Shake down excess weight with delicious smoothies
You can lose up to 20 pounds - safely - in just two weeks!
Want to curb your appetite? Need to boost metabolism so you can successfully lose weight this spring?
With 67 percent of Americans overweight or obese, most people need to shed some pounds. Even 18 percent of today's teens are overweight. But losing weight can be dangerous if not done right.
The good news is that high-fiber drinks - especially when you add nutrient-dense berries - help you do just that! New Finnish research reports that a diet rich in berries can reduce inflammatory markers for metabolic syndrome, resulting in belly fat, blood sugar imbalance and high blood pressure.
This study also shows that berries support liver health. Linked to overweight and obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease currently affects between one quarter and one half of all Americans. But eating at least 150 grams - or about 0.6 cup - of berries a day lowers alanine aminotranferase (ALAT), a well-established marker for fatty liver by 23 percent.
Dr. Ann Louise's take:
The Fat Flush Smoothie Shakedown is exactly the kind of easy, flexible plan you need to turbo-charge successful weight loss this spring - for less than $15 a day, including your food!
The April issue of FIRST for Women highlights how several women reset their own metabolism and shed the pounds they wanted to lose. Here is what they said to me about safe, healthy weight loss:
• Alicia from Seattle, dropped 120 pounds and eight pant sizes - and finds the Smoothie Shakedown a big boost to her two-year weight-loss efforts. In her 20s, she had battled mysterious weight gain - putting on 60 pounds in only six months. When the doctor who diagnosed her with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) said nothing would work, "I was very frustrated," she admits, but Alicia did not give up. Instead, she read The Fat Flush Plan, got good advice on the Fat Flush Forum, and then tried the Smoothie Shakedown. "I really like Fat Flush Body Protein - unlike other protein powders, I don't feel hungry using it." Because Alicia is allergic to dairy, corn and wheat/gluten, this plant protein powder has been especially beneficial. "This is a way to restore your health, not just lose weight!"
• Christine from Ogunquit, Maine, lost seven inches of belly fat in just two weeks. "It's a miracle. And it's not about the food, which every other diet is. Dr. Ann Louise's plan is about metabolism and organ function." Not only did Christine eventually drop 139 pounds, but also her physician says she no longer needs diabetes or thyroid meds. People think this 42-year-old is a 20-something. "My whole life has changed - my skin, my hair, my cheekbones are popping out, and I'm happy! I can wear little dresses - and love getting compliments on my legs."
• Nikki from Post Falls, shed 75 pounds, "I finally lost my baby weight!" Her secret is carrying a slimming smoothie with her when she runs errands. A former Fat Flusher (who lost enough weight on this safe detox plan to conceive her son), she loves the convenience of the Smoothie Shakedown. "I have so much more energy and motivation. That's what everybody wants - to look and do their best."
For their readers, FIRST for Women created a mix and match smoothie chart. But I want to share the actual recipe that the women profiled used:
Berry Delicious Smoothie
Prep time: 3 minutes Serves 1
8 oz water or Cranberry H20
1 cup fresh or frozen berries
1 scoop Fat Flush Body Protein
1 tablespoon flaxseed oil
1 tablespoon chia or flax seeds, optional
Ice cubes, optional
Combine ingredients in a blender until smooth, then add optional seeds, if desired.
Central to Smoothie Shakedown success, Fat Flush Body Protein contains hypoallergenic yellow pea and brown rice protein to keep you energized and sustained for a full four hours. Lysine (an amino acid in yellow pea) helps regulate cellular metabolism - and perfectly balances the sulfur-bearing amino acids in brown rice for complete protein.
While you may be tempted to skip the oil (cutting calories) in this recipe, healthy fats (2 tablespoons a day) are essential for satiety and effective weight loss. It's also important to drink half your body weight - in ounces - of water throughout the day, but not with meals. (This usually means 10 to 12 8-ounce glasses a day.)
During the Smoothie Shakedown, you'll enjoy two fiber-rich smoothies plus one healthy meal a day: 4 to 6 ounces of lean protein (fish, grass-fed meat or poultry), grilled or broiled, with one large salad (dressed with 1 to 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice or apple cider vinegar), and unlimited veggies.
Because variety is the spice of life, mix up your meals and have your big meal for lunch with a smoothie for dinner. Still hungry? Have a serving of fruit, extra veggies or a third smoothie.
For added support
If you have 50 pounds or more to lose, you can get started on the Smoothie Shakedown for a month and then move on to The Fat Flush Plan or Fat Flush for Life. For healthy, long-term weight loss, you may also need extra support.
The Fat Flush Kit offers a one-month supply of supplements to jump-start metabolism - especially when you hit a weight-loss plateau - without using harsh stimulants:
• Dieters' Multivitamin and Mineral is a one-of-a-kind formula containing all the nutrients you need every day - but not in amounts that will burden detoxification.
• GLA-90, with the essential fatty acid gamma linolenic acid from anti-inflammatory black currant seed, helps stimulate metabolically active brown fat for added weight loss, while keeping skin moist and vibrant during dieting.
• Weight Loss Formula contains 400 mcg of chromium and 500 mg of Acetyl L-Carnitine to increase your energy and enhance fat metabolism.
Sources:
• Fat Flush for Life
• The Fat Flush Plan
• Smoothie Shakedown
• "Ultra Fat Flush," FIRST for Women, 4/12/10
• www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/overwt.htm
• www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Berries-may-reduce-risk-factors-for-metabolic-disorders
• www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20167786
• www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19857627
Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman is the award-winning author of more than 30 books on health and nutrition and guest on many TV and radio programs. She resides in Kootenai County. Info: annlouise.com