Dr. Haas's False Fat Diet

I am not a dieter, per se. In the distant past I've taken diet pills, tried to live off only fruits and greens, attempted the Atkin's diet, and considered fasting for detoxification purposes.

May I just say all of that really, really sucks? People aren't meant to live like this.

Long ago, after these methods were either tried and dumped or never tried at all, I decided dieting was not a great option for me to lose weight or control my cholesterol.

I am telling you this because someone recommended a book to me, since I have one of those annoying "sensitive stomachs." Elson M. Naas, M.D. is the author of The False Fat Diet. The idea behind this book is that excess gas and bloat make us look bigger than we really are. Gas and bloat can be caused by food reactions. Food reactions are when we eat something our bodies have trouble processing.

This book enables the reader to discover what foods he or she is sensitive to so that he or she can eliminate it from their diet. There are different ways to go about this, some ways are much stricter than others. I will be honest by saying I planned to go the strictest route, and then chickened out and took the least strict route instead.

I'm glad, because I am only on Day 2 and I am HUNGRY.

I chose the "Sensitive Seven Elimination Diet." It eliminates dairy products, wheat, corn, eggs, soy, peanuts, and sugar.

Do you see the last item? That's a biggie for me. I love sweets. Love 'em so much I want to marry them. (Or at least marry the Pillsbury Dough Boy.) So instead of avoiding sugar altogether I sprinkle a half teaspoon of raw sugar in my tea. I have sweetener already in my almond milk. (I tried to go with unsweetened. Blech. I dealt with it for ten days and didn't get used to it.) It's also in the pear butter Dr. Haas recommended for my rice cakes (very yummy, to be honest.) But I am eliminating cookies, cake, my beloved Dark Chocolate Chex Mix, and anything else that makes me have sugar cravings all day long.

Excuse me while I brush the drool from my chin.

My husband, the trooper, is joining me on this journey. I figured 1 week will be good, and if I still feel hungry and miserable, I will re-modify my modified diet.

While discussing this diet with my husband, I learned that it's highly possible that I normally consume more calories than he does in a day. Yet, he has gained weight over the last year, and I have remained stable (with mild fluctuations during that "time of the month," if you know what I mean).

How can this be? he wondered. Here are possibilities:

1) He miscalculates how many calories he eats per day (most people believe they consume a lot less than in actuality).
2) I exercise at least three times a week. He does not.
3) I ALWAYS eat breakfast. He rarely does. (Studies have shown that people who eat breakfast consume less later in the day).
4) I snack, something he thinks should make me weigh more. But the body needs energy throughout the day.
5) I am a stay-at-home mom who does daily housework and sometimes runs around with the kids. He sits at a desk at work much of the day.
6) I get at least eight hours of sleep. He gets less; sometimes much, much less. Again, studies have shown that people who do not get sufficient sleep tend to gain weight.
7) If he doesn't consume enough calories, his body might think it's in starvation mode and hang on to every calorie it can.

I don't know the reason, but I do know that going on this elimination diet should be an interesting topic of conversation at his holiday party coming up. Will this diet help my husband lose weight? Will it make me heavier? Will I be able to keep it up? Only time will tell. I will keep you up-to-date!

Holiday Weight Gain

The dreaded holiday blahs.

Do you get that, too? You know what I mean...the rich, fattening food, the colder weather, the lack of motivation. And yet now is the time we need to keep most active. Most people I know gain weight during the winter season, and most of it happens during the holidays.

First, there's the Halloween candy that is still being consumed. Plan of attack? Use it on those gingerbread houses your kids want to decorate. Let dust collect on it. Candy looks less appealing all dusty.

Second, there's the turkey and trimming leftovers, including pumpkin pie. Do not feel guilty saving a slice for later and THROWING OUT THE REMAINDER. Do not keep it around. It will go bad fairly quickly for one thing. For another, I have never met a delicious pumpkin pie that likes people to be a healthy weight. All you need is a taste to satisfy the need for creamy, pumpkiny goodness.

Third, if you work outside the home, you can bet everyone else will be pawning off their delectables on their co-workers so they don't have to fight their cravings alone in front of their television while watching The Biggest Loser. Who can resist free treats? Not many.

And fourth, December brings Christmas cookies for Santa, delicious meals during Kwanzaa, and irresistible cakes for Hanukkah. Soon afterward, New Years Eve gives us greasy finger foods and champagne bloat. Not to mention all the carbs, sugar, and salt that goes into the otherwise healthy vegetable dishes prepared for these occasions.

I am not a person who likes to deprive myself, but I have been known to turn down anything that isn't merely unhealthy, but downright cholesterol laden. Fried mozzarella? Nope. Potato chips? Not likely, unless they're baked. Cake heavy on the frosting? I will take half the frosting off my slice.

But I will enjoy a good old fashioned chocolate chip cookie (or two if they aren't huge). But here's the thing: I work it off.

This isn't as hard as it sounds. Sure, I go to the gym regularly, but if there's a calorie-heavy meal I know I'll be noshing on, I try to extend my workouts that week. Instead of a half-hour cardio, I'll do an hour. Maybe more. Or I'll go on a run during one of my non-workout days. Or, and I know this sounds strange, I will do heavy housework. Vacuum the stairs. Move the furniture and vacuum underneath. Rearrange my closets. As long as you are moving, you are burning calories.

The best time to increase housework is during the holidays anyway, since it's common to have guests visit.

So my advice during this trying time:

1) Avoid snacking when you aren't hungry. That means no going into the employee breakroom to sneak a doughnut simply because you know it's there!
2) Extend any and all workouts when you know you will be consuming more calories that week
3) Avoid the foods that are the worst for you. Try to fill up on raw veggies and water, save the greasier foods for your "reward," which will be when you're not as hungry so you won't eat as much of it.
4) Try to consume only one or two alcoholic beverages during the parties you attend. If you are uncomfortable without a drink in your hand, juice with a splash of carbonated water is a good alternative.
5) Get out the sponges, the dust cloths, and the vacuum and clean to the beat of your favorite songs.

Hopefully this will help you get through the next couple of months with little to no pain on your part. Happy eating!