The Eat More, Weigh Less Diet by Terry Shintani
[image: vsh.org]
Although he is currently the Director of Preventative Medicine at the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Centre in Hawaii, Terry Shintani has his share of experience in unhealthy foods. As a student at the University of Hawaii, he ate mostly junk food and didn't exercise -- before long, he always felt sluggish and found it hard to focus on his studies.
One day Dr. Shintani tried an experiment: to eat as much as he wanted, but to make sure that his foods were all whole and unprocessed. For example, instead of fries, he ate baked potatoes. The result? He dropped 35 pounds and felt better than he'd ever felt in his life -- he was also better able to concentrate and excelled in his studies.
Dr. Shintani's concept is simple: eat better food, and you'll lose weight. He doesn't say eat less, he just says eat better!
Consider this fact: If you go to McDonalds and buy 2 hamburgers, 2 medium fries and 2 milkshakes, then the average women would consume her ENTIRE caloric intake for the day (2500 calories). Conversely, you could get the same amount of calories from eating 1 cup of steamed kale with Dijon dip, 2 ears of corn, 2 baked potatoes, 1 cup of broccoli and 1 apple. Which would you choose?
Besides the obvious fact that McDonalds' food is gross, the whole food options will fill you up and keep you full; their energy releases much more slowly, keeping you from getting hungry as quickly after you eat.
According to Dr. Shintani, we modern humans should mirror the eating patterns of our ancient ancestors -- they ate lots of starches, fresh vegetables and fruit, as well as lean wild fish and meat. Dr. Shintani says we should aim for a diet of 50% starches, 25% fruits and vegetables, and 25% foods like seaweed, kale, beans and peas with high calcium or protein.
So, if you're eating more food, then why does this diet work?!?! We have been conditioned to believe that a diet means eating less food, which causes your body's metabolism to slow down. Because your caloric intake should stay the same or even increase on Dr. Shintani's plan, there is no need for your body to believe it's starving -- in fact, the plan actually stimulates your metabolism, causing you to burn more calories both when you're exercising and while resting.
Try it -- it's not a diet, it's a lifestyle change!