Even if you’re already following The A-List Diet, you may be wondering what benefits each of the phases has on your overall health. So today, I’d like to break it down for you a bit more.
First, here’s a quick recap of the phases included in The A-List Diet:
- The first phase is the detox phase. It’s lasts for one week and is for anyone who wants to get healthy — fast.
- The second phase focuses on the best weight-loss practices I have used to date. It lasts until you reach your goal weight.
- The third phase is for those who don’t really need to lose weight and just want to stay healthy and look and feel young forever — and for those who have already reached their goal weight.
Various studies show that toxins and bacteria stored in the gut can lead to obesity, insulin resistance, higher levels of inflammation and a long list of metabolic disorders. So the detox phase of The A-List Diet is important because it rids the bowels of the toxins that are stored there. It also restores balance to your gut bacteria and digestive tract.
After the detox week, you will be on the main weight loss phase of the A-List program. And I’ve made it practically foolproof — with recommended foods, meal plans, and recipes, as well as tips on what to look for when eating out. Follow the steps I outline, and I promise you WILL lose weight!
That said, don’t get discouraged if and when things slow down. It’s a slow and steady weight loss that allows your body to lose fat rather than water weight. The point of this process is to become healthy and lose weight, and neither of those things are going to happen overnight. Be patient and stay motivated throughout the process by being aware of the positive changes you’re making — and feeling.
The third and final phase of The A-List Diet is the maintenance phase. This is where most popular diets really fall short. They don’t offer people long-term strategies for keeping the weight off for good. But that’s really the ultimate goal (or should be, anyway). So I devote a significant portion of The A-List Diet to helping you navigate this stage of your weight loss journey.
Yes, that’s right…it doesn’t end when you hit that “magic number” on the scale.
Real, lasting weight loss is a lifelong journey.
So in The A-List Diet, I talk about nutritional supplements that can keep you on the path to good health, ways to cope with frustration, and health problems you may be facing, as well as how to handle the overall psychological component of eating. Plus, much more.
So, if you’re feeling unsure, my best advice is to just stay committed.
The best is yet to come!
A-Listers’ Corner
Question: If you were to “cheat”, eating food that is not on the suggested food list, do you have to restart the detox, or are you required to have restricted days?
Answer: Clearing out the toxins that have built up in your system over the years is a crucial step in jumpstarting the weight loss process. So during the detox phase of The A-List Diet, it’s important to stick to the plan as outlined, introducing the specified foods on the indicated days. I know it may not be the easiest – especially the first couple of days. But keep in mind that it’s only a week! And I promise that if you stick with it, you’ll feel so much better by the end.
As for following The A-List Diet itself, I think you’ll find that there are so many delicious options on the lists of suggested foods that you won’t feel as tempted to “cheat” as you have on previous diets.
That said, no one is perfect! “Slipping up” now and then won’t derail you entirely—as long as you get right back on track with your very next meal. Whatever you do, don’t wait until the following day! All too often, that turns into the following week…then the following month…etc.
Making a healthy choice right away will help you remember why you started this journey in the first place…and you’ll feel compelled to continue!
One more thing…
What surprises my patients most about their journey to good health is that most of the “tips” for maintaining weight loss are psychological in nature.
The reason for this shift in focus is that by the time you’ve lost a significant amount of weight, you’ve already committed to eating a healthy diet and getting some exercise, so you don’t need specific advice on what to eat or how to get moving. But often people haven’t necessarily addressed their underlying relationship with food, even if they’ve managed to shed 20, 30, 40 pounds or more over and over again. And that’s one of the biggest mistakes you can make!
Excluding the mind from any weight loss plan will invariably lead to failure.
So while it’s important to pay close attention to the foods you’re eating, and how much you’re exercising, it’s equally important to spend time reflecting on your overall relationship with food.
If you’re not sure where to start, check out Chapter 10 in The A-List Diet. It offers some valuable insights on behavioral and emotional factors that can lead to regaining weight—and how you can control them.