The L.A. Shape Diet Weight Loss Plan

We all have two shapes - the one we have and the one we want. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to diets, so The L.A. Shape Diet plan allows you to personalize it. By eating a combination of "empowering shakes," whole grains, and healthy carbohydrates from fruits and vegetables, the L.A. Shape Diet claims you will lose weight, reshape your body, and still feel satisfied and energetic.

According to the program, high-protein shakes not only give you energy and control hunger, but they also ensure controlled calorie intake, which will allow you to achieve your ideal body weight. Twenty-nine percent of your diet on this plan should come from protein, with half of the requirements coming from animal sources and half from plant sources. Be sure, however, to have realistic expectations on what your "ideal" body weight is, since most bodies were not made to be stick-thin, supermodel-sized.

What Makes The L.A. Shape Diet Program Different?

The L.A. Shape Diet plan is a high-protein diet (100 grams daily for women and 150 grams daily for men) that focuses on healthy carbohydrates and healthy fats. Protein recommendations are based on your percent lean body mass, which is a different technique than other plans use. About two-thirds of your protein needs will be met through high protein meal replacement shakes you create at home with fruits, soy milk, and protein powder.

What is The L.A. Shape Diet Plan?

The L.A. Shape Diet program says it will teach you how to get your best shape in fourteen days, by drinking empowering shakes. Two meals a day are protein shakes that you make at home and your third meal should be a balance of protein and vegetables. A snack of fruit is permitted between lunch and dinner. After fourteen days, you can adopt an eating plan with appropriate amounts of protein. You are still encouraged to start your day with an empowering shake.

Tips for success while on the L.A. Shape Diet:

• Drink or eat your empowering shake with a spoon over a period of ten to fifteen minutes so you allow your system to digest and learn to eat slowly.
• Avoid "trigger foods" that sabotage weight loss efforts - you know which ones apply to you!
• Eat the seven colors of fruits and vegetables every day to ensure you receive all your vitamins and minerals.

Typical day: During the first week, you will consume two shakes per day and one meal. If you choose, you can have one shake and two meals, but slower weight loss would be the result. Breakfast could include a pumpkin banana shake; lunch might be a chocolate raspberry shake; snack would be 1 ounce of roasted soy nuts; dinner consists of 3 to 6 ounces of chicken, fish, or turkey, two cups of steamed vegetables, four cups of salad with rice or wine vinegar, and a fruit for dessert.

What are the weight loss expectations?

The L.A. Shape Diet program claims that the first week you will likely lose at least five pounds, because of the loss of excess salt and water from your body. After the first week, you can expect to lose one to two pounds per week.

Is exercise promoted?

You are encouraged to exercise one hour every day, on the L.A. Shape Diet plan, which can help reduce cravings for the wrong foods. The diet says that it's important to choose an activity that you enjoy so it will be easier to incorporate it into your daily life. Recreational activities such as gardening or walking through the mall should be included as an additional form of exercise. About six days per week of weight-bearing exercise is also essential in order to maintain strong bones and a healthy body weight.

Are supplements recommended?

A multivitamin/multimineral supplement is recommended, on the L.A. Shape Diet program, to ensure adequate consumption of all vitamins and minerals. Other recommendations include vitamin E, vitamin C, calcium, and selenium.