Phase 1: The Rev-Up

This initial phase of Bob Greene’s plan is laying the foundation for a life of healthy living. You determine your weight then 4 weeks later weigh again. Scale is not your enemy! Next you honestly evaluate your level of exercise and increase it (after checking in with your doctor) because this is where your metabolism starts to take off.

The food issue is addressed with getting on a regimented meal routine - 3 a day and a snack. Emphasis on breakfast as this is where your metabolism gets started for the day and keeps hunger at bay until midday. Don’t let your appetite be your guide, eat as soon as you get up. This also makes your brain start producing the chemicals that generate pleasure and lower pain senses.

Guidelines for Phase 1:

* Eliminate alcohol (you can add it back in later).

* Drink water with each meal.

* Find a good vitamin, with an Omega-3 and calcium supplementation.

* Halt any food you eat a couple of hours before retiring.

Now at the end of this 1st phase, one month, get on the scale. If you’ve been losing more than 1 pound a week, stay put at this level for a few more weeks. If you didn’t see that kind of loss, move on to Phase 2.

Phase 2: Making the Switch

Now you are ready to see the pounds really fall off in this phase, which should last a minimum of four weeks. You will eliminate 6 foods from your diet and replace them with less fattening foods that will curb your appetite. Weigh yourself once a week. If the number goes up, don’t be hard on yourself. Just see if you can fine-tune your efforts. Also, think about increasing your level on the activity scale. Exercise can provide some of the comfort you might otherwise find from eating, thanks again to endorphins.

After 4 weeks, decide where you are in regards to your goal weight. If you are in the neighborhood, it’s time for Phase 3. Even if you have a bit left to lose, you will do so in that Phase. If you still have a ways to go, continue in Phase 2 for 4 more weeks. This is further explained in Bob Greene’s plan book.

Phase 3: New, Improved Life

Welcome to the rest of your life! You don’t have to add all the recommendations of this phase all at once, but do the best you can. You will continue to watch the way you eat and exercise as this is a work in progress. By now, watching calories will come more naturally (which you can do easily with the Bob Greene diet plan Advanced Pedometer).

With everything you have learned and changed in Phase 1 and 2, you are ready to add the “anything goes” calories back into your diet. Good foods like dark chocolate, full-fat cheese, yogurt, a glass of vino, pizza (whole grain crust of course!) are all back up as options. Vegetables continue to be your main staple. With these, 2 servings of fruit and any whole grain food, depravation (and diet) are no longer words in your vocabulary. Your craving for sweets will be taken care of with fruit and an eye on the ingredients when you added a tasty tidbit.

Getting to indulge in a few more of these extra calories may be one incentive to increase your activity level, which you should do again when you enter this phase. Exercise will help you maintain the weight loss you’ve achieved and allow you to eat more food without regaining. A plus is exercise also slows down the aging process. Weigh yourself no more than once a week and no less than once a month.