Hello all,
There has been plenty written about the topic by numerous fitness professionals over the past few years or so and the blog below is Part 1 of an article i wrote for Ultra-Fit.co.uk this month. One thing i need to mention right now, THIS IS NOT THE ATKINS DIET. Tell your friends, this is an elimination diet where you take all the crap out of your body and watch the magic happen.
Also, if you're wondering:
The Green Faces Diet
The foods allowed on this diet are ‘anything that is green and once had/would have had a face’. It has been recently introduced and made famous by world-renown fitness expert Alwyn Cosgrove and possibly adapted from a similar dieting strategy made famous by Strength training legend Charles Poliquin called ‘Run, Fly, Swim’.
Can I eat yellow and red peppers or carrots? There is nothing wrong with these foods, but NO they are not green so therefore not allowed.
Can I eat green jelly, soda drinks and sweets? Seriously? What do you think? NO.
What do you mean by having a face? Any animal meat including their eggs.
Can I eat nuts and dairy products? If you are a vegetarian and want to do the diet, then YES. Otherwise NO dairy products.
Can i eat salt and pepper? Sea salt i am fine with, also (cayenne) pepper for taste will not ruin your results.
Everyone can use the diet to get into better shape. I find that it works best as a short term challenge, say 7, 14, 21 or 28 days. This should be followed by a re-introduction diet plan of around 4 weeks which gradually brings other foods back into the diet without regaining any of the weight/fat lost. It is totally down to the user how many times you wish to eat. My personal recommendation would be 4 meal combinations with 1 protein shake, but anything from 3-5 feedings through the day would be ideal.
What to expect?
This is a type of ‘elimination diet’ – which means that it is likely your body will not have to deal with foods it is not designed to process during 21-28 day period. Eliminating ingredients like dairy and wheat for this time will almost always result in ‘accidental’ weight loss, reduction in bloating and removal of body system stressors (lowering cortisol). Think detox with benefits.
Constipation - this may happen to you, it happens to me when i go GFD. My only advice to you is to consume enough water, exercise daily, eat a high volume and fibrous veggies (broccoli) and supplement with Psyllium husk from the beginning of the week. In my opinion and experience its the sheer lack of volume of food that causes this so be generous on your greens.
The eating options (choose one from each list to create a meal)
Protein
Bacon
Chicken
Whole eggs
Beef (any kind)
Pork/Ham
Salmon
Scallop
Tuna
Turkey
Mackerel (any fish)
Lamb
Duck
Shellfish
Whey Protein Powder
Greens
Asparagus
Brocolli
Brussels sprouts
Celery
Cucumber
Green Beans
Green peas
Broad beans
Green Peppers
Lettuce
Cabbage
Spinach
Kale
Add any fat below to each P+G combination
Fats
Olive oil
Sesame oil
Peanut oil
Coconut oil
Walnut oil
Flax oil
Almond oil
Fish oil (Capsules)
Drinks
Water (2-3L per day minimum) Green tea
Vegetarian Protein options
Eggs (any kind)
Baked beans
Sesame seeds
Cheese (any kind)
Pumpkin seeds
Greek Yoghurt
Sunflower seeds
Tofu
Flax seeds
Chickpeas
Soya milk
Lentils
Soya mince
Nuts
Tempeh
Quinoa
My daily menu
Based on a strength training clients' needs
1. Large omelette (with broccoli and green peppers)
2. Tuna with celery
3. Large salad with smoke salmon and spinach with olive oil
4. Post workout protein shake
5. Steak and aubergine/asparagus
6. Sliced ham with green beans
- 3 cups of green tea and 3L water to be drunk throughout the day
You have to love a diet plan that allows this?
Ok guys, everyone keeps telling me how great the blog is, blah, blah, blah but i never get any comments? seriously - what keeps me writing is that people read and enjoy this stuff. So im asking you all to comment/post your name and target for the week (if your doing it) - i want atleast 30 people to do this from email, blog, Facebook - lets set a goal of 2.5kg per person?
PLEASE PLEASE Post a comment/question... let me know if you are going to do this? How much do you want to lose?
As always, share to Facebook friends below if you like this, Thanks
See you all next week with the results blog :)))
It is now February 2012 and i am re-introducing the GFD 7 day challenge to anyone who wants to be involved.
Why leave all that Xmas weight hang around for a month too long? get rid of it in a week... get involved with us starting Monday Februay 6th. If you haven't read the original blog below, read it and check out what is required, any questions you have, please leave on the comments below.
I think i wrote a while back that i would never write about the GFD again, but just when i thought i was out, it sucked me back in! The truth is, its just so powerful a tool to get quick results - why wouldn't you want to drop 2-5kg in a week if you needed too? Its insane. Why wouldnt you want everyone to look at your clients and go "Wow, what the f*ck are they doing?" - because thats whats gonna happen next week. Another reason is that I NEED THIS. My own training/diet has been stalling and i need a boost, i need some rules as the diet has been 'so so' over the past few weeks. Its been more 80% than 90% - which is no mans land for my training goals of being super lean by March 22.
2 of my guys have already been through:
JB - 4.5kg in 7 days
MM - 2kg in 7 days (62 years old and going for 21 day GFD) Massive respect please!
MM has transformed over the past 6 months from an injured, immobile person who used to spend $250 a week on taxis into pain-free, self mobile, 3/week PT client who "loves' the Jacobs ladder!!!! :)
So onto the original blog...
I think i wrote a while back that i would never write about the GFD again, but just when i thought i was out, it sucked me back in! The truth is, its just so powerful a tool to get quick results - why wouldn't you want to drop 2-5kg in a week if you needed too? Its insane. Why wouldnt you want everyone to look at your clients and go "Wow, what the f*ck are they doing?" - because thats whats gonna happen next week. Another reason is that I NEED THIS. My own training/diet has been stalling and i need a boost, i need some rules as the diet has been 'so so' over the past few weeks. Its been more 80% than 90% - which is no mans land for my training goals of being super lean by March 22.
2 of my guys have already been through:
JB - 4.5kg in 7 days
MM - 2kg in 7 days (62 years old and going for 21 day GFD) Massive respect please!
MM has transformed over the past 6 months from an injured, immobile person who used to spend $250 a week on taxis into pain-free, self mobile, 3/week PT client who "loves' the Jacobs ladder!!!! :)
The new toy at the gym is awesome
So onto the original blog...
This picture was in the original blog and deserves to stay!
Over the next week i am issuing a dieting challenge to my clients, facebook friends and colleagues, called the Green Faces Diet. All i have asked is that at the end of the challenge they tell my their compliance rate (%), im not asking 100% from anyone. Just a real effort from those who want to make a change in the next 7 days. I know some of my guys are crazy pumped for this!
"I will rest when im in heaven" PS
"I dont mind poison chalices, i drink from them" JD
These were actual quotes from my crazy clients this week!
"I will rest when im in heaven" PS
"I dont mind poison chalices, i drink from them" JD
These were actual quotes from my crazy clients this week!
There has been plenty written about the topic by numerous fitness professionals over the past few years or so and the blog below is Part 1 of an article i wrote for Ultra-Fit.co.uk this month. One thing i need to mention right now, THIS IS NOT THE ATKINS DIET. Tell your friends, this is an elimination diet where you take all the crap out of your body and watch the magic happen.
Also, if you're wondering:
"Wont i put all the weight back on?"
Firstly, i hate that excuse/question. Lose weight then find out if your disciplined enough to keep it off. Secondly, yes you will if you return to the shitty way you used to eat - simple as that. The whole 'i dont want to lose the weight because i will put it back on' bullsh*t is old and really lame. I challenge you to lose the weight then find out rather than make excuses about weight rebound.
The Green Faces Diet
The world of dieting can be a confusing place… Macronutrient %, low carb, high protein, zero fat… the list goes on and on. I’ve always known and advised my clients to follow a simple, clean diet consisting of whole foods for the best body composition results. Eating clean will always be my go-to strategy when attempting to cut some bodyfat, get lean and stay healthy. This diet plan is not rocket science, just a simple, no BS approach to sound nutrition for optimal fat loss and health. I give you the ‘Green Faces’ (GF) diet.
What is the ‘Green Faces’ diet?
The foods allowed on this diet are ‘anything that is green and once had/would have had a face’. It has been recently introduced and made famous by world-renown fitness expert Alwyn Cosgrove and possibly adapted from a similar dieting strategy made famous by Strength training legend Charles Poliquin called ‘Run, Fly, Swim’.
All green vegetables are permitted on the diet
Common questions
Can I eat yellow and red peppers or carrots? There is nothing wrong with these foods, but NO they are not green so therefore not allowed.
Can I eat green jelly, soda drinks and sweets? Seriously? What do you think? NO.
What do you mean by having a face? Any animal meat including their eggs.
Can I eat nuts and dairy products? If you are a vegetarian and want to do the diet, then YES. Otherwise NO dairy products.
Can i eat salt and pepper? Sea salt i am fine with, also (cayenne) pepper for taste will not ruin your results.
Vegetarians may need to add dairy products to get adequate protein
Who, when and how should you use the diet?
Everyone can use the diet to get into better shape. I find that it works best as a short term challenge, say 7, 14, 21 or 28 days. This should be followed by a re-introduction diet plan of around 4 weeks which gradually brings other foods back into the diet without regaining any of the weight/fat lost. It is totally down to the user how many times you wish to eat. My personal recommendation would be 4 meal combinations with 1 protein shake, but anything from 3-5 feedings through the day would be ideal.
This is a type of ‘elimination diet’ – which means that it is likely your body will not have to deal with foods it is not designed to process during 21-28 day period. Eliminating ingredients like dairy and wheat for this time will almost always result in ‘accidental’ weight loss, reduction in bloating and removal of body system stressors (lowering cortisol). Think detox with benefits.
Constipation - this may happen to you, it happens to me when i go GFD. My only advice to you is to consume enough water, exercise daily, eat a high volume and fibrous veggies (broccoli) and supplement with Psyllium husk from the beginning of the week. In my opinion and experience its the sheer lack of volume of food that causes this so be generous on your greens.
The eating options (choose one from each list to create a meal)
Protein
Bacon
Chicken
Whole eggs
Beef (any kind)
Pork/Ham
Salmon
Scallop
Tuna
Turkey
Mackerel (any fish)
Lamb
Duck
Shellfish
Whey Protein Powder
Greens
Asparagus
Brocolli
Brussels sprouts
Celery
Cucumber
Green Beans
Green peas
Broad beans
Green Peppers
Lettuce
Cabbage
Spinach
Kale
Add any fat below to each P+G combination
Fats
Olive oil
Sesame oil
Peanut oil
Coconut oil
Walnut oil
Flax oil
Almond oil
Fish oil (Capsules)
Drinks
Water (2-3L per day minimum) Green tea
Vegetarian Protein options
Eggs (any kind)
Baked beans
Sesame seeds
Cheese (any kind)
Pumpkin seeds
Greek Yoghurt
Sunflower seeds
Tofu
Flax seeds
Chickpeas
Soya milk
Lentils
Soya mince
Nuts
Tempeh
Quinoa
My daily menu
Based on a strength training clients' needs
1. Large omelette (with broccoli and green peppers)
2. Tuna with celery
3. Large salad with smoke salmon and spinach with olive oil
4. Post workout protein shake
5. Steak and aubergine/asparagus
6. Sliced ham with green beans
- 3 cups of green tea and 3L water to be drunk throughout the day
REMEMBER… This is a short term strategy to clean up your nutrition and get your body to burn some unwanted fat. You can start to slowly re-introduce different foods after the initial GF diet period is done.
We are starting on 6th January and in NO WAY has this been planned for me to look good on the beach in Koh Samui in March! (cough...cough March 22!). Use the next few days to get into the groove with the eating, then start with focus on the 6th..
VERY IMPORTANTWe are starting on 6th January and in NO WAY has this been planned for me to look good on the beach in Koh Samui in March! (cough...cough March 22!). Use the next few days to get into the groove with the eating, then start with focus on the 6th..
Ok guys, everyone keeps telling me how great the blog is, blah, blah, blah but i never get any comments? seriously - what keeps me writing is that people read and enjoy this stuff. So im asking you all to comment/post your name and target for the week (if your doing it) - i want atleast 30 people to do this from email, blog, Facebook - lets set a goal of 2.5kg per person?
PLEASE PLEASE Post a comment/question... let me know if you are going to do this? How much do you want to lose?
As always, share to Facebook friends below if you like this, Thanks
See you all next week with the results blog :)))
