A former military man, Ori Hofmekler has a passion for survival science that led him to develop the Warrior Diet. Hofmekler espouses the idea that hunger, coupled with intensive exercise, yields fat burning and weight loss. Pushing your body into warrior-like survivor mode forces it to burn stored fat for energy, the thinking goes. So instead of advising you to take in sufficient calories to fuel your metabolism, Hofmekler's Warrior Diet tells you to go somewhat hungry for a large part of the day. The diet runs counter to traditional weight-loss recommendations, so talk with your doctor or nutritionist before you undertake it.
Daytime Meals
Daytime is the starvation part of your regimen, according to Warrior Diet principles. Hofmekler's theory is that undereating stresses your body and puts it into a survival mode that will force it to burn fat for fuel. Hofmekler doesn't advocate fasting during the day, but instead choosing light, low-protein foods. His recommendations include soup, vegetables and fruit. The diet promotes organic foods over other produce. Eggs can be eaten as lighter fare during the day or as part of your heavy meal in the evening.
Evening Meals
Your main meal comes in the evenings on the Warrior Diet. Hofmekler advises overeating at this time and recommends chicken, fish, black beans, brown rice and lentils, but nothing is particularly off limits. He suggests eating at this meal until you're satisfied, or you start feeling thirsty. Hofmekler adds lecithin and essential oils to his meal, but says the tastes might not appeal to everyone. Avoid processed foods, and concentrate on fresh products. The diet doesn't restrict carbs.
Desserts
The Warrior Diet doesn't forbid desserts, provided you enjoy them in the evening, not during the day, when you should be undereating to prompt your body into survival mode. Hofmekler's recommendations include pumpkin cheesecake, berries, gelatin and blintzes, and he includes recipes on his website that are designed to be lower in sugar and saturated fats.
Role of Exercise
The success of the Warrior Diet hinges on combining your daytime undereating with plenty of exercise. Hofmekler claims that both undereating and exercising during this time contribute to body stress and fat-burning, which is the crux of the diet.
Tips
The American Heart Association cautions against fat-burning diets based on what it calls food folklore. You might shed weight for a while, but these diets rarely yield long-term success. Dietspotlight, a website that reviews diet and weight-loss techniques, indicates that the Warrior Diet is generally successful, but it might not be for everyone. Because its success depends heavily on the exercise factor, if you have a lot of weight to lose and aren't in great physical shape, this aspect could be daunting. If you work during the day and can't dedicate large blocks of time to exercise during those hours, you might also have less success.
Member Comments