Dr. Bernstein Diet - Happenings and Updates

Image by Mullenkedheim via Flickr For meat, since you season them to taste with a range of spices, I will precut the meat (Breakfast 2 oz -Lunch 3 oz -Supper 2 oz) for my daily ration, cook them to taste, and put them in the fridge.  Or, I pre-cut and put in micro steamer bag, and cook in when I need them. They stay fresher and more flavourful that way.  I was using Patak's Tandoori paste for a couple of weeks (because I love curry) but again, the salt retains water. I only use it a couple of times a week now. However, you can use all the fresh garlic, spices, pepper, mustard, pre-approved ketchup, Kikoman soya sauce, etc., and make your own bbq sauces to rival any store bought stuff.  I've also bought the M&M honey & garlic chicken and the M&M lemon & herb chicken. These are excellent and if precooked, stay really moist and flavourful. Their turkey breast is also good, and a single portion is good for two days. Great for slicing and putting on salads. Pl...

The first week is always a large drop in weight - a lot of water released and some fat. It's a great motivation.   On average though, by following the diet with your preferred foods (and cut down the salt) you should lose 1 pound every 2 days. You are guaranteed 16-20 lbs per month by following the diet strictly. I average around 15 lbs per month, and that's having tried a few different approaches, but always staying strict.   I found in the first couple of weeks I was trying a bunch of the recipes and trying to get really creative. However, I found that I actually just prefer my meals simple and fast, so I don't do many of the recipes now. I don't need to, but you might want to.  The nurses advise against changing your diet all the time though; stick with a pattern for a week to let the body start the ketosis/burning. Too many sudden changes of food can throw it out of whack.  It's always a good idea if you're traveling or expecting to be delayed from...

Image by Pensiero via Flickr I should have mentioned in my MONTH 1 musings, that I had to experiment a little with the Potassium intake. It helps breakdown the protein and safeguard your organs. I had some headaches with the low-dose prescription, until they put me on K-Lite. Now life is grand. The orange fizzy wonder drink (a small effervescent tab that tastes like Tang) twice a day does the trick. I just can't believe even with the low diet program, I feel satiated, energized and healthy - all while losing an average of 1 lb per day. I'm doing moderate exercise - some swimming, a little biking with the kids - but nothing strenuous. I could, but I don't want to put my system out of whack now that we have a good burn and balance going. Until next month! Related articles by Zemanta More Tips On How to Burn Body Fat (losethattyre.co.uk)

Image via Wikipedia EVENING SNACKS If you doesn't eat all your veggies at lunch and supper, save a few things for the evening. It helps when the cravings come - or when you need it. I usually have the Jello No-Sugar-Added Strawberry cup (which you're allowed as an extra Fruit outside of your two allowed) for my evening snack while the kids are munching on something. I might have a Diet Coke then too, and it makes me feel like I'm not missing out. Or I'll have a decaf coffee in the evening, to make my belly warm for bed.... or I'll maul a zebra...

Image by Misserion via Flickr VEGETABLES The easiest way to start is to pick the fav vegetables and have them precut and washed so they are ready to go. I also bought those Ziploc microwave steamer bags and pre-measured a week's worth of 8 oz vegetable bags. That way they are ready to pop in. Of course, salad gives you a lot of volume, since it doesn't weigh much, but I get sick of salads. I prefer just thick cup veggies with salad dressing over them for lunch. For supper, bok choy, asparagus, zucchini are the fastest fat burners. I eat one of those (sometimes the full 8 oz) everyday. I love them, so it helps, but it may not turn your crank. Just find what you love from the list. Since I'm used to using butter on things, I bought the Becel spray which has 0 calories and is on the list. I put that and some pepper, garlic or Mrs. Dash on my hot veggies, and I'm in heaven. I get what I'm used to, but a healthier alternative. I found most of the brands at Loblaws - as...

Image via Wikipedia LIQUIDS The key to staving off hunger is: 1) pace the protein four hours apart - I find meat is much better than egg whites, though the protein level is max. in eggs, it doesn't fill you up like meat. Even 2 oz of meat in the morning with fruit and a coffee ties you over to lunch much better than eggs. 2) take the potassium (ask for K-Lite tablets) at breakfast and lunch. Potassium is needed to help get the protein immediately into the bloodstream, and keeps circulation in your body. I was on their intro level and had some cold feet/tingling and dizziness. They tell you to advise them immediately if you feel that, and they will put you on K-Lite. It's a stronger dose, and about 98% of patients are on it. It's a Tang-flavoured orange tablet which fizzes in 3-4 oz of cold water. You down it and tastes great. Take the first one with our daily multivitamin in the morning to give your body the nutrients for the day. 3) you have to drink about 2.5 litres of li...

Image by smiling_da_vinci via Flickr BREADS I also picked 2 or 3 of the most flavourful crackers. I started with Cheese Nibs and the Vegetable crackers, but found that they have a lot of salt, which retains water. I moved to the Presidents Choice Ancient Grain and Melba Toast Multifibre (both in Loblaws) and the fat is melting off. I prepackage them in the small Snack size Ziploc bags to keep them fresh and handy. There are some breads that you can use, and one that actually gives you two slices per day. I haven't found it though, and I prefer crackers anyway. The only thing I miss is NAN bread and freshly baked baguettes on Sunday mornings...oh yeah...croissants are pretty good too. Oh well...another time.

MONTH 1   I started on the heels of a bit of a sinus cold, so I can't say that I had a ravenous appetite to begin with. The strict diet wasn't difficult for me to start. I took an evening (without the kids) and trawled the aisles of my local Loblaws to find foods and brands from the prescribed list. Not too difficult, and I came home well equipped. It took me a couple of days to realize that I needed to pre-portion everything and pre-measure to be sure I had my meals ready to go. I was trapped a few times feeling ravenous when I wasn't prepared and had to rush to pull something together.  In the first week, I learned you need to have your meals ready. The ketosis/fat burn goes into high gear, so when you need to eat - eat. By the third day, I had lost 5 lbs. Mainly water, sure, but I was stoked!  I experimented with different recipes from the book, making sure I wasn't going to lament the food and think it was boring and dull. Quite the opposite. Once I found out I...