I've completed two weeks of the 4 hour diet and I have to admit defeat. Despite my initial success I hit rock bottom like a Spanish Armada gold ship last Wednesday. As I type this I am tucking into a "White" panini, with cheese AND..... a Latte!
So where did it all go wrong?
Well firstly I've surmised that I didn't eat ENOUGH. Yes you heard correctly I didn't eat enough. For those that know Tom the Sloth this is not an issue he is troubled by.
However the removal of any white carbs meant that I couldn't even have brown rice or quinoa with my meals to get my carbs in. I basically didn't follow the diet properly when it said eat lentils and beans with EVERY meal. The reason (one of them) being that they provide the energy along with vegetables to train. Due to them not being as calorie dense as White carbs though means you need to eat a lot more to get the same calorific benefit. Essentially I need to become an elephant.
Secondly (perhaps this should be firstly) I wasn't organised enough. I needed to follow my girlfriend Catherine's example by preparing meals to box up and carry with me. Fortunately for her she is organised enough to do this, unfortunately I am a Sloth.
What worked?
This "eating lifestyle" (as I call it) is truly useful for those needing to lose a lot of fat. For those already fit and healthy it can help to reduce that last bit of body fat and reduce your desire to snack.
By cutting out consumption of "White carbs" I found bloating and discomfort was reduced leading to greater muscular definition.
The early breakfast (within an hour of waking) helped stabilise blood sugar levels in the morning. I found this reduced my desire to snack on sugary/calorific foods at 4pm and prevented lethargy.
The regular 3-4 hour eating pattern, with protein at every meal meant I stayed full. By the time I got to dinner I didn't need to eat a large meal. This meant that I didn't take on a large amount of calories at the least active point of my day.
Another key thing was the amount of vegetables I ate. As I couldn't take on white carbs, I found myself eating a lot more vegetables and trying different kinds. This again helped keep me full up and assisted with digestion.
What didn't work?
If you are not committed to this way of eating and consume a LOT more than usual then you will fail. Diets are inherently bad for stickability (my word, copyrighted) they force us to avoid things we enjoy.
If you are as organised as me then you'll fail. You need to prepare food and take it with you or have access to some good restaurants/supermarkets.
Food choice is essential. You have to eat a lot more as the veggies and beans are less calorie dense than bread, pasta and rice. You can't live on chicken salad. Try it, you'll be dying after a day and end up eating a loaf of bread!
No fruit. For me it didn't matter, I just ate more vegetables. But for lots of people they get over their sweet cravings by having fruit. Don't be brainwashed by the government saying you need to eat loads of fruit. Yes we need the nutrients but you can get the good stuff from vegetables, minus the acidity and sugar. It's a matter of eating the right things for your body, so be open minded.
Is it all over?...
I am finishing this blog posting in week 3 of the diet. I am getting back on the wagon to give it a go again. So it's certainly not over.
You have to ask yourself whether you really want to change. If you do then sticking to this way of eating will work. Alongside a regular schedule of activity, you'll drop the fat. It's a healthier way to eat as you'll eat more wholefoods and less processed crap. Your energy will be kept constant and you'll feel "cut".
Send me your questions and I'll endeavour to help.
Stay healthy, stay strong.
Tom :-)
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