Has anyone tried the Fast Metabolism Diet?

[alowellfan]

I saw it on Dr. Oz and it makes sense in my mind. Any opinions?

[mom2girla]

Thanks! I did the D-burn and found it really helped. I realize that my entire approach to eating is different now, so I am optimistic about the traveling. I leave for my first trip tomorrow and have my water bottle, jerky and nuts ready to go!  Happy Mother's Day!

[mom2girla]

An update for anyone who is looking for support like I was. I have lost 25 pounds on the FMD and am healthier with more energy than ever. I have learned how to alternate the phases with maintenance while I travel and find it a healthy style of eating. I highly recommend it!

[SunsetRunner]

A couple friends lost significant weight on the Fast Metabolism Diet. I bought the book and have started reading it. I also downloaded the app to my iPhone. My Fitbit will be an intrinsic part of this adventure. I’m starting the diet on Wednesday - Ash Wednesday. Hope to be a bit slimmer and healthier by Easter. 

Has anyone else tried this diet? Any advice for me? 

[Dominique]

I haven’t tried it, nor even heard about it, but since I’m "diet-curious", I googled it and found this review by a registered dietician.

The overall claim ("The Fast Metabolism Diet asserts that certain foods eaten at the right times can speed up your metabolism, allowing you to eat a lot and still lose weight.") is bogus IMO. Undereating (which is what you need to do in order to lose weight) will always result in reduced metabolism.

The good thing about this diet is it appears to be focused on healthy eating: what’s not to like about "fruits, such as pears, mango, pineapple and cantaloupe, as well as high-carb whole grains, such as oatmeal, brown rice, spelt and brown-rice pasta" [...] "lean beef, lentils, oranges, turkey and kiwi" [...] 

"beef, bison, turkey, fish and chicken" [...] "vegetables, such as cabbage, broccoli, kale, spinach, cucumbers and collard greens".

The "scientific" explanations as to why you should eat these foods are dubious at best.  "Eating a high-glycemic, carb-rich diet with moderate amounts of protein, and avoiding fats will reduce stress and anxiety, prepare your body for weight loss and encourage your adrenal glands to produce lower amounts of the stress hormone cortisol" Really? And "foods rich in vitamins B and C will stimulate your thyroid to burn fats, protein and carbs more efficiently - and convert sugar into energy instead of storing it as fat" Really? "These vegetables are alkalizing and supposedly lower the acidity of your blood, stimulating your liver to release fat cells"  Really?

On the positive side, the diet also encourages regular exercise.

My advice would be: eat the healthy foods recommended by the diet while making sure you’re in the caloric deficit required for the targeted weight loss and live an active lifestyle. The timing aspect (splitting the week into three phases) has very little relevance IMO.  

[Sergiu37]

I haven't heard of this, but to be honest almost any diet recommendation contains at least half the calories from fruits and vegetables. 

Those are usually high volume foods that fill your stomach faster and you feel fuller with less calories. That will lead to loss weight. If you just do that (and limit as much as possible the highly processed foods) and some moderate exercises you should lose weight 

[SunsetRunner]

Thanks, @Dominique and @Sergiu37. I appreciate your responses. I finished the book and decided I’m just not up to all that cooking and food prep. And so many meals a day! It’s overwhelming. Your advice to eat healthy foods is good. I’m going to track what I eat, counting the calories and comparing calories in to calories burned, which my Fitbit provides. Sticking to real food and tracking the arithmetic ... we’ll see how it goes. I lost 40 lbs that way a few years back, then got sick and food became my crutch/comfort. I’m back to good health now. It’s time to finish the job. 

[Dominique]

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@Sergiu37 wrote:

I haven't heard of this, but to be honest almost any diet recommendation contains at least half the calories from fruits and vegetables.  

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A notable exception would be the ketogenic diet (most googled diet in 2018😞 if you can only eat about 20 grams of carbs per day, you will have a hard time fitting all those fruits and veggies.

I agree it’s a good idea to avoid highly processed foods, for health reasons in general, and if your aim is to actively lose weight in particular. 

[Dominique]

@SunsetRunner : sounds like a good approach! The most important success factor in a diet is adherence, so an imperfect diet that you can stick to is always going to be better than an ideal diet you can’t adhere to. However, cooking / meal prep (within reason) is time well-spent, as it gives you full control over what goes into your meals. I like to cook in bulk (usually on Sundays) and freeze individual portions.

[islainlalaland]

Hi Dominique.  Read your summation. I also have seen a couple of reviews online that scoff at some of the science Haylie Pomroy uses.  However, I have just started it, because SO MUCH of what she says is stuff my endocrinologist (who has healed me of Adrenal Exhaustion) touts: like eating within 30 minutes of getting up.  Never did it for her, but I am doing it now.  Soy, though some say it has benefits, is widely becoming known as being a bad food for women going into and through menopause - except for fermented soy (if you have to).  And I know that the water is a lot, but I have seen the results of a couple of Beverly Hills diet specialists, and was astounded that their clients did not have saggy skin after they lost 40 + pounds, even in their 50s and 60s.  One specialist told me it was ABSOLUTELY because of the water, which kept their skin hydrated enough to bounce back.  And even though the first two days are what she calls high carb, they are strictly controlled, and not Simple Carbs, which everyone knows are terrible for you. There is no white rice, wheat, sugar or alcohol allowed.  

    Ms. Pomroy has gotten so many of the little things right, where most diets don't, that I am going to give it a good go, knowing that at least it won't hurt me - and I have had lots of bad experiences over the years with other diets that really made me sick longterm.  As someone whose metabolism has not let me lose no matter what my calorie count said or how much exercise I do,  I am hoping (and praying) that this one will let me lose if I do the work.

[mom2girla]

Yes!! I work in a hospital-based weight management program and can tell you
that the Fast Metabolism Diet (FMD) is a great program; based on sound diet
and scientific principles. I’ve done the diet with success and more
important than weight loss is the fact that I’m healthier and feel great.
The author, Haylie Pomroy explains the reason for everything she suggests
you do, and she give you a lot of options as well as resources for recipes
and ideas. The food is great, it’s not like you are following a “diet”!
She has also published additional books to help with specific problems,
which I’ve found very helpful as well. Let me know if you need
additional information. Good luck!
--
Deb Kasprzyk

[islainlalaland]

Thanks so much!!!