New Ways to Lose Weight: Like a 2-Day-a-Week Diet
By Sandy Schroeder
If you, like many of us, have bounced around many diets, some with success, others with less impact, you may be interested in new ways to diet that depart from daily calorie-counting routines.
Recently Prevention spotlighted one called the 2-Day Diet that promises to subtract one or two pounds per week. When I first heard of this I pictured myself enjoying five days a week of “food freedom,” with two days devoted to dieting. Visions of double burgers, shrimp tacos and heavenly pasta dinners swam through my imagination. I have not tried this diet, but it's tempting.
I have lived through, and lost weight, by seriously counting every calorie and logging those numbers into a food dairy. It worked, but when the routine relaxes or stops, those pounds can sneak back on board.
The basis for the 2-day diet was discovered by the British during a series of medical trials. Prevention followed up with their own study, promising us we might subtract more belly fat, inches and pounds than some of the other weight loss diets.
Here’s What Happens
During the two diet days, participants cut out a few foods that they know are not helping them lose weight and rely on a group of fast easy recipes to diet. On the other five days they are free to eat as they please.
Impacts on the Way You Eat
This diet, and others like it, may do a lot to lower the seductive power of forbidden foods. On the five free days if you want some french fries or a chocolate chip cookie, you can do just that. When you join your family for tacos or a barbecue you won’t have to eat special foods. When you go out to eat, you won’t have to study the menu to find the safest choices.
Keep Looking: Get Approval
If this approach to dieting appeals to you, give it a try, or look for more new ways to approach eating. The old days of munching kale and saying “no thank you” when dessert shows up may benefit from competition.
Another new approach suggests limiting the daily hours that you eat, and do not eat. Some participants are having good luck with confining their meals to 8 hours out of the day, eating whatever they choose. They use the remaining hours to do a fast.
Finally, we all know whatever works can be tempting, but it is crucial to start with your doctor to get approval for any new method that you consider. Take the time to review your weight, health numbers, and your doctor’s diet recommendations.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Lakewood, Calif.