Five Factor Fitness Diet

The Five Factor Fitness Diet was created by celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak. The diet takes place over five weeks and has you incorporate simple eating and exercise principles to lose weight. The number "five" is worked into most of the principles to simplify the diet plan. Before you start the diet, you should consult your doctor.

Function

Pasternak focused on five keys to weight loss. You need to increase your metabolic rate through diet and exercise. When you exercise, you must learn how to stay in the fat-burning zone and also build lean muscle. The foods you eat must not only contain the right number of calories, but also keep blood sugar levels steady. Lastly, you need a rest and recovery period to reduce cortisol levels.

Features

Each meal that you eat over the course of the day must contain five features on the Five Factor Fitness Diet. It has to contain a low-fat protein, low glycemic index carbohydrate, fiber, a healthy fat source and a sugar-free beverage.

Foods

You are allowed five meals over the course of the day on the diet. Recipes included on the diet typically contain less than five ingredients and take less than five minutes to prepare. Some sample breakfasts include cereal with skim milk; egg whites with chicken, peppers and cheese; no-flour bread dipped in eggs and milk for French toast; and a flour-less wrap with eggs, nonfat cheese and vegetarian bacon. Lunch may consist of tuna salad; chef salad; turkey and grilled veggies; or vegetarian chili. Dinner examples include fish with salad; grilled chicken and wild rice; and turkey breast with sweet potatoes. Snacks may include raw veggies, slices of turkey, nuts or whole grain crackers.

Exercise

You have to do five workouts per week on the Five Factor Fitness Diet. Each workout must last for 25 minutes. In each five-minute interval, you'll perform either aerobic moves or strength-training exercises. To do the exercises, you only need hand weights and a workout bench.

Considerations

You're allowed one cheat day each week. The cheat day allows you to eat what you want without any guilt. You are also not required to exercise on this day. The cheat day is built in as a way to give the person a small indulgence, then get back on track the next day.