Fat Loss via Better Science and Simplicity
It is possible to lose 20 lbs. of bodyfat in 30 days by optimizing any of three factors: exercise, diet, or drug/supplement regimen. I’ve seen the elite implementation of all three in working with professional athletes. In this post, we’ll explore what I refer to as the “slow-carb diet”.
In the last six weeks, I have cut from about 180 lbs. to 165 lbs., while adding about 10 lbs. of muscle, which means I’ve lost about 25 lbs. of fat. This is the only diet besides the rather extreme Cyclical Ketogenic Diet (CKD) that has produced veins across my abdomen, which is the last place I lose fat (damn you, Scandinavian genetics). Here are the four simple rules I followed…
Rule #1: Avoid “white” carbohydrates
Avoid any carbohydrate that is — or can be — white. The following foods are thus prohibited, except for within 1.5 hours of finishing a resistance-training workout of at least 20 minutes in length: bread, rice, cereal, potatoes, pasta, and fried food with breading. If you avoid eating anything white, you’ll be safe.
Rule #2: Eat the same few meals over and over again
The most successful dieters, regardless of whether their goal is muscle gain or fat loss, eat the same few meals over and over again. Mix and match, constructing each meal with one from each of the three following groups:
Proteins:
Egg whites with one whole egg for flavor
Chicken breast or thigh
Grass-fed organic beef
Pork
Legumes:
Lentils
Black beans
Pinto beans
Vegetables:
Spinach
Asparagus
Peas
Mixed vegetables
Eat as much as you like of the above food items. Just remember: keep it simple. Pick three or four meals and repeat them. Almost all restaurants can give you a salad or vegetables in place of french fries or potatoes. Surprisingly, I have found Mexican food, swapping out rice for vegetables, to be one of the cuisines most conducive to the “slow carb” diet.
Most people who go on “low” carbohydrate diets complain of low energy and quit, not because such diets can’t work, but because they consume insufficient calories. A 1/2 cup of rice is 300 calories, whereas a 1/2 cup of spinach is 15 calories! Vegetables are not calorically dense, so it is critical that you add legumes for caloric load.
Some athletes eat 6-8x per day to break up caloric load and avoid fat gain. I think this is ridiculously inconvenient. I eat 4x per day:
10am – breakfast
1pm – lunch
5pm – smaller second lunch
7:30-9pm – sports training
10pm – dinner
12am – glass of wine and Discovery Channel before bed
Here are some of my meals that recur again and again:
Scrambled Eggology pourable egg whites with one whole egg, black beans, and microwaved mixed vegetables
Grass-fed organic beef, pinto beans, mixed vegetables, and extra guacamole (Mexican restaurant)
Grass-fed organic beef (from Trader Joe’s), lentils, and mixed vegetables
Rule #3: Don’t drink calories
Drink massive quantities of water and as much unsweetened iced tea, tea, diet sodas, coffee (without white cream), or other no-calorie/low-calorie beverages as you like. Do not drink milk, normal soft drinks, or fruit juice. I’m a wine fanatic and have at least one glass of wine each evening, which I believe actually aids sports recovery and fat-loss. Recent research into resveratrol supports this.
Rule #4: Take one day off per week
I recommend Saturdays as your “Dieters Gone Wild” day. I am allowed to eat whatever I want on Saturdays, and I go out of my way to eat ice cream, Snickers, Take 5, and all of my other vices in excess. I make myself a little sick and don’t want to look at any of it for the rest of the week. Paradoxically, dramatically spiking caloric intake in this way once per week increases fat loss by ensuring that your metabolic rate (thyroid function, etc.) doesn’t downregulate from extended caloric restriction. That’s right: eating pure crap can help you lose fat. Welcome to Utopia.
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If you enjoyed this post, check out my latest book, The 4-Hour Body, #1 New York Times and #1 Amazon bestseller. You will learn: the finer details of the Slow Carb Diet (outlined in the above post), how I gained 34 pounds of muscle in 28 days, how to produce 15-minute female orgasms, and more.
You can also get the Expanded and Updated 4-Hour Workweek, which includes more than 50 new case studies of luxury lifestyle design, business building, reducing hours 80%+, and world travel.
Related and Recommended Posts:
Tim Ferriss interviewed by Derek Sivers
Tim Ferriss articles on Huffington Post
Comment Rules: Remember what Fonzie was like? Cool. That's how we're gonna be — cool. Critical is fine, but if you're rude, we'll delete your stuff. Please do not put your URL in the comment text and please use your PERSONAL name or initials and not your business name, as the latter comes off like spam. Have fun and thanks for adding to the conversation! (Thanks to Brian Oberkirch for the inspiration.)
Hi! I am wondering is Malt O Meal a white carb? it has carbs in it but im not sure if it is a white carb?
Pat, thanks for the quick reply. I have done Atkins before (as a matter of fact, i’m just slowly coming off of it after losing 15 lbs of fat, and turning to this one instead), so i know the importance of veggies. If the question is not too private or weird, are your stools hard? I’m just wondering how the beans would affect the bowel movements.
I understand completely about the sugar thing, that’s why low carb diets stress fibre from veggies and even add flax to their every day menus. I just hope the beans would not be difficult to digest, like corn.
Can I take L-Arginine while doing all this?
Hi
It has been a while since I have commented so I thought that I would give an update.I have been on this lifestye change which is what I call itfor 3 months now.I started this eating plan in September weighing 216lbs.I now weigh 186.My goal weight is 175lbs.I was a size 16 now I am a size 12.I love it I have not been this size in at least 6 years.I have changed the diet a little.I do not do a cheat day I have a few cheat moments a week( a piece of cake,something sweet etc..)That has worked for me better than a cheat day because I felt terrible the next day so I changed that part of the diet.I have not been doing any exercise just working.I have been losing weight in areas that I didn’t expect.I have lost weight in my thighs,back,belly,just a little all over with no exercise.I was doing 20 mins on the tread mill and it was like it was stopping me from losing.So I stopped the treadmill and the weight started dropping off.So everbody don’t give up use this as a great guide and meet your goals.
Hi all! I started this diet a week ago and I’m on my first cheat day. More on my progress later…
I’m 6’3″ and have a large frame. I played rugby at the national level starting in high school, continued throughout college, and played with various adult leagues for 10 years after that. A few minor injuries started interfering with work (e.g., it’s hard to develop software with a dislocated finger) so I eventually gave rugby up. The bottom line is that I haven’t had the benefit of an elite training regimen for 8 years or so (I’m 39), and with my frame the weight accumulates insidiously over time. I still workout, though…I run 5K a few times a week and do some circuit-type training at my gym, but that’s not enough to create the same calorie deficit and when you add a slowing metabolism to the mix…I go from 230 in tip-top shape to 280 in mediocre shape in those 9 years. The bottom line is that diet is the major influence on this weight gain.
I’m extremely analytical so I like Tim’s approach to most things…particularly because the analytic effort is usually a means of SIMPLIFICATION. So…I’ve been eating beans and lean meats along with veggies to add bulk and fiber to each meal. I also like wine and sometimes beer in the evenings…I haven’t curtailed that tradition.
First of all, I feel really good…the adjustment has been smooth…especially knowing that I’d have a cheat day. I haven’t struggled with hunger at all, which was a surprise. However, I made sure I had food on hand. Make a ton of chicken breasts and chop them up to keep handy…make a big crock of turkey chili and keep that handy too. Buy a bunch of frozen veggie “steamers” that you can throw into the microwave for 5 minutes, add a 15oz. can of black or pinto beans and a chicken breast…hot sauce (if you like it hot!) and you have a really tasty meal (probably closer to 2 meals) ready in no time. You should be able to make a meal in 5-10 minutes with what you have on hand…also have enough Tupperware so you can make it to-go if need be.
I weighed in at 273 this morning before starting my cheat day. That’s 7 pounds in a single week with no hunger and a cheery outlook. I’ll check in next Sunday.
Matt
Wow..
I can’t believe I just finished reading this whole thread! This cannot be fake, must be real! So I’ll put it to the test. Actually already started this morning.
I found it necessary, since my internship makes me hang behind a desk all day and the Spanish food (which is where I currently reside; Spain) has been too tempting (read: not too good) for me. The other day at the doc’s office when, after a long time, I encountered scales, I was confronted with a whopping weight increase up to 189lbs.
For the complete image;
23 y/o,
M,
6″0,
189lbs –> (supposingly) going to –> 170lbs… even a little below my ideal weight, just to stay ambitious and build a buffer 😉
One thing I will have to admit to fail at in advance is alcohol consumption. Me living in a student house will make it practically impossible to cut that down totally to only that one day-of-sin. It should be possible to cut that down to just 2-3 every two days or something. From previous comments I concluded there should still be possibilities to succes there.
However cutting the slow-carbs shouldn’t be a problem… No bread, rice, pasta, tatoes, fries, etc.
They usually come on the side of a dish anyway, so just don’t touch them. As simple as that.
As mentioned before, I already started this morning, meaning 4 eggs of which one w/ yolk and I immediately noticed this is powerful stuff. It kept me free from hunger until 13.00, unlike the crappy conrflakes (WITH milk) I took before. That made my stomach rumble at 11.00 already.
In the afternoon in the restaurant I already stayed off the bread that came with my salad and haven’t touched any french fry that came with my chicken filet.
The rest of my meals for the week will simply be ANYTHING just by leaving aside anything grainy, potatoey or sugary (almost forgot about that one) content.
So tonight there will be one the menu:
Massive Chili con Carne and I’ll just pretend to forget about the rice..
I will try to remind myself to update on my progress, since I’ve noticed how motivating it can work towards others (including myself!!!) and it’s interesting to see the different approaches and creative variances to the base model..
Keep it up everyone!
Just checking in, I had a bit of a hiccup on the diet this past week due to lack of $$, so I couldn’t go shopping and had to live off the rice and other junk in my pantry. I’m back on track this week, I only gained back 1.5 lbs so I don’t feel too bummed about it. I’ll be back to my 1/2 lb a day weight loss…and I notice that even after my cheat day I still lose weight…hmm…I don’t usually go too crazy though. Maybe a sandwhich, some chips and cookies or a small chocolate bar.
My 30 days is almost up, but I think I’ll still keep track on my blog of how things are going with diet. isaboblue.workpress.com
I’m giving this a try. I’m going to track my progress on my blog. 4HWW changed my life a few years ago, started my own business and I have to thank Tim for the inspiration.
Hi Tim,
Thank you for this site. I have been debating whether I should try this or not. Part of the internal struggle is due to my love for carbs. I have a sweet tooth and my asian side of me loves rice, noodles, and buns. They are very good feeling. Perhaps too good feeling. Since 2008, I have gained about 10 lbs which I have tried very diet and exercise programs. I sit at a desk job for 10 hours straight, and I tend to stress eat.
My diet is usually:
6:30 am Cereal and Soymilk. One a day vitamin.
9:00 am Oatmeal
10:30 am Cereal bar
12:00 pm Soup or Salad or Sushi.
3:00 pm Cereal bar
6:00 pm Dinner which sometimes is Chipotle or Udon Noodles
8:00 pm Snack again. — Usually fruit or sweet.
Now that I have to am planning to start my diet tomorrow. I probably have to throw away all my oatmeal and etc away. Any good snacks to eat during the day that is warm? I live in NYC, so I get cold easily.
I have been deeply encouraged by everyone losing weight. I hope to join you, and keep up the good work.
Well, I’m at day 3 already and have been doing some online research on (other) low-carbs diets in the meantime. I stumbeled upon the term “ketosis” a lot of times. Anyone an idea if that is what we’re looking for here as well or should I see this one as a less radical variant. The reports I read about it describe a super strict ‘induction fase’ and a more flexible continuation fase after that. I don’t see any of that in this article. Moreover, in these induction fases alcohol consumption is strictly forbidden, whereas Tim describes his weak spot for wine… Ergo, I see quite some discrepancies.
So, this is a continuous less extreme thing or how should I look at it..
So far it’s working quite alright for me. Leaving out the white carbs appears to be not too much of a hasstle, so I live by the motto: If, in the end, it didn’t help me, it didn’t hurt me either.After three days I (obviously) don’t too many measurable results since I don’t have any scales at my disposal (not until early january). Actually, that is why I asked about the ketosis thing as well. With the aid of Ketostix I would then at least be able to measure if I’m doing it right and things are happening in my body..
So, anyone?
Hello Everyone! It’s been about a month or so since my last update. Quick recap on my stats:
5’5″
initial weight 155lbs
current weight 144lbs
I started this way of eating back in April of this year. I used to HATE beans but now, I eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner….it’s funny that I have no problem eating them for breakfast (that’s amazing within itself!) So now, I’m pretty much consistent during the week with eating my beans and veggies but now that I’ve lost the weight, rather than 1 cheat day, I tend to cheat on Sat and Sunday. And, even though I say “cheat day” I still watch what I eat. If I eat anything too crazy, I get stomach cramps and end up with an upset stomach and whatever I ate just comes on out. I even workout on my cheat days.
I’m pretty consistent with my workouts and don’t put too much pressure on myself when I see the scale going up – it’s usually muscle that I’m gaining and not fat. I like the way my body is shaping up. I have to remember that I’m over 40 and have 2 kids – so I don’t expect to look like Halle Berry, but I’m looking pretty hot these days! 🙂
I think it’s amazing how the body adjusts to eating the right things and rejects the sugary stuff. Since I know how the bad stuff affects my body, I’m not really tempted to eat a bunch of crap. The most damage I prolly do on my cheat days is get a “Like It” cup of ice cream from Cold Stones….even that’s starting to be a little too sweet for me now.
I pretty much eat Black Beans, Fresh Spinach, String Beans, Broccoli and drink tons and tons of water. I wake up drinking water! Sometimes the monotony of the meals can be a bit much, but every time I deviate, my stomach pays the price.
I took a 30 day hiatus from drinking alcohol and boy did that make a difference in my abs! Unfortunately, I started back drinking again with friends on the weekends. I think I may do another 30 day alcohol hiatus – especially when vacation time comes around.
I wish all you guys good luck on this plan. It’s very do-able and user friendly. Once you see the weight come off and your body adjusts to eating beans and veggies, you’ll be so glad you stuck with it.
Thanks again, Tim!
Doob – About the ketosis thing. I believe that the “dieters gone wild” day each week is there primarily to prevent your body from slipping into ketosis. Maybe I’m wrong?
I tried this diet once before and completely fell off the wagon after only 10 days. I have a very hard time eating beans and after about 3 days of beans 3 times a day I start gagging! Ugh…my solution was Turkey chili I believe it was a post from Katrina where she listed ingredients for it – Amazing, I can absolutely eat this everyday! If you’re still reading…
Thank you Katrina!!!
The hardest thing for me and why I left the diet last time was inability to #2. I don’t understand why this happens when the diet is so fiber rich?? For me, my 2 cups of coffee in the morning have become the essential remedy to this.
Saving my off day for tomorrow, excited for Pasta!
Day 7 – 4lbs down and (I really hope) 7 to go!
Hey Tim and/or comment readers:
Can this diet be accomplished on a vegan diet? Tofu or tempeh instead of meat? Or do the soybeans make bad things happen?
@melyssa
The meal is high in fibre, but it’s the fibre that makes your #2 dense and not the fibre that makes it easy to pass…I had the same issue as you did, and the way I fixed it was by incorporating 2 tablespoons of ground flax seeds into my meals. After that, no problems at all…The flax seeds taste kind of nutty, but they do wonders for both fibre and they have a ton of other little bonuses as well…
Tim,
Do you find you need to consume larger portions while training for sports or just hitting the gym?
I’m training for a sanshou tournament in march which I am leaning out for, but I’m wondering if removing the brown rice/ sweet potatoes will effect my performance.
Cheers,
– Trevor
I just want to make sure. He did say you can eat however as much of those foods as you want right? I’ll eat a whole bowl of peas and beans and a pound of chicken breast till I’m full. I don’t want to be eating until I feel full, and be screwing myself by eating too much.
I’ve been doing this for about a week now, im not weighing myself yet until about the 2nd week.
@Melyssa
That chicken chili that Katrina posted a ways back is good, i made it the other day and ate it for 3.
Thank you for this information. I have been following this diet for the past 2 weeks and I am amazed at how much weight I have lost so far. I love all of the information you have here. Very insightful and eye opening.
Dave, thanks so much! I will definitely try it!!
it’s delicious!
@ Scott
I’m vegetarian, basically vegan (except I will eat egg whites for breakfast). I substitute veggie meats, tofu, and tempe for the meat part. It works just fine, I’m down -37lbs
Who the hell is Katrina? Her name is Kristal, if you’re going to credit someone then at least get their name right. And what she posted was just a very basic recipe, there are thousands of chili recipes out there just make sure the chili powder you use doesn’t contain mass amounts of sugar.
I have been doing this eating approach for 2 months. I started at 175 lbs. and I am now at 158 lbs. I have not done any exercise. For some meals, typically breakfast, I drink a protein shake. I typically take 2 days off per week. One of those days, I eat everything. During Monday through Friday I follow the diet regularly. I feel great. This has worked out beautifully. Thanks Tim.
Great article.
– fat people don’t live as long.
– thinner people look better in their clothes.
– overweight people have high blood pressure.
– most overweight people suffer from diabetes.
– overweight people have more joint problems.
– the risk of heart disease is low for thinner people.
Now we know how!
Tim,
What about vitamins and mineral supplements? Do you recommend taking just a multi vitamin? If so, any preference?
This is a great site with great input from alot of peeps. Question for Tim, or whomever wants to help out. Been working out on this diet for the past week.
Breakfast consists of Vega protein shake (acquired taste)
Snack – soy yogurt from Silk or Stoneyfields (lactose intolerance)
Lunch – Salmon (Wild caught also lowest on mercury levels), Wild rice or lentils. with 3.6.9 oil, other herbs and spices possibly a banana or apple. decaffinated coffee with (agave nectar for sweetner….Oligofructose)???
other lunches will replace salmon with antibiotic, hormone free chicken.
Snack – almonds, and vegan cheese
Usually hungry arount 3.30 so I’ll throw in some more almonds or another yogurt.
Workout – Weight train(one muscle group a day with one leg workout) and cardio 20min. 5 days of weights, 6 days of cardio (days with no weights consist of 30-45 min of cardio)
Dinner – Meat (chicken or Salmon) Carbs- Veggies (mostly dark green), sometimes rice or kamut,ezekiel pasta (high in protein)
Snack before bed around 9pm. Veggies and nuts
Didn’t realize fructose from fruit was all that terrible, thought it was the HFCS only that we had to watch out for.
I’ve been doing the workout for the past month but the diet has been going on for a week.
supplements are – acai berry, multi b vitamin, maca (energy), omega 369, adrenal support (adrena+) and liver support. (liv tone)
The supplements were prescribed from a Natural therapist.
If anyone has some input for me it would be greatly appreciated. I have a Endo-Meso body or as I like to put it a chubby Meso frame. LOL. This is why my workouts are so frequent.
hi tim, i’m 14 and i weigh 220 pounds and i need to lose like 200 pounds before i go to highskewl next year, cuz i want to be in a cross country race and i’ll have to wear short shorts and when i wear short shorts, my thighs show and they jiggle when i run and i ABSOLUTELY HATE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so, will u help me?
I’ve lost 7lbs in the past week doing this. I didn’t weight myself the whole week and was somewhat shocked to see I’d dropped 7 whole pounds when I stepped on the scale this morning. I have a picture of all the meals I ate for a whole week (variations on Tim’s) on my blog if you’re interested.
I’ve tried many weight gainers over the years and the Dr Max Powers Anabolic Stack is amazing. It goes down super easily with water without any residue or particles. It doesn’t fill you up or leave you bloated, apparently that’s how it kickstarts your body’s anabolic processes. The fact that it isn’t heavy or bloating also allows you to keep eating and really pack on those calories you need to build muscle.
Give me great work outs.
hey i saw this on the Google search and i was curious are there any updates has other people tried it and worked? I’m very interested in trying this I’m going to start soon…..and what about drinking alcohol?
Starting weight (10/18/09): 260
Today’s weight (12/25/09): 220.0
Merry Christmas all! Well I got the best Christmas gift of the year by far! I have lost 40lbs exactly and am at 220 for the first time in 5 years. I no longer have a tummy :). Start working on getting that 6-pack. Merry Christmas, and keep strong. This works!!
Hi,
I have applied this approach to my diet.
Breakfast (3:30 am) – 1 whole boiled egg, 1 cup of tea – 1 spoon of sugar
Mid-morning (6 am to 11 am) – 2 to 3 servings of fresh fruit
1st Lunch (12 pm) – Beef/lamb/chicken, beans, vegetables (small portions)
2nd Lunch (5pm) – same as 1st Lunch
Dinner – 1 cup of tea – 1 spoon of sugar
2 to 3 servings of fruit juice a day, no soda.
Weekends start on Friday and I splurge: Dark Chocolate, Bread, Granola.
I lost 3-4 lbs after 2 weeks and a further 4 lbs after a couple of months, just what I wanted.
Thanks,
Sarfraz.
Hi Tim,
Fruits will spoil the diet, or we could use 1,2 fruits like oranges, apples a day ?
Thanks,
Arie
[…] So, flabbiness be damned! I hereby commit to losing 15 lbs. in the next 30 days. Lifestyle guru Tim Ferris can do it. Why not me? […]
I lost 7 lbs. in the first week doing this. I have a post on my site picturing everything I ate for the week. Love the immediate results!
I am going to give this a try!
Once you have lost the weight, what is next? How do you a maintain it?
On a side note.
Here are a couple good recipes, as I saw alot of comments about ways to make beans or lentils. Keyword search the follow:
Crockpot Lamb & Lentil Stew (you can add spinach to this, also)
Crockpot Turkey Posole (wonder if hominy is cheating)
Great because you can make a big pot and it will last you a few day and it is easy to make. If you keyword search crockpot recipes you can find lots of good ones.
Tim-
I love this diet!! I was wondering, do you consistently lose 20 pounds a month or is that a one shot deal?? Ohhh and what about for ppl who are reallly big? Could you potentially lose more than 20??
Thanks =]
Just wanted to give this post an endorsement. Last January 1 I began using these principles and gained approx 7 lbs of muscle mass and lost 5 lbs of fat in less than 90 days.
While these numbers aren’t mind boggling, I was very happy because they met my goals and got me past what amounted to a 24 month plateau.
I also recommend Tim’s “no white” food diet info as well – I used that part for my diet (mostly) and it worked. The only thing with this was, on the “cheat”day, I would basically end up sleepy if I went too overboard – so don’t operate any heavy equipment!
Thanks, Tim.
What a fun experiment trying to lose 20lbs. in 30 days has been for me!
An update:
Last week: 7 lbs. lost.
2nd week: 3 lbs. lost.
(Holiday parties = more calories and less exercise, you know)
Anyway, I posted more pictures of all the food I’m eating on my site.
I’m going to post my BP and cholesterol numbers too eventually.
Thanks to Tim for the motivation and practical know-how.
Hi,
I found your website vey informative. You said no white food in the diet, then you mentioned no bread, What about wheat bread ( not white bread) .
We are vegetarians and cannot include beef or pork in the diet. Could you let us know a replacement for that.
[…] Holy crap. 7 lbs. in a week. Thank you Mr. Ferris. […]
Thanks Tim.
I started this diet on November 30th, so it’s been one month.
I am 6ft and 0.5in.
My starting weight was 198.5lbs.
My weight today is 182.5lbs.
My eventual goal is around 170, maybe less.
It has been very easy to stick to this diet, especially as a college student.
I’m a pescatarian, so I replaced the chicken/beef recommendation with fish (mostly salmon).
My breakfast consisted of an omelet with 1 full egg + extra whites and mixed vegetables.
My other 2-3 meals for the day consisted of a small piece of salmon, mixed microwavable vegetables, and black or pinto beans.
Free days consisted of a nice two egg omelet for breakfast, anything I wanted for lunch, a medium pizza and bread sticks for my 2nd lunch/dinner, along with a bunch of snickers and sweetened tea.
Again, thanks for this diet Tim. I look forward to eventually reaching my goal.
I was just wondering if anyone had any preference on what is considered in “mixed vegetables” !!
[…] Go on “slow carb” diet via Tim Ferris method. […]
I am 38 and weigh 306 lbs. I am 5’6″ tall. I was a week ago diagnosed with diabetes. That quickly gave me the serious wake up call I needed to straighten up. I have begun to eat healthy things like;
cream of wheat with a small pat of heart healthy butter,and a 1/2 cup of Honey Nut Cheerios (dry) for breakfast,and black decafe. coffee.
For lunch I might have a few celery sticks,a few cucumber slices (which I keep in a bowl of apple cider vinegar),and a few wheat thins crackers fiber selections,and a slice of Sargento’s natural cheese.
For supper I might have a chicken breast minus the skin and a good size helping of cauliflower in cheese sauce. This is a very filling meal by the way.
For snacks I eat dill pickles,sugar free,jello,crystal light popsicles,light popcorn,and even sugar free worthers originals.
For drinks I like Walmarts version of Crystal Light. It comes in a can with 6 small tubs and 1 tub will fill a pitcher full. It is tasty and sugar free. It comes in many flavors. Occassionally I will have a coke zero.
I am one week into this and feel so proud of myself. My bloodsugar readings started out at 582 and now for the first time it is below 300. I am also on metformin as well.
I have an exercise bike that I am beginning to make use of 5 minutes a day. Because of my size I cannot sit on it because it’s too uncomfortable so what I do is sit in a plastic stack chair behind the bike and peddal that way……it works!
I go back to the Dr. monday and can’t wait to see what kind of weight I’ve lost.
Hey guys. Although Tim’s diet has been very successful for me, losing over 30 pound in a six-month period and steadily declining, I have recently fallen off the wagon because of one thing:
I am totally SICK of freakin’ BEANS!
Especially for breakfast….
I have read a lot of discussion on here about glycemic index, and I was curious what else could substitute for beans. Interestingly, potatoes have a similar glycemic index to beans, but no protein. I’m not looking for massive weight loss…just a diet that I can continue long-term that I can maintain consistent slow weight loss until I get down to 180lbs or so (215 now, down from 250).
While I agree that having a small number of foods to choose from is good for sticking to a diet, I am someone who needs to change it up every few months….for some reason I can eat something for six months straight and then immediately become completely sick of it for a while….goes in phases.
Can you substitute plain potatoes for beans? What else works?
Steve
Just bought the FHWW book and am looking forward to reading it.
I’m thinking of giving this a try…I can realy only stand to lose about 20 – 25 lbs as I am already pretty petite, but have “problem areas” to whittle…again that Scandanavian belly-fat heritage! I also am a major wine fanatic, drinking at least 2 glasses a night. I see that you typically wait until bed time to consume, whereas I am more of an after work drinker. It helps me relax after a stressful day. Is there an issue with drinking earlier than just before bed? Could I drink one glass with a 6pm dinner and tghen another perhaps before bed?
Most diets fail me because I refuse to do these ridiculous cleanses where you cannot permit yourself ANY alcohol.
Thanks Tim, Kasha
I was wondering if anyone knows if nuts are allowed (if so what which ones are allowed and which ones not) on this plan. and also if you are an active person, like myself who has a physical job, work out 2-3 times a week, and run 2 times a week, should you be eating more carbs than the usual person, if so how much?
How is it safe for you to eat after 7pm? I’ve always heard that this is a no no.
[…] Health: Cut weight to 160 lbs. while firming up. I currently weigh 178 lbs. I intend to achieve this goal by trying out the diet Tim Ferris has detailed here . […]
Tim and everyone else,
So I just discovered this website and diet regimen today. I have been looking for something simple to follow for quite a while now and hope this will be the key to success. I am 23, 5’6” and vary in weight between 135-142 depending upon the day!…which I often times find pretty crazy. I think this is a relatively average weight for my height and age, however, I am personally not happy and have been much thinner and healthier in the past. I have been reading comments dating back to 2007 for a few hours now and think I have read enough to give it a shot! I am hoping to get to my goal weight of 120 which I haven’t been at for a few years now. I am usually active, work out, and eat relatively healthy but this has not been the case for about the last 5 months. : / slacker, I know.
Looking forward to posting progress and results and sharing more with the rest of you on our weight loss journey!
[…] Follow the diet discussed by Tim Ferriss HERE […]
PLEASE READ
all that is needed to lose a signifigant amount weight in two weeks is exersice 40 mins a day
1) swim
2)jog or on treadmill
3)play sports
then eat fruits and vegies with lean meat and high protien foods(eggs).on occasion “junk food is ok” limit the amount of food intake over all( 3 mals daily)
drink GREEN tea( 3 cups a day) , of coarse water, and home made smoothies with fruites
this plan will make you loose weight, but everyone is different.
thanks
Great article.
Tim, I’d like to ask you or anyone else knowledgeable on this:
1. You’re ok with artificial ingridients/preservatives? I ask because you recommend diet soda and drinks with sucralose.
2. What is your position on dairy?
3. Have you heard of the paleo diet? I’m attempting paleo, except that I’m doing dairy. I figure adding dairy to the paleo diet will ensure that 1. I get enough fat and that 2. My carb intake is low, but not dangerously or unsustainably so.
4. Does a “cheat” day beat back your gains from the week, and return your body to a state of burning carbs, rather than one of burning fat?
5. Is there a limit to the amount of eggs/meat in a week?
Cheers,
Hi everyone I did a search on how to lose 20 pounds in 30 days and here I am today. I came across this on 12/30/09 and since I am currently looking to drop a quick 20 lbs since I am completing 375 miles around the island of Puerto Rico in 3 days the first wk of Feb 2010 this seems like a dream come true. I have been reading alot of success stories and a lot of great advice. On 1/1/10 I began day one. Was not able to weigh myself since the batteries on my scale passed on to a better life… On 1/2/10 I weighed 152.4, on 1/3/10 152.0 and today 1/4/10 151.1 I must say so far its been great I have never felt hungry and I really usually only eat 2 to 3 meals since I do not get really hungry. I workout daily ranging from a 4 to 5 mile run and on some days a 25 to 50 mile bike ride in which on these days I plan to eat a little more and add some complex carbs like sweet potatoe instead of reg potatoe. For the most part I have had a egg white omlete with spinach, black beans or refried beans and black coffee with sugarfree syrup from starbucks (cinnamon dolce). For lunch chili which brings just about everything you need or simply chicken, shredded pork with black beans and mixed veg. For dinner pretty much the same. I am so excited about this lifestyle change that I have encourgaged my sister and two other friends to start it as well. I am tracking all of our weight loss on a whilte board. My short term weight loss goal is to be at 135 by 2/1/10 and by the end of the year in which I will compete in my very first half iron man I plan to be at 120 and 15% body fat and by the way I will be 40(and 5’3) in 9/17/10 and plan to be in the best shape of my life. I am grateful I have found Tim’s site and have all of you guys as support!!!
Will start this tomorrow. In July I fly from England to America for missionary training and it’s gotten to the point where am seriously concerned about whether I’ll fit in the seat on the plane.
Did anyone else find their weight gain utterly insidious? I seriously don’t know how it got this bad… but this way of eating seems very promising, and practical.
JayC, in particular (in case you’re still reading despite being all slender and target-reachy!) – your posts have been extraordinarily encouraging :o) Thank you very muchly much.
i hope this works im going to be in a wedding in 2 months and i need to loose 20+ pounds and i need to loose it fast
tim-you said to not drink milk i was wondering if in the morning every morning if i was to have a big glass or 1 % milk with a white protein powder in it is that good for me and will it help me lose weight or will i gain more weight ???
[…] – feed and strengthen your body I plan on eating a variation of the plan that Tim outlines here. I am going to expand the veggie list a bit, but otherwise will stick to this plan. For my workout, […]
hi guys,
I just started right before Dec 30.
Work out daily 20 min “Jillian M” dvd and do this diet here, + daily 30 min elliptical duty. 🙂
so far after 1 week not even lost 1 pound. 🙁
my weight is 210, goal is 190….I am 5.9
Does it count if you have a high density bone structure?
Hi all,
This is very interesting stuff xD quite some science behind the whole thing, and its simple!!! I love simplicity!!!
Im officialy starting out today. My stats:
gender: male
age: 28
height: 1.83 m
weight: 88.7 kg
body fat: 19.9
ill report back with my progress, hope this will work for me
Hi Tim,
I tried your diet and it works!
I noticed you didn’t mention nuts (almond, cashew, pistachio), and was wondering why. Do you think including these in the diet (as snacks) you would still reach the goal of weightloss?
I have your book (the original version), by the way and it rocks!
I didnt read all the posts on here because there are so many (this is an awesom blog with loads of info). So a question; can i use sauces like A-1 for my steak, chicken, etc.? Also, cheeses, sour cream, etc.? Thanks and sorry if these have already been answered! Cody
hi tim, i just recently started on this program and i was inquiring as to what i may or may not consume.
@ Anna
Thank you! Good luck. Just follow and be disciplined and results will abound!
Tim or anyone else,
Any ideas on adapting this to a person who does endurance sport? I seem to be dying on runs and rides that I would normally do quite easily, do I still need to consume some fast burning carbs before the activity? I am fairly skinny already, just testing this diet to see if I can lower my bodyfat %
I’ve read through a majority of the posts and I started on Sunday
Stats
Age: Early 20’s
Height: 5’9
Starting Weight: 234.5
Current Weight: 225
Goal Weight: 199
I’ve already lost 9.5 pounds on this diet and it’s Wednesday. I was tempted a little and had a handful of raisins on Monday and two spoons of chunky peanut butter last night, but that didn’t seem to matter. I want to see a 1 before my weight on the scale again! And then I’ll re-alter my goal to 175. Slow and steady wins the race!
@Sile
Tim says nuts are fine – it’s on page 1:
“7. Cheese (ideally low-fat), nuts, and occassional fried food (ideally without a ton of breading) are fine on this diet. Notice that all are protein-rich and low GI.”
Good luck everyone – I’ll keep you posted!
hey shrinking leon, how much food were you consuming when you hit your plateu? How big were your portions? How many meals were you eating per day?
Just wanted to ask about cheese…Mexican is my weakness so I love your suggestions for that, but the cheese dip and chips is the killer! How do you resist???
I want to start this diet tomorrow…already screwed up for today…had a lean cuisine pasta meal! I am training for a 1/2 marathon and am wondering, as I noticed a few others were, about carbs for endurance and energy for my long runs. I ususally have a whole wheat english muffin with peanut butter and it seems to hold me well, or oatmeal or kashi cereal. What can runners eat? Sorry if this has been answered previously…there is so much to read! Love this! Thank you!
Well its day 5 for me and so far close to 4 pounds WHO HOO!!!
STATS
start date 1/1/10 Age: 39 Height: 5’3
day 1 153.1
day 2 152.4
day 3 151.1
day 4 148.8
Have followed everything to the tee without substitution with the exception of using yams as a sub for potatoes this making an excellent mash potatoe alternative. Yams rank lower on the GI and provide a more sustained form of carbohydrate energy than the more popular potatoe. I had roasted chicken with corn and mashed yams with a touch of fat free mayo for consistency. For all the athletes this is a great since it reduces blood sugar and increases blood flow through the kidneys. This promotes the excretion of excess salt, which, in turn, help reduce high blood pressure. Plus its high in potassium. I also as a snack if needed eat 6 shrimp with 1/2 tablespoon of cocktail sauce. Everyone keep up the good work. And if you are wondering if you can eat an item or not I would suggest that you simply should not eat it. Follow the basic program with a few exceptions if you do heavy exercise and you will drop the weight.
[…] definitely start really watching what I eat. I considered going back to Tim Ferriss’s ‘Slow Carb Diet‘, but I’m easily bored, so I will settle for avoiding ‘white foods’ and […]
Well, I started this diet this week and I haven’t weighed myself yet. However the most impressive thing I have realized is the lack of fatigue after you eat a meal. I used to get so tired and sleepy after my regular meals……staying awake after lunch was a chore in itself and I always wondered why I was always tired in the mornings after a full nights’ sleep. the answer?………. I guess I was eating all those bad carbs (bread, pasta, white rice, etc) with Tim’s diet, I feel energized after meals ( no matter how much I eat) and I am much more productive…..thanks Tim! I am looking forward to the increased weight loss too……Hola
Hi Tim:
I’m a newbie to your website. I actually purchased your latest edition of the 4HWW before even coming here. I saw the book in my local Borders bookstore, leafed through it, and was inspired to grab it. I’m not sorry that I did; it’s a great book, and I hope to be reporting back to you on the Shopify business challenge that I’m going to enter.
Anyway, I came across this article, and after some hemming and hawing about trying it–is this ANOTHER fad diet? Is it safe? Will this really work, ad boringum–I took a cue from your book. I said to myself “Let’s try it for a couple of days. I can easily go back to my 3-times-a-day McDonald’s “Diet”, stomach bloat, and 209 weight anytime if I wanted to. (I last weighed myself in the middle of December 2009, so I don’t know my actual starting weight.)
Started the eating plan Wednesday (1/6/10). Two days later, no more bloating, things are “regular” (won’t go into TMI), and I broke 200; I’m at 199. I think I will keep on trying this eating plan for the next couple of days. My plan is to take things one day/one week at a time to see how I do, but I have high hopes. My ultimate goal is to get to a sane weight of 125-135 by June 2010.
Thank you for your book, this blog, and your inspiration. I’m expecting great things for myself, due to implementing the ideas in your book and this blog. It’s scary and exciting at the same time. I will let you know how I do later on.
Cheers!
Hello Tim,
I am a big fan of yours, and have been since reading The Four Hour Work Week about two years ago. I decided to give this diet a try after reading some the science attached to it, and after years of failing with other plans.
Unlike most of the other commenters here, I have over 100 pounds to lose, 147.5 to be exact. I have been 100+ pounds overweight for most of my adult life. I have lost weight before only to gain it back when then eating portion of my plan has gotten too unbearable.
Let me say right now that I am AMAZED at my progress so far:
I am 41, mostly sedentary
STAT 01/02 01/09 DIFFERENCE
WEIGHT 367.5 353.2 – 14.3
NECK 17.5 16.5 – 1
CHEST 52.5 50 – 2.5
SHLDRS 57.5 57 – .5
WAIST 58.5 57.5 – 1
HIPS 59 58 – 1
THIGH 34.5 32.5 – 2
CALVES 20 19 – 1
BICEP 16.5 15.5 – 1
FRARM 14 13.5 – .5
Kepp in mind that the measurements are done by my wife (not a professional tailor) so there might be some variation from week to week of the exact spot that gets measured. I think it’s obvious however that things are working!
I have ridden my recumbent bike for 30 minute every night with a variable resistance program (except Friday night) and next week will begin a weight training program with my Bowflex.
Thanks Tim, by the time I am done with this I have a feeling I am going to owe you a debt of gratitude for many, many changes in my life!
Peace, and good luck to you all!
Adam
Sorry for the crappy chat in my previous post – if you click my name on the top left of this post you will be taken to my stats page on my blog…looks nicer and is easier to read…
Adam
Sorry for the crappy chart in my previous post – if you click my name on the top left of this post you will be taken to my stats page on my blog…looks nicer and is easier to read…
Adam
To Christina,
why are you wasting your time and ours by even posting such ridiculous notions…..so don’t exercise, and don’t eat vegetables….die young and fat of diabetes or some other awful self inflicted desease.
Either follow the diet to the T or go back to your sofa and eat rubbish. But don’t bore us or insult the efforts of others.
You have choices in life, make the choices that are best for you, accept the choices you make, and live with the consequences.
Wishing you a happy and healthy 2010
Amy
Hi, everyone. Happy New Year! I know it’s been a little over a month since I last posted, but I did say I wasn’t going to write until I hit my first goal. YIPPEE!! I did it. I have managed to get under the 200 lb mark. 🙂 I have to say, ever since I came to this site, I was inspired by all the people that stuck to it and were able to share their successes with the rest of us. I want to say thank to each and every one of you who inspired me to get to where I am now and to continue to keep on going. It’s not over yet for me. I made two goals for myself. One, to get under the 200 lb mark and, two, to get to the 160-170 lb mark. Not really sure what is healthy since I am 38 woman with three kids. I just want to be at a healthy weight and not a cover model.
My doctor has been very happy for me since my blood pressure is normal, my migraines are few, and my cholesterol went down 14 points. I feel so healthy now. I don’t eat as much beans as I once did, but still on the diet full force. Still no rice, potatoes, pasta, flour, milk, etc except for my cheat days which for me is on Saturday.
Someone mentioned about the BM. I should say that I talked to my doctor about that and she told me that since I am on a low carb, low fat diet, it is affecting my BM. It’s normal. That’s just part of the territory. Talk to your doctor and maybe they can help you getting “normal” again. 🙂 Anyways, this life-style change has definitely changed my habits overall when it comes to food. I just don’t tempt myself. By the way, I forgot to mention that I haven’t really exercised. I know I’ve said I did, which I did, but not on a regular basis. I have to though because I need to firm myself up. Need more muscle tone.
So here are my stats:
38 woman 5’6″
Started on 7/27/09 – 233 lbs. Size 18
Current – 198 lbs. Size 12/14
Total weight loss UTD – 35 pounds
Here’s a tip that I do. I have my old clothes readily available to try on week’s end. I can see my progress right there. I had to finally go to the thrift store to get me some smaller jeans because my clothes are either way too big or just right. That’s my motivator right there. Trying to get into jeans that’s one size too small. One week I can’t pass my hips, couple of weeks pass and I slide right in. 🙂
Way to go Angel! Always good to read about someone sticking to this long term!
Adam
Hi everyone:
I started last Sunday and on Saturday morning (after Hot Yoga) I weighed myself and I lost 12.5 pounds total in the first week.I’m definitely happy with the results, because I actually FEEL smaller too, like it’s actually fat and not just water weight. I had my first Saturday off and celebrated a friend’s bday with 5 cupcakes, banana bread, champagne and after a party-Wendys. Started back this morning and I’m up a little so my total weight lost in the first week is 8 pounds.
Loving this diet and looking forward to jumping on the scale again! Yes! Looking forward to it!
I have been reading through the posts for the last couple of days and my sister has started the challenge a week ago but Im skpetical. I can’t help but be becuase this really just seems TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE!! I have steadily been gaining weight for the past year and with school and work have slacked on the excerise. I have gotten back into the gym last Sunday and went for 4 days last week and will go again tonight and tomorrow and wednesday..I am doing my own thing food wise…but I am hesistant to try this out bc once you have tried so many things and they all fail you its frustrating. Im tired of having to buy new pants and shirts bc they aren’t fitting properly anymore. I gain weight evenly @ least so its not in one area but I don’t want to be let down again…
So A Few Questions..
1. Is weight loss diff for women on this diet? I saw Tim spoke of women and water weight so im curious how it effects the weight loss?
2. Are all type of fish permitted? I don’t eat alot of meat now but I love seafood. (i read to be cautious of shrimp/prawns which is fine) but is salmon, talapia, cod, tuna acceptable?
3. Is sushi acceptable?
4. What recommended viatmins or supplements should one take on this diet?
5. Can an immune difficency such as anemia effect the results?
That is all I can think of for now off the top of my head..and I appreciate the advice in advance!
~Skeptic
I think I am doing something wrong.
I’m going by the rules but I have not lost a thing in the 2 weeks I have done the diet. I am 22, 5’9, and 160 pounds. I am normally 140 but 8 months ago I tore the cartilage in my left knee and took a break. I started running/working out at the start of the year and decided to do this diet with it so I could get back to my normal weight, but I haven’t lost a thing and I am really frustrated. In fact, I think I may have gained 3 pounds from free-day on Saturday.
Basically I start out my days with egg whites and 3 strips of turkey bacon. If I can’t force anything in for breakfast I eat some almonds and other nuts.
For lunch I eat some baked chicken or a subway chicken sub with jalapenos if I just worked out.
For dinner I eat beef or turkey beef with either steamed green beans or mushrooms, bell peppers, and onions.
For snacks I have cottage cheese, raw carrots, or reduced fat peanut butter and celery.
Note I do not eat beans: is this the problem? I know I’ll be criticized for not eating the beans and I admit the weakness. If I work out for an average of one hour everyday running and strength training would it be bad to substitute the beans for one bowl of cereal or oats in addition to the carbs allowed after working out?
Also, because I am used to literally living off of carbs I cannot force in as much as I probably should. For example, I only eat one breast and a handful of beans and then decide I don’t want to force anymore in, so I don’t eat them. It’s like my body pretends I am full. I calculated that I am basically only eating 900 calories a day. My biggest fear is that I am eating the number of calories of a crash diet therefore killing my metabolism. I am afraid that if I keep doing this diet I will permanently wreck my metabolism.
I’m opening for any comments or suggestions. Suck it up and force in the beans and other foods? Maybe I just need to wait a couple more weeks to see results? Is it possible that I am gaining muscle this fast? (no change in pant fit) Allow the one bowl of cereal as a snack? I appreciate all constructive comments.
hey tim please answer this , i just started a diet where i stopped drinking pop or any soft drinks, bread, candy , and chips. I”m 5″9 and weigh 210.
If i eat the same meals everyday like boston market and subway , so for example chicken , meet , and vegtables for 6 days a week with no exercise and 1 day a week i eat what i want , will i see a difference soon.
please let me know
In principal this is a low carb diet which forces the body to use fat as it’s primary energy source. Atkins recommends limiting net daily carb intake to 20 grams for maximum weight loss.
The wine thing is an interesting angle. I drink a lot relatively speaking (3-6 glasses every evening). White wine has practically nil carbs, but the body will metabolise alcohol first before fat or even carbs. So while alcohol is in the blood, the fat loss is on ‘pause’. Consuming a lot of carbs while drinking alcohol (eg breads etc), is a sure way for your body to store the carbs as fat almost immediately.
I’ve been watching my carbs carefully and eating stacks of meats (processed and fresh), pork by the bucket load, salads with chicken, mayonaise until the cows come home, and anything that carb free or very low in carbs.
At the same time, I can have a chocolate or small dessert every day and still keep myself below or around 20 grams of carbs a day.
Results so far? It’s been 3 weeks and this sedentary protein loading has resulted in about 2kg loss. I’m drinking only white wine or low carb beer.
Tim is definitely and clearly on the right track here. I love the insight into thyroid function. I’ll definitely be loading on crap once a week 🙂
All this carb reduction stuff makes sense really. Our bodies are not evolved for high refined carb diets. Humans for millenia feasted mainly on game as primary source of energy me thinks. Keep it up Tim!
after the holidays i’ve put on some weight, as most people may have done. so i am getting back into the dieting/working out again. have been hitting it pretty hard these past couple of days. i’ve noticed that you didn’t mention much about fruits. i don’t really like most vegetables.. so i have been eating grapes, clementines, apples, bananas .. is this ok? i know they are kind of high in sugar – but what are your thoughts? any help would be great !
well i feel this is great diet plan, i have been on for four days, it doesnot makes my feel hungry and donot crave for sweet as well. But I slightly feel gas in my stomach and headache due to it. Is there any suggestion regarding this ?
I love this diet!!
Last week I was 200lbs, and its tues and I am 192 🙂
hopefully the weight keeps coming off like this! Ive never felt better! 🙂
Good luck to everyone who wants to try this diet or is on it right now!!
Linds.
@Kate – gotta eat the beans. Low GI food, high in fiber, will stimulate weight loss. That is your problem.
I think the point is, if you want to lose weight eating this way, well, you gotta eat this way. If you don’t like the foods you have to eat you will never stick to it…
Adam
Good point, Adam.
General diet discussion is interesting, but this is a very simple weight loss diet…one you can easily remember how to implement. That’s the cool thing about it. Of course, it’s also effective. Get to the weight level you want and then you can cheat a little more, but you’ve always got legumes/veggie/meat meals (and a cheat day) to revert to for weight loss.
Matt
i dont no if this will work but i was reading and wondering if it is safe for teens i am 14 and im 186 ibs i love sports but also love to eat everyone in my famliy is fit and i would like to be the same my parents dont no ive been starving myself i know thats not the way but im losing the wieght even if it is taking a long time please help me find a safer and quicker way to lose the fat body thats not me and the body i hate
I have found one that works for me and that is to eat small meals of 300 calories or less each meal and 3 to 5 meals a day it works great for me I lose about 4 lbs a week.
Hey Everyone!
I just had a baby..and am getting married in 5 months! In order fit my dress I had to lose 20 pounds I started at 174 and am now at 161.. therefore just bout halfway there!! Im going to start this diet in two days tomorrow will do the groceries for it.
I’ll let everyone know how it goes.
161, 5?5, and FEMALE <3
lets see if it works for girls..
o im open to any tips!!!
does anyone else feel weak after the first 2 weeks? ive been following the diet to the T, and i feel very weak, i cant be active for very long without feeling sick. Does anyone have a solution ??????
@Linds
Drinking a lot of water has helped me not feel tired.
@JayC
You are totally right. Got off the beans for a week or so a little while back, didn’t lose (or gain) a fraction of a pound. Got back on and lost 2 pounds in a day.
As for my update, I crossed the 20 pound mark last week. That’s around 5 weeks. I’m really happy with how this is turning out. Thanks again Tim.
Well I started this a few days ago and while I haven’t weighed myself yet (I’m in no rush) I can sure tell something is working! I am frikken starving all the time! It certainly kicked up my metabolism so I try and break the meals into smaller portions and space them out.
This is a good thing in my eyes, as before, I was never hungry. Was my body dead? I just ate carbs and walked around all bloaty and lethargic, then ate more carbs. lol.
I think I better go shopping tomorrow and commit for real, as I was just trying it out to see how it goes with the foods that we have at home…except for carbs…;) See, I love beans, cheese, and protein filled foods, but I really rarely ate them in my quest to stay trim. The telling sign is that since I started dieting” to lose the last 10 lbs about 6 months ago I actually have GAINED about 30. Stunning and frustrating, trust me. FrustratING!
My body was made to thrive on this type of diet and feeling the difference already has me kicking my butt at falling for the “common sense”approaches that were really, for me, counterintuitive when it came to eating. I’m excited and feeling great. Thanks so much Tim, and to those of you who have contributed your knowledge here.
To you guys who have stuck to the guidelines and done the extra work researching what you need to know, GOOD JOB! And to those of you who are thinking about it, good luck 😉
Tim, thanks for this great post. Any thoughts on using Sriracha with this diet?
thank you, all of you, for posting. i read, re-read, and re-read it again. i started this today, and found i actually like pinto beans!!! who knew?
you are all very inspiring, and tim, well, i can’t thank you enough for having the patience to not only put this blog up but let us all camp on it, chatting about it.
jayc, great job – i hope you keep reading this blog and piping up when you need to! and chunky, how’s the pregnancy going??????
one more thing, i can’t find this amazing turkey chili recipe from someone called katrina, that everyone raves about….. can someone give me an approximate date range so i can try to find it?? thanks!!
elsie
Can I just eat whole eggs instead of egg whites. I would not be trying to lose fat, only gain muscle mass.
Hi, im 24 years old and I was 144 LB 7 days ago. I Absolutely hate weighting myself, it depresses me ( I was always the naturally skinny girl so i never cared about that, never cared to eat healthy or exercise) for the past few years i’ve been putting on a few pounds here and there. Till a couple days ago when i realized my clothes werent fitting the same. I stopped listening to people because they always tell you how good you look no matter what.. especially when they are a lot bigger than you. So I did a lot of research ended up on this website, followed the meal plan for seven days. On sunday I had a small piece of cake and a lot of shirmp and that was my only cheat. I lost 5 pounds so far without working out at all. I will continue with the meal plan for a few more weeks and I also plan on adding daily exercise to it. So my goal is to be 120LBs with six pack :P. I’ll post again next saturday.