Phase 1: Reving Up

In the first four weeks of the Best Life Diet, focus on moving more and changing your eating patterns. Step on the scale to get your starting weight. Then, put it away! Next, get moving! This is what revs up your metabolism and burns calories. You will determine where you are on the activity scale. If you are already exercising regularly, boost it one level. Zero activity level, go up two levels and start formal workouts right after checking with your physician.

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.

At the end of the 4th week, weigh again. Goal is to have lost 1+ lbs a week. If that is happening, continue for 2-3 more weeks here. If your weight didn’t drop much, move to Phase 2.

Phase 2: Making the Switch

This is the phase where you will see the most change, both in weight and attitude. Success is dependant on replacing six problem foods with foods that will work in decreasing your desire to eat. Check your weight every week. And remember don’t be discouraged if you don’t lose each time. If a pattern of gaining appears, look over what you’ve been doing and readjust where needed. Don’t forget that exercise is the great equalizer both in burning calories and giving you that feel good attitude that food previously afforded.

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).

Maintain the changes you achieved in Phases 1 and 2, but add some “anything goes calories” – the foods you still hanker for. Everything you eliminated in Phase 2 is now allowable! Try to put “anything goes calories” toward “luxury foods” that are indulgent but still have something to offer, such as dark chocolate, full-fat cheese and yogurt, pizza with whole grain crust, or a glass of wine. Try to eat more good vegetables than any other food group. Keep eating two servings of fruit a day and whole grains instead of refined ones. As for sweets, eat fruit any time. Otherwise, continue to look at the packaging.

Adding calories back in is the reward for upping your exercise regimen in this phase. You can eat then without the guilt or adding weight back on that you have lost. A bonus with exercise is that it’s the best anti-aging remedy you can buy – no chemicals! Now weigh yourself weekly or for sure monthly.