Thin Commandments: 10 Weight Loss Strategies to Live By

Background

The Thin Commandments was created by bestselling author of “Thin Tastes Better”, Dr. Stephen Gullo. This book outlines the program that has allowed his patients to achieve a very high weight loss success rate.

The plan centers on ten weight loss strategies – referred to as commandments – combined with a simple and satisfying diet plan.

Thin Commandments Basics

Part one of the book is devoted to the ten “Thin Commandments”. These are actions that allow you to gain control over your eating habits and food choices.

For instance with the first commandment, Strategy is Stronger Than Willpower, you are provided with practical techniques.

Examples of these include keeping a food diary, avoiding restaurant buffets, staying away from trigger foods and watching for hidden calories.

Other commandments include:

• Slips Should Teach You, Not Defeat You
• Stop Feeling Deprived
• Treat Your Calories Like Dollars

The ABC Diet Plan

In part two Gullo presents his ABC Diet Plan, which includes three stages.

You start with the 10-Day Turbocharge, which is designed to help you lose weight quickly and easily. This plan is centered on A-list low calorie foods that have an appetite-suppressing effect.

B-list foods are for dieters who want to stay on the program longer than ten days, or have more than ten pounds to lose. In this phase your rate of weight loss will be a little slower.

C-list foods are recommended for when you have achieved your goal weight and are ready for maintenance.

Includes Daily Menus, Recipes and Shopping Lists

Ideas are provided for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks for each phase of the diet. There are recipes and suggestions for quick and easy, gourmet, on-the go and fast food meals.

Recommended Foods

Seafood, eggs, chicken, turkey, bison, light yogurt, low-fat cheese, low-fat milk, GC Scandinavian Bran Crispbread, Boca burgers, cucumber, broccoli, cabbage, asparagus, mushrooms, salad greens, green peppers, grapefruit, cantaloupe, apples, strawberries, fat-free mayo, calorie-free chocolate dip, low-salt chicken broth, tomato juice, coffee, tea, diet soda.

Sample 1 Day Meal Plan

Breakfast 2 ounces smoked salmon 2 high-fiber crackers Thick layer of fat-free cream cheese ½ grapefruit 1 cup coffee

Morning Snack 1 container of fat-free yogurt

Lunch 5 ounces crab or shrimp 1-2 tablespoons fat-free mayo Chopped celery, tomato and onion Sliced cucumber Mixed green salad

Afternoon Snack Cappuccino with fat-free milk 1 high-fiber cracker with 1 tablespoon calorie-free fruit preserve

Dinner 2 Veggie burgers on a bed of spinach 1 tablespoon calorie-free barbeque sauce 1 cup vegetable soup

Dessert 1 diet chocolate mousse pop

Exercise Recommendations

Gullo says it is very important to incorporate fitness into your weight loss regime. However no exercise “can compare to the exercise of good judgment with your food choices”.

He explains that exercise supports your goal to lose weight because it provides you with motivation and structure. It also helps you to stop obsessing about food as you learn to focus on creating health.

Costs and Expenses

The Thin Commandments: The Ten No-Fail Strategies for Permanent Weight Loss retails at $24.95.

Pros

• Emphasizes low calorie foods that help to suppress appetite.
• Provides options for quick and easy meals, fast food and frozen dinners.
• Includes a detailed meal plan with recipes.
• The Thin Commandments offers a specific eating plan for maintaining your weight loss.
• The first ten days will probably produce rapid results.

Cons

• The first ten days are very restrictive and require elimination of many foods.
• Encourages the use of “diet foods”, many of which contain artificial ingredients.
• May be difficult to find some of the recommended products in regular grocery stores.
• Will not appeal to dieters who don’t like structured meal plans.
• Does not include an exercise plan.

Conclusions

The Thin Commandments helps you understand your food history and eating behaviors so that you can develop practical weight loss strategies. The book also includes detailed meal plans to take the guesswork out of food choices.

Most dieters should lose weight on this program because it centers on high-fiber, low calorie foods. However, many processed “diet foods” are also included, which are best avoided due to their potentially negative health effects.