The Reality Diet Plan was developed by cardiologist Dr. Steven Schnur, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of EliteHealth located in Miami Beach, Florida. The diet is designed offer a long-term weight management plan that does not eliminate any food groups or require extensive calorie counting. The diet focuses maintaining a balanced diet with high fiber intake, which helps dieters feel fuller and cuts down on hunger. As with all diets, you should consult your health-care provider prior to starting the Reality Diet Plan.
Balanced Nutrition and High Fiber Intake
The Reality Diet Plan follows very general nutrition guidelines for a health diet. Much of this plan is similar to the guidelines outlined in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The diet emphasizes balanced intake of protein, carbohydrates and fats. Lean protein such as chicken, turkey and fish are preferred, as are healthy, whole grain carbohydrates such as wheat breads, wheat pastas, whole grain cereals, and brown rice. Unsaturated fats found in olive oil, sunflower oils, nuts, and oily fish are preferred over saturated fats found in butter, fatty meal, or processed and packaged foods. The plan also calls for 2 grams of fiber for every 90 calories consumed to aid digestion and decrease hunger.
Meal Schedule
Dr. Schnur's plan encourages evenly spaced, pre-determined meal times so dieters stick to a consistent eating plan. The Reality Diet Plan advises against snacking between meals because Dr. Schnur notes that snacking trains the body to crave more food between meals. Scheduled, pre-planned meals help you stick to your personal calorie limits and prevent you from splurging on unhealthy food choices.
Exercise
Exercise is a critical part of the Reality Diet Plan, and dieters are encouraged to follow a daily exercise routine as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle. It recommends both cardiovascular training and strength training, as a balance of the two will help to build healthy muscle mass and regulate heart rate and blood pressure. Dieters are encouraged to exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes per day, but they also may plan less frequent but longer periods of intense exercise on alternating days.
Behavior and Lifestyle
The Reality Diet Plan also emphasizes healthy eating behaviors and lifestyle changes that support healthy nutrition. Dieters are encouraged to learn about emotional eating habits. It encourages them to develop alternate coping skills, such as relaxation and meditation to cope with stress-induced binge-eating. The Reality Diet also emphasizes gradual weight loss and long-term weight management over the rapid weight reduction that is often emphasized by crash diet programs.
References
- The Diet Channel; Book Review: "The Reality Diet Plan"; Kathleen Goodwin; October 26, 2006
- Diets in Review; The Reality Diet; Diets in Review, 2011
- Mayo Clinic; Healthy Diet: End the Guesswork With These Nutrition Guidelines; Mayo Clinic Staff; February 22, 2011
- Elite Health; Steven Schnur, MD; Elite Health; 2009
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