Review of Reverse Diet
I've been on the Reverse Diet for a week now, and, as promised, here is my review: I LOVE IT! I have never felt this way before about an eating plan. Before I get into the details, please remember that I have not yet read the book. I am on a waiting list at the library because I don't feel like spending money on this one. When I get the book, I'll let you know what it's like.
What I DO
I am still using the basic Weight Watchers point system to keep track of how much I am eating. Based on my weight, I currently eat "24 points" in WW lingo. (Points are calculated using calories, fat and fiber - not tough with the tools given with a WW membership.)
Prior to the RD (Reverse Diet), I ate 5 points for breakfast, 4 points for lunch, and 15 points for dinner and an evening snack; however, according to the RD, that idea is basically reversed. In an interview I heard with the author, she said you should have no more than a third of your daily intake left after lunch (this includes any snacks before or after dinner).
So, now I eat about 10 points for breakfast, 7 points for lunch, and 7 points for dinner and an evening snack. So by noon, I have consumed 17 of 24 points rather than 9 of 24.
What I Like
I am NEVER hungry - I can't believe this is true, but it is. Before the RD, I was starving by the time my lunch rolled around. I'm up early and it's a long time from 4:30 a.m. and noon. Now with a large breakfast (10 points plus veggies that are "free"), I'm not really hungry at lunch, but I go ahead an eat a good sized lunch since dinner will be light.
The metabolism gets moving quickly - I can definately tell that this is true. I feel my body waking up much faster. I must admit, at first it was a jolt to have that much food that early in the morning, but the more days I do it, the easier it is.
After dinner cravings are deminished - I'm not sure why this is, but it's true. Maybe my body is starting to trust me that as soon as it gets up, I will feed it well, instead of making it suffer half the day.
Adjustments I've had to Make
Breakfast prep - I need to make sure that I have things ready for breakfast the night before. On Sunday, I make a number of chicken breasts to get me through the days that I won't have leftovers from the night before.
My cooking for dinners has remained about the same with the exception of increasing the amount of veggies, so I can have extras for the next morning. Basically, I've just cut the amount of dinner I eat in half and save the rest for the next morning. That way, my husband can still eat his normal dinner.
Dinner is moved back - We used to eat dinner at 5:00, but that would be too much time left after dinner when I would be tempted to snack (Although, as mentioned before, these cravings are deminishing.). Now when I get home from work, I go directly to the gym or out to run for my exercise for the day. By the time I'm done with that, cooled down, and showered, it's at least 7:30 when dinner is finished - just enough time to wrap things up for the day, relax a bit and hit the bed by 9:00. (I know, it's early, but my husband and I both get up very early.)
Final Thoughts
I really can't encourage you enough to give this a try. Since I've been changing my eating habits (August), I've never had an easier week than this. I'm not hungry during the day and I have loads of energy. When I come home from work, I can't wait to go work out. Before, I had to drag myself out because I was so tired.
I've had to change my mindset of rewarding myself for a day's work with a big evening meal. I hadn't even realized that I was doing this. Now that I'm thinking about it, it seems to me that I am starting, just maybe, to loose some of my emotional attachment to food. I have begun to think about food as fuel instead of fulfillment. Is this possible? I wouldn't have thought so. Food has always been so important to me. Why? When did a huge meal become a substitute for a satisfying life? Why did food have to be the primary focus of imporant events? Hmmm. I'm going to have to think on this a bit more. Perhaps you've just happened on to an epiphany with me. Food is not my life. I eat in order to live, but it is my life that brings me joy - not the food. I have allowed food to control me for too long, thinking that if I could appease it, food would make me happy. If I'm not happy without a 1.5 pound porterhouse steak, I'm not going to be happy with it.
From what are you trying to derive the joy in your life? Food, money, momentary pleasures? These things are not joy and will never bring it. Focus on those things in your life that can bring true joy, and then put everything else in life to work for you in the pursuit of those things.
