nville1

I read about this WOE in a popular magazine several months ago, and filed it in the back of my mind as another "probably wouldn't work" idea. I am 45 y/o female, and 4 weeks ago weighed 162 at 5'7". Not horribly overweight, but gaining at least 10 pounds a year. Recently moved to a new area of the country, and due to depression (and not to mention a whole new world of restaurants!) I gained my final 10 in a record 4 months.

So after trying the usual things, (they worked for awhile) and gaining it all right back, I remembered about this plan I had read about. Nothing to lose, so I tried.

The basic idea was very attractive to me. You don't really worry all that much about calories, fat grams, carbs, etc. I believe it was called the "Eat 3 Things" Diet. Here is the premise: For each and every meal or snack you eat during the day, you eat a serving of protein, and a serving from 2 other food groups. If you want a snack, ok, but you must eat a protein and a food from another food group. You can eat a goodie also with any meal. Keep portion sizes real.

So a typical day goes something like this: Breakfast--egg, lightly beaten and scrambled (protein)
-small container of yogurt (dairy)
-banana (fruit)

Lunch-
-pork chop (protein)
-serving of mashed potato (veg)
-apple (fruit)

Dinner-
-hamburger, fixed on my handy G.Foreman grill (protein)
-salad with cut up veggies and dressing (veg)
-dinner roll (grain)
-2 or 3 choc chip cookies

If you want another hamburger, you also have to have another 2 types of foods again. Usually I am not THAT hungry, so I don't.

If you are having a sandwich for lunch, the whole sandwich counts as the protein. You don't count the bread as your grain or starch. The sandwich is the main protein, go ahead and have 2 other types of foods. Same with a casserole or other mixed food. If it contains mostly your protein, count the serving of the casserole as the protein, and have the 2 other foods as usual.
If I have a snack (usually I don't feel the need) I would, say, get a snickers bar, and have to go to the cafeteria and get an apple and find some sort of protein to go with it. When you have to go to that length for a snickers bar, I usually just say the heck with it. Although I did at first bring my protein and veggie to go with my candy bars.


Anyway, the basis for the diet is that the steady intake of proteins thruout the day with each meal and snack keeps you full and prevents that sudden drop in blood sugar that gives us horrible cravings. And by making it hard to just go get that candy (you have to bring or find the other 2 types of foods to go with it) you will be less likely to snack.

You don't worry about FF salad dressings or FF cheeses or anything else. Just your main protein, and the 2 other types of foods with each meal and snack, and be reasonable with portion sizes.
You don't feel deprived at all. In fact, I feel pretty full and not obsessing about cookies all the time.

Hey, it is working for me. I have lost 10 pounds in the last 4 weeks. It is easy to do when working. You don't have people sneering at you for being on a diet. If someone brings brownies in, go on and have one, but you better find or bring in your protein and other type food. As with anything, if you cheat it won't work, but I find this so effortless and I don't feel particularly hungry so I don't want to cheat. And I love looking at the scale every week!

What do you think?