Simple 3-2-1 diet that works (drops the extra pounds)
Being a diet provider for half my life now, I have tried a few. This one works simply because it’s simple. I have tried a plethora of diet regimens and they all tend to fail at one point or another, mostly due to a failure to resolve to keep up the good work they started with. With this one, that principle is the same, but at least this regimen is simple.
THREE: Meals per day. Breakfast, lunch and tea should be observed, and normal ‘one plate’ meals should be consumed, i.e. no ‘seconds’. The goal is simply to eat to fill your stomach but not to excess. see amount; go for the typical average amounts and some fat can be enjoyed. Be sure to get at least two servings of grains and five servings of vegetables at these three meals.
TWO: Pieces of fruit per day. I usually recommend this between meals so we have something to look forward to that can quell hunger. Snacks per se on this diet are out of the question. Snacking is probably the worst and most dangerous concept for the person looking to lose weight. Make a resolution to stop snacking for good. This is the most important weight loss step. Food is fuel and should not be consumed to meet comfort needs.
ONE: Treat per week. It is admitted that it is impossible to expect people to run out of birthday cake, ice cream or a bit of chocolate. One service a week won’t hurt, but the trick is to be self-disciplined enough to put up with this ONE pleasure and enjoy it, using the power of delayed gratification.
The wonderful book of Mr. Scott Peck Wisdom of the road less traveled he talks about the principle of delayed gratification as “a process of programming life’s pain and pleasure in such a way that pleasure is enhanced by meeting and experiencing pain first and overcoming it. It’s the only decent way to live.” “[1]
Don’t get too scientific about this process. Our consistent application over weeks, months, and indeed years, is far more important. The extra weight we might be carrying now will only leave our bodies forever if we put on the right clothes to support the weight loss.
Do not make or create more flexibility in your diet than these rules or, of course, the advice you may receive from your doctor. Self discipline is the key. Add one day to another, then another; before you know it you will have formed new clothes and weight loss will be the inevitable result.
Copyright © 2008, SJ Wickham. All rights reserved throughout the world.
[1] Mr Scott Peck, Wisdom of the road less traveled (Kansas City, Ariel Books – Andrews McKeel Publishing, 2001), p. 28