for weight loss but cholesterol drops and blood sugar levels improve dramatically.

I will post more info on the details soon of how to make this work, but the best thing is pick up the Robert Pritikin books, you will get results with this if you really follow the instructions and with NO hunger and better energy levels. I cant say enough good things about Pritikin.

Good luck.
 
Pritikin Diet
Dr. Robert Pritikin is the son of Nathan Pritikin who designed the original Pritikin Diet when he was diagnosed of a heart disease at the age of 50. Nathan then founded the Pritikin Longevity Center.

In this book, the New Pritikin Program Pritikin junior tells us how most of us are wired to become fat and reveals what we can do to fight this innate tendency.

The Pritikin weight loss breakthrough: an overview

The book starts off by explaining why even the most health conscious amongst us cannot make wise food choices. It is not due to the lack of willpower, but due to the inherent ‘fat instinct’ which is a genetic key in humans. As a result of this fat instinct, the body resists restrictive eating and dieting. The moment there is a short supply of fatty food, the body believes that it is being starved which in turn triggers the desire to eat fatty foods. Understanding the triggers that set off the fat instinct and learning to handle it can help followers lose weight quickly and lead a healthy life.

The diet program is low in cholesterol, predominantly vegetarian, nearly free of fat and high in fiber. Little wonder that it accomplishes weight loss!

Limited serving sizes and six meals a day is the routine suggested by the Pritikin diet. Followers are asked to take in 5 servings of unrefined complex carbohydrates like oats, wheat, peas, beans, brown rice, potatoes or chestnuts. Processed grains, white bread and white rice are taboo. Red meat and poultry are also off. Fish is allowed in small quantities.

Exercises are an important part of the weight loss plan. The book recommends at least 45 minutes of rigorous walking everyday to achieve weight loss.

The Pritikin Diet review
The challenge is tough. To survive a diet that is almost void of fats and simple carbohydrates is a gargantuan task for any individual. Even so, the fundamental principle of taking in foods rich in fiber is laudable. Fiber increases feelings of fullness and is healthy for the body. It helps stave off heart diseases and prevents the clogging of the arteries. Since the eating plan is combined with exercises, the diet plan is sound and health.

Pritkin Diet Pros and Cons
Pros:

- Encourages the intake of nutritious food

- Calls for a lifestyle change

- Could decrease the risk of common conditions like high cholesterol, high blood sugar and resulting diseases

- Based on substantial research

- Emphasizes the importance of exercises

Cons:

- Not sustainable as the plan is highly restrictive

- Could lead to the deficiency of fats in the body

- Could lead to problems associated with low fat content like dry skin, brittle hair

- Could increase food cravings

- Does not appeal to people who eat animal products



In conclusion:

The diet has the right message but is too stringent and restrictive to be realistic. It requires great will to practice this unexciting diet for long periods of time. Besides, a diet that eliminates any food group (fats, in this case) must be taken with a pinch of salt. The body does require all its macronutrients – even fats, in small amounts.
 
Thanks for posting that review. I will comment on this a bit here.

Those things the reviewer said do sound very true about it being super strict and hard to sustain and that is a very common response by everyone that hears about it at 1st but what you discover once you do it is that there are SOOOO many things you can eat as long as you cut out sugar, most fat, processed carbs and keep meat intake very low. That leaves HUNDREDS of options of what is ok to eat. Also, since their is truly ZERO hunger, while still dropping weight, it is also helpful in making it sustainable because you won't crack from starvation or monotonous eating.

The reviewer also mentioned the problem with that it wont appeal to those that eat meat products. The problem with that idea is that the solid research shows that over-indulging in meat IS the one big part of the problem. Keep in mind, this is not a vegetarian diet, he just wants you to keep your meat intake way down to a minimum. You can still enjoy animal foods in very small portions. The thing is that loving meat too much is a real problem for weight loss and health. Your more apt to overdo it with the calories when meat is a constant, when you keep meat intake low and substitute it with veggies and complex carbs, your calories drop big time.
Also, the issues is that people dont understand that after a short time, if you educate yourself and with exercise, your taste buds change. I can tell you that because I'm never hungry AND I keep losing weight, I just don't care about meat much. I enjoy the little bit I do have everyday and its good enough. The trade off of seeing my weight drop so consistently is very satisfying and it overrides any craving for a lot of meat stuff.

Also, when you do this for a few days, your desire for fat drops away as well, because, as I said, the taste buds change around.

The only thing I do agree with a little with this review is the issue around fat intake. I did have a hard time keeping it exactly as low as they suggest is the ideal, so I do go slightly higher and my results are still excellent. Even though I do up the fats a touch, I think if I were more motivated to study the recipes more, I probably would be able to keep the fat as low as they suggest without a problem, but I am a little lazy with that, so I just up the fat a tad and still do ok.

In short, if a person does what Pritikin suggests, they will get great results and not suffer any of the cons the reviewer above states.
 
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Can you link to the solid research you talk about over eating meat? The last research I saw was a Harvard study that basically said that meat had been much maligned, but that in reality diabetes and heart disease were strongly linked to processed meats and not meats such as steaks, chicken breasts, lamb chops etc.



Also, you do need some essential fatty acids to survive, and brittle hair etc. can be unfun. Fats get a bad rap IMO, especially since more and more studies show that especially getting the 'good' fats actually improves heart health more than just cutting saturated fats.
 
Brian Guzman said:
Also, since their is truly ZERO hunger, while still dropping weight, it is also helpful in making it sustainable because you won't crack from starvation or monotonous eating.
Click to expand...

I also have an issue with this statement. There is not a diet out there that will lead to a ZERO hunger level or that prevents you from overeating. Reason being is that your need to overeat is based on your OWN INDIVIDUAL mindset and relationship with food. This is not based on what kind of diet you are on.
 
Brian Guzman said:
Thanks for posting that review. I will comment on this a bit here.

Those things the reviewer said do sound very true about it being super strict and hard to sustain and that is a very common response by everyone that hears about it at 1st but what you discover once you do it is that there are SOOOO many things you can eat as long as you cut out sugar, most fat, processed carbs and keep meat intake very low. That leaves HUNDREDS of options of what is ok to eat. Also, since their is truly ZERO hunger, while still dropping weight, it is also helpful in making it sustainable because you won't crack from starvation or monotonous eating.

The reviewer also mentioned the problem with that it wont appeal to those that eat meat products. The problem with that idea is that the solid research shows that over-indulging in meat IS the one big part of the problem. Keep in mind, this is not a vegetarian diet, he just wants you to keep your meat intake way down to a minimum. You can still enjoy animal foods in very small portions. The thing is that loving meat too much is a real problem for weight loss and health. Your more apt to overdo it with the calories when meat is a constant, when you keep meat intake low and substitute it with veggies and complex carbs, your calories drop big time.
Also, the issues is that people dont understand that after a short time, if you educate yourself and with exercise, your taste buds change. I can tell you that because I'm never hungry AND I keep losing weight, I just don't care about meat much. I enjoy the little bit I do have everyday and its good enough. The trade off of seeing my weight drop so consistently is very satisfying and it overrides any craving for a lot of meat stuff.

Also, when you do this for a few days, your desire for fat drops away as well, because, as I said, the taste buds change around.

The only thing I do agree with a little with this review is the issue around fat intake. I did have a hard time keeping it exactly as low as they suggest is the ideal, so I do go slightly higher and my results are still excellent. Even though I do up the fats a touch, I think if I were more motivated to study the recipes more, I probably would be able to keep the fat as low as they suggest without a problem, but I am a little lazy with that, so I just up the fat a tad and still do ok.

In short, if a person does what Pritikin suggests, they will get great results and not suffer any of the cons the reviewer above states.
Click to expand...


Hmm first off, instead of talking like a pitchman, let's stick with facts. Terms like 'Zero Hunger' and 'you're taste buds will change' is just hype. Pushing that your weight loss can be fast is always a red flag to a sales pitch or a 'plan' to me because weight loss isn't fast..nor is it ment to be. You should be losing about 1% of your body weight a week. If you just HAVE to lose more than that for no other reason that you are impatient, then you need to sit down and relook at your entire lifestyle change.


You don't need to do this. This diet is the same as all the other ones on the market targeting a certain food group as 'bad'. I take issue with that mentality cause they aren't bad. You need fats. Meat is not a bad thing. Moderation is the key to everything. Weight loss is calories in vs calories out. Cut out a major part of your diet for very low calorie items and yes, you will lose weight. The biggest question for people is are you actually learning a lifestyle change that you can do for the rest of your life? For most people, the answer here is no.

Some people do accept a low/no meat lifestyle. That's great for them, but I'm more likely to think that the majority of people are not going to be able to do this for life. It's also not needed. When you peel away the hype, peel away the fact that this guy is trying to make a buck (much like you do with your website..I took a look there and I rather not go off on a tangent about THAT), and peel away to the simple core of this plan...it is simply calories in, calories out. So why do you need this book to tell you to cut your calories? I just gave that weight loss secret out for free. You don't have to not eat steak..but you shouldn't eat an entire Porterhouse with a baked potato and buttered carrots. You don't have to avoid sugar, but you shouldn't be downing an entire bag of M&Ms.

Knowledge, acceptance, wisdom

Know what a portion size is and Know calorie counts.
Accept that you don't have to follow these fad diets to lose weight.
Wisdom in making the right small choices everyday that adds up to weight loss.
 
Korrie said:
I also have an issue with this statement. There is not a diet out there that will lead to a ZERO hunger level or that prevents you from overeating. Reason being is that your need to overeat is based on your OWN INDIVIDUAL mindset and relationship with food. This is not based on what kind of diet you are on.
Click to expand...


What you say is true. It is true that mindset has a lot to do with this. What I meant was that I certainly feel very sustained and don't even experience hunger when shooting for high fiber foods. Its true that it does not guarantee everyone zero hunger, mostly that if one is wise, they can, with relative ease, enjoy feeling satisfied without any deprivation eating in such a way and still experience a respectable flow of weight loss.
 
Brian Guzman said:
What you say is true. It is true that mindset has a lot to do with this. What I meant was that I certainly feel very sustained and don't even experience hunger when shooting for high fiber foods. Its true that it does not guarantee everyone zero hunger, mostly that if one is wise, they can, with relative ease, enjoy feeling satisfied without any deprivation eating in such a way and still experience a respectable flow of weight loss.
Click to expand...

Peel away the double talk please and you will get your point across better. What you just said comes down to 'Make smart food choices and you will succeed'. You don't need sale talk here :)
 
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