Understanding The 5 Factor Diet

Have you heard of the 5 Factor Diet? This diet was published in a book written by Harley Pasternak, a celebrity fitness trainer. If you do not recognize his name, you will recognize the names of some of his clients, including Halle Berry and Mandy Moore. He has even appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show to discuss fitness and nutrition.

So what is this diet all about? Like many diets, it focuses on creating the right balance of foods in your daily diet. Mr. Pasternak claims that all meals must have five parts to them. The first part is a lean protein, like chicken. The second part is a complex carbohydrate, like fruit or vegetables. Fiber is the third portion, followed by a healthy fat and a drink that does not contain sugar. A balanced meal like this should be eaten five times a day.

Pasternak suggests foods in his book that are chosen based on the Glycemic Index. The Glycemic Index rates foods based on how they affect people's blood sugar levels. By eating foods that are rated low on the Glycemic Index, Pasternak implies that cravings will be kept at bay while the body will receive the nutrients it needs.

Exercise is another important part of the 5-Factor Diet. As a fitness expert, Pasternak suggests that people on his diet plan exercises five days a week at a minimum. He even provides suggested exercises in his diet book.

If you are concerned about coming up with meals to eat on the 5-Factor Diet, you will be glad to know that the diet book provides many recipes you can use to create a well-balanced meal that follows the plan. Also, you will enjoy the cheat day you get each week. On cheat day, you can eat what you want. This allows you to escape the feeling of being "on a diet," and makes it more likely that you will stick to the healthy eating plan.

So will the 5-Factor Diet work? It should, provided you follow it correctly. An emphasis on healthy eating and exercise almost always leads to weight loss. Of course, you will need to make the eating changes into habits, not just a short-term solution. You will lose weight, but you will lose it slowly. If you like this diet plan, stick with it for the long term and you will achieve safe, lasting weight loss. And, with cheat days built in, you will probably find that the diet is easy to stick with for the long term.

Check out other Free Diet Plans