The 5-bite diet is one of many doctor's diets that has been popular all over the world, thanks to its creator, dr. Alwin Lewis, MD, and dr. Oz and his TV show. Although dr. Oz states that long-term intake of very little food (weeks) is neither healthy nor safe, the 5-bite diet remains popular. If you're looking for a quick way to lose weight, the 5-bite diet, although not good for your body if you do it for too long, can be an effective quick solution.
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Part 1 of 3: Going on a 5-Bite Diet
Step 1. Any drink you want is okay to drink as much as you want, as long as it doesn't contain any calories
Doctor Alwin Lewis says that drinking plenty of fluids is an important part of the 5-bite diet, as it makes the stomach feel full and keeps the body hydrated. Even diet soda is okay to drink – just keep the calories consumed at zero. Drinking too many carbonated drinks, in the form of diet soda, is not a good lifestyle change.
Doctor Alwin Lewis also recommends every breakfast in the form of a large cup of black coffee and a multivitamin in the form of "fruit juice". The main idea of this recommendation is that the body is in a state of fasting at night, and the longer this condition lasts, the more weight you will lose. So drink plenty of water, especially in the morning, to save valuable bites for later and promote weight loss
Step 2. Take 5 moderate bites/feeds of any food at lunch
This stage is up to you, because the 5-bite diet is a modified fasting technique. 5 bites of lettuce, 5 bites of lobster thermidor, or 5 bites of Snickers can be eaten (Doctor Alwin Lewis says Snickers is the easiest way to start a diet, for a few days). For the healthiest success, vary 5 bites as one meal–three bites of hamburger, one bite of apple, and a mouthful of sliced carrots, for example.
- The less variety of bites, the less healthy the diet. You will still lose weight because calories are restricted, but some of the nutrients your body needs may not be getting.
- Even if the bites have varied, the body may still not be getting enough minerals and protein. Consider eating a salad or steamed vegetables for enzymes and other important nutrients (broccoli is rich in protein). Don't be surprised if you feel dizzy or a little nauseous (hopefully these conditions reduce hunger). If you're on this diet, try choosing high-calorie foods to nibble on, such as good fats (olive oil, nuts, and the like), omega-3 fatty acids from deep-sea fish, and various other proteins, to keep your body strong.
Step 3. Eat 5 bites of any food as dinner
Dinner has the same rules as lunch: 5 large enough bites of various kinds of food as rich as possible, and chew slowly. The body needs enough nutrients to stay active, including burning fat stores to get calories. Also, don't forget to drink a large glass of water before, during, and after meals.
One of the reasons people tend to like this diet is because all food and drink is allowed. If desired, 5 bites of cheesecake, pastries and ice cream can be eaten. However, try not to give in to your worst food cravings. Instead, eat a 5-bit meal as nutritionally balanced as possible
Step 4. Take one mineral multivitamin and one capsule of pure, concentrated omega-3 fish oil daily
Doctor Alwin Lewis admits that a small intake of food, especially over the long term, will not provide the body with the micronutrients, vitamins and minerals the body needs to maintain function. Therefore, dr. Alwin Lewis recommends that all people who are on a diet take a multivitamin every day. To be able to continue the diet, these rules must be adhered to.
- These rules may not seem like an important part of a balanced diet, but they shouldn't be overlooked. The 5-bite diet is unhealthy enough without needing to be made even more unhealthy by not taking vitamins every day.
- Vitamin gum is delicious and can act like a sweet in between hunger pangs – eat it as an extra free bite, if you like.
Step 5. Keep your kidneys healthy by maintaining a balanced hydration level
Make sure small bites contain lots of protein. Eat about 2 bites of protein each day (for example, a medium-sized Snickers contains a few grams of protein). It's all too easy to get all the calories from just carbs and fat–in fact, vegetarians run the risk of doing just that every day.
The easiest way to ensure protein intake is to eat beans, chicken, turkey, beef, and fish, all of which are rich in protein. Tofu also contains protein. Protein powder can also be mixed with drinks
Step 6. If you want, have a bite to eat between meals
Doctor Alwin Lewis did say that 12 bites per day is OK. So, if you want, one bite of the snack can be eaten in between meals. One such bite will truly be a special bite.
Make that one bite worth it; must be filling, to relieve hunger. The best choice is fatty foods. One large bite of cheese can be a great option, as it also contains protein
Part 2 of 3: Understanding How the 5 Bite Diet Works
Step 1. Remember, the 5 bite diet is a fast diet which is generally rated as modified fasting (short term hunger)
Although discussed on the TV show dr. Oz as a temporary popular diet, dr. Oz himself voiced his anxiety regarding the 5-bite diet. It's worth considering, because dr. Oz seems to rarely criticize.
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The 5-bite diet is not meant to be a lifestyle like other diets (atkins or vegetarianism). The 5-bite diet is based on the premise that a "starving" diet with very little food will make the stomach shrink, so that it is no longer able to eat much.
- Don't worry too much: it's been proven that surgeons who perform “radical weight loss surgery” and then monitor the healing and weight loss of patients have shown that people can live on very little food for months, and then slightly more for the rest of their lives (such as 4-5 small meals per day and fluids, meal replacements or milkshakes, to meet their caloric needs for the next decades of their life).
- Realize that the body's only source of energy comes from blood sugar. People who are seriously ill may be given an IV "sugar-water solution" as their sole source of food for days, before being given a liquid meal replacement that is inserted directly into the stomach, for example, a patient who is unable to swallow after a stroke, or a patient in a coma. Of course, these diets can keep the body alive for decades, but they are not optimal.
Step 2. Don't go on the 5-bite diet for a long period of time
This diet can only be done for a maximum of 2 weeks. Stop the diet for a few days, to restore the normal condition of the body. The 5-bite diet is effective because it does not eat, but it cannot sustain the body for long periods of time.
After all, after a diet, the body may find it difficult to eat a lot. Try the 5 bite diet for a few days, and see how your body feels. After the diet, eating less, but still a healthy amount, may become easier to do
Step 3. Know that the 5-bite diet relies solely on hunger and calorie restriction
There's no magic behind the diet: just starve yourself in a more regular way and restrict calories strictly. If you diet around 400 calories per day, the results will be similar, depending on your diet.
Similar diet ideas can be made easily yourself. Maybe a 5 bite meal, including breakfast? That would be a step in the right direction; get a little more nutrition each day, but still lose a lot of weight. Vary your diet with your own ideas to make it more feasible and healthier
Step 4. Realize that having a recommended BMI (Body Mass Index) value of 18.5 is unhealthy for most people
One of Dr Alwin Lewis' goals for participants on the 5-bite diet is for them to have a BMI of 18.5. For the record: a BMI of 18.5 is unhealthy for most people. Doctor Oz himself said that if you follow the BMI value, his weight should not exceed 63.5 kg. The appearance of such a body is unattractive and, again, unhealthy.
- In fact, recent studies have found that anorexic conditions have a higher chance of death than obesity. Slightly more weight actually benefits the body. Aim for a BMI value that is healthy for you, not a BMI value suggested by someone you've never even met.
- Don't believe the IMT argument. BMI is a 200 year old formula created to categorize large numbers of people and does not take into account factors other than height and weight. Even movie stars are sometimes categorized as obese. Never make your BMI score your goal.
Part 3 of 3: Making the 5-Bite Diet Easier
Step 1. Bite the big one
You can only eat 5 bites at a time, so make sure each bite is worth it. No need to be graceful when doing this diet. Take it easy, even though the 5 bites are big, the weight will still decrease. In fact, if you bite a bigger bite, you will likely be diligent about this diet. Bigger bites will lighten the load on the body and mind.
Big bites won't slow down the weight loss process. You keep eating only 5 bites for a very short period of time. At other times, the body digests food and uses stored fat and muscle. If the bite is too small, your body will start using your muscles to get the protein and calories it needs
Step 2. Eat a variety of different foods
If you decide to eat Snickers every day, the diet will become difficult. To make it easier for yourself to go on a diet, vary the food menu. Choose foods from all food groups, including fatty foods (the body does need fat, especially when on a diet).
If you don't understand: you need to eat; and you need to eat a variety of foods to get all the nutrients your body needs. To literally keep your body alive and keep your taste buds from getting bored, eat a variety of different foods, even if it means just 1 bite for each meal
Step 3. Think about the money saved
Is the willpower starting to wane? Not strange. Doctor Lewis says that you must strengthen your resolve and think about the progress you have made. Also think about the money that has been saved. The savings can be used for needs for days.
That may be one advantage of the 5 bite diet. There is no special meal purchase to purchase a membership; only very strict dietary restrictions
Step 4. Don't go on the 5 bite diet for too long
Again, this diet is not sustainable. You can't live your whole life from eating 10-12 bites a day. When you stop dieting, the weight will slowly come back, although it may be difficult to get back to eating the way you used to. This diet is only a temporary solution.
The first two days were the most difficult. Approximately after the third day, the diet will feel easier to live. The body becomes accustomed to digesting less food, and the stomach shrinks. The longer it takes, the easier the diet becomes. However, that does not mean this diet is good for the body. The body just stops performance slowly. Therefore, every few days, eat normally so that the body gets a boost of energy
Warning
- The rotation of the implementation of this diet should not be carried out for too long, because it can endanger health.
- Don't burn the muscle fibers! If you are too thin or slim, there will be no excess fat to burn.
