October 15, 2009

The Full Plate Diet

By Nate LaClaire

As a member of Medi-Share, I was invited back in July to request a free advance viewing copy of a book being published this January by the Lifestyle Center of America called The Full Plate Diet. Since I’ve been gaining weight like it’s going out of style and since I’ve also been feeling miserable for months and wanting a change, I jumped at the offer. Knowing a little bit about LCA already, I had a feeling that this was not your average diet book. I was right. The book promotes a change in thinking: a fully sustainable high-fiber diet. Who would have thought that the nutrient that experts are promoting for its digestive health benefits will also help you lose weight? Okay – yeah, I already knew that. Actually, I already eat a lot of high-fiber foods, although when I’m not ingesting high-fiber foods I’m ingesting absolute trash, so I don’t think that my diet counts as high-fiber, nutritious, or even safe. Hmm…

Back to the book: nice, colorful pictures. Lots of them. Easy-to-understand concepts introduced using language that won’t make you feel stupid and on pages containing a healthy amount of whitespace. And, the diet itself isn’t a crash-and-burn diet, but a gradual ascent into a sustainable lifestyle of healthy eating. Although the book promotes vegetarian eating, the authors stress that the diet itself is not vegetarian. If you like meat, eat it. Just make sure that you get your fiber, too. The book provides lots of comparisons between raw foods (like the “Top 5 Vegetables for Your Diet”) as well as Fiber Face Offs, which show you how to take a yummy low-fiber dish and make it a high-fiber one (know how to make a high-fiber bowl of tomato soup? I do now!). The book also features lots of good-looking recipes as well as tips for eating on the road.

So, why am I telling you this? First, because this is a great book that you will be able to get in print in January and can view in its entirety online for free today. Second, because starting today I’m diving in and adopting the book’s principles. I’m also beginning an exercise regimen. And, I’ll be posting regular updates about what I’m doing, how I’m feeling, etc. to my blog. Hopefully that final piece will keep me on track and perhaps even encourage someone else to do the same. After all, I’m living proof that just taking the stairs isn’t enough. 🙂 Join me for this voyage, won’t you?