Getting nowhere fast with the same
old routines? Take a fresh look at your fitness
When your computer freezes or your phone
dies, what’s the first thing you do? Hit restart. The same goes for your body –
if your quest for a honed figure, more energy and better health is stalling,
you may need to reset your system.
The solution is more straightforward then
you might think. The Body Reset Diet: Power Your Metabolism, Blast Fat and Shed
Pounds in 15 Days ($19.55, Rodale Press) is a new diet and exercise plan by USB
celled fitness trainer and nutritionist Harley Pasternak – the guru behind some
of Hollywood’s hottest bods, including Megan Fox and Katy Perry. It will help you
go from flab to fab – fast by building lean muscle while the weight drops off.
And it’s easy to follow. ‘And the meals are
nutritious and wholesome, and they take just minutes, from prep to clean-up’,
says Harley.
Why it works
Quick-fix diets usually spell disaster, but
with the Body Reset Diet you’ll shed the pounds for good and you don’t have to
endanger your health, put your life on hold or empty your purse.
The secret is eating throughout the day;
not grazing continually but eating sensibly. This keeps your metabolism ticking
over, regulates insulin levels and nixes cravings. ‘Your metabolism is like a
windmill’, explains Harley. ‘When you eat frequently, you’re continually
turning the windmill and keeping your metabolism stimulated’. A mix of
smoothies, solid meals, veggies and fruit provides your body with nutrients,
with no need to count calories.
The results
‘Noticeable inch loss in just five
days… then more energy, a flat tum and glowing skin’
You can look forward to noticeable inch
loss in the first five days, then – by the end of the diet – more energy, a
flat tum and glowing skin. Sounds good, right? OK, let’s get started!
The breakdown
Want to do and when to do it:
Phase 1
Between days one and five, drink three
smoothies and eat two snacks.
Fitness: Walk a minimum of 10,000 steps
(just over four miles, depending on your height and stride) per day.
Walk
a minimum of 10,000 steps per day
Top tip: keep track of your progress with a
pedometer
Phase 2
Between days six and 10, eat five times a
day: two smoothies, one solid meal and two snacks between meals.
Fitness: Continue walking 10,000 steps per
day, and perform circuit A, three days a week. The moves in circuit A are
designed to train your posterior muscles, align your body and make your arms
and middle look long and lean.
Top tip: Try to eat your meals while
sitting down, with no distractions
Phase 3
From day 11, have one smoothie a day, plus
two meals and two snacks.
Fitness: Stick to your 10,000 steps and
alternate between resistance training circuits A and B. the moves in circuit B
work the anterior muscles, such as your chest, oblique’s and quads.
Do circuit A on days 11, 13 and 15 and
circuit B on days 12 and 14.
Top tip: plan meals well in advance and
make sure you chew properly
Plan
meals well in advance and make sure you chew properly
The recipes
Smoothies are a part of each phase of the
Body Reset Diet – they’re good for your body and taste amazing too. Each
smoothie has a liquid base with lean protein, healthy fats and carbs from fruit
or veggies, to make sure you don’t miss out on any important food groups or
nutrients, the solid food recipes are also really tasty and chock-full of
nutrients. Here are our favorites…
White smoothie
(Serves 1)
·
5 raw almonds (whole or chopped)
·
1 red apple, unpeeled, cored and chopped
·
1 small banana, frozen and cut into chunks
·
125ml fat-free natural Greek yoghurt
·
185g skimmed milk
·
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
White
smoothie
Drink it because… bananas replenish the
potassium lost during workouts
Nutrition info: 325 calories, 4g fat, 56g
carbs, 19g protein, 18g fiber
Snacks
You’re allowed a number of snacks during
each phase of the plan. Each is around 150 calories and contains a minimum of
5g fiber.
Tasty combos
·
85g raspberries and 225s fat-free Greek yoghurt
·
1 cucumber with 85g smoked salmon and 1 tomato
·
1 apple and 3 turkey slices
·
115g edamame beans
·
85g lean roast beef and 1½ sliced red bell
peppers
Tasty
combos
Red smoothie
(Serves 1)
·
125g frozen raspberries
·
35g frozen blueberries
·
½ orange, peeled
·
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
·
1 tbsp. ground linseeds
Red
smoothie
Drinks it because…raspberries are rich in
antioxidants and their enzymes may aid weight loss
Nutrition info: 271 calories, 5g fat, 43g
carbs, 27g protein, 11g fiber
Green smoothie
(Serves 1)
·
60g spinach leaves
·
1 ripe pear, unpeeled, cored and chopped
·
15 green or red grapes
·
185g fat-free Greek yoghurt
·
2 tbsp. chopped avocado
·
1-2 tbsp. fresh lime juice
Green
smoothie
Drink it because…spinach contains twice the
iron of other greens and may make your muscles more efficient
Nutrition info: 275g calories, 6g fat, 48g
carbs, 20g protein, 9g fiber
