As long as sugar is being consumed, the body is not burning fat. It's as simple as that.
Absolutely, provided you follow the carefully defined guidelines. Remember, this is a scientifically sound, medically developed protocol that is designed to reset your body function and eating habits. That makes it not only your last diet, it becomes a life changing set of habits you can live with, naturally. (and still have lots of fun with food)
No, though many who have completed their weight loss program select a few favourites such as the delicious bars or drinks as emergency meal replacements or mid afternoon treats, which tends to be much cheaper than fast food alternatives, and better for your health too!
Oftentimes, a client who must contend with comments by friends and family are not on their first diet.
They’ve decided to follow the ideal protein diet because previous diets failed. Perhaps they’ve gone on so many unsuccessful diets that they’ve been weakened, ridiculed or the target of skepticism.
It’s hard to avoid comments that are allegedly made for “your own good”. Don’t let these well-meaning but uninformed people lead you to question your intentions.
You decided to lose weight, and whatever happens is the result of a contract between you and your nutritionist. When you have faith in your nutritionist and her method, weight loss is a personal matter, so ignore these birds of ill omen.
You may be tormented by irrepressible cravings for a “forbidden fruit” during the first two to three days of the diet when ketosis is induced. Hang in there and don’t succumb to a food that’ll keep you from losing weight (that would be like starting over, because you’ll stop ketosis).
You’ll soon be rewarded: the diet will seem easier, because you will have become accustomed to doing without certain foods (you were probably addicted to sugar) and because ketosis releases substances similar to amphetamines, which are natural appetite suppressants and boost your energy level and enthusiasm.
This is a major plus. Every time you step on the weigh scale you’ll see that the diet is worth the effort. Although the diet may be difficult, it is of limited duration. It’ll be over before you know it, especially given the very long-term benefits.
The Ideal Protein Diet is not a long-term diet and actual duration will be based on your personal weight loss goal. Your diet will be tailored to you, because you don’t have the same pounds to lose as someone else and because you put them on under different circumstances. Your age, family circumstance and health status affect the treatment and its length.
Results vary, depending on your gender, metabolism and starting weight. During the first week, you’ll lose two to six pounds of water due to diuresis. So, if you lose six pounds during the first week, don’t be alarmed. Weight loss will be less spectacular in the weeks that follow. After three weeks, you’ll be well on your way to losing body fat and your weight loss goal.
Let’s make a distinction between high-protein preparations and so-called balanced meal replacements, which are supposed to contain fewer calories than a normal meal. Meal replacements, which are even sold in superstores, contain a large amount of sugar, which prevents efficient weight loss (ketosis).
Their only focus is to be low calorie. High-protein preparations are strictly regulated and contain virtually no sugar. They must have a perfect composition of essential amino acids in very precise proportions, known as their chemical score.
Two powders containing the same proportion of proteins do not necessarily have the same biological value, because their essential amino acid content and efficacy may be different.
The first proteins used in the United States in the 1970s had a very low biological value. Nowadays, quality control is very strict and most proteins have satisfactory specifications. Protein preparations that contain animal gelatin or gelatin obtained from GM foods, such as genetically modified soybeans are strongly discouraged.
Fitness buffs who are heavily into body-building have been using high-protein preparations for years. These products are not strictly controlled systematically and most are not regulatory. Remember that body-builders who eat these proteins already have a very rich diet. So, if the protein has a minor deficiency, it will have no consequences.
A person on the protein diet exclusively eats certain proteins instead of a regular diet; therefore, a deficiency in the proteins may have significant health consequences. So, follow the advice of your nutritionist who will give you proteins with full knowledge of your situation.
The ideal protein diet is not an aggressive weight-loss method, because it involves no medication. It’s not a high protein diet, because you eat the proteins your body actually needs and no more. Therefore, it does not affect the kidneys more than any other protein diet consisting of meat, fish, eggs and dairy products.