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FLUSH OUT FAT AND TOXINS

Your New Year Blueprint for fast, permanent fat lossmenopause, weight loss, diet, hormones, women's health,menopause diet, Larrian Gillespie

Brenda Kearns, First for Women

January 8,2001

Part 2

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The key to fast, permanent weight loss:keeping your stress-hormone production low. This revolutionary new detox plan does just that. You'll be...

  • Eating five fiber-and protein-rich mini meals to prevent energy dips, hunger pangs and cravings throughout the day. For three of them, you'll be having the soup and bean meals developed for your stress levels. ( see recipes below)
  • Having a mini protein starter 20 minutes before lunch.Your brain's cue to stop eating is when protein reaches the bottom of the stomach; yet women hold food in their upper stomachs up to an hour longer than men, putting us at a higher risk of overeating. To jump-start your fullness trigger, you'll be having 1 oz. of protein while you prepare lunch.
  • Drinking 9 cups of fluid per day. At least four should be water, but you can also enjoy other liquids, such as herbal teas and flavored seltzers.
  • Having one Swiss or Belgian choclate with dinner. High-quality chocolates contain phenylethylamine - a mood-boosting chemical. And chocolate triggers the production of serotonin and dopamine; both lower stress hormones.
  • Losing weight fast!Up to 6 lbs. in the first six days, then 2 lbs. a week after that. Once you've reached your goal weight, follow the six-day cycle whenever stress threatens your figure.

Eat Your Way Slim!

To beat Level 1 stress, you need vitamin C, which is essential for nervous-system function. The tomato-pumpkin soup, below, supplies half your daily requirement. Garbanzos in the bean meal stabilize stress hormones; hot peppers trigger metabolism-boosting enzymes in the liver.

To beat level 2 stress, the soup's broccoli or spinach will replenish your body's depleted stores of vitamins C and B6 - a de-stressing nutrient women excrete twice as fast as men. The pinto beans in the bean meal stabilize stress hormones, while the rosemary soothes your over-worked adrenal glands.

Soup meal Level 1

Tomato and Pumpkin

Saute 2 cups chopped white onions in 1 tsp olive oil. Add 1/2 tsp. nutmeg; 1 can(14 1/2 oz) unsweetened pumpkin; 1 can (14 1/2 oz) tomatoes, chopped; 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley and 4 cups fat-free chicken broth; simmer for 5 minutes. Add 1 cup nonfat yogurt and 6 oz. soft tofu; puree. Add salt and pepper to taste. makes 8 servings.

Bean meal

Garbanzos with garlic and kale

Wash 2 bunches of kale( you may substitute fresh baby spinach) and chop leaves. Saute 4 cloves of garlic, minced; 1 Tbs. minced ginger and 1 red chili pepper, finely chopped, in 1 tsp. olive oil. Stir in 2 tomatoes, chopped, and 1 can (15 oz) garbanzo beans with liquid. Simmer for 5 minutes; add 1 tsp. soy sauce, 1 tsp.hoisin sauce and kale or spinach. cover and cook over medium heat, stirring until veggies are tender. Makes 6 servings.

Soup meal Level 2

Cream Vegetable

In a pot, bring 2 cups fat-free chicken broth and 3 cups water to a boil. In a skillet, saute 1 lb. onions, chopped; and 3 cloves garlic, chopped, in 1 tsp. olive oil. Add 2 lbs. broccoli or spinach and satue until vegetables soften. Add vegetables to broth; cover and boil 5 minutes. Add 6 oz. soft tofu; puree. Sprinkle with 2 tbs. tarragon. Makes 8 servings.

Bean meal Level 2

Rosemary and Lemon Pinto Beans

In large serving bowl, combine 1 can ( 15 oz. lemon pinto beans ( if using regular pinto beans, add 1/4 tsp lemon juice), well rinsed and drained; 1/3 cup thinly sliced red onion; 1 tsp. olive oil; 1 Tbs. red wine vinegar; 1 tsp minced fresh rosemary; 1 garlic clove, minced, and a dash of hot pepper sauce. Toss gently to blend; cover and chill at least 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Makes 4 servings.

A Woman Like You

'The weight disappeared like magic'

I was floored when Dr. Gillespie told me that stress was stopping me from losing those last 10 pounds. With two kids and my party and wedding planning business, I'm on the go from 6:30 a.m., when the kids get up for school, until midnight or later, when some of my functions end. So how was I going to get all that stress out of my life?

Well, I loved Dr. Gillespie's idea of adrenal-soothing mini meals - and they were suprisingly easy to pack and eat on the run.

Within 48 hours, those nagging feelings of stress, anxiety and tension evaporated. Even better, those stubborn 10 pounds just seemed to melt off!

I love my new figure - and whenever stress and pounds start sneaking up on me, I just "mini-meal" it for a week to get back on track. It's that simple, and it really works!

Deirdre Sullivan, party and wedding planner

Mini-Meal Plan for Levels 1 and 2

DAYS 1 AND 2

BREAKFAST

  • One cup 2% cottage cheese with 1/4 cup each blueberries, raspberries and strawberries

MID-MORNING SNACK

  • 1 serving of your soup

20 MINUTES BEFORE LUNCH

  • Mini protein starter: 1 oz of chicken, roast beef or cheese, or have a spoonful of tuna, salmon or cottage cheese

LUNCH

  • 1 serving of your bean dish

MID-AFTERNOON SNACK

  • 1 serving of your soup

DINNER

  • 2 cups chicken and vegetable stir-fry. To make: In a skillet or wok, stir-fry 1 tsp. minced garlic; your favorite seasonings ( such as ground ginger and onion flakes); 1 cup of cooked, skinless chicken breast, sliced; and 1 1/2 cups of your choice of chopped vegetables for 5-7 minutes or until crips tender.
  • One Swiss or Belgian chocolate ( 1 ounce )

DAYS 3 AND 4

BREAKFAST

  • Breakfast protein shake made with 2 scoops whey protein powder, 8 oz. skim milk and 1/2 cup fruit

MID-MORNING SNACK

  • 1 serving of your soup

20 MINUTES BEFORE LUNCH

  • Mini protein starter: 1 oz of chicken, roast beef or cheese, or have a spoonful of tuna, salmon or cottage cheese

LUNCH

  • 1 serving of your bean dish

MID-AFTERNOON SNACK

  • 1 serving of your soup

DINNER

  • 2 cups vegetables: 5 oz. roasted salmon. To make: arrange salmon fillet on foil; drizzle with a mixture of 2 Tbs. dry white wine; 2 tsp. lemon juice; minced garlic and thyrme; and sea salt and pepper. Wrap tightly, roast at 450 degrees until opague ( 10 minutes for every 1" thickness of fish, plus an additional 5 minutes).
  • One Swiss or Belgian chocolate ( 1 ounce )

DAYS 5 AND 6

BREAKFAST

  • 1 1/2 cups plain nonfat yogurt mixed with 1 oz. almonds

MID-MORNING SNACK

  • 1 serving of your soup

20 MINUTES BEFORE LUNCH

  • Mini protein starter: 1 oz of chicken, roast beef or cheese, or have a spoonful of tuna, salmon or cottage cheese

LUNCH

  • 1 serving of your bean dish

MID-AFTERNOON SNACK

  • 1 serving of your soup

DINNER

  • 1 serving of shrimp salad ( include 8 shrimp). To amke: Marinate 1 lb. extra-large shrimp( peeled, deveined) 2 minutes in 2 Tbs. lemon juice. Season with sea salt and pepper. Broil until just opaque ( about 2 minutes per side ). Shred 2 heads of Romaine lettuce, toss wtih 6 Tbs. mayonnaise and shrimp. Makes 4 servings.
  • One Swiss or Belgian chocolate ( 1 ounce )

DAY 7 AND BEYOND

If you started out at stress Level 1, follow the following diet strategies until you've reached your goal weight. If you were at Level 2, complete the six-day cycle again, using Level 1 recipes. Then, stick to the following diet strategies until you've reached your goal weight.

  • Make sure your daily diet is roughly 40% protein, 25% fat and 35% low-glycemic carbs ( for a list of high-glycemic carbs, see "Set Yourself Up for Success").
  • Eat 5 mini meals daily, aiming for a total of 1250 calories per day.
  • Enjoy 5 ox. of nuts weekly; nuts are high in protein and essential fatty acids, which stabilize stress-hormone production.
  • Drink 64-oz. of water every day.
  • Keep stress-triggering caffeine intake low, and start each lunch with a mini protein starter.