I can agree and I incorporate most of this message into my daily life and activities. I have one problem - I can never eat my last meal of the day beofre 7:30 or 8pm in the evening.
I have recently made an effort to make that a lighter meal, more protein than carbs. I try to get a small healthy snack in around 4pm but supper is always late.
I have read over and over not to eat after 6 or 7 pm but that is just not possible on my current family schedule.

Have you addressed breakfast timing? The thought of eating eggs (which I love)first thing in the morning makes me gag. But the I looked at the farmer/country lifestyle where they may eat a biscuit or something on their way out to do chores, then a good breakfast when coming back in. Following this schedule has really helped me get that protein in the morning but I have not ever seen this recommended. Is there a reason it wouldn't be good?

I am a 51 yr old male, with a family history of heart disease, have border line cholesterol (controlled with 40 mg Provachol)and have been diagnosed with diverticulitis (the last 6 inches of desending colon). I was told to increase my fiber and exercise to reduce the stress factors. Which I have done. I am a marathon runner preparing for my 4th marathon, and now eat breakfast that I call my "Power Breakfast". It consist of a packet of oat meal, Bran Buds, raisins, a banana,and dried cranberries (contains @35 grams of fiber). So, right out of the gate I am getting my daily fiber. And it works. However, within an hour or so, I am looking for another meal. Is this the oat meal? I am happy with the results of this breakfast and thought it was somewhat healthy? Please advise...

I received Dr. Hyman's excellent e-mail and his request to comment on low carb diets. I was on Dr. Akins diet or at least "my variation" of it, 3 years ago. I did lose over 60 pounds in a little over 6 months, but it was not without sacrifice. It got to the place that the only way to continue to lose weight was to eat only eggs, meat and dairy with no vegetables or fruit. My hair began to fall out and become thin and brittle. I was constantly constipated and my breath smelled like a sewer. I gained weight very easily. I went on a two week vacation and gained 15 pounds and I didn't binge or eat in excess. By the end of the vacation I didn't have any clothes that would fit! When I got back, I couldn't force myself to go back on the diet. I gained all the weight back, plus some. A little over 6 months ago I saw Dr. Hyman on PBS and ordered his book. Finally! Someone who got it right!
I've lost 25 pounds and my husband has lost 20, the sensible way and we love how we eat now. The recipes are wonderful. This isn't a diet, this is the way I'm going to eat for the rest of my life. Thank you, Dr. Hyman!

I went on a low-fat diet in 1990 and lost over 50 pounds. For whatever reason, I couldn't stick with it and gained most of it back. Wentlow carb a couple of years ago and lost 10 to 20 pounds, but my cholesterol (already high) went haywire. So I stopped -- and gained all the weight back. Now it seems that I gain weight more easily than I ever have before. Not sure whether this is because of the extreme diets (low-fat, low-carb, low food, etc.), age-related (I'm 45) drug-related (I'mon two blood pressure meds plus Lipitor, lifestyle-related (sedentary), or all of the above. My guess would be that last one.

I often eat oatmeal for breakfast. I add prunes or dried apricots and some almonds. I make the oatmeal with almond milk, and I stay full until lunch time. I also love a high protein omelet breakfast. It keeps me full a good 5-6 hours. I think I tend to eat more when I have the omelet. Since I'm full I don't have a mid-morning snack. Perhaps I'm slowing my metabolism based on the information in this article?

I have just purchased your book, and have not had to time read it all. I have been on a "diet" for six month, and have lost next to nothing. I am about 75 lbs overweight, and the doctor wants it off. For the past year, I drink only green tea, no sugar, and no white flour, and still no weight loss. I have started eating nuts, and hope that will help. I do exercise - 20 minutes on a stationery bike - but that has not helped either. I purchased HerbaGreen Tea liguid, and will start adding that to my green tea - it ocntains 100mg of green tea extract - maybe that will help.

Louis Ricci, your breakfast sounds very healthy, but speaking as a layperson, I would guess it is the sugar making you crave more food shortly after. Watch what you put on your oatmeal, maybe switch to just a bit of honey or splenda, and those dried cranberries, while great fiber, are also loaded with sugar (most of them and blueberries too have added sugar). See if you can get some unsweetened ones, or raisins instead, which at least is natural sugar, or add an egg to your power meal. more protein + less sugar = full longer. :)

Mary

Hiya!

Does anyone else just love these weekly emails? Its a little "get back on track" reminder and so sensible!!

Well, when I was in my 20's I successfully went on a low fat diet and lost 20 lbs in 6 weeks. I was thrilled. Nursing babies had increased my appetite and food intake by habit, so I had gained that much. A few years later my hormones went a bit wacky and weight started creeping up on me. I went back on the low fat diet and exercised like mad, but my appetite only got more voracious the more I exercised and I didn't lose a pound.

I went on a low carb addicts diet, which is a veggie and meat diet thru the day and pig out once a day diet. :) I was able to stick with it fairly easily, it stopped my snacking habits completely and tamed my cravings for the most part, but I had daily headaches from the lack of carbs I guess, and if anyone got between me and my daily pig out meal OHMIGOSH they nearly died they were in such danger. I was a witch. I lost 20 lbs again, but when I got sick of the headaches and started having ordinary carbs like a piece of whole grain toast or oatmeal for breakfast I gained it all back and more.

I am still nursing my baby twice a day so that may affect it but my biggest problem is my HUGE appetite. My husband is very big, over 50 lbs overweight and works hard all day and I eat at least twice what he eats at dinner, I am so hungry! I have a small breakfast and I am full and happy until lunch, but then I can't stop! Then I am ok until supper but then I eat more than a woman my size should. Then I don't eat until the next morning. I think that "pig out once a day" diet killed my satiety trigger or something. I am scared to take Dr. Hyman's advice and have a snack in case I can't stop eating once I start, and when I think I should try to do the 2 sensible snack idea, my busy day slips away from me (2 babies at home and a homeschooler to help with her work) and I just don't get the snack in. I am searching and searching for a solution. I have very strong will power between meals but once a meal starts, forget it, its gone. :)

Mary

I had graves disease, and they rai'd me, so now i am low thyroid. I am on armour, but still can barely get out of bed before noon, where before when i was hyperthyroid I could hold down two jobs. Now I am worthless. I can't even think about eating a carb whithout wearing it the very next day. I tried low fat diet and gained 15 pounds. The only thing that has worked for me is the Atkins diet. I feel I eat fairly healthy, i eat lots of low carb veggies, almonds, and use protien powder, and take all the recommended suppliments, but still have to eat very little to lose weight. Exercising seems to have very little effect on weght control--it's the carb count basically. I remember exercising 45 minutes a day to keep my weight at 180 (Im 5'6")Now I just don't eat carbs, has the same effect as exercising without out that work.

I have bought the book recently but haven't read the green tea part yet. i have always heard it was great to use, but i must say, it taste nasty! a friend of mine got me to try a 'passion fruit/green tea smoothie' from a popular coffee shop, and it was amazing? can i get the same results drinking the green tea this way? if not, what can i do to make it taste better?

I love the emails!

I do not enjoy the taste of green tea,either and I was wondering if the same effect could be achieved by taking the green tea supplements that I have seen in health food stores? If so, is there anything specific that I should look for in the supplements?

I love the posts. I learn the most interesting things.

Lisa

I am a 52 year old female. A few years back I lost my gall bladder. Before the surgery my internal doctor told me that most people can adjust to a low fat, low sugar diet and I believed that I was one of those people. I believe it is necessary that I be conservative when it comes to fats in my diet from the indigestion and diarrhea signs I get from time to time. As far as low sugar I find eating fruit and nuts with cereal or an egg with toast and fruit on the side gives me a balanced breakfast and with a mid morning snack I am energized and don't feel hungry. I take it all in moderation.

I used to have this type of breakfast too and was always hungry midmorning. It's all carbs (oatmeal, fruit, etc) Add a good solid protein like nuts, or an egg or make the oatmeal with soymilk. That should help you feel fuller longer.

I find that breakfast is the hardest meal to get protein in quickly though. Does anyone have any quick balanced breakfast ideas?

Chris

Try Stash's Moroccon Mint Green Tea - I think it comes in decaf too.

http://www.stashtea.com/w-050350.htm

The hint of mint really helps with the taste. Also, I bought some Agave Nectar at the local health food store. Dr. Hyman recommends this even over honey as a sweetener b/c it takes the body longer to metabolize it. Additionally, it is even sweeter than sugar or honey, so you only need a little bit.

Enjoy!

can you be more specific re: a good quality green tea - can you mention brands?

Let me preface this by stating that I have read Dr. Atkins' books and also Dr. Hyman's Ultrametabolism. Several years ago and after several failed attempts at sticking with low-fat diets, I lost 30 lbs by adhering to Atkins. Since then, I've discovered that I do have hypothyroidism and in my quest to discover "Why?", I came across Dr. Hyman & Ultrametabolism. I appreciate the information provided by Dr. Hyman greatly as he obviously has done a ton of research in many different areas.
That is why I am fairly surprised that he slams Atkins so hard. It would seem that Dr. Hyman has not read any of Dr. Atkins' work. Atkins was truly a proponent of using foods as the body's medicine (as Dr. Hyman does), INCLUDING the many, many different types of vegetables, berries, nuts and seeds that are available. He was not against ALL carbs. In fact, strict limitations on carbs was placed only on the two-week Induction Phase, which is very similar to Dr. Hyman's own three-week cleansing. He was not an advocate of eating steak EVERY DAY (though being "allowed" to have a nice, juicy steak was certainly a perk!) and definitely realized the numerous health benefits of fish, poultry (not the jacked-up-on-steroids kind either) and other types of high-quality proteins.
He understood the benefits of "good" fats during a time when fats of any kind were taboo. He understood the horrific dangers of high fructose corn syrup and trans & hydrogenated fats years and years before other doctors got on board. I could go on and on...
All of this makes me sad that a doctor of Dr. Hyman's obvious caliber would disregard Dr. Atkins' pioneering efforts.
-Cyndi

Is a green tea bag ok? I read Salada is best? Are the green tea capsules ok?

It is true that if I start the days with carbs (even a healthy bowl of oats and no sugar) I will crave carbs for the rest of the day. If I eat fresh fruit and eggs, I have more staying power. I alternate between eggs and egg white veggie omelets so I do not worry about colesterol. I also have protein shakes with fruit included. Always berries, fresh if possible, frozen when not available.
Lots of water helps curb my appetite.
But what about the GREEN tea? I love black tea, usually a nice organic tippy Ceylon or Kenya. Does black tea confer any good stuff? Hilda

I agree with you completely on increasing your protein intake for breakfast. It is my understanding that consuming the empty carbs in most breads and cereals in the morning only makes you more hungry by lunch time. I understand that the carbs increase the amount of insulin your body puts into your bloodstream and what the body doesn't use or burn up is stored as fat. (I think it's the increase in insulin that makes you so hungry).
I do a stir fry of fresh vegies in olive oil (garlic, onion, bell peppers, snap peas, brocolli) and add a couple of scrambled eggs. I also add salsa on top. It's so delicious! Plus, you get the good carbs from the vegies and all the protein to stave off the hunger for hours!
If I don't have time to make this for breakfast, I have it for lunch. I've noticed that when I have this at least one meal a day, I lose weight and feel much more satisfied.
It's so important to eat breakfast to get your metabolism going. If I'm in a hurry, I will at least juice carrots and apples and cucumber and add some 'powdered greens' like wheat grass to alkalize the system which is very important.
I am very active as well. I eat several small meals or 'snacks' and a light supper and nothing after 6:30. I try to stay away from sugar and processed foods (except for special occasions when I "fall into sin")!
I'm 54 and wear the same size as when I was in High School. (size 4)
I've found that our bodies really just need the right 'nutrients' to stay in optimal health - not alot of 'food'. When you give it the right things to 'feed' it properly, it will not cry out for more. When you feed it sugar and junk, it knows that it hasn't gotten the right 'life-giving nutrients' and cries out for more to eat! It's just our 'flesh' and we are to be the Master over it.

I drink green tea by REN TEN. It is an unfermented tea that has been reported to have vitamin C, amino acids, and among teas have the highest concentration of catechins which has been reported by researchers to help prevent cancer. Check them out at Costco. That is where I found it.

A friend turned me on to Chinese Bojenmi tea. I was wondering if this works as well or better than green tea?

I agree. with the Atkins thing. It has worked for Me as well as my brother. The key to it is not continue on the 2 week phase for months at a time as it is stipulated in the book to not do that. But people have in mind that a little is good maybe more would be better. That is the misconception taken to heart. It will have reprecutions; like un healthy hair etc. Do the two weeks as recomended. It is meant to kick out the sugar addiction. You are to avoid all sugar no matter the form. If you do that then take in nuts and better friuts and vegies, like your bright berries and not go hog wild on dried fruits(as they are loaded with sugar) sticking to fresh it is the best. The point is to eat as natural as you can. I believe they both have valuable things to say and do follow both.

Does anyone have suggestions of a good, healthy cookbook for food allergies? I have allergies to soy, guten, and wheat. I was also told to eat specific things (i.e. banana) only once every 4 days to avoid developing an allergy to it. I'm getting very discouraged--especially since I work in health and wellness and am told by an RD that the food pyramid is the only "correct" diet....

Use a scoop of protein powder on the oatmeal. Sounds awful but, believe me, it tastes pretty good. And you get that dose of protein that will take longer to digest and help with the "full" feeling!

I also discovered that REN TEN TEAS have a White Tea and is grown in the high mountains of Fujian province. Similar to Green Tea, White Teas undergo very little processing. This purity is what researchers from Oregon State University think may cause white tea to have a greater concentration of polyphenols than Green Tea and therefore may have the strongest anti-cancer potential of all teas. I do plan to get that after I finish what I have in green tea

Hi, In the past 10 years I have tried a couple of low carb diets with great success...for awhile. I did Atkins and lost 20+ pounds and while I lost the cravings for sugar (candy, sweets)never really lost the yen for starches (potatoes, bread - sugar by another name). I found it impossible to add only small amounts back into my diet and gained back all the weight I lost and then some. Then I tried the Cleveland Clinic Diet under the care of a Doctor. Worked great. Lost nearly 50# in less than 6 months. Then went on the maintenance phase that allowed me one slice of bread a day and back came the crave for more sugar. Can't eat just one slice of bread! Took 3 1/2 years but all the weight is back. I hate the way I feel and the way I look. I ordered a book that sounded like it would address my needs and discovered that if I wanted to lose weight on that plan based on my height and age I could only eat 450 calories a day. The book went back. I bought Ultrametabolism almost on impulse. I haven't started the eating plan yet, I'm still reading, but what I am reading here and in the book gives me hope. It sounds like something I can live with for the rest of my life and that is what I need. I pray it works! Thanks

I am on coumadin because I have chronic a fib...I understand that green tea has massive amts of vitamin K which I must keep to a minimum to keep my inr levels within the prescribed limits...Is there an alternative??

Mark

My wife and I have a bowl of fruit first thing in the morning every morning year round. We started the fresh fruit every morning after reading the Fit for Life Book by the Diamonds about 10 years ago. In the first year I lost 30 pounds my wife lost 20.

After two years our weights went back up. However, we do find that our weight varies plus or minum 5 to 10 lb over the year.

The problem I am seeing is the conflict between theories or various studies that have been carried out.

By the way I am 64 and look 55 but have arthritis. 5'5 and weigh 190 lb. Waist is 36 to 38.

I have found a cream that controls the arthritis to a great extent.
My wife and I dance two to three nights a week year round for at least 2 hours.

Paul

Three years ago I started the low-carb lifestyle. I lost 35 lbs and was at a healthy weight and felt great. During the past year, I've put on 10 lbs due to stress and adding some carbs back into my diet. I figured to lose the 10 lbs would be no trouble at all. Well, was I wrong! I've been eating healthier since this past spring but havent been able to lose the weight. When I was eating low-carb, I thought I was doing great losing weight without excercing. I have been reading Ultrametabolism all this week and now I think I know what my problem is. I have added in 20 minutes/5 days a week of excercise along with a few other changes. I'll let you know how things turn out.

I am a 64 year old male. I lost a tremendous amount of weight on Atkins back in the 70's. I was young and the weight came off to the tune of a pound a day. I felt great both physically and emotionally. I have tried it several times since then and it has not worked well in my old age. It is a struggle to keep on it with not much result...but it was great when it was working. I know your plan is much more reasonable and healthy. I just wish I didn't have to give up COFFEE!

Today's post was wonderful. I have always believed that our bodies are the source of it's own healing. It is a self-replicating organism of fantastical complexity.

After reading the book I did additional reasearch into this new science, Nutrigenomics, and determined that this is the genesis of a new understanding of nutrition and the role it plays in our life. I also determined that The UM program is the first and only application of the reasearch to day to day living.

I have struggled my entire life with weight loss issues and have tried just about every program. Prior to UM I found "The Maker's Diet" and the original "Zone" books to offer reasonable,balanced approaches. I find UM to be far supperior to those programs. I think that most people in my situation want lifelong change. The UM program is reasonable, balanced and makes sense enough to result in a full scale liftime, lifestyle change. I have just begun to implement the UM reccomendations and I am already well pleased with the results I look forward to what the future has in store.

Dr Hyman:
If I could get a personal contact by email I would be ecstatic.

I don't diet, I have used increased food procedure given to me by a nutritionist many
years ago and it took off all weight I wanted to loose.

We are 30 year later, 20 years of every major stress you see listed anywhere in a health magazine, some of them twice. I am now 130 pounds overweight. I just avoided another heart attack through oral chealation my cardiologist was excited and happy for me no surgery, but want the weight off asap.

I know when my metabolism went off, and until your book I hadn't had any base for what I believed to be the cause. I don't eat badly, did during college and work, but now watch things closely. Want to use your
metabolic approach because I was under 130 for 45 years of my life, no problems could eat anything.

I will add the green tea and fish oils when
I finish a second chealation I want to weigh
back at 135=140 which is what I weighed in 1986 before devorce and many other crises including death and Cancer and heart attacks.

I told the Cardiologist I was going to revive my metabolism and would loose weight; he said if anybody could it would probably be me once I made up my mind and an attack agenda.

Please help if you can, your book has everything in it I believed to be the truth for years.

Thanks
Pat C.

Have you looked into Red Tea? I drink Roiboos tea which claims to be higher in anti-oxidents than green tea. It also tastes a little better! Could you please let me know your feelings about this.

Everything you have written here is generally true.

I, however, as a professional trainer, am skeptical about the weight loss specific benefits of green tea. The FDA did not allow labelling that claims anti cancer/heart disease benefits and green tea has not been FDA approved for any weight loss benefits. Your double blind study results look good, I admit. I won't say green tea doesn't have benefits and I'm sure it is a good thing to consume - I do.

You say to stay regular. Very good advice. Eating good quality whole grains and other quality foods will aid in this goal. Drinking water and Increasing soluble and insoluble fiber is necessary to do this. Fiber also helps make one feel full longer.

Weight loss occurs only when the number of calories in in a given period is less than the number of calories expended or burnt. Period. 3500 calories equals one pound of fat when stored as fat.

Whole grains, fruits and vegetables, good quality carbohydrates, protein and non-saturated fats make up a healthy diet. Portion control is key, especially with five to six meals per day, which, as you say, will keep your metabolism fired up.

Strength (aka resistance) training, also increases metabolism on an ongoing basis. Aerobic exercise burns fat, but only raises the metabolism temporarily. The benefits to the heart and lungs are not to be ignored however.

A good quality carbohydrate and a quality protein should be eaten at each meal. A good high protein diet is 40/40/20, that is 40% carbs, 40% proteins, and 20% fats (mostly non-saturated)

Finally and this may be the most important thing anyone can do to aid weight loss and feel better - DRINK WATER. Drink eight eight ounce glasses (preferably filtered) per day and more if you are active and perspiring. Water flushes the system, is good for the skin and all internal organs. It has innumerable positive effects on health and well-being.

An apple and a serving of lowfat cheese can be a balanced meal. If a person is inactive, they should eat just five small meals per day. As much as I hate to say it, when it comes to weight loss, calories do matter and exercise is the best way to get healthy.

Green Tea makes me sick, I get a terrible headache and diarrhea. I tried taking it in pill form and it also made me sick. Seems weird since it's supposed to be so good for you. Is there a brand you would recommend that I might tolerate better?

Can't do tea... caffeine gives me palpitations but my EKG is fine! So is the TSH and creatinine. Even had a halter monitor and it didn't show up. So... I do best with veggies and high protein... crave sugars always, love chocolate! it's a forever fight! breakfast is best with high protein, if I eat toast and cereal I'm famished inside of an hour for the rest of the day... plain oatmeal gives me incredible heartburn, like to do 5 grain cereal with lots of ground flax added, still get heartburn, our hospital pharmacist suggests making pancakes and stirring the flax in just before making them, says it's delicious. I'm a RN who works 12 hour nights in a little rural hospital, 3 shifts a week, just turned 64, love what I do! Thanks for your book!

I followed your book for the 1st three weeks and was happy with losing 6 lbs. in that 3 weeks. Unfortunately the next day I gained back 4 lbs. and have not been able to get rid of it yet. That was months ago. I have 60-70 lbs. to lose so that was quite disheartening.

To answer Dr. Hymen's questions... 1) I certainly feel much less energetic and have trouble focusing clearly on tasks at hand if I skip meals. Until just recently I was a 3 meals a day guy. So, if I missed one, it definitely affected me. Also, even though I might skip a meal, I normally don't skip my caffeine. I'm sure you are able to draw your own conclusions on that one! 2) With respect to the potein in the morning, I will attest to the fact that the protein shakes (the soy yogurt fruit smoothie recipe in the book) is VERY filling (I add 1/2 banana to it). I do not feel hungry after that shake. If I have but one egg in the morning, I will feel hungry. It doesn't promote that full feeling for me. A two-egg veggie omelette will do the trick. As does three pieces of french toast with real maple syrup! I'm not perfect, I allow it maybe once a month. 3) I have tried the low carb diet when I tried Atkins Diet. Admittedly, it did work but it caused me to detest meat. The only positive thing about it was that I rekindled a love of bacon, which I rarely had up to that point. I have since given it up on all but the rarest of occasions.

I'm 39 and started eating 6-8 meals/day 10 years ago and I have been able to to maintain my weight without any adjustments to physical activity or food. I always ate healthy, with an occasional indulgence, and have always been active, but until I started eating 6-8 meals/day I was always 10-15 lbs overweight. I will never go back to 3 meals a day. I also have more energy throughout the day and sleep better. BTW: I can't comment on green tea, because I've been drinking it for so long.

Dr. Hyman,
I have been drinking green tea, eating unprocessed whole foods, 3meals with 2 snacks which I have incorporated into an 8 week program at the gym which I've been exercising more than I have im my life. However I have only managed to lose 1 lb/week! What else can I do??

Hi Suzanne. I know, I'm not Dr. Hyman, but I am a professional trainer and maybe what I suggest can help you - I hope.

It sounds like you're certainly on the right track - new, healthier eating habits and exercise. Actually, the loss of one pound per week is a good steady, healthy, realistic rate of weight loss. I'm assuming you've been at this for four weeks? Maybe five? One of my favorite sayings is 'if you lose ten pounds overnight that's about how long it will take to gain it back!'

You can perhaps speed things up a little, though. Consider:

Are you strength training? If you are it is possible that you are gaining muscle mass while losing fat. Muscle is denser than fat so a cubic foot of muscle mass weighs more than a cubic foot of fat.

An increase in muscle mass is a very good thing even though it may appear that you are not losing (or even gaining) weight. The more muscle mass you have, the more efficiently your body can use the good fuel you're giving it.

If you are not strength training, you might want to look at a couple of other possibilities.

1) Do you know (ballpark) how many calories you are taking in each week vs. how many you are burning off? Even with a healthy and fired up metabolism, if you are taking in more than you burn you will gain weight. Even with the Dr's plan, sometimes it can take some time for your body to 'catch on' to what you're trying to do.

Three years ago, I participated in a ten week, highly intensive program of 'diet' and exercise. I got decent results but it wasn't until after the ten weeks while on maintenance that the pounds really started to drop off. My genetic fat burner just took a little longer to kick in. It's all good now! It's still off!

2) If you have cut calories and increased your level of activity, it is possible that your body is storing fat temporarily. This isn't the same as point 1 above. It's much simpler - your body thinks it needs to store more fuel to maintain the increased activity level. It doesn't know how long this increased activity is going to last or how much fuel will be provided. You need to take in enough calories to fuel your activity level. Once your body gets used to your new habits, it will start burning the fuel you give it instead of storing so much of it.

3) It might be worthwhile, if you haven't already, to have your thyroid function checked. I believe the Dr. talks about how this can affect your metabolism.

Drinking plenty of water helps your body function at its best. Always replace fluids and try to drink 8-10 8oz glasses a day. Everything works better when you are properly hydrated!

You're actually doing great! Keep up the good work and keep re-evaluating your progress. Kudos for making the changes you've already made!

Hi Christine, I usually have very little time to get out of the house between the time I wake up and the time I have to leave for work. A couple of meals that work for me that I can make quickly are veggie omelets (believe it or not), protein shakes (which I can drink along the way), and cottage cheese mixed with fresh fruit (sometimes I have to wait until I get to work to eat it). The omelet honestly doesn't take more than 5 minutes to make. I whip some eggs, pour into a frying pan of heated olive oil, turn down the heat, sprinkle on some cheese, layer the veggies on top--usually fresh spinach, but sometimes left over cooked veggies from the night before, put a lid on, turn it off in 3-5 minutes and let it sit to set the egg. Would these work for you?
Elaine

Recently, my dermatologist suggested I take A/G-Pro, an amino acid supplement for hair and skin improvement. I feel full when I take it and eat less; but I have not lost any weight. What are your thoughts on taking this supplement and should it help with weight loss since it is high in protein?

I have been on weight watcher's for 8 weeks now and have stalled at losing only 8.5 lbs.

I read your comment about not eating 2-3 hours before bedtime. My problem is I have aerobic classes 3 nights a week and do not eat supper till after class because it is high impact and step and I cannot do that on a full stomach. According to Weight Watcher's it doesn't matter what time you eat as long as you still have points left for the day but I am not sure because I am not losing like I did in the beginning.

So, that might be true. I am very frustrated but I don't know how to change it.

Also, what kind of small meals during the day, mostly protein or vegetables. My body seems to not like carbs but I also have irritable bowel so a lot of vegetables are hard for my stomach.

Thanks.

One of the best "side effects" of the Ultrametabolism program is the stabilizing of blood sugar. I used to always have something sweet for breakfast and if I didn't eat again for 3-4 hours, I would sometimes get a most unsettling feeling of shakiness, light-headedness and anxiety. Since I have eliminated sugar and included protein at each meal, I have not had this experience once. It's "steady-as-she-goes" all day. No cravings, no crashes, no ups and downs. Sometimes I even have to remind myself that it's time to eat something (a problem I've certainly never had in my life.) I've always known that a lot of my health issues were due to a poor diet, but Dr. Hyman's book really got me motivated to take control. I've been eating clean for over 2 months now and am down 19 pounds -- and I haven't even started exercising yet. I never thought I could get off the junk food, but I'm telling you, once your body adjusts to whole foods, eating big gloppy portions of junk has no appeal at all. I never would have believed my cupboards would be stocked with anything called amaranth, buckwheat groats and quinoa. I used to make fun of people who ate such things!

You say "packet of oatmeal" which makes me suspect it is instant. I would suggest first replacing your instant with stone ground oats you must cook. They will stick with you longer. Also, as others have said your breakfast is sorely lacking in protein. If I have a cereal only breakfast or something like pancakes I always add a poached egg to it. But it also depends upon what and how much you ate the night before. I eat around 5 PM and, like hobbits, I always have a "second" breakfast. My first is around 6:30 am and I eat again around 8:30. There is nothing wrong with that. Listen to your body and your hunger signals. There has not been enough emphasis on listening to one's own body and giving it what it needs in this blog. Everyone is different and one's nutritional needs are everchanging.

So bogus "Weight loss occurs only when the number of calories in in a given period is less than the number of calories expended or burnt. Period. 3500 calories equals one pound of fat when stored as fat. "

You need to go back to school or at least read some books. Wake up and smell the roses. They have shown time and again, even though people are still dieting, that diets don't work. If you are telling people that garbage they will stay on the diet roller coaster all their lives. I would sure never train with you!

I prefer caffinated green tea over decaf. Will the caffine in green tea impede weight loss?

I like cold green tea and have been buying two brands - one pre-made and one instant. Could you comment if these have health benefits:

Teas'Tea by ITO EN (teastea.com)

Instant Green Tea by Tea Tech (teatech.com)

Thanks
Linda Hall