Health: The fat flush diet

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Jan 12, 2003 | by Lynne Michelle

Hollywood's best kept diet secret, the Fat Flush Plan, has arrived here - and now you too can have the svelte body of a superstar. Unravel the hidden reasons why you're not shedding those pounds and discover the foods which rev up your metabolism to melt away stubborn flab from your stomach, thighs and bum. You're just 14 days away from a firmer, leaner body.

THE FAT FLUSH PLAN

The complete Fat Flush Plan is a three-phase diet to boost weight loss and maintain your slender new figure. The plan you'll be following is the two-week, fat-melting Phase One diet, used by the A- list when they need to shed flab fast. Expect to lose up to 10lb in a fortnight, but remember, inches are as important as your scales because you'll be burning fat, not muscle.

FAT-BURNING RULE

To keep your metabolism high, try to eat about every three hours. Have a mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack every day, but you must stick to foods on the list, eg fruit, a hard boiled egg, raw veg or lean protein. And don't exceed your daily limits.

FAT-BURNING FOODS

These are the foods you are allowed during the kick-off phase to lose fat and boost your burn rate. Make sure you get the full recommended amount for optimum results:

l Cranberry water: drink eight glasses a day - aim to have a glass 20 minutes before lunch and dinner, two glasses mid-afternoon, and the rest throughout the day. Cranberry is the fat-flushing food and vital for eliminating water retention, cleansing the lymphatic system and reducing cellulite. Simply mix 1 part unsweetened cranberry juice with 4 parts filtered water.

l Life Long Cocktail: drink first thing in the morning and last thing at night. This power cocktail is easy to make, simply mix cranberry water with either 1 tsp powdered psyllium husks or 1 tbsp ground or milled flaxseeds. (All Fat Flush products are available from The Hale Clinic's The Nutricentre - now with branches at 200 Tesco stores. Call 0800 505555 to find your nearest store, or 0800 912 1163 for mail order.) This speeds the detox process and balances hormones.

NB: If you are on the Pill or prescribed medication, take them at least an hour before or after the Life Long Cocktail as the fibre content can interfere with absorption.

l Flaxseed oil: take 1 tbsp twice daily of organic high-lignan flaxseed oil in non-heat recipes.

l Stock: go for no salt added chicken, beef or vegetable stock for cooking.

l Lean protein: eat at least 225g/8oz of lean protein daily. Choose from all varieties of fish and seafood, tofu, lean beef, veal or lamb, and skinless chicken or turkey. Use high protein whey powder for thickening recipes.

l Eggs: eat one to two a day. Omega-3 enriched eggs are tasty and full of liver-cleansing nutrients.

l Vegetables: unlimited, raw or steamed. Choose from asparagus, green beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, cucumbers, aubergine, spinach, fennel, radicchio, parsley, onions, peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, black olives (not in oil), and celery.

l Fruit: eat at least two portions daily. Choose from apples, grapefruits, oranges, plums, strawberries, cherries, nectarines, peaches, cranberries, blackberries, blueberries and raspberries.

l Herbs and spices: choose from cayenne, dried mustard, cinnamon, ginger, dill, garlic, anise, fennel, cloves, bay leaves, turmeric, coriander, parsley, cilantro, apple cider vinegar and cumin.

l Detox drink: hot water with juice of 1/2 a lemon before breakfast helps assist kidneys and liver.

l GLA supplements: take with breakfast and dinner for daily total of 360-400mg. GLA is a potent fat burner.

Adapted from The Fat Flush Plan, pounds 16.99, and The Fat Flush Cookbook, pounds 14.99 by Ann Louise Gittleman, published by McGraw- Hill. M Celeb readers can buy both for pounds 24 plus pounds 3.50 postage and packing, call 01628 502700 or email emea_orders@mcgraw- hill.com, quoting reference MMCFF25

YOUR FIVE

FAT FRIENDS

According to Fat Flush creator Ann Louise Gittleman, losing weight isn't just about cutting calories. If diets haven't worked for you in the past - even if you've stuck to them religiously - look no further than the five hidden weight gain factors at the core of the Fat Flush Plan.

1 Your toxic liver The number one flab culprit. If your liver is overloaded with pollutants you won't be able to burn fat properly. The Fat Flush plan detoxes your liver - helping you shift the pounds faster than ever before.

2False fat When is fat not fat? When it's waterlogged tissue, caused by consuming too little water and protein. The plan solves this problem with protein-rich recipes, filtered water and cutting out foods that promote water retention.

3 The fear of fat If you learn just one thing from this diet make it this: fat in your food does NOT equal fat on your body. The 'good' fats you'll find in the Fat Flush recipes actually accelerate fat burning, fill you up and maintain lean muscle mass.

4 Excess insulin Insulin is a fat-storing hormone created by high carb, fast release foods. The Fat Flush approach keeps insulin in check, turning your body into a lean, fat-burning machine.