L.A. Shape - Diet Plan Outline

The L.A. Shape Diet is a weight loss plan that focuses on understanding your body shape. If you are pear-shaped, the diet has different strategies than if you are apple-shaped, at least according to the diet. The underlying focus is on decreasing body fat by consumming protein shakes, lean meats and vegetables.

The "14-Day Total Weight Loss Plan" guides dieters through an analysis of their shape, pinpointing where their body fat is stored. The diet calls for one or two meal-replacement milk shakes per day, along with "good" (non-processed) carbohydrates and decreased fat consumption. The goal is to decrease body fat percentage, not lose weight. I guess that sounds great, but most of the time, they are one and the same.

There are two phases to the diet: The first phase lasts for 7 days and calls for dieters to drink one shake for breakfast and one for lunch. Dinner is a regular meal of "good" carbs, fruits and veggies, and lean meat or fish. During the second phase, dieters increase food amounts and shakes along with seven servings of fruits and veggies and more fiber. Supplements are highly incouraged and intensive, which strikes me as curious considering the diet already places you on a healthy plan for weight loss success.

I could go on and on about the details of this diet and the scientific basis, but quite frankly I get bored with all these diets that re-package and re-market other traditional diets. L.A. Shape basically emphasizes a highly restrictive increased-protein, decreased-fat, body builder's diet. It's healthy and will lead to weight loss, but the real Catch-22 of weight loss is long term sustainability. The more restrictive the diet, the less chance you have of keeping the weight off. Be sensible and quit trying to find the next miracle or weight loss guru. Decrease your caloric intake, eat healthier and add daily exercise to your life.