Harvey and Marilyn Diamond, authors of the book, "Fit for Life," promote their program as a way of eating -- but not as a diet. In fact, with no calorie counting or portion size restrictions, the Fit for Life program doesn't follow traditional dieting guidelines. The Diamonds' program has been around since the book was published in 1985, and it's attracted loyal adherents as well as a few critics. Visit with your doctor before making any major changes to your diet.
Philosophy
In their book, the Diamonds claim that their program will teach you how stop "living to eat" and instead, focus on "eating to live." FFL accomplishes this task by promoting specific combinations of food to be eaten at any given meal. The FFL program claims to boost your energy, help you shed pounds and make you feel more alert, all without leaving you feeling deprived. The Diamonds assert that the body cleanses itself continuously and that by eating the right combination of foods, the dieter helps her body get rid of waste products that slow it down and pack on the pounds.
Focus/Foods
Fit for Life, or FFL, tells dieters how to correct metabolic imbalances by consuming foods high in water, specifically fruits and vegetables, in addition to drinking plenty of water during the day. The authors explain that the body has natural cycles during the day, one in the early morning, one in the afternoon and another overnight. Only fruits and juices are taken in the morning, after that, you may eat vegetables and limited whole-grain products. The Diamonds warn against combining proteins with carbohydrates at any meal.
Potential Benefits
Weight loss is possible on the FFL diet because the foods eaten are generally low in calories, and, unlike some structured diets, FFL dieters can choose their own foods and need not purchase prepackaged meals. However, there is no scientific evidence that supports the Diamonds' claim that 86 percent of all people who try their program are successful, according to the "Gale Encyclopedia of Diets: A Guide to Health and Nutrition."
Food Combinations
In the FFL program, the dieter learns to classify foods by their nature. The authors claim that meat and starches are "dead" foods, while vegetables and fruits are "living" foods. If dead foods and living foods are eaten together they will rot in the dieter's stomach, the Diamonds claim. In addition, on the FFL diet, milk and dairy products are banned.
Criticism
There is no scientific evidence that combining foods or eating specific foods at certain times of the day are beneficial to weight loss or health, according to the"Gale Encyclopedia." In addition, FamilyDoctor.org, lists Fit for Life as a fad diet.
References
- "Fit for Life"; Harvey and Marilyn Diamond, 1985
- "The Gale Encyclopedia of Diets: A Guide to Health and Nutrition"; Jacqueline L. Longe, 2008
- Diets in Review: Fit for Life
- Family Doctor: Nutrition for Weight Loss: What You Need to Know About Fad Diets
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