The Bariatrix ThermoDiet®!

This is an example of the combination of a high-protein diet with thermogenic and lipolysis-stimulating dietary supplements. It relies for its effects on the thermogenic actions of the protein potentiated by the further thermogenic action of the alkaloids from Citrus aurantium extract, together with avoidance of foods containing anti-nutrients that might reduce the overall efficacy of the reduced energy intake and the increased metabolic rate.

The thermic (thermogenic) effects of certain dietary components have been known for many years, but were generally dismissed as of more academic than practical significance. It is now known that, far from being only a research curiosity, these effects can be utilized to significantly increase rates of weight loss, and that their exploitation in this way may also be associated with other benefits relating to behavioural and psychological aspects of the weight loss process. Furthermore, application of the thermogenic approach to weight loss plans is closer to a causal therapy of obesity than any dietary treatment hitherto tried or postulated.

The Bariatrix ThermoDiet® takes the thermogenic principle one step further, and turns it into a practicable weight loss diet plan. Furthermore, it envisages optional use of products containing Bitter Orange, capable of enhancing weight loss and sparing lean body mass to an even greater extent. For an explanation of thermogenesis, the basis of ThermoNutrition™ and the ThermoDiet®, see the section Thermogenesis elsewhere on this web site.

The ThermoDiet® is a low calorie diet of 900 - 1300 kilocalories per day, based on special dietary products designed to maximize thermogenesis and a selection of conventional foods. The conventional foods are carefully selected, based on:

• Their content of natural thermogenic substances.

• The type, quality and amount of protein they contain.

• Their fat and carbohydrate composition.

• Their freedom from antinutrients, particularly those known to have antithermogenic properties.

Foods which are not on the food list may not be used, and the special dietary products which form part of the diet plan MUST be used as directed, since the products and the selected foods have been designed or chosen firstly for synergy of effect, and secondly for absence of antagonistic effects.

The special dietary products that are to be used consist of patented high-protein nutritional bars, available in a variety of flavours, high-protein powders that can readily be reconstituted as shakes, drinks and soups, protein gels that can be used "as is" or diluted with water, and ready to use protein drinks.

The ThermoDiet® in practical terms.

A high protein intake during periods of dietary restriction intended to produce weight loss has a number of advantages, which result from some interesting and natural physiological responses of the body. Many of these advantages occur on all high protein diets, but the ultimate benefit is obtained when the diet is specifically tailored to exploit your physiology to the maximum.

This high protein low calorie diet exploits the mechanisms of the body itself to ensure rapid, safe and effective weight loss, with the added advantage of a good long-term success rate. Generally, high protein diets are of the Protein Sparing Modified Fast (PSMF) type; this diet, though it may occasionally produce mild ketosis, is designed more specifically to exploit certain natural aspects of the metabolism and interactions between foods and your metabolism that are not generally known outside research circles.

Some general features of this diet which make it superior to commercial diets currently available are:

The high protein level in the diet stimulates anabolic processes, utilizing the best anabolic agents in the world (the body's own anabolic hormones), and also prevents the body going into negative nitrogen balance (thus preventing loss of possibly vital lean body mass).

This diet is designed to provide at least 1.5 grams of protein per kg ideal body weight per day, which should ensure that there is no loss of lean body mass. This figure was originally determined empirically, and has since been confirmed in a number of research studies, in which nitrogen (protein) balance was actually measured. The requirement in women may be slightly higher than that in men (see below).

The liberal supply of amino-acids ensures a source of precursors for the synthesis of several of the neurotransmitters that govern mood, hunger, appetite and metabolic status.

Essential amino acids present in the protein are converted into these neurotransmitters, which are required for normal functioning of your brain. Recent research at the University of Oxford showed that women on a low calorie diet who did not get sufficient protein had abnormal metabolism of serotonin, one of these neurotransmitters, which manifested as minor psychiatric disturbances.

The thermogenic effect of the protein overcomes, at least partially, the defective thermogenesis which is often an aetiological factor in obesity.

The body uses energy to process food that you eat. More energy is required to process (digest, metabolize) protein than is required for carbohydrate and fat (carbohydrate is the lowest). Numerous studies have shown that high protein, low carbohydrate diets give much better rates of weight loss than low protein diets with the same number of calories. In addition, it is known that persons who put weight on easily have a poor thermogenic response to dietary fat, but still tend to respond to protein.

Any ketosis which occurs will be mild, but will ensure a supply of metabolizable compounds to the brain and other tissues, and can help spare protein, as well as assisting in mood improvement and hunger suppression.

Ketosis has been exhaustively studied, and the reason why it works in improving mood and suppressing hunger are still not known. Most experts feel that the trigger is the presence of ketosis, not the degree.

This diet, when correctly administered, may also help you learn new eating habits because of the way it is administered (as normal, but carefully selected, food, with protein supplements to bring the protein intake up to the correct level). It may therefore also assist you in eliminating some or all of the behavioural factors that contributed to the development of your weight problem, thus improving your chances of long term success (in other words, it may prevent you regaining weight that you lose once you finish the programme, since you should have learnt new and better eating habits).

The diet example that follows is neither a true PSMF nor a Very Low Calorie Diet (VLCD). It could be defined as a high protein low carbohydrate diet, but it does meet the arbitrary requirement for a protein sparing diet of ± 100 grams protein and ± 100 grams carbohydrate per day. It is also designed to be complete nutrition in all respects except energy (Calories), and includes guaranteed intakes of vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids.

Finally, it is a diet that can be as tasty as you want it to be; you can prepare the normal foods in a variety of ways without adding calories, and the protein supplements (as shakes, soups, puddings, drinks and candy-type bars) are designed to be good copies of conventional foods. The protein supplements which may be used in this diet are those which are available from Bariatrix Nutrition and Smart Nutrition Company under the trade names of Proti-Bar®, Proti-15®, Proti-Max®, Nutri-15®, SmartSlim™ and SmartForme™.

General Rules

1) Select from anything in the Daily Menu, in the amounts given; any deviation may mean that you are not getting the amounts of one or more nutrients that were planned. Do not select foods that are NOT listed; for example, avoid cabbage and brussel sprouts, which contain antinutrients that can reduce your thermic response!

2) Do not save food from one meal to the next; eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. Do not eat between meals except that you can have up to 2 additional high protein supplements at any time (for example, a protein bar during the day and a protein drink at night). When used in this way, the high protein supplements induce satiety, which stops you thinking about food and helps prevent any tendency to cheating!

3) You must drink plenty of fluid - at least the equivalent of 8 glasses (8 oz each) of water per day, in addition to the liquid foods in the Daily Menu. Your water and electrolyte balances will change on the diet, and your body will automatically adjust (the kidneys regulate this) provided there is enough fluid intake. DO NOT EVEN THINK THAT YOU CAN LOSE MORE WEIGHT BY NOT TAKING THIS FLUID; YOU MAY RETAIN FLUID AND SODIUM, AND BECOME VERY ILL!

You can drink this as water, diet beverages (no more than 3 per day), coffee or tea (no more than 5 cups per day), herbal tea and tangerine juice (1 glass per day). You should drink up to five drinks containing caffeine (thus coffee, tea or cola drinks) per day, though since the caffeine will have a diuretic effect, it also has beneficial properties which can increase rates of weight loss. However, try to avoid carbonated diet drinks if you can, since the carbon dioxide is acidic, and will affect your metabolism slightly. Furthermore, carbonated drinks stimulate secretion of gastric fluids.

Skim milk is permitted for use in hot drinks, and you may use up to 5 portions of an aspartame-type sweetener if desired. Any skim milk used must come from your daily allowance of ½ cup!

You ARE permitted one glass of alcoholic beverage per day if you are so inclined (alcohol is in fact thermogenic).

4) Each Daily Menu contains a minimum of two high protein supplements, which you must use. You can take up to two more as snacks (see above); one of these extra supplements should be a protein bar, and the other is preferably a protein shake, drink or pudding. The extra protein helps suppress your appetite, and has other beneficial effects on your metabolism.

5) You must take a full spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement tablet, such as Bari-Vit®, each day.

6) Use fish at least twice a week, and more often if you like. The fat in fish is good for you; it is polyunsaturated and contains an essential fatty acid (EFA) from the omega-3 family called eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA for short); the need for EFAs is discussed below.

7) The body needs some fat, to provide essential fatty acids (EFAs; these are vital precursors for substances called prostaglandins, or better, eicosanoids. These substances regulate all your body processes at a cellular level). most low calorie diets are, in fact, deficient in EFAs, and if you do not have adequate amounts of EFAs in your diet, your rate of weight loss may decrease. To ensure adequate intakes, you may either:

a] Take the equivalent of 1 oz canola oil or soya oil per day. These provide EFAs of both omega-6 and omega-3 families, known respectively as linoleic and a-linolenic acids. If you include fish in your programme at least 3 times a week, you can use sunflower seed, corn or safflower oil; these are deficient in omega-3 EFAs, which would be supplied by the fish. Olive oil is poor in EFAs, and should not be used. As an option, you may replace the sunflower seed, corn or safflower oil by 1½ oz of sunflower seeds or walnuts. DO NOTE THAT IF YOU USE NATURAL OILS YOU MAY BE ADDING UP TO 300 KILOCALORIES PER DAY TO YOUR ENERGY INTAKE!
or
b] Take 4 - 6 capsules of Bari-EFA® per day; this provides omega-6 and omega-3 EFAs in forms which are between 30 and 100 times as utilizable by the body (so 4 capsules are equivalent to ½ - 1 oz soya or canola oil). THIS ONLY ADDS 20 TO 30 KILOCALORIES PER DAY TO YOUR ENERGY INTAKE, AND IS PREFERRED!

So if you take your EFAs as the natural oils (Option a] above), you will be adding at least 250 kilocalories per day to your energy intake, and your rate of weight loss will be slightly reduced! The 4 - 6 Bari-EFA® capsules add only 18 - 27 kilocalories. However, both options will have the same beneficial effects on your metabolism.

DO NOT RELY ON MARGARINE, WHETHER DIET OR NOT, FOR EFA INTAKE, EVEN IF THE LABEL STATES MADE FROM VEGETABLE OIL. NEARLY ALL MARGARINES CONTAIN PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED FATS, AND THE PROCESS OF HYDROGENATION RESULTS IN HIGH LEVELS OF TRANS FATTY ACIDS (WHICH REPRESENT SIGNIFICANT HEALTH HAZARDS).

On days when you eat meat, you should increase your intake of EFAs by 25%, to ensure that your intake remains adequate.

Preparation of food

- Select lean cuts of meat and trim off all visible fat before cooking. This is particularly important for pork. Pork is included in the diet because, though it contains more fat than beef or veal, the fat is less saturated and richer in EFAs.

- Poultry should be skinless (most fat is under the skin).

- Meat, poultry and fish should be baked, broiled, boiled, roasted or microwaved in such a way that the fat escaping during cooking is not trapped in the food. Weigh your servings after cooking.

- Vegetables should be fresh or fresh-frozen, and should be cooked in a minimum of water. Unless otherwise indicated, they are measured before cooking. Fruit should also be fresh or fresh-frozen.

- If you cannot avoid canned food, make sure it is packed in water, and not in any form of syrup (for example, fruit) or oil (for example, fish). Beware of salt levels in canned food; even if packed in water, salt is sometimes added to enhance flavour! You do need some salt in your diet; about 5 grams per day is good. This is equivalent to 2300 mg sodium.

- You may, and indeed should, use spices such as pepper, cumin, curry powder and chili powder freely if you wish. These "hot" spices are, in fact, thermogenic!

THE EFFECT OF THIS DIET:

You will lose a considerable amount of weight during the first week, but only part of this will be "real" weight (that is, reduction in your stored fat), since during this time your body will be adjusting the water and electrolyte balances. After that, weight loss per week will depend on a number of factors, including your body build and activity pattern. In general, diets of this type give weight losses at a rate of 3 to 6 lbs per week.

It is difficult to predict rates of weight loss accurately for individual subjects, but based on the "idealized" person with a daily energy requirement of 2200 kilocalories, the real weekly weight loss on the Thermodiet® with Bari-EFA® supplementation would be about 1.3 kg (almost 3 lbs). During the first week water no longer required for carbohydrate breakdown would be lost and the water and electrolyte balance would re-equilibrate; this could add another 1.8 kg (4 lbs) to the result seen in the first week.

Based on clinical determination of thermogenic effects in volunteers, adding in Somatherm™ or ThermoCaps®, 2 capsules per day, or using ThermoTea® as per instructions, will add between 0.2 - 0.5 kg (½ - 1 lb) per week to this rate of weight loss, and a further similar improvement could be obtained with a mild exercise programme. This combination, however, has the advantage that it actually increases use of body fat as a source of energy, and spares protein, even to the extent of increasing muscle mass (an effect that becomes particularly noticable when a very moderate exercise programme is also followed).

The total weekly weight loss using all options of the programme could thus approach 2.3 kg (5 lbs) for the idealized person, which is a figure comparable to that achieved with VLCDs (Very Low Calorie Diets) of 500 - 800 kilocalories per day! However, the ThermoDiet is NOT a VLCD, and therefore does not require the full medical supervision that would be mandatory for a VLCD.

The diet plan which follows is adapted for a 14-day cycle, and as many cycles should be followed as required to achieve the ideal or desired weight. There is also a maintenance plan, on which weight could also be lost, but more slowly. If at any time weight loss seems to be reaching a plateau, you must break your biochemical routine. This can be achieved by increasing protein intake for 1 or 2 days (extra high protein supplements), by exercise, by taking a product based on Bitter Orange (particularly Somatherm™, ThermoCaps® or ThermoTea®), or any combination of all. Any of these approaches will increase your resting metabolic rate and start you losing weight again. Somatherm™, ThermoCaps® or ThermoTea® can be taken throughout if desired.

DO NOT FORGET YOUR FLUIDS, YOUR MULTI-VITAMINS AND MINERALS, YOUR ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS, OR YOUR PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTS!

TO INCORPORATE WITH ANY OF YOUR MEALS: ½ cup skim milk

AND either the vegetable oil or the Bari-EFA® supplement, PLUS 1 OR 2 FURTHER HIGH PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTS PER DAY (to a maximum of 4), making sure that at least one of these supplements is a high protein chocolate drink or shake. You are permitted to have one standard glass (serving) of alcoholic beverage per day; wine (red or white) is preferred. DO NOT FORGET YOUR FLUIDS (SEE THE GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS)!

DAYS 5 TO 9
Compose your daily menu from the choices given below:

TO INCORPORATE WITH ANY OF YOUR MEALS: ½ cup skim milk

AND either the vegetable oil or the Bari-EFA® supplement, PLUS 1 OR 2 FURTHER HIGH PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTS PER DAY (to a maximum of 4), making sure that at least one of these supplements is a high protein chocolate drink or shake. You are permitted to have one standard glass (serving) of alcoholic beverage per day; wine (red or white) is preferred. DO NOT FORGET YOUR FLUIDS (SEE THE GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS)!

TO INCORPORATE WITH ANY OF YOUR MEALS: ½ cup skim milk

AND either the vegetable oil or the Bari-EFA® supplement, PLUS 1 OR 2 FURTHER HIGH PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTS PER DAY (to a maximum of 4), making sure that at least one of these supplements is a high protein chocolate drink or shake. You are permitted to have one standard glass (serving) of alcoholic beverage per day; wine (red or white) is preferred. DO NOT FORGET YOUR FLUIDS (SEE THE GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS)!

MAINTENANCE

TO INCORPORATE WITH ANY OF YOUR MEALS: ½ cup skim milk

AND either the vegetable oil or the Bari-EFA® supplement, PLUS 1 OR 2 FURTHER HIGH PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTS PER DAY (to a maximum of 4), making sure that at least one of these supplements is a high protein chocolate drink or shake. You are permitted to have one standard glass (serving) of alcoholic beverage per day; wine (red or white) is preferred. DO NOT FORGET YOUR FLUIDS (SEE THE GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS)!

 

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