What Is The 5 Factor Weight Diet?

Inspired by the childhood experience of watching his siblings struggle with Type-2 diabetes, Harley Pasternak developed a diabetic diet and exercise program designed to fit the lifestyles of his Hollywood clients. There are five elements to this program, each of which involves the number 5. The 5-themed hook of this program makes the diet seem like it could be a fad diet that lacks substance. Here's the skinny on each of the five factors and on the diet as a whole.

5-Week Plan

The weight loss program is presented as a plan that delivers results in five weeks. The suggestion is that once you see results over the five weeks of the plan, you may decide to turn the plan into a lifestyle. If you struggle with weight issues, or if your weight-loss goals can't be met within a five-week time frame, you need to commit to a healthy life-style right out of the gate. The five-week plan comes off as more of a marketing gimmick than as an authentic program designed to reach particular weight-loss goals. On the other hand, those who have just a few pounds to lose or who are reticent to commit to enduring lifestyle changes may find the relatively short duration of the plan appealing.

5 Meals a Day

The rationale for this strategy grew out of Pasternak's exposure to diabetic programs that eschew a couple of large meals in favor of more, smaller meals. Spreading small meals throughout the day stabilizes blood sugar and sates the appetite. Nonetheless, the challenge for many is portion control. The five-meals-a-day strategy will only be as effective as the dieter's ability to keep portions reasonable. The included recipes help, but the 5 Factor Diet is slim on portion control guidance. The diet makes general recommendations regarding portion sizes, but does not focus on specific serving sizes or calorie counting, which may leave the judgment-impaired to over-load their plates.

5-Ingredient Meals

The 5 Factor diet designs each meal to include five types of food: lean meats, high fiber vegetables and fruits, complex carbohydrates and healthy monosaturated fats. The web site, 5Factor.com, and book offer recipes that include five main ingredients and take five minutes to prepare. Ignoring the unnecessarily gimmicky emphasis on five-ingredient recipes, the overall food strategy is sound---each meal is balanced, representing all of the food groups. The diet focuses on low glycemic index foods, foods that prolong digestion and have a modest, slow effect on blood sugar. Low glycemic foods do not lead to weight loss directly, but they can help with appetitive control.

25 Minutes of Workout

The exercise portion of this program is designed for those who are unable or disinclined to exercise for extended periods of time. Instead, it advocates doing five minutes of exercises five times a day five days a week. The exercise portion of this program may undersell the importance of extended exercise in weight loss. Many weight loss advocates, such as the Weight-control Information Network, suggest you should exercise 60 to 90 minutes a day for optimal weight control.

Five Cheat days in Five Weeks

Some people fall off the wagon, and then give up on a diet, rationalizing that they have already blown the diet. Pasternak offers a weekly holiday to cheaters. One day each week, dieters can break their diet and eat what they want.

Conclusion

Though laden with five-themed gimmicks, this diet provides basic sound advice. The limited time frame of the diet belies the life-time commitment required for sustained weight control. Still, the dieter would do well to carry the basic principals of the diet---exercise, portion control, low-calorie food from across the food groups, and appetite management---beyond the five weeks of the 5 Factor Diet.