Losing weight permanently and improving your general Health
This is not about some short time diet, inc. the inevitable yoyo effect but rather a book about a complete change in your diet, where the author, the late Nathan Pritikin (1915-1985,
Nathan Pritikin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia), refers to diet as all of your nutritional habits, rather then some money-spinning ready meal distribution idea. Additional information about this fundamental change in nutritional intake can be found here:
Pritikin Diet - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, as well as ample supporting scientific evidence on its benefits.
Do make sure to read the Wiki articles, they are relatively well researched and written and provide a number of additional links relating to the subject at hand.
Also, it is something that we've successfully tried, though I must admit that, due to the opposite weight issues my wife has, we didn't follow through as we would have liked to have done. Working up to 18 hours a day and during the little time that remained having to cook two different sets of meals, one for my wife and one for our daughter and myself simply became too much, I wish it had been otherwise.
It takes very little to significantly improve your well-being, a change in your eating habits and moderate exercise, ie. try walking or cycling to work rather then jump into your car every morning. In addition to improving your life, you might be saving others from drowning due to raising sea levels but that's a completely different story alltogether.
Don't expect this to show immediate results. The fundamental change in diet is something that takes time to have an effect, also, don't be tempted to change back to your old ways unless you want to gain the pounds you've shed in less then half the time it took to get rid of them. This is not a quick fix but rather a long term improvement of your general health.
If you are prone to succumbing to the temptations of fast food or any other kind of processed food, believe me, there will be hard times ahead. One of the first things you'll have to do is reduce the intake of salt and sugar to almost nil, there is no need to feed the body sodium hydrochloride, a balanced intake or fruit and vegatables will supply your body with all the salt it requires and sugar is little more then a quick hit of energy for the body, nothing else.
Slow release complex carbohydrates such as wholemeal products, fruit and vegetables have long been known to provide far better and longer lasting sustenance. The intake of fat will immediately be reduced to 5% of your daily calories, bearing in mind that a single gram of fat contains close to twice the amount of calories as does protein or carbohydrate.
And yes, it means thinking about what you're eating. It requires a certain amount of planning when it comes to your shopping and sure as hell you will be tempted to throw it all overboard and pop into your favourite fast food parlour. The question is, just how long do you want to live a healthy life? Sure, there are plenty of pharmaceuticals out there that are able to combat some of the nasty things you do to yourself but this is a little like adding insult to injury, isn't it.
And now for the good news... Pritkins diet has scientifically proven beyond a doubt that it can and will improve heart health, reduce blood pressure and reduce the need for drugs controlling type 2 diabetes.
On a different note: The book has nothing to do with the money spinning 'Pritikin Longevity Center' in Miami, FL. This is pretty much his sons work and allthough they still do publish useful recipes and stuff on their website, it is pretty much an 'added value' Spa that'll charge the Earth for taking a dip and eating less. That being said, I've just discovered that if you are on MediCare, you may be able to have your treatment paid for under certain conditions. Please check the Pritikin website for further details here:
Pritikin Weight Loss Health Spa | A Weight Loss Spa With Results.
Jerry Dukes, BA, a friend of mine from Australia was President of the Pritikin Assoc. in Australia for decades and he compiled a cookbook with Pritikin conform recipes that I could try and scan, given I can get the blasted scanner to work again, so don't count on this happening anytime soon, if ever.
The book is available from as little as a single Cent/Pence/Euro Cent plus postage from Amazon USA at the link below, I've also included links to the book for users in other countries, again, please see below.
Amazon USA:
Amazon.com: The Pritikin Program for Diet and Exercise (9780553271928): Nathan Pritikin, Patrick M. McGrady: Books
Amazon UK:
The Pritikin Program for Diet and Exercise: Amazon.co.uk: Nathan Pritikin, Patrick McGrady: Books
Amazon Germany:
Pritikin Program for Diet and Exercise: Amazon.de: Nathan Pritikin: Englische B