HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT when all diets fail.

All diets in the short term seem to produce weight loss. Sure, they differ by the amount – some a little more, some a little less. But they all seem to work.

However, by 6 months to 1 year, weight loss gradually plateaus followed by a relentless regain despite continued dietary compliance. This occurs regardless of the dietary strategy. In the 10 year Diabetes Prevention Program, for example there is a 7 kg weight loss after one year. The dreaded plateau, then weight regain, follows. So all diets fail. The question is why. . . .

This happens because the body reacts to weight loss by trying to return to its original body set weight (BSW). . . . Even the low carbohydrate diets, proven to have superior weight loss effects in the short term, show the same inexorable plateau and weight regain. . . .

Insulin resistance maintains high insulin levels. High insulin maintains the high BSW. . . .

To succeed, we must break the insulin resistance cycle. But how? . . .

All foods will increase insulin levels to some degree. Eating the proper foods will prevent high levels, but won’t do much to lower levels. Some foods . . . are better than others, but all foods still increase insulin. The key to prevention of resistance is to periodically sustain very low levels of insulin. If all foods raise insulin, then the only logical answer is the complete voluntary abstinence of food. The answer we are looking for is, in a word, fasting.