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The GI Plan by Azmina Govindji and Nina Puddefoot
(Vermilion, £7.99)
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9/10
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REVIEW By
WLR Dietitian
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What’s the theory?
The GI Plan is based on one of the hottest diet trends
currently around – the glycaemic index
or GI Diet. As with similar diets it works on the theory that
it’s better to eat carbs with a low GI as they slowly release
sugar into the blood, providing you with a steady supply of
energy so you don’t feel hungry. In contrast, you should avoid
carbs with a high GI as they cause an immediate – but
short-lived – rise in blood sugar, leaving you quickly lacking
in energy and reaching for another snack. But this plan goes
one step further than other GI diets and also considers the
calorie content of different foods.
What does the diet involve?
Each food is given a GI Point value based on its glycaemic
index and calorie content. Quite simply, you’re allowed a
certain number of points each day, depending on whether you’re
male or female (men are allowed more) and the phase of the
diet you are following.
Like many popular diets, the GI plan has three phases: the
‘start-it’ phase, which you follow for two weeks; the
‘lose-it’ phase, which you follow until you reach your goal;
and the ‘keep-it’ phase to help maintain your weight loss.
What can I eat?
Women are allowed 17 Points in the ‘start-it’ phase,
increasing to 20 in the ‘lose-it’ phase. Men start on 22
Points, increasing to 25. In general, you can eat whatever you
want providing you stick to your Points allowance each day.
However, you get better value if you chose foods with a lower
Points value. For example, 1 croissant contains 6 Points,
while two slices of Granary bread contain 3.5 Points. This
effectively means all things sugary, white and/or high in fat
such as French bread, white rice, doughnuts and biscuits, need
to be kept to a minimum, while wholemeal pasta, wholegrain
cereals and most fruit and veg are good to include.
How much weight will I lose?
Up to 2lb a week on average, although you will probably
lose more in the first two weeks.
What else does the book include?
In addition to a comprehensive chart listing the Points
value of different foods, there are recipes, a section on
increasing activity and great advice on shopping, eating out,
snacking, managing stress and switching the way you think
about food and dieting.
Juliette’s verdict on the GI Plan
Written by a registered dietitian and a life coach, this
book is easy to read. The diet plan is really simple and is
sure to get results. You’ll love the GI plan if you want
to lose weight by following a balanced, healthy diet without
cutting out major groups of food or severely restricting what
you eat.
9/10
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