Eat Fat, Lose Fat - A Few Changes Coming

I have been a little absent the last week. I have been busy studying and preparing to do a new diet. If you have read my About Me page you know that I have lost a lot of weight over the last 2 1/2 years. It has been wonderful and has changed my life. Not only do I weigh less, but I am healthier and happier. Before I lost this weight and changed my diet I am certain I was pre-diabetic. I was so unhealthy and toxic. I ate out at least once a day, usually twice. I have come a long way since then. I still have 20-30 lbs to lose and in spite of all the changes I have made to eat healthier, I still have some health issues that haven't completely resolved.  I feel like I am 80% of the way to optimal health and I REALLY want to be at 100%. I still have hormone imbalances and have recently developed a rash on my hands and arms. I believe the rash is connected to a gluten and dairy allergy, but it could just as well be a simple inflammatory reaction as well.

As I started thinking about the different diets, cleanses and fasts I could do, I kept thinking about Eat Fat, Lose Fat. I have had the book for a couple of years, but have never incorporated any of the principles. This book has one of the most comprehensive explanation of good fats and why they are essential for optimal health. It also addresses the failed no fat/low fat diet, and debunks the theory that saturated fats are bad for you.

There are three "diets" in Eat Fat, Lose Fat:

1. Quick and Easy Weight Loss
2. Health Recovery
3. Everyday Gourmet (Maintenance)

It is not only about weight loss, but rebuilding the organs and healing at a cellular level. They call it a "diet" but it is far from the usual calorie restricted, deprivation diets. In Phase 1 of the Quick and Easy Weight Loss program you eat 2500 calories a day and in Phase 2 you eat 2000....no deprivation or starvation there! :) It is a high fat, moderate carb diet using real, traditional foods. The majority of the fats comes from coconut; coconut oil, coconut milk, coconut flakes, etc. Coconut oil in particular has been proven to increase your metabolism and provide satiation. Hence this diet calls for eating coconut oil 20 minutes before each meal. The traditional foods help heal organs, provide essential nutrients and repair the digestive system.

I don't know if this diet will work for me. I know that every body is different and what works for one person may not work for another. Regardless of whether you do the diet outlined in this book, I recommend that you get the book and incorporate as many things are possible into your current lifestyle. I have already started taking the coconut oil before each meal and have noticed that I have been much more satisfied after my meals. In fact, I have to force myself to eat sometimes....and I have already lost a pound in a week.

You will be seeing a change in the recipes I post for the next month of so. I will be posting fewer desserts and more traditional food recipes, probably with a lot of coconut ingredients. I welcome any questions and will keep you updated on how things are progressing in this experiment!

Update 6/8/11: I have found the easiest way to get the coconut oil down before each meal is to add the coconut oil to 1/2 cup warm water and a little squeeze of lemon juice and then stir until the oil is melted. Then I drink it in a couple of gulps, stirring in between. With this method I have no problem's getting the coconut oil down.