About the Shangri-La diet
The Shangri-La diet is the consequence of fifteen years of self-experimentation by the well known professor Seth Roberts. Losing weight by merely consuming little amounts of oil and drinking sugared water may perhaps sound too superior to be true, but this is precisely how Roberts lost a remarkable 35 pounds in just three months. The Shangri-La supposition was derived from a study of our ancestors that showed that eating lots of flavors signaled an abundance of food, sending a message to the body to store more calories in preparation for scarcity. This is what Roberts terms as ‘taste-association’, and he claims that there is a direct correlation between the abundance of flavors in modern foods and fat storage. His Shangri-La strategy of eating bland foods aims to reduce food compulsions such as snacking between meals and eating late at night. In the Shangri-La method, eating tasteless food will send a powerful signaling mechanism to the body to reduce calorie intake.
The Shangri-La Theory
The Shangri-La method of ‘taste-association’ works with the ’set point’ theory of weight control, which contends that your body is pre-disposed to a set weight (this is why it is often difficult to maintain weight loss). In the Shangri-La you are not only reducing calorie intake, you also influencing your ’set point’ and increasing your metabolic rate to aid your body’s ability to burn more calories. In the Shangri-La diet, you eat ‘bland’ food in order to lower your set point, and cut down on tastier foods as they increase your set point, making your body store fat. The Shangri-La diet works well with non-processed foods and foods which contain a low glycemic index (GI). These foods release carbohydrates slowly into the bloodstream giving you a more sustained feeling of fullness. Roberts also suggests drinking large amounts of a tasteless substance such as water to help contribute to manipulating your body’s set point.
The Shangri-La Method
Consuming calories that have an unfamiliar taste or eating foods that contain calories that are only detected by the body after a delay (in order to disassociate the initial taste from the later calorie hit) is the underlying assumption of the Shangri-La method. The Shangri-La strategy attempts to disassociate calories from taste. In his self-experimentation, Roberts found it worked to take small amounts of (tasteless) daily calories between meals, giving the body the illusion of being full. Eventually Roberts arrived at the most quirky feature of the Shangri-La study: drinking one or two tablespoons of tasteless oil (canola oil or light olive oil) an hour before meals and drinking six tablespoons diluted in one litre of water a day – helped him lose weight.
The Shangri-La diet
The Shangri-La sounds like the ideal alternative to those who are seeking an uncomplicated weight loss program and Roberts is living proof that the method has worked. However, it is far too early to tell whether it will work for the rest of us or whether it is even safe (at the time of this report, the Shangri-La diet book was scheduled for release in April). There is still no clear method and far too many variations exist. The Shangri-La’s unnatural calorie restriction means you eat only one full meal a day and like many other diets may ultimately affect your metabolism in a negative way. Furthermore, Shangri-La also fails to acknowledge those who eat food for other reasons such as boredom or comfort eating. For most of us, recognizing when our body is full is far too difficult and the Shangri-La will also be too challenging for those who simply enjoy the taste of food.
October 29th, 2007
This program is intended for an objective weight loss of 5-10 kgs. per week. It will in addition perk up your attitudes and emotions for the reason that of it cleanses and flourishes the system. The efficiency of this seven day plan is that the food consumed ends up burning extra calories than its original caloric value.
This program can be programmed as frequently as you like devoid of any fear of complications. It is made up to wash out your system of dirtiness and give you a feeling of well being. After seven days you will start on to feel lighter because you will be lighter by at the minimum of 5 kilograms (10-15 lbs). You will have a large quantity of liveliness and an enhanced temperament.
During the first seven days you must give up all kind of alcohol and must consume at least 10-15 glasses of water every day.
Day One: All fruits except bananas. Your first day will consist of all the fruits you want. It is strongly suggested that you consume lots of melons the first day. In particular watermelons and a loupe. If you limit your fruit consumption to melons, your chances of losing three lbs. on first day are very good.
You are preparing your system for the upcoming program. Your only source of nutrition is fresh or canned fruits. Fruits are nature’s perfect food. They provide everything you could possibly want to sustain life except total balance and variety.
Day Two: All vegetables. You are encouraged to eat until you are stuffed with all the raw or cooked vegetables of your choice. There is no limit on the amount or type. For your complex carbohydrate, you will start day two with a large baked potato for breakfast. You may top the potato with one pat of butter.
Day Two starts with a fix of complex carbo-hydrates coupled with an oil dose. This is taken in the morning for energy and balance. The rest of day two consists of vegetables which are virtually calorie free and provide essential nutrients and fiber.
Day Three: A mixture of fruits and vegetables of your choice. Any amount, any quantity. No bananas yet. No potatoes today.
Day Three eliminates the potato because you get your carbohydrates from the fruits. You system is now prepared to start burning excess pounds. You will still have cravings which should start to diminish by day four.
Day Four: Bananas and milk. Today you will eat as many as eight bananas and drink three glasses of milk. This will be combined with the special soup which may be eaten in limited quantities.
Day Four, bananas, milk and soup sound the strangest and least desirable. You’re in for a surprise. You probably will not eat all the bananas allowed. But they are there for the potassium you have lost and the sodium you may have missed the past three days. You will notice a definite loss of desire for sweets. You will be surprised how easy this day will go.
Day Five: Today is feast day. You will eat beef and tomatoes. Eat two 10 oz. portions of lean beef. Hamburger is OK. Combine this with six whole tomatoes. On day five you must increase your water intake by one quart. This is to cleanse your system of the uric acid you will be producing.
Day Five, Beef and tomatoes. The beef is for iron and proteins, the tomatoes are for digestion and fibre. Lots and lots of water purify your system. You should notice colorless urine today. Your allowance calls for the equivalent of five “quarter ponders”. Do not feel you have to eat all this beef. You must eat the six tomatoes.
Day Six: Beef and vegetables. Today you may eat an unlimited amount of beef and vegetables. Eat to your hearts content.
Day Six is similar to day five, Iron and proteins from beef, Vitamins and fibre from vegetables. By now your system is in a total weight loss inclination. There should be a noticeable difference in the way you look today, compared to day one.
Day Seven: Today your food intake will consist of brown rice, fruit juices and all the vegetables you care to consume.
Day Seven finished off the program like a good cigar used to finish off Victorian meals, except much healthier. You have your system under control and it should thank you for the flushing and cleaning you just gave it.
The Soup for Optimum Weightloss in the General Motors Diet:
The following soup is intended as a supplement to your diet. It can be eaten any time of the day in virtually unlimited quantities. You are encouraged to consume large quantities of this soup.
28 oz, Water, 6 Large Onions, 2 Green Peppers, Whole Tomatoes (fresh or canned), 1 Head Cabbage, 1 Bunch Celery, 4 Envelopes Lipton Onion Soup Mix, Herbs and Flavouring as desired.
Above mentioned diet and health line up was developed for human resources and dependents of General Motors, Inc. and is wished-for their restricted use. This curriculum was developed in combination with an endowment from U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. It was field tested at the Johns Hopkins Research Centre and was approved for distribution by the Board of Directors, General Motors Corp. at a general meeting on August 15, 1985. General Motors Corp. in every respect endorses this program and is making it accessible to all employees and families. This program will be available at all General Motors Food Service Facilities. It is management’s intention to facilitate a wellness and fitness program for everyone.
October 24th, 2007