You on a Diet Live Longer, Look Better

Oprah featured diet Doctors: Doctor Oz and Doctor Roizen on Thursday, November 2, 2006. Oprah knows about a lot of things, and she knows more than anything about diets. Right now, Oprah is looking terrific, and I tend to listen to what she promotes on this subject.

Even though the title of the book is "You on a Diet", the doctors claim that it is not really a diet, but a life plan. The doctors opened up their presentation with an explanation about belly fat the likes of which I had never seen before. They explained that we actually have an organ across our belly, that is not actually fat, but does expand as we gain weight. Then, for shock value, they showed actual organs that had been removed from corpses that had been autopsied. They held up the organ of a healthy weight person, next to one who was 30 - 40 pounds overweight. The demonstration was dramatic. If shocking was what they wanted to achieve, they accomplished their objective.

They followed up this repulsive demonstration by using a model of a tongue and graphics of the internal organs, including stomach and liver. There was more, but I think you get the idea. I am always interested in health and fitness issues and appreciate learning about how the body works, but not when I am still on my first cup of morning coffee. Maybe the involuntary gag response was the start of the diet plan. If you would like to see pictures of these demonstrations, you can find them on Oprah's website.

The doctors demonstrated the some of the science of the body and the chemistry of overweight. The doctors effectively explained the importance of getting your weight to healthy proportions. The waist line is the best indication of healthy weight.

The doctors emphasize the importance of the waist measurement as an indication of healthy weight. They explained that the most common measurement used, the weight scale, is not a reliable indicator of health, because weight does not show percentage of fat, bone, and muscle. The doctors recommend losing the scale, getting out the tape measure, and starting by measuring your waist.

The healthy waist measurement for a woman is 32" or less. the healthy waist measurement for a man is 35" or less. Having a healthy waist measurement is the key to this diet plan, that is not a diet plan. The doctors explained that belly fat is the most dangerous fat and the importance of losing the belly fat.

It was informative to learn a little about how our internal chemistry works. The reason they showed the tongue was to explain how our sense of taste can conspire to make us fat. The reason that they showed the organ was to illustrate how overweight affects not only our appearance, but out total health and well being. Overweight is not to be taken lightly. Overweight negatively affects heart health and liver function. Indeed, overweights affects all internal organs and bones and joints. Besides the health risks, being overweight impacts our quality of life, relationships, and overall quality of life. Belly fat also relates to insulin resistance, which is a precursor to diabetes. The health and emotional ramifications of overweight make it beneficial to take steps to take the weight off. According to the doctors, it is more then beneficial, it is imperative to get your waist measurement within healthy guidelines, getting the fat off of the belly.

Doctor Oz and Doctor Roizen studied people who maintained a weight loss. The doctors found that dieters who cut 400 calories a day ended up yo-yo dieting and regaining the weight, which is an unhealthy cycle. Fasting shuts down metabolism, so that when calories are increased, they are quickly deposited as fat. The doctors recommend cutting 100 calories a day, about the amount of a Granny Smith apple. Cutting 100 calories a day, is a dieting strategy that most people can sustain for a lifetime, according to the doctors.

The doctors visited potential dieters and cleared the kitchen of foods to avoid, by actually going through their cupboards and throwing the bad foods out. Following are the foods to get out of your pantry and out of your life:

FOODS TO AVOID:

HYDROGENATED OIL, also partially hydrogenated oil. Found in many packaged foods.

SUGAR because simple sugars make you crave high calorie foods.

HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP; Dr. Roizen claims that "We eat 63 pounds of high fructose corn syrup a year, which puts 33 pounds on the typical American". This is another ingredient common in packaged foods.

ENRICHED FLOUR: Manufacturers take the good nutrients out and add a few things.

WHITE FOODS, including bleached flour, white pasta, sugar.

Overall, the main foods to avoid are the prepackaged food, that we ofter use for convenience. In order to eliminate the Foods to avoid, get in the habit or reading all food labels.

RECOMMENDED FOODS

No big surprises here. The diet plan includes fresh fruits and vegetables and plenty of fiber. The recommended food include:

FRESH FRUITS: Fresh fruits are packed with nutrients and vitamins and healthy fiber.

FRESH VEGETABLES: Fresh vegetables are high in fiber, nutrients and vitamins.

TOMATO SAUCE OR JUICE: Tomato based sauces are highly recommended for their nutrients, which are better absorbed when cooked.

WHOLE GRAINS: Whole grains are high in fiber, which acts like a speed bump in your gastrointestinal tract, slowing everything down, so you feel fuller longer.

NUTS: A handful of nuts provide protein and healthy oils. Healthy oils help are related to seratonin, which alleviates depression. Walnuts and almonds are especially beneficial. Nuts also act as an appetite suppressant, so a handful of nuts at snack time means that you will be less hungry at mealtime. While nuts are an excellent food, they are high calorie, so don't go overboard with the nuts.

FISH: for low fat protein and healthy oils

For handy healthful snacks they recommend crunchy snacks with a little sweetness in them. Apples, carrots, and nuts are excellent snacks and easy to carry in your purse or briefcase. Surprisingly, breath strips are good because they can turn off the craving signal in the brain.

The doctors also highly recommend:

BREATH STRIPS to curb appetite

DAILY MULTI VITAMIN: To insure nutrients. Daily calcium should be at least 1200 mg, Vitamin D and foliate are also important.

8 GLASSES OF WATER A DAY: Water keeps you hydrated, and flushes your system, keeping organs functioning as they should.

7 to 8 HOURS OF SLEEP A NIGHT

LOTS OF SEX: The doctors recommended lots of sex. The importance of sex for our health and well being was mentioned several times. In a humorous moment Oprah replied that a lot of people would be happy to have lots of sex if they could find someone.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and not to be skipped, because it jump starts the metabolism. Dr. Roizen suggests some monotony for breakfast and lunch, to eliminate having to make choices Good breakfast choices are: steel-cut oatmeal, whole grain cereals and egg-white omelets.

The information included in this article is just a sampling of the "You On A Diet Plan". Many of the guidelines are common sense. You have probably heard many of the diet guidelines before: avoid sugar, bad fats, and packaged foods. Eat fresh foods with nuts, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Supplement your diet with a good multivitamin .Calcium and Vitamin D are especially important. Watch your health by getting plenty of sleep and drinking plenty of water and getting lots of sex.. Exercise by walking 30 minutes a day. The doctors recommend a guideline of 10,000 steps a day. Sex is an enjoyable activity that is important for health and well being.

The motivation and urgency about getting your waist line to healthy proportions are what differentiates this diet plan from others. The Doctors claim that the :You on a Diet" plan will help you get into a smaller clothing size quickly and healthfully.

If you would like to learn more about the doctors diet, food, and exercise plan to lose the fat to get to a healthy waist and weigh: Pick up the book "You on a Diet", by Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen.