The Dr. Phil Diet: A Simple Overview

The Dr. Phil Diet has kind of taken the country by storm in recent months. Its popularity stems from the fact that millions of Americans have already been helped by Dr. Phil in other areas of their lives, through his best-selling books, his frequent appearances on Oprah, and through his very-popular television show. Here is a good overview of the Dr. Phil diet and an explanation of how it can help you achieve permanent weight loss...

History of the Diet

Daytime television sensation Dr. Phil McGraw continues his metamorphosis into a best-selling author by focusing his expertise in human psychology on the obesity epidemic.

The Dr. Phil Diet is a guide to achieving "lasting weight management." Dismissive of almost all diets as hopeless "fads," the book states that people must understand and reshape their underlying relationship with food to achieve a healthy weight and stay there.

Dr. Phil relies on 30 years of obesity counseling to galvanize his plan, which emphasizes attitude more than calorie counting. "I want to start a movement in America," he has said of his method.

Dr. Phil Diet Doctrine

The "real" reasons for putting on excess weight range from emotional eating and cravings to self-sabotage and negative self-talk, Dr. Phil contends. You must tackle these self-defeating realities to succeed.

Perhaps his boldest assertion is this: If you learn and apply The Ultimate Weight Solution, you have an 80 percent chance of staying trim forever, compared to the 5 percent typical in the diet industry.

"Nothing will stop you from being anything other than healthy, vibrant, in shape and fully in charge of yourself and everything you do and feel," Dr. Phil vows. "And you will never have to revert to your old, overweight self again – ever."

Theory of the Diet

The basic premise of the Dr. Phil Diet is that change must occur inside your mind before the pounds will come off – and stay off – your body.

"I know you're looking for something that melts fat off like the sun melts ice … but continuing to chase after [it] will bring you nothing but frustration, pain, and self-remorse," Dr. Phil writes. In other words, those who chase the quick-fix promises of one diet after another are doomed to do so always.

Dr. Phil's solution utilizes seven keys that open doors to regaining control over your eating and lifestyle:

Key #1: Right thinking (self control). Shift your thoughts so you're okay on the inside.

Key #2: Healing feelings (emotional control). Understand and break your emotional attachment to food.

Key #3: No-fail environment (external control). Create a home and office space that supports your progress.

Key #4: Mastery over food and impulse eating (habit control). Discover your self-destructive habits and overcome your needy patterns.

Key #5: High-response, high-yield nutrition (food control). Lose weight without counting calories, measuring inches, or memorizing food lists.

Key #6: Intentional exercise (body control). Burn calories with simple strength building and heart-conditioning exercises.

Key #7: Circle of support (social control). Assemble a group of like-minded people for encouragement and motivation.

Eating on the Diet

The Dr. Phil Diet advocates the consumption of protein, carbohydrates and fats – each in moderation. (You may also choose a 14-day, modified plan with reduced calories and carbohydrates to kick-start your weight loss.)

It calls for three daily servings of protein and two servings of low-fat dairy in the form of lean cuts of meat, poultry, fish and shellfish, plants (legumes, vegetable protein, soy milk, etc.), eggs, reduced-fat cheese, and skim milk.

For your daily carbohydrates, you get two to three servings of starches, two fruit servings, and four servings of vegetables.

You're allowed one daily serving of fat – a healthy vegetable oil, such as olive, canola, or flaxseed oil, or oil from fish, nuts, or seeds.

Instead of calculating grams, points, calories, and the like, simply divide your plate into quarters and add correct portion sizes (also taught in the book). Protein fills one section, starch another, the other half of the plate contains low-calorie, high-fiber fruits and vegetables.

Eight to 10 glasses of water a day is mandatory to create a sense of satiation and to help metabolize fat.

Click here to learn more...


-----------------
Useful Dr. Phil Diet Links:

Learn more about Dr. Phil and his views on obesity & weight loss