The Protein Power diet schedule negates these possibilities by going right to the source and drastically reducing the amount of carbohydrate intake, thereby ensuring that the insulin levels are controlled.

This ensures that the body looks at other options for generating energy, such as the proteins. Over time, it also uses a little amount of the fat depositions as fuel source, and thereby helps to initially shed weight and then maintain the body at the reduced weight levels.

Phase one of the diet plan

The key phase in this plan is the initial phase, also called Phase 1 or the Intervention phase. In this phase, the body is deprived of carbohydrates, and is fed on proteins and healthy fatty food, as mentioned earlier. This results in ketosis, which is the body burning whatever stores of carbohydrates it has, and then shifting to the proteins as a fuel source for generating energy.

Ketosis causes loss in body weight by releasing stored water. Therefore, Phase 1 is almost always characterized by a loss in body weight. However, you must understand that this weight loss is NOT, at that time, due to the burning up of fat. It is actually due to the release of the stored water.

During the Intervention phase, the suggested amount of carbohydrates to be consumed is a mere 7-10 grams per meal. There is however, the option of consuming another 7 to 10 grams as a snack, so you are allowed a total of 20 to 40 grams of carbohydrates in all per day.

The rest of the food needs to be protein, and to an extent, healthy fat. This means that potatoes, grains, etc. are out as these are high n carbohydrates.

Protein Power Diet Plan

The Protein Power diet urges people to focus more on protein intake, and, to an extent fat intake. It urges people to avoid carbohydrates as much as possible. Based on this, the following are things that you can safely eat:

• All meat and Poultry products
• Fish
• Diary products such as cream, milk, yogurt (as long as you are aware of their calorific content)
• Vegetables (Non-starchy vegetables are allowed. While these may have carbohydrates, they have more of proteins, and also lot of nutrients like vitamins, minerals, fiber, etc.)
• Berries, nuts, seeds, and fruits not rich in sugar.
• Alcohol (Only specific types are allowed. No sweet wines, or brandy, rum, etc., which are rich in sugar)

The following are items you need to avoid if you are following the Protein Power plan:

• Grain products (rice, etc.)
• Legumes
• Starchy vegetables
• Fruits with high sugar content (Pineapples and mangoes are a definite no.)
• Ice-creams

The Advantages of Protein Power

The Protein Power plan has its own advantages and disadvantages. The advantages are:

• Rapid weight loss
• Based on science
• Enables insulin regulation

Disadvantages

The disadvantages of the Protein Power plan are:

• Ketosis is always a risk. This is common to all low carb diets.
• Not a long term solution. There is the tendency to put the weight back on over time.
• Risky to determine protein requirement based on activity levels.