drlewis

The is no such thing as bad or good food, particularly when you are eating only five bites.  It’s just material–carbon–in one form or another.  Your multivitamin covers the essentials.  Nitrogen (protein) comes in almost automatically.  So your five bites are just for flavor and to curb your hunger.  They aren’t providing your body with ANYT…[Read more]

Awesome, Leona!  You are such an inspiration!  And as you’ve said: this is YOUR diet (whomever is reading this).  No one else’s.  You don’t need to defend it to anyone.  No one is forcing you to eat more.  This is yours, and yours alone, and you are doing it because YOU WANT TO.  

Yes.  You need to ride this out.  Drink water and coffee, but these feelings will go away.

It sounds to me like you are going to do VERY well on this program.  I can’t wait to watch the transformation take place!  

I like that idea!  

The most common type of heart disease–atherosclerosis–dramatically benefits form weight loss, and those people should be on the diet.  The authors are making an argument for caution in some people with cardiomyopathy who may suffer if they don’t get an adequate amount of protein (which would still be hard not to get, even with this diet), but…[Read more]

Ultimately, whatever works!  You can make small modifications to the diet to allay any disconcerting symptoms, but don’t veer too far off the path.  We don’t want to struggle to get back on it!

Indeed, Kmarie.  The best anti-inflammatory you can take for your inflammatory diseases is: LOSE WEIGHT!  It will ultimately be better than prednisone and all the immune-modifying medications you take.  So, GO, GO, GO!  Sprint for the finish line!  Just get it done!!  

I do like this idea, and it has worked for many a patient of mine as well.  So try it, Biene!  Thanks Leona.

Great!  And just so you all know, I just got back from Northern California; We went up there for the weekend to see the giant Redwoods.  They were truly impressive–especially the felled trees. The trees were over 20 feet high in diameter!  So sorry–I was out of touch for a couple of days.

You are so right, Leona!  

Again, I see the opposite all the time, Chloe.  Numbness and tingling that go away with weight loss.  I’m guessing your symptoms were symmetric and represent a systemic effect, like low blood sugar, especially since you felt better after eating more.  This may happen from time to time, and you may eat more if you feel you need to.  A…[Read more]

Right, Lynda.  No alcohol or sugary coffee drinks, please.  Wait until you are done.  Then have at them.  But for right now, discipline and perfection!  OK?

Great.  I’m glad those feelings resolved.  I honestly don’t know why you felt them.  I like your idea above rather than take a complete break for a few days.  So I’d give your plan a try!

YES!  It IS amazing how you feel fuller when you count each bite.  Really hone in on each bite.  To take this technique to the extreme, journal each and every bite you take!  Taste each bite like a sommelier samples wine in a wine competition; let the flavors roll over your tongue.  You don’t need to spit it out, of course, but after each bite…[Read more]

Very interesting!  Thanks Lynda!!  

Yes!  Right on!  

I totally agree with AAL.  The first and MOST IMPORTANT step is the next one.  It’s the next meal.  It’s eating it perfectly.  I want you to go into it scared, anxious, excited.  I want you to take five little bites, and throw the rest away.  And you are OFF!  That was the hardest step.  NOW, just keep one foot going in front of the other.  You wi…[Read more]

Great.  I also think that EVERYONE should have their own “Journal” page.  It encourages everyone to put more energy into this process, and it makes it easier for others to follow their progress.  So please journal, everyone!     

Or better yet, Kmarie, just commit to a once-a-week weigh in.  I find that I do BEST when I don’t have access to a scale, because it forces me to be ever so vigilant of the food I eat.  I don’t eat carelessly when I don’t have a way of regulating my intake.  But try the weigh-only-on-Mondays technique.  The rest of the time, you KNOW your los…[Read more]

Just take it meal, by meal, Kmarie!  You’ve just prepared your veggie or chicken patty and placed it in front of you.  Then the show begins.  The lights go out and the curtain raises.  The spotlight is on you and your food.  The role you are playing is that of a perfect 5-biter, and the entire world wants to see how well you can perform.  PLE…[Read more]