The Lindora diet program was developed by Dr. Marshall Stamper in the 1970s for the Lindora Weight Loss Clinic in Southern California. There are now 44 Lindora Clinics in California, and newer online and phone-based services. The "Lean for Life" diet book is based on the Lindora diet -- a low-cal, low-fat, low-carb diet that promises to help you lose 10 percent of your current body weight or 10 lbs. in just 30 days.
Lean For Life
Lean for Life is a medically supervised weight-loss program that claims to address the physical, mental and emotional issues of weight control. There are two program lengths -- a six-week or a 10-week option. Lean for Life is a ketogenic diet -- a high-protein/low-carb diet designed to put your body into ketosis, a state in which your body uses stored fat, rather than glucose, as it's primary energy source. In the 6-week option, you'll spend the first four weeks in ketosis and the last two weeks easing into a moderate-carb lifestyle. The 10-week program is designed for people with more weight to lose; it keeps you in ketosis for eight weeks prior to the two-week transition to your new lifelong eating plan. If you have a lot of weight to lose, you may repeat the 10-week program as often as you'd like.
Ketogenic Diets
Ketogenic diets aren't new -- perhaps the Atkins diet is the most well-known version. When your body burns fat for fuel, acid by-products called ketones are released into your bloodstream. Excess ketones are excreted in urine; you can use test strips to check for ketones -- simply urinate on the strip and it will change colors if ketones are present. Ketogenic diets can be very effective for short-term weight loss, but there are some health risks, including vitamin deficiency, high cholesterol, dehydration and problems with your kidneys and pancreas.
The Lindora Difference
According to the Lindora website, 79 percent of their clients have maintained their weight loss for 15 years. That's an amazing statistic, considering that a common criticism of ketogenic diets is that many people regain their weight once they go back to their regular eating habits. The Lindora program does offer a more individualized approach than you would receive from simply following a diet book. Lindora offers one-on-one counseling with medical staff, CDs, workbooks and food products -- such as shakes, snacks and nutrition bars -- to keep you on track.
Lindora Diet Specifics
The Lindora program recommends you eat three meals and three snacks daily. About 50 percent of your calories will come from protein, 20 percent from carbs and 30 percent from fat during the weight-loss phase. Depending on your gender and starting weight, you'll eat between 50 and 100 g of carbs, 60 to 90 g of protein and 10 to 15 g of fat. As you move into the maintenance phase, you'll increase your caloric intake and 45 percent of your calories will come from carbs, 25 percent from protein and 30 percent from fat.
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