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Northwest Woman Fat Flush Plan review by Susan Hamilton April/May 1, 2002

A unique diet plan for weight loss, cleansing and health

With summer and its revealing clothes and swimsuits just on the horizon, it's time to get in shape. Even if you've been unable to shed the pounds you gained at the myriad parties and family gatherings this winter and your exercise regime resembles a couch potato's dream, there is hope. Remember that sophisticated dress you've been saving in the back of your closet in hopes of fitting into its revealing shape again someday? Don't throw it out just yet; you looked so stunning in it. And if you wish you had the vitality that went along with that alluring number, here's an alternative that has meant success for many women-the Fat Flush Plan.

Your health and dieting

 This plan "is calorie restriction without hunger or deprivation," says Barry Sears, Ph.D. and author of The Zone diet book. The "Fat Flush Plan is dietary common sense for all the right reasons-it is balanced, it is a program you can stay on safely for life, and it works." If you need some added incentive to kick start this plan, think about your long-term health. Most Americans gain a few pounds each year, and those pounds do add up. The latest government figures show that with increased obesity there is a corresponding rise in related ailments, such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and arthritis. The Surgeon General recently reported that weight-related illnesses kill 300,000 Americans each year. Obesity also affects our self-esteem.We all know the answer-diet and exercise. We've been told time and again to reduce our calorie intake and increase our daily physical activity. But how many of us have tried different diets and exercise plans only to see the weight we worked so hard to lose reappear? And how do we fit healthy eating and exercise into our sometimes warp-speed lifestyles?

An innovative approach to dieting

 Enter Ann Louise Gittleman. Named one of the top ten nutritionists by Self magazine, Ann Louise is a pioneer in dietary, environ-mental and women's health issues. She holds a master's degree in nutrition education from Columbia University and is a certified nutrition specialist. The celebrity writer, consultant, talk show host and spokesperson told me that she has always been involved in nutrition. ''As a teenager, I learned that foods affected my weight and skin," Ann Louise reveals. "I've always been an avid reader, especially of alternative health approaches." Ann Louise's prophetic insights were released to the public in her first book, BeyondPritikin, in 1988. Here she alerted readers to the dangers of the fat-free, high-carbohydrate heritage. Internal cleansing was the subject of Living Beauty, published in 2000. Her newest book released just this year, The Fat Flush Plan, is the culmination of many years of research and experience. It's a diet plan that Ann Louise used with her personal clients for fifteen years and which debuted to the public as a chapter in Beyond Pritikin. In 2000, a version of this diet was introduced on the most popular women's health site on the Internet, iVillage. It generated many positive reviews and feedback from individuals all over the country. Ann Louise expanded the popular program in The Fat Flush Plan. As Ann Louise explains in the preface to this book, ''As a nutritionist always on the lookout to identify and correct metabolic and nutritional imbalance, I have searched beyond the conventional answers to uncover the root causes of unexplained weight gain."In her book, Ann Louise reveals the most prevalent underlying causes of weight gain, which she calls "the five hidden weight gain factors." She says they are the keys to most overweight issues. These include an overworked liver, fluid retention, lack of fat-burning fats, excess insulin from high-glycemic carbohydrates, and high levels of stress. Unbeknownst to you, a stagnant lymph system, hidden food allergies and common medications (including birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy) could be sabotaging your best weight-loss efforts. The celebrity nutritionist has also incorporated self-care into this plan with simple and healthy habits. Journaling, sufficient sleep and do-able exercise bring renewal and revitalization.

The Fat Flush Plan basics

 So what is the Fat Flush Plan? In Ann Louise's own words, "It's a program based on a unique diet model using healthful essential fats, balanced proteins, colorful carbohydrates and a strict daily routine." The plan has three important phases to help rid you of impurities and unhealthy fat. In Phase 1, the emphasis is on detoxifying the liver and reducing impurities in the body. This two-week stage will jump-start your metabolism. Phase 2 is a longer plan that helps the body to adjust to its more purified state. Phase 3 is a lifetime plan to maintain weight loss and fitness. The two trademark secrets of the plan are unsweetened cranberry juice and flax oil. Lean protein, vegetables and fruit comprise the basics of the diet, with plenty of variety and food combinations. Ann Louise has also included calorie-burning herbs and spices to add zest to the diet. And she adds, "The good news about the Fat Flush Plan is that you won't have to cut out your favorite foods forever or maintain a strict daily routine permanently."

A successful program

 Those who have followed the Fat Flush Plan report that they feel like a new person, have more energy and no longer suffer from bloating or tiredness. They say they are not slaves to their cravings and their moods are much more stabilized.  Frankie Boyer, who hosts and produces her own radio show, followed the plan and reports in The Fat Flush Plan, "In the first two weeks, I not only dropped fifteen pounds but I was able to wear one of my favorite outfits again. What really amazed me was how Fat Flush removed those cravings I used to wrestle with. Everywhere I go, people tell me I look ten years younger." Another enthused Fat Flusher, Suzann Prokosch, also reports in the book, "I'm a forty-three-year-old woman who has always been looking toward better health. But through life's many transitions, I have found myself depressed, unfocused, bloated and eventually gaining 10 pounds on my once toned body frame. Lately, I've been exhausted, tired and lacking any motivation to do regular activities or even pursue anything new. Fat Flush came at a critical time when I needed to shift from what was becoming an unhealthy cycle. Exercise has always been in my regimen, but that alone wasn't working, so I started your program. I notice a huge, huge difference! I've lost weight, gained energy and am much more alert." How many people are on the plan? Ann Louise reports that "it's in the range of six figures." When asked why the plan is so successful, she responds, "People resonate to the program's cleansing and detox aspects. Phase 1 is extremely popular. It gets people back on track by kick-starting their systems and wiping the slate clean. People are taking aspects of the plan and integrating them into their lives." Ann Louise herself is a living testimony to the positive effects of the Fat Flush Plan. When I first met her, I was struck by the clarity of her eyes, the toned appearance of her body, and the vitality and energy she radiated. I was also pleasantly surprised to find out that she has recently moved to the Coeur d'Alene area from Bozeman, Montana.

Connecting with women

 When I tuned into a recent online chat with Ann Louise at iVillage.com, the board was hopping. Ann Louise fielded numerous questions from enthusiastic Fat Flushers and those who have read her books. The subjects ranged from weight loss and using substitutions in the exercise program to essential fats and supplements. The appreciative chatters took in Ann Louise's answers and wanted to know when she would be back for more. Besides her ongoing on-line chats on iVillage, Ann Louise also connects with women at book signings and lectures as well as TV and radio interviews. The Fat Flush Plan has been so popular that the publisher has had to do a seventh printing. Maybe this is due to the fact that the book has been on the New York Times and USA Today best-seller lists. There are also plans for Fat Flush spa weekends where women can share Fat Flush secrets, such as how to integrate exercise and journaling into their lives. "I will be there hands-on," says Ann Louise enthusiastically. "And we may hold a weekend locally at the Coeur d' Alene Resort." What does the future hold for this energetic nutritionist? "I'm working on a cookbook for people who don't have the time to cook but want to be healthy. These are recipes that are meals in minutes-marvelous dishes that are convenient and utilize aromatic herbs that enhance as well as help with weight loss."  Ann Louise Gittleman gives dieters hope by pulling back the curtain on dieting and letting people see what is behind the scenes so they can lose weight and keep it off by maintaining a healthy lifestyle.