*This is post two in our series about The Fast Metabolism Diet. You can find post one here: My 5-Week Journey Following The Fast Metabolism Diet: Prep Week.
Anytime I start something new, I am pumped! I have excitement galore with nothing but positivity flowing through me. This first week is no exception—I am ready to reclaim my health!
What I Like and Dislike
What I like best about this diet program is the variety of food I am able to eat. What I dislike is the amount of protein I must eat. I am not a vegetarian; however, I am not a big meat eater. This program does have an adequate number of protein alternatives to choose from, even for a vegan.
However, as the author states, soy is to be avoided as much as possible, so Phase 2 should be the only days you eat soy. The other two phases offer non-soy protein alternatives. I personally chose to eat my protein in meat form during the days of Phase 2 so that I could get the best outcome.
Breakdown of the Phases
Phase 1 (Days 1 & 2): Carbohydrates and Fruits
Purpose: Allow the body to unwind stress and calm the adrenals.
Phase 2 (Days 3 & 4): Proteins and Vegetables
Purpose: Unlock stored fat and build muscle.
Phase 3 (Days 5, 6, & 7): Combining Foods with Healthy Fats and Oils
Purpose: Unleash the burn—hormones, heart, and heat. These are my favorite days!
Challenges I Faced
Eating Schedule
The expectation of the program is to eat five times per day, starting within 30 minutes of waking up in the morning. This was my first challenge—I am not an early eater… or at least I wasn’t.
Another challenge I faced this week was tracking what time I finished a meal or snack so that I knew what time to eat next. After the first few days, this became much easier.
Water Intake
Achieving my daily water intake was another hurdle. I have always struggled with drinking water, and now I had to drink half my body weight in ounces every day! I freaked out at first. However, I chose to treat myself to a pretty water container and cup, and surprisingly, this was a motivator.
Avoiding My Favorites
The don’ts listed in the book that I knew I would miss and possibly struggle with were:
- No dairy (I love cheese!)
- No refined sugar (I love baking and eating sweets!)
- No caffeine (I love my morning coffee and occasional diet soda!)
Exercise Routine Shift
Each Phase of the program has you do only one day of a specific exercise to coax optimal benefits from your body. Prior to starting this journey, I walked two to three miles at least five days per week for four months. Stopping this has been a major challenge.
Week One Outcomes
- I am sleeping so much better! I go to bed at a more reasonable hour and find it easier to wake up in the morning.
- I noticed more energy after the first few days.
- I felt full every day.
- I lost 8 pounds!
- My caffeine and sugar withdrawals only lasted overnight on day 3! I went to bed with a headache and woke up feeling fine.
Tips for Success
Plan, Plan, Plan
- Make sure you have all the foods you need for each Phase before it starts. This prevents shortcuts or excuses.
- Food prepping is important—it saves time and headaches.
- Make extra food and freeze it to make future days easier.
Follow the Right Exercise for the Phase
Each Phase is designed with specific movements in mind, so be sure to stick with the recommended exercise to maximize results.
Week one was full of challenges, but also full of wins! Looking forward to the journey ahead!
Written by Joy Hinshaw, MSND, RDN, LDN, CHES®, CCP-CHC