Best Life Diet - The Phases Explained

Phase 1: Getting Started

This initial phase of Bob Greene’s plan is laying the foundation for a life of healthy living. You determine your weight then 4 weeks later weigh again. Scale is not your enemy! Next you honestly evaluate your level of exercise and increase it (after checking in with your doctor) because this is where your metabolism starts to take off.

The food issue is addressed with getting on a regimented meal routine - 3 a day and a snack. Emphasis on breakfast as this is where your metabolism gets started for the day and keeps hunger at bay until midday. Don’t let your appetite be your guide, eat as soon as you get up. This also makes your brain start producing the chemicals that generate pleasure and lower pain senses.

Things to follow on this phase:

* No alcohol (don’t worry it’s only for this phase)

* Have a glass of water at every meal.

* Find a good vitamin, with an Omega-3 and calcium supplementation.

* Stop eating at least two hours before you go to bed.

Now at the end of this 1st phase, one month, get on the scale. If you’ve been losing more than 1 pound a week, stay put at this level for a few more weeks. If you didn’t see that kind of loss, move on to Phase 2.

Phase 2: The Switch

Here is where the weight really drops. Do this phase for at least 1 month also. There are six bad foods that you are going to throw out of your meals and add foods that will lower your hunger. Now you are weighing weekly. Be patient with the numbers, this is long term. If you have a few up weeks, look back over what routine you are on and see if you can tweak it to get moving again. Always use upping your exercise as a way to get back on track, plus the increased endorphins will help replace the comfort you got in the past from food.

When you have reached the end of the month, see how you are faring against your goal. If you are close, move on to the rest of your life - Phase 3. Otherwise, give this phase another month. The Bob Greene’s diet book lists in greater detail what the parameters are in pounds on when to go to Phase 3.

Phase 3: Happily Ever After

Welcome to the rest of your life! You don’t have to add all the recommendations of this phase all at once, but do the best you can. You will continue to watch the way you eat and exercise as this is a work in progress. By now, watching calories will come more naturally (which you can do easily with the Bob Greene diet plan Advanced Pedometer).

With everything you have learned and changed in Phase 1 and 2, you are ready to add the “anything goes” calories back into your diet. Good foods like dark chocolate, full-fat cheese, yogurt, a glass of vino, pizza (whole grain crust of course!) are all back up as options. Vegetables continue to be your main staple. With these, 2 servings of fruit and any whole grain food, depravation (and diet) are no longer words in your vocabulary. Your craving for sweets will be taken care of with fruit and an eye on the ingredients when you added a tasty tidbit.

This phase allows you to add calories back in and not worry about gaining. Why? You are again raising your activities level. This will give you the freedom you desire in choosing foods without finding those pounds you have left far behind. Oh and goodbye botox too as exercise is now the way you will keep your youthful appearance. Weigh at the most every week and at the least every month.