QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
With John Erickson
<< Back

Salt
Salt (sodium) poses less of a threat if you are eating in a way that controls your insulin/blood sugar levels. Too much insulin causes water retention and controlled insulin promotes water release from the kidneys. Insulin causes water retention by activating the hormone “aldosterone,” which causes the kidneys to hold onto salt. Since water follows salt, you will retain more water by eating a diet excessively high in carbohydrates. Insulin also acts on steroid hormones, resulting in high blood pressure and weight gain.

Artificial Sweeteners
Artificial Sweeteners include acesulfame-K/acesulfame potassium, aspartame (Nutra-Sweet), saccharin (Sweet’N Low) and Splenda (sucralose). There is still too much controversy over the safeness of artificial sweeteners. Although artificial sweeteners are considered calorie-free, they are often packed with high glycemic carbohydrates such as dextrose and maltodextrine. The small amount of these hidden ingredients contained in a packet are unlikely to disrupt blood sugar levels, however in excess the calories can add up and begin to impact on the outcome of your food plan. Limit or delete artificial sweeteners from your diet all together.

What is the average weight loss?
This depends on how much weight you have to lose. The average weight loss is 3-5 pounds the first week due to the initial water loss. Thereafter, you should experience 1 to 1½ pounds of fat loss per week. If you are losing more than 2 pounds of weight per week, you are probably losing muscle and water as well as fat. There is no sense in weighing yourself from day to day because the scale can go up or down by a pound or two depending on water retention and other factors.

What if I get hungry throughout the day?
Flower, stem and stalk vegetables (asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celery) and salad greens (aruglula, brussels sprouts, cabbage, collards, kale, lettuce and spinach) can be eaten relatively freely because the amount of carbohydrate or protein they provide is small. The Red, White and Blue Food Charts® list 3 cups as the standard size for leafy vegetables, however you can eat as much as you feel comfortable with. The amount can vary since these foods contain mostly roughage and water. A small handful of nuts can also be added between meals without significantly impacting your eating plan because fat has no adverse effects on blood sugar levels.

How strictly should I adhere to the USA Diet Plans® food combining system? How strictly you follow the USA Diet Plans food combining system depends on many factors, including your goals, how you are progressing, your level of motivation and your health condition. Other people who live in seasonal climates with alternating summer and winter seasons may want to be strict by measuring their food in the summer and being more laxidazical in the winter when they get to cover up with more clothing. You should do your best to be strict and portion your meals to the best of your ability if you answer yes to any of the following:

I am an elite athlete.
I have a lot of weight to lose before I reach my goal weight.
I am experiencing a weight loss plateau.
It is the summertime and I would like to look extra lean on the beach.
I am currently suffering from chronic health condition such as diabetes, heart disease or an auto-immune disease.

Is USA Diet Plans® considered a low calorie diet?
Yes, USA Diet Plans® is considered a low calorie diet compared to most other popular diets, yet people are frequently surprised of how much food they are allowed to eat. Reduced calorie diets have been shown to promote health, lower the risk of disease and extend life span. A low calorie diet should not be thought of as “under nutrition,” USA Diet Plans® would rather refer to a low calorie diet as “normal nutrition.” We prove that you can lower your calorie intake without depriving the body of its life energy force. Consuming the high quality foods recommended by USA Diet Plans® will play an extensive role in restoring your youth by rebuilding the structural integrity of your entire body. This will eventually translate into a healthier mind.

Should I take Supplements?
Our main emphasis is on whole foods. The most basic supplement program consists of fish oil, a multi-vitamin, and maybe an antioxidant blend depending on what you can afford. Other natural supplements and herbs can be taken as long as they meet the criteria listed in the USA Diet Plans® Manual.

Cheat Meals
USA Diet Plans® repects the fact we are all human and does recommend cheat meals. The USA Diet Plans® manual goes into greater depth and tells you exactly how many cheat meals you can have each week.

Does being a past yo-yo dieter mean I will not lose weight?
A damaged metabolism can take time to repair, however the human body has an infinite capacity to heal itself. Continue eating a balanced diet and seek the help of a licensed health care professional to see if there are any natural supplements besides fish oil that can help speed up the healing process.

Do you recommend I take fat-burner pills?
No, USA Diet Planso® does not recommend the use of “energizing” supplements that contain high amounts of caffeine and other stimulants. These substances throw your body into overdrive by pouring stress hormones out of your adrenal glands. The short term results will be overshadowed by the possibility of abuse, addiction, increased aging and an increased affinity for future fat storage.

Can USA Diet Plans® reverse aging?
It’s illegal for a diet company to state their diet can prevent, cure or reverse disease. With this in mind, I would rather say “through optimized nutrition, we can restore your youth by supporting better cell synthesis of life conducting molecules.” The human body heals itself and nutrition provides the resources to accomplish the task. We all know food reverses aging. We've all seen old friends here and there: They either look the same, better or worse. When they look better, this is called "reversed aging." If you ask them what they are doing, they will be following the same type of principles followed by USA Diet Plans®.

..::TOP::..