Weight Control Therapy - Group Therapy with Lisa Ortigara Crego

Dieting Plan

Weight Control Therapy is not about dieting but rather about clean eating as a lifestyle. If your goal is to lose weight in a healthy way it is imperative that you eat breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack every single day. Meals should be eaten 4 to 5 hours apart. By combining protein, fruit, starchy "whole" carbohydrates, and vegetables, you will create a balance that will satisfy your needs and fill your belly quicker. The body is a machine that requires "real" foods to be eaten continuously to keep it operating at an optimal level. As a result of clean eating, you will feel a peaceful calm and your cravings will diminish or even disappear.

Breakfast should always consist of fruit, starchy "whole" carbohydrate, lean protein (4 oz), dairy, and 1 tsp. fat.

EXAMPLE: ½ melon, 1 c. cooked steel oats, 2 poached eggs, 1 c. skim milk, and 1 tsp. butter.

Lunch should include vegetables, lean protein (4 oz) and 1 teaspoon fat..

EXAMPLE: 2 cups of steamed broccoli, 4 oz. of baked chicken breast, topped with lemon and a tsp. of butter or olive oil.

Dinner should include a starchy "whole" carbohydrate, raw vegetables, lean protein and 1 tsp. olive oil.

EXAMPLE: One cup of whole grain brown rice, 4oz sirloin steak, 2 cups of romaine lettuce, 1 tsp. olive oil and vinegar.

SNACK should consist of a fruit and dairy (if your dairy sensitive replace the dairy with 2 oz. of lean protein.

Examples of protein: fish, chicken, steak, lamb, eggs, hamburgers, tofu, dairy

Examples of fruit: medium apple, pear, orange, 1/2 melon, 1 c. grapes, 1 c. strawberries

Examples of dairy: 1 c. plain, nonfat yogurt, 1 c. low fat buttermilk, 1 c. skim milk

Examples of fat: 1 tsp. butter, 1 tsp. olive oil, 1 tsp. Newman's oil and vinegar

Examples of starchy "whole" carbohydrates: 6 oz. potato, 6 oz. sweet potato, 1 c. millet, 1 c. peas

*Men should increase their protein by 2 oz for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

*Drink at least 8 oz. of water daily

*Dairy and protein can be interchanged

There are some foods known as "gray" foods that may trigger you to eat out of control. These foods include: nuts, peanut butter, chocolate, caffeine, sugar substitutes, olives, wine, alcohol, baked chips, and popcorn. If you experience cravings from these foods it is suggested these foods are avoided.