Ann Louise Gittleman wrote the "Fat Flush Plan" in order to help clients lose weight and keep it off. Gittleman advises dieters to exercise and get a sufficient amount of sleep. A detox diet as well as a weight-loss diet, the intention of his diet is to help you speed up your metabolism, while reducing water retention and promoting fat loss.
Origin
A certified nutrition specialist and Ph.D. in holistic nutrition, Gittleman has written 30 books including "The Fat Flush Plan." Gittleman came up with her approach to dieting after seeing how difficult it was for her clients at the Pritikin Longevity Center to lose weight using an extremely low-fat diet plan. To modify the Pritikin approach, Gittleman created her diet with the focus on eating healthy fats rather than eliminating all fats.
Phase 1
In the first phase of the diet, you are supposed to detoxify your liver, which Gittleman claims is a "fat-burning furnace." During this two-week phase you are allowed only 1,100 to 1,200 calories and are prohibited from eating margarine, sugar, dairy, and any type of grains or starchy vegetables. Additionally, you cannot drink alcohol, and the only type of fat or oil you can consume is flaxseed oil. Even the herbs and spices you eat are limited to a small list, including ginger, cayenne, and cinnamon.
Phase 2
The second phase -- which you continue until you reach your target weight -- allows you to increase your caloric intake to between 1,200 and 1,500 calories. Just as in the first phase, you can eat proteins such as lean meat, eggs, and fish, as well as fruits and vegetables.
Phase 3
The final phase of the diet -- or the maintenance phase -- begins once you reach your target weight. During the final phase, which you may sustain forever, you can increase the amount of calories you eat to more than 1,500 per day. You can add starchy carbohydrates and gluten-free grains, as well as some dairy products. You are allowed one protein per meal, and cannot combine vegetables with fruits or milk with meat. There are also other rules, including a restriction on drinking water with meals.
Exercise
"The Fat Flush Plan" also requires you to exercise between 20 and 40 minutes per day. The amount of exercise depends on the phase, and varies between anything from brisk walking to strength training. Eight hours of sleep per night are required.
Precautions
According to Health.com, dietitian Jane Kirby, who reviewed "The Fat Flush Plan" for her book, "Dieting for Dummies," said there is no science to back up Gittleman's claims that detoxifying your liver will help you burn fat. Other claims Gittleman makes -- such as her assertion that bouncing on trampolines helping you lose cellulite deposits -- also have no scientific support. Though this diet does offer good health tips, such as eating omega-3 fatty acids like flaxseed oil, and getting plenty of exercise, it may not supply you with a sufficient amount of calories in the first phase.
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