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3 Days Down, 5 Pounds Gone

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Ok….so I have to tell you I am absolutely loving the Body by Vi Challenge.  I’m 3 days in and I’ve already lost 5 pounds.

Since I’ve been consistently gaining weight for the last 3 months, I’m thrilled to see the scale finally moving in the opposite direction.

I’ve been having 2 shakes a day, 1 meal, and 1 not-so-healthy snack.  I’m planning on getting better about the not-so-healthy snacks, but for some reason when the weather is warm, all I want to do is eat those chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches which have a zillion calories and grams of fat.  Oh well, I’ve eaten 2 this week and I’ve still lost weight.  Quite miraculous!

I need to start experimenting a little more with shakes.  I’ve pretty much been having my shake mix in almond milk with either frozen peaches or frozen strawberries.  I finally went out and bought a bag of ice last night so I can try some other varieties.  I’m planning on making an orange creamsicle shake for lunch today.

I can’t wait to get even further along in the challenge.  I’m pretty sure that once I get back to some hard core exercising I’ll see some major results!

It’s not too late to join the challenge.  You can start at anytime, but the sooner the start, the sooner you’ll be looking your best!

Flabby Fashionista

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The Nutrisystem Diet Explained

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The Nutrisystem Diet Plan is quite different from most other diets. While most other diets require you to either eat less, or cut out carbohydrates or fat, the Nutrisystem Diet does neither. In fact, for most people it would probably be the easiest diet to follow – except for one small thing:the price. Success in the program relies heavily on purchasing pre-packaged meals from Nutrisystem.

The Nutrisystem Diet was designed around the GI, or glycemic index – which relates to how your body reacts to specific carbohydrates. The faster the sugar is released (high GI), the more insulin your body produces in reaction to it – making you feel hungry again sooner. This is why people like me who have a major sweet tooth find themselves feeling hungry and irritable and constantly nibbling.

The concept of Nutrisystem is simple: add foods to every meal that will lower the GI of your meal in total, and as such reduce the insulin response form your body. By doing so you will be less likely to eat unnecessarily in between, and eventually eat less in total – not because you have to, but because you will feel like it.

What you have to keep in mind is that – while your body reacts to most proteins, fibers and other nutrients in a similar fashion, it does differentiate between different types of sugars and carbohydrates.

Some types of sugar – like sucrose and glucose (commonly encountered in sweets and desserts) tend to cause a spike in blood sugar, and as a result it causes a spike in your body’s reaction (insulin production) to it. Other forms of sugar like dextrose (fruit sugar) takes longer to break down, and does not create the “spike effect”.

Exercise is – unlike other “normal” diet plans – not deemed to be necessary. If you feel like indulging in it, it will help, but the system works just fine without it. There are, however, a few recommendations about switching to low-fat milk, and adding salads and fruit to every meal.

The biggest stumbling block with the Nutrisystem Diet is the effect it’s likely to have on your pocket. Ready-made meals and groceries can be ordered from the supplier’s website – and these are necessary in order to achieve success. Unfortunately, it does not come cheap, and it can be out of reach for many people who really want to lose weight.

Additionally, if you want your family to adopt your new, healthier eating habits, it could end up costing you a pretty penny every month to feed everyone.

For those who can afford it and who are in search of an easy option, the Nutrisystem Diet offers a viable alternative to other diet systems.

Have you ever tried Nutrisystem? We’d love to hear the pros and cons!

Not sure this is the diet plan for you?  Check out other diet plans in my Explanations of Popular Diet Plans series.

Flabby Fashionista

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Raw Food Diet Explained

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The diet plan I’m sharing with you today is a diet plan that can be very effective, but one that I personally would never even consider following.  I like lots of meat and I really like cooked food, so the Raw Food Diet doesn’t hold much appeal.

Raw Food Diet Benefits

What is the Raw Food Diet?

The Raw Food Diet is both as simple – and as complicated – as the name states. On the one hand it means that the eating plan is built around the consumption of foods in their natural state. On the other hand, it means that you will be cutting most foods from your diet.

The philosophy behind the diet is simple: foods in their natural state contain fewer unwanted or undesirable substances, while offering higher nutritional benefit. There are no added sugars, so there are no problems with high GI foods, and it’s safe for diabetics. There is not much in the line of fats and oils – barring the fat content of the nuts, which contain natural healthy oils. There is no processing that can add any unnatural chemicals or otherwise harmful substances.

The Raw Food Diet, however, is even stricter than a vegetarian diet in the sense that while both of them cut out animal products completely, the latter still allows food to be cooked. The Raw Food Diet is exactly that – raw food.

The reasoning behind the raw food diet is that when food is cooked, a lot of the nutritional value is lost. While there are several products claiming to “retain the vitamins and nutritional value” when cooking food in them, the claims are unsubstantiated.

The reality is that the chemical structure of most natural components (in food) change purely because of the temperature. Even protein changes its chemical structure when it’s brought to a boiling point. While not all of it becomes useless, some of it is denaturized to the point of losing its efficiency.

Additionally, raw food is a lot easier to digest – making it less work for the digestive system. There is little build-up of fat in the intestines, and little chance for digestive and intestinal problems. Additionally, the lesser pressure on your system will allow it to detoxify itself naturally as you continue on the diet.

As a secondary benefit the fact that no animal products are included means it’s a very ethical way of living, since you don’t harm any other creature, or take from it what could have been used for something else (a concern for some).

On the other hand, there is one potential complication: since all animal (and cooked) products are excluded, some people can run into a lack of protein – especially growing children and athletes trying to build muscle. In these cases, it can become necessary to include a protein shake in your eating plan.

The biggest single challenge arising from the Raw Food Diet is the major change in your lifestyle. It represents a drastic shift away from “normal” eating habits, forcing you to embark on a very strict eating pattern. While the benefits are numerous, the drastic change is just too much for many people. Consider that it’s not only a physical change of your eating habits but a new mindset and totally different way of life.

If you’d like additional help, check out GettingStarted with the Raw Food Diet!

Have you tried the Raw Food Diet?

Were you able to stick with it? I’d love it if you’d leave a comment!

Not sure this is the diet plan for you?  Check out other diet plans in my Explanations of Popular Diet Plans series.

Flabby Fashionista

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Policy for more information.

The P.I.N.K. Method Explained

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I’ve been dying to get my hands on The P.I.N.K. Method program ever since a friend told me about it and I watched the video on the P.I.N.K. Method homepage.

The P.I.N.K. Method claims it is the last diet program you will ever need. It’s a bold claim in an industry filled with companies all claiming to be the best and the answer to your weight-loss woes.

This program was created by Cynthia Pasqualla specifically for women. It combines healthy nutrition with a workout program. P.I.N.K. Stands for Power, Intensity, Nutrition and Kardio.

Here’s how it works:

You order the 82-day program online for a one time payment (which is currently $67.99 plus shipping and handling). You’ll wait anxiously for the delivery and then it will be all up to you to dive in. The program comes with a 240+ page Nutrition Guide, three workout DVDs, each featuring three workout routines ranging from 20-40 minutes plus 1 Bonus Workout DVD, featuring three 15-minute yoga, abs and lower body workouts, a P.I.N.K. Method Certificate and a P.I.N.K. Method Wristband for daily motivation.

As mentioned above, there are three workout phases, each with a different instructor.

In Phase 1 your instructor is Jenna and she helps you lay the foundation by gradually increasing endurance to get you ready for Phase 2 and 3. In Phase 2 Lisa helps you take your cardio to the next level to work on that chiseled look. In Phase 3 Basheerah pushes you harder than you thought you could work so you are at maximum calorie burning capacity. You also get a bonus DVD featuring yoga, abs and lower-body workouts.

P.I.N.K. Method is designed to walk you through each step of becoming a healthier, sexier you.

Unlike any other program, P.I.N.K. Method features four stages: P.I.N.K. Reset, P.I.N.K. Primary, 7-Day Shred and P.I.N.K. Preservation.

P.I.N.K. Reset is a detoxifying short-term diet designed to jump-start your metabolism. P.I.N.K. Primary is a fat-fighting diet that reintroduces the body to high-energy foods to fuel physical activity for Phase 1 of the fitness program, the 7-Day Shred, a seven-day program that incorporates nutrient rich “Shred Soup” that blasts away the last few stubborn pounds and keeps you from hitting weight-loss plateaus. And, P.I.N.K. Preservation is the sustainable weight management program to keep the pounds off and maintain your ideal sexy weight.

One of the things that sets The P.I.N.K. Method apart is their digital experience which they call the PINK VIP Membership that is powered by exercise.com. The VIP membership allows you to connect with other members, track your progress, get access to additional tips and more.

Another unique part of this program is the bracelet that comes with the kit. It’s meant as a constant physical reminder of your goals and what you are working towards.

This program has been backed by Dr.Phil and has been featured on his program with people who’ve achieved results with it.

Overall the P.I.N.K. Methods appears to be a good way to lose weight for women who are ready to make a complete lifestyle change.  It has all 3 components that I believe are necessary for long term success…nutrition, exercise, and support.

If you are willing to keep up with the healthy eating changes and the workouts then you should be able to maintain this program as a long-term change to renewed health.

Have you tried The P.I.N.K. Method?  Is it as great as it looks? I’d love for you to leave a comment!

Not sure this is the diet plan for you?  Check out other diet plans in my Explanations of Popular Diet Plans series.

Flabby Fashionista

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Policy for more information.