What is that
What is the supermetabolism diet?
Originally known as the " Fast Metabolism Diet ", the diet of supermetabolism is a nutritional system aimed at losing weight.
According to Pomroy, the supermetabolism system lends itself not only to weight loss for aesthetic culture, but also to the nutritional therapy of those affected by chronic and obese pathological diseases.
On the diet of supermetabolism, Haylie Pomroy wrote a book that entered the circle of the "New York Times Bestseller", also sold in the Italian version "The Diet of Supermetabolism".
Disclaimer
The following is an extract from the hayliepomroy.com website. Therefore, the author of this article dissociates himself from all the statements reported by merely reporting what was disclosed by the official source. There will be a personal comment only in the concluding paragraph.
Principles
Principles of the diet of supermetabolism
The diet of supermetabolism abolishes the calorie count, the estimate of the portions, promises to eat in abundance and is based on the weekly rotation of a simple (but tested) scheme to trigger precise changes in the organism: metabolic acceleration.
By super-activating the metabolism, reducing cortisol levels, keeping insulin concentrations low and practicing the right motor activity, it is possible to make the "human machine" function optimally, facilitating weight loss. It is not a simple theory without foundations, says Haylie Pomroy, but the result of many experiments.
Objective and Mechanisms
Objective of the diet of supermetabolism
The main objective of the supermetabolism diet is weight loss; in particular, Haylie Pomroy promises to be able to lose weight up to 20 pounds (about 9 kg) in just 28 days (less than a month). As can be easily understood, the result does not depend so much on the reduction of the general calories but rather on the increase in the general metabolic expenditure and the modification of the hormonal structure of cortisol and insulin.
Physiological mechanisms of the diet of supermetabolism
The physiological mechanisms underlying this strategy are:
- Calming the adrenal glands, reducing the secretion of cortisol (stress hormone)
- Limit insulin secretion
- Reduce the work of the liver
- Nourish the thyroid to produce hormones T3 and T4 (essential for a fast metabolism)
- Increase the basal energy consumption and that induced by the motor exercise.
Method
Diet method of supermetabolism
The diet of supermetabolism suggests first of all reducing psycho-physical stress, as the first factor responsible for the visceral distribution of body fat.
The diet of supermetabolism is divided into 3 phases. Each of these involves the consumption of different foods, however healthy, all indispensable to reach metabolic acceleration. It is also essential to follow a specific protocol of motor activity:
- Phase 1 (Monday - Tuesday): many carbohydrates, especially from fruit. The objective of this phase is to "relax" the organism, that is to say to change the constant attitude to accumulate fat in adipose tissue as a form of defense against possible famines. Intense cardiovascular work is required, but only in one of two days.
- Stage 2 (Wednesday - Thursday): many protein foods and vegetables. Once relaxed, the body is ready to enter the optimal fat consumption mode and to do this it is necessary to limit the intake of large amounts of lipids but also of carbohydrates. Physical activity focuses on muscle building and strength development. Let's not forget that the muscle burns large amounts of fat, therefore the more muscles we have, the more fat we will be able to consume.
- Phase 3 (Friday - Saturday - Sunday): all the foods mentioned above, in more fat and good quality oils. This is the time when the metabolic increase occurs and, contrary to what one might think, at this stage it is advisable to practice quiet physical activity such as pilates or yoga; massage and meditation are also considered "physical exercises" suitable for the third phase.
There is no rule regarding the number of meals and portions. The mantra of the supermetabolism diet is "eat as much as you want", but only the specific foods for the phase and day in question.
The program must be repeated for about four weeks.
What to eat
Foods granted in the diet of supermetabolism
Note: all dairy products are to be excluded. Furthermore, it is advisable to prefer organic foods, without preservatives and without added salt or sugar.
Basic fresh fruit and vegetables
Any seasonal fruit and vegetables: apples, oranges, lemons and limes, cabbage, carrots, celery, broccoli, cucumbers, cabbage, spinach, green or red peppers, mushrooms, sweet potatoes, yellow onions, garlic.
Grains and oilseeds
- Steel cut oat: it is a specially crafted oat. Alternatively you can use the old style laminate
- Quinoa
- Brown rice
- Raw almonds
- Cashews
- walnuts
- No peanuts
- Raw sunflower seeds
Meat and fish
- Chicken and turkey: especially breast
- Beef
- Dried meat, moose and bison
- Canned tuna (in brine)
eggs
Eggs and egg whites: only egg whites are used in phase 1 and phase 2; the pasteurized one is also fine
Frozen foods
- Frozen berries
- Frozen shrimp
- All frozen fish
Seasonings and canned foods
- Broth
- Canned or dried beans: canned beans are comfortable but can contain BPA. It is therefore preferable to choose dry beans
- Sea salt
- Balsamic vinegar
- Tamari
- Olive oil
Extra and pleasant
They are not necessary but can be very welcome
- Almond milk or coconut milk
- Whole wheat bread with whole seeds: can be used in Phase 1 and Phase 3
- Rice or quinoa paste
- Turkey bacon
- Birch Stevia or Xylitol
Supplements
Do we need supplements to follow the diet of supermetabolism?
Sometimes, especially when the management of meals becomes impossible due to work commitments, to follow the diet of supermetabolism it is necessary to use products marketed with the aim of replacing meals. These are mainly powder supplements, even single-dose, differentiated and specific for each phase of the diet.
Comment
Reflections on the diet of supermetabolism
The diet of supermetabolism is an approximate dietary method and devoid of any scientific basis, especially with regard to the metabolic endocrine impact to which it refers.
As with most fashionable dietary regimes, the problem of the Fast Metabolism Diet is not slimming effectiveness, however questionable, but aspects of nutritional balance and nutrition education.
By this we do not intend to affirm that the diet of supermetabolism can harm health, but rather that the method seems based on conjectures that leave a lot of space for imagination and little for scientific experimentation.
To his advantage, the diet of supermetabolism enjoys an excellent opinion among those who practiced it and succeeded in its intent. The same cannot be said by the people who, happy to have known yoga, pilates and meditation, however, have not reached the set goal. The main cause of the failures is mainly due to the concept of: "eat as much as you want, but only the foods relevant to the phase or day in question". Without a guideline of the portions it is completely impossible, especially for those who tend to eat ordinarily more than they should, to estimate how many foods to consume. These subjects, for psychological or behavioral reasons, are not able to recognize satiety and usually only know the feeling of fullness.
This system should therefore first seek to give more space to research, to optimize its balance and effectiveness, and less importance to media advertising.
