The Body Sense Natural Diet

The Body Sense Natural Diet

Last week I started this diet . It begins with three days of very limited carbs and then you start adding complex carbohydrates such as brown rice, legumes, whole grain breads.

The book itself, written by Lorna R. Vanderhaeghe contains a lot of information. By the time I had finished reading it (the first time), I was convinced that my liver and adrenal glands were failing- thus keeping me fat. In fact I ran out and purchased some of Ms Vanderhaghe’s Adrenal support supplements, which I took religiously but nothing about my health seemed to improve at that time. Of coarse it didn’t help that I was eating and drinking too much of the wrong foods.

My main criticism about the book is that it seems poorly laid out and edited. There is overlapping and conflicting information. For instance on page 30 under Starches, Breads Crackers and Chips Ms Vanderhaege states that unsweetened, protein enriched, whole-grained rye and pumpernickel breads are only allowed after two weeks on the diet.
On her 42 day diet plan however she has pumpernickel bread on day #4!! I’m a stickler for detail and in this case it is important.

If you read this book and only followed half of the recommended supplements and vitamins you’d probably be in the poor house. Plus I’m not sure about combining all of this stuff. In fact in one section of the book Lorna does say that you should pick and choose your supplements- a multivitamin with minerals and essential fatty acids is probably enough. If you want to lose weight -her clients swear by thermogenics(too many to list- CLA is one of them) and 5-HTP which is a nutrient helps with cravings.

Ms Vanderhaege has been researching and writing on the subject of nutrition and medicine for many years. Those that read Alive magazine will recognize her name as she writes for them frequently and was an associate editor. She does know a lot about nutrition and despite the fact that the book is choppy-there is still a lot of good information. The question is - Is the protein focused diet better for losing weight?

I am supposed to be testing this diet and I did follow it for ten days but then my father came for a planned visit for which meals were a big focus. There was another dinner out at Brio. There was an early Easter dinner of lobster risotto, rib-eye steak, tiramisu cake and espresso ice-cream. Chef Adam was at it again the next evening - serving up a Gumbo that had us all weeping. By the time dad left Adam and I were fist-fighting over the last piece of tiramisu cake .Amazing how addictive that white substance- sugar - can be.

I really should have started this diet at a time when I knew there would be no upcoming events that would call for alcohol or desserts. I just can’t have beautiful meal without at least one good glass of wine and a nice desert- I don’t want to!

So the end of the week was a write off but I still did lose weight.Ten days is not nearly long enough to test a diet of this nature. Since we are heading down to Oregon wine country for next weekend I am hesitant to continue with a strict protein focus. My main aim is to keep eating under control during the week and try not to go bonkers once we hit the road.



28 lbs - 12 weeks