The Fat Flush Plan book has an attractive cover announcing it as the Breakthrough Weight Loss System that melts fat from your hips, waist and thighs in just two weeks and reshapes your body while detoxifying your system.
The Fat Flush author, Ann Louise Gittleman was the chief nutritionist at the Pritikin Institute, where she was able to observe the impact of the low-fat diet. And health problems experienced by people overloading on wheat-based carbohydrates and yeasts, and not enough good fats.
There are excellent examples of some of her experiments, such as when she asked a trial group to add 2 eggs, lemon juice and water to their diet, (and avoid caffeine and other toxins). Without making any other changes, her trial group all lost weight, especially around the waist. Nice.
The Fat Flush Plan is based around her understanding of the causes of excess body fat:
- liver toxicity
- waterlogged tissues
- not enough good fat
- excess insulin
- stress fat
The Fat Flush Plan is designed to increase metabolism, flush out bloated tissue, and speed up fat loss.
It incorporates essential fats (flaxseed oil), lean protein, antioxidant vegetables, moderate fruits, calorie-burning herbs and spices, cleansing diuretic drinks, exercise and sleep.
It excludes white flour, white sugar, margarine, artificial sweeteners, caffeine and alcohol.
The low-GI fruits and vegetables are often high in vitamin C, which can delay the release of glucose into the bloodstream, as does fibre.
The lean protein stimulates the pancreas to produce glucagon, the hormone that counteracts insulin and mobilises fat from storage.
The uncommon aspects of the Fat Flush Plan are the focus on omega-3-rich flaxseed oil, and the Long Life Cocktail, based around cranberry juice and ground flaxseed or psyllium.
It uses hot water and lemon juice drinks, and vinegar in meals, as the acidity can help slow digestion, taking longer to reach the bloodstream and slow down glucose levels.
Supplements are highly recommended, to regulate glucose and boost insulin efficiency.
Stress can cause the adrenal gland to release the cortisol hormone, whose job is to release glucose and fatty acids so that muscles have energy for “fight or flight”. Remaining cortisol stimulates the appetite to replenish the fuel used. Caffeine, alcohol and sugar are cortisol boosters, and should be avoided.
PRE-FLUSH:An important step is to prepare your body the week before starting the actual plan, by increasing water, stopping the bad fats, white processed foods, and toxic alcohol, caffeine and sugar drinks.
THE FAT FLUSH PLAN:Then comes the two week Fat Flush Plan, at around 1100-1200 calories/day, to cleanse the body of stored toxins and kickstart your weight loss. This is quite strict, with no dairy, grains, starches or toxins.
THE ONGOING FAT FLUSH: At 1200-1500 calories/day, has a few more carbs and variety, is moderately cleansing and still with weight loss.
And last, the LIFESTYLE EATING PLAN at over 1500 calories/day, with more dairy and carbs.
The recommended exercise is to warm-up and stretch, 5 minutes of bouncing on a mini-trampoline to help stimulate the lymphatic system, brisk daily walking and later on, strength training, before a 5 minute cool down.
If you are determined to lose weight, especially from the stubborn hips, waist and thighs, then this diet has a history of results. However it is really very strict – almost draconian, with flaxseed oil appearing almost everywhere, and could be harsh for a true food lover to enjoy.
Note the recommendation for supplements.