You have probably tried a number of different diets in your life time based on magazines, or books you have read. You may have tried low carb diets or low-calorie diets or intermittent fasting. There are a multitude of diets available and certainly no shortage of advice on how to lose weight. So how do you know what the best weight loss plan for you is?

As a nutritionist who specializes in weight loss, one of the frequent comments I hear from my clients is:

“ I have tried every diet under the sun and nothing seems to work!” Can you help?

Every time, I hear these words, I immediately think about the Metabolic Balance diet. In fact, this is the probably one of the most effective diets, I have ever used, producing amazing results for virtually all of  my clients seeking to lose weight. I love the plan because it teaches my clients to eat a balanced diet, based on all food groups; protein, vegetables and also includes carbohydrates.

Enter Metabolic Balance

Benefit 1. Weight Loss

What are the benefits of the Metabolic Balance Diet?

I honestly have never had a client who has been unable to lose weight on the MB plan. The question, I often get asked is how much weight loss is to be expected?

Typically, in the first week weight loss is between 2 and 4 kgs. In fact, depending on the amount of weight a client has to lose, the first two to three weeks can result in a stone or more in weight loss. This is not due to water loss, as with many diets, but real fat loss.

The Insiders’ guide to weight loss:

Admittedly I have had some patients who do plateau (this is entirely normal). After several weeks on the diet, it is perfectly normal for the rate of fat loss to slow down. The good news is that most clients will certainly continue to lose weight if they truly need to.

Benefit 2: Loss of Appetite

The second benefit of this diet, is the loss in appetite that most clients experience. Once all of the processed foods and refined foods are replaced with nutrient dense foods, your insulin levels will stabilise and you will be quite surprised to find that actually you do not need very much food to feel satiated.

There have been cases when I have had to tell my clients to please eat all the food listed on the plan even though they are not hungry.

Benefit 3: Treat meal

In Phase 3, a treat meal is incorporated once per week- this means that you can eat whatever you like during that meal- alcohol, cakes, pizza!

The Insiders’ guide to Treat Meals:

Sometimes, I have found that after a treat meal clients suddenly begin to miss sugar/alcohol/ cakes. Having a treat meal can lead to loss of focus or suddenly cause an increase in food cravings. When this happens, I always ask my clients to call me or we schedule a meeting to keep them motivated and focused. Other times, clients have told me that they have felt so bloated and full after a treat meal that they simply don’t want to indulge as much. I think the plan brings an increased self-awareness of how our food choices makes us feel.

Benefit 4: Say goodbye to constant snacking

Another big benefit clients experience is that their eating becomes more structured. If you are a regular grazer, snacker or compulsive eater, you will now only be allowed 3 square meals per day. This period of 5 hours without eating is in fact when weight loss is said to occur. This can be a true liberation to many clients who have a problem with emotional eating.

The Insiders’ guide to snacking: At the beginning this 5 hour gap can be difficult. Sometimes you can feel dizzy or light-headed. However this soon passes and you will soon find that your blood sugar stabilizes without the need to snack in between meals.

Benefit 5: No more Guess Work

In order to ensure success, it is paramount to plan and prepare all meals and you will also need to weigh your food. This is very important as many of us over-eat without realizing just how much food we consume.

Meals are tailored, taking all the guess work out of what foods to eat and how much to eat. You will have 3 breakfast options, 3 Lunch options and 3 Dinner options.

Benefit 6: Increased Energy

The Insiders’ guide to going on Holiday: Do not try and follow the plan on holiday as, in my experience, this rarely works- far too much temptation. Secondly the plan is really suited to people who enjoy structure and rules. If you are unable to follow rules/ guidelines, this is not the plan for you. If you like being told what to do, it is the perfect plan for you.

Most of my client have noted a marked increase in energy once they start the plan. If you follow the plan you should require less sleep and you may find that you do not need  an alarm clock to wake up. In the first 2 weeks of the plan, you will not  be allowed to do any vigorous exercise such as cardio or swimming.

The Insiders guide to energy: Some of my clients report being more tired the first week- this is mainly due to withdrawals from sugar and refined foods.

Benefit 7: Increased Confidence

Without  a shadow of doubt, all of my clients begin to experience more confidence as soon as the weight starts to come off.  Having pre-determined  meal plans means they feel more in control of what they are eating and this translates into feeling more in control of their day to day lives. Their days of overeating and bingeing are gone. Most clients report a much better relationship with food.

The Insiders’ guide: Once the weight begins to come off, you may find that work colleagues, friends and sometimes family feel the need to comment about your appearance. I am not sure if they are simply jealous but they cannot help on commenting on the vast amount of weight loss and may even try and sabotage the diet by offering you cakes and chocolate. Do not give in!

For more information please contact or e-mail victoria@nutritionandvitality.co.uk