In the course of my ongoing research into menopause and peri-menopause, I have read several books by Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D. These books are not new. The Fat Flush Plan was first published in 2002. And ten years later, this diet definitely stands the test of time. Although there are many reasons why this diet is great for women, and women approaching menopause in particular, there is no reason men should avoid this plan.
A clue to the concepts behind the Fat Flush Plan lies in the very first few pages of the book. The foreword was written by none other than Dr. Barry Sears, author of the Zone diet books. It seems that Ann Louise Gittleman was the head nutritionist working with the Pritikin Institute where LOW FAT was the law. Clients were advised to lower the fat in their diets as much as possible in order to lose weight. Gittleman witnessed firsthand the many significant health problems which occurred in response to this type of fat restriction. From there, she began to develop her own ideas about HEALTHY weight loss, and soon sought the advice of Dr. Sears.
Her recommendations are mostly in line with the Zone diet, although there are a few key differences:
1) A daily dose of unsweetened cranberry juice mixed with water helps the body eliminate excess water weight and bloating. (Unsweetened cranberry juice does not contain anything besides just cranberry juice! VERY TART!)
2) Powdered psyllium seeds or ground flax seeds are mixed with water to help keep the bowels regular and to assist with hormonal balance.
3) Supplements of CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) and GLA (gamma-linoleic acid) are taken to help the body use more stored fat for energy.
The way she lays out the diet specifics is a bit confusing. I would prefer for her to discuss one meal at a time, but instead she talks about how much of each particular food one should eat per day. (For example, you can eat up to 2 eggs per day.) You can make better sense of these recommendations by taking a look at the menu plans. There you will get a sense of how much food, and what types of foods, are recommended for each meal.
There are a few recipes in this original volume, but Gittleman has also published a complete book of recipes for the Fat Flush Plan. I particularly like the sound of her cheesecake recipe which contains absolutely no sugar and is sweetened only with a banana. I have made a cheesecake like this before and it was surprisingly sweet, creamy, and yummy!
Overall, I found the Fat Flush Plan to be worth a try. If you are looking for a diet that specifically addresses the needs of peri-menopausal women, this could be perfect for you. Although I prefer the way the Zone diet is clearly outlined, meal by meal, in terms of exactly how much one should be eating, some people may prefer the flexibility of this plan. Gittleman's focus on detoxifying the liver and supporting hormonal balance during menopause gives an extra element not found in the Zone books. By all means, check it out! This could be the one that happens to click for you.
A clue to the concepts behind the Fat Flush Plan lies in the very first few pages of the book. The foreword was written by none other than Dr. Barry Sears, author of the Zone diet books. It seems that Ann Louise Gittleman was the head nutritionist working with the Pritikin Institute where LOW FAT was the law. Clients were advised to lower the fat in their diets as much as possible in order to lose weight. Gittleman witnessed firsthand the many significant health problems which occurred in response to this type of fat restriction. From there, she began to develop her own ideas about HEALTHY weight loss, and soon sought the advice of Dr. Sears.
Her recommendations are mostly in line with the Zone diet, although there are a few key differences:
1) A daily dose of unsweetened cranberry juice mixed with water helps the body eliminate excess water weight and bloating. (Unsweetened cranberry juice does not contain anything besides just cranberry juice! VERY TART!)
2) Powdered psyllium seeds or ground flax seeds are mixed with water to help keep the bowels regular and to assist with hormonal balance.
3) Supplements of CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) and GLA (gamma-linoleic acid) are taken to help the body use more stored fat for energy.
The way she lays out the diet specifics is a bit confusing. I would prefer for her to discuss one meal at a time, but instead she talks about how much of each particular food one should eat per day. (For example, you can eat up to 2 eggs per day.) You can make better sense of these recommendations by taking a look at the menu plans. There you will get a sense of how much food, and what types of foods, are recommended for each meal.
There are a few recipes in this original volume, but Gittleman has also published a complete book of recipes for the Fat Flush Plan. I particularly like the sound of her cheesecake recipe which contains absolutely no sugar and is sweetened only with a banana. I have made a cheesecake like this before and it was surprisingly sweet, creamy, and yummy!
Overall, I found the Fat Flush Plan to be worth a try. If you are looking for a diet that specifically addresses the needs of peri-menopausal women, this could be perfect for you. Although I prefer the way the Zone diet is clearly outlined, meal by meal, in terms of exactly how much one should be eating, some people may prefer the flexibility of this plan. Gittleman's focus on detoxifying the liver and supporting hormonal balance during menopause gives an extra element not found in the Zone books. By all means, check it out! This could be the one that happens to click for you.
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