Book Review: "The Fast Metabolism Diet" (Haylie Pomroy)

So I received this book called "The Fast Metabolism Diet" in the mail, courtesy of SheSpeaks. I'm always rather skeptical of these fad diets with the big letters on the cover and the "lose XX lbs in 2 days!!!" promises, and the book's promise to "rev up your sluggish, broken-down metabolism and turn your body into a fat-burning furnace" made me kinda leery too. Anyway, I read it, liked (most of) it, and have started to follow it this week!

Negatives: Rather restrictive diet, if you want to strictly follow it. The meal lists are a little confusing.

Positives: Not a crash diet. You eliminate wheat, corn, dairy, soy, sugar, caffeine, alcohol, fruit juices, artificial sweeteners, and fat-free “diet” foods for 4 weeks. Each week is broken down in three phases (which actually makes it less boring than regular diets - you get to look forward to the next phase):

Phase One, days 1 and 2, focuses on fruit and whole grains (high-glycemic, moderate-protein, low-fat)

Phase Two, days 3 and 4, emphasizes alkalizing veggies and lean proteins (high-protein, high-vegetable, low-carbohydrate, low-fa)

Phase Three, days 5, 6, and 7, balances proteins, veggies, fruit, and whole grains, plus healthy fats (high healthy-fat, moderate-carbohydrate, moderate-protein, low-glycemic fruit)

Phase 1 Sample Meal Plan

Breakfast: Strawberry French Toast (fruit and grain)

Snack: Mango or other fruit

Lunch: Chicken sandwich with a side salad (grain, protein, fruit and veggie)

Snack: Baked Cinnamon Grapefruit (fruit)

Dinner: Chicken and Broccoli Rice Bowl (grain, protein and veggie)

Phase 2 Sample Meal Plan

Breakfast: Egg white, mushroom and spinach omelet (protein and veggie)

Snack:  Smoked salmon and cucumbers (protein and veggie)

Lunch: Tuna Salad-stuffed Red Pepper (protein and veggie)

Snack: Turkey jerky or nitrate-free lunch meat (protein)

Dinner: New York Strip Steak and Steamed Broccoli (protein and veggie)

Phase 3 Sample Meal Plan

Breakfast: Egg and toast with tomato and onion (Fruit, fat from the egg, grain and veggie)

Snack: Hummus and veggies (Fat from the oils in the hummus and veggie) 

Lunch: Avocado Turkey Lettuce Wrap (fat, protein and veggie)

Snack: Almond butter stuffed celery (fat and veggie) 

Dinner: Shrimp and Veggie Stir-Fry With Quinoa Grain Pasta

By changing up your eating, the book promises you'll lose up to 20 pounds in just 4 weeks... I like that you get to eat real food on the Fast Metabolism Diet. Nothing fake, nothing diet-y. Healthy portion sizes are emphasized (you actually get to eat more if you wanna lose more in the long run!). The book comes with a bunch of meal plans and lots of (quite yummy) recipes - I made the chicken-veggie soup today and liked it!

This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks/Fast Metabolism Diet. I received the book for free; the opinions are my own.

Puttin' The Hammer Down

Being German, I guess I have a natural affinity for garden gnomes... This one is especially awesome: The Garden Battle Gnome! Among his main characteristics: "Not afraid of the dark" and "Prefers not to just talk it out". Hah!