Metabolism is a word we drop into conversation when discussing diets and weight loss, but many of us still don’t really understand what it is and how it works.
In simple terms, metabolism is the rate at which your body breaks down the nutrients in food to produce energy. Body composition is a determining factor, and the more total fat-free mass you have (including lean muscle, bones and organs) the higher your metabolic rate will be.
Studies of identical twins suggest that your baseline metabolism is determined at birth, but having a naturally slow metabolism does not mean you’re destined to be overweight. Drastic diets are a sure way to further slow down your metabolism, however, as your body is designed to conserve (rather than burn) energy when food is in short supply. This eating plan has been specially designed by Johannesburg dietititan Tabitha Hume to prevent that effect and make the most of your metabolism.
Why this plan works
- It has three meals per day, with an adequate supply of carbohydrates, which are thermogenic (they are energy burners). This keeps your metabolism revved throughout the day. Missing meals or having too few carbohydrates will slow your metabolic rate.
- It uses low-GI and medium-GI carbohydrates that keep you feeling fuller for longer, and stimulate good digestion. These carbs also keep insulin secretion low, which helps your body use fat stores more effectively.
- It includes lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. These are high in fibre, which stimulates digestion, and they supply vital vitamins and minerals that maintain optimal metabolic processes.
- It includes a high amount of fat-free dairy, which has been scientifically associated with more rapid fat loss and better insulin sensitivity.
- It provides high-quality lean protein for muscle development (the primary source of a good metabolism). The steady supply of correct carbohydrates ensures that there is protein sparing for maximum protein delivery to muscles.
- It includes a single caffeine drink each day. Research has shown that having one caffeine drink each day is beneficial to metabolic stimulation and insulin sensitivity — but having more than one undoes this effect as it may lead to an increase in the stress hormone, cortisol, which aids fat storage and metabolic decreases.
- It includes small amounts of sugar, which is a medium-GI carbohydrate. Research finds that the more people use moderate amounts of sugar, the less likely they will be to binge eat. But, as always, the key is moderation, so stick to the amounts recommended in the plan.
| Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner |
| MONDAY | ||
| 1 cup bran flakes with fat-free milk, 1 t sugar and 1 t oat bran 1 orange, 1 C coffee with fat-free milk and 1 t sugar (optional) Snack: Berry smoothie: 1/2 C mixed berries, 1/2 C plain fat-free yoghurt and 1 tsp sugar |
Lunch: Tuna mayonnaise sandwich (2 slices low-GI bread, 1/2 tin drained tuna in brine, 1 T light mayonnaise, 1/2 onion, chopped) 10 baby carrots Snack: 175ml fat-free yoghurt Ceylon tea with fat-free milk and 1/2 t sugar (optional) |
1 cup pasta alfredo. 1 C beetroot 10–15 tomato slices in balsamic vinegar |
| TUESDAY | ||
| 1 C Bokomo oats, made with milk only (no water), served with 2t soft brown treacle sugar and 1 papaya with lemon juice Snack: Banana smoothie: 1 banana, 1/2 C fat-free vanilla yogurt Ceylon tea with fat-free milk and 1/2 t sugar |
1C durum wheat penne pasta with 2-3T Arrabiata sauce* 3 celery sticks, served with dip ( 1/2 C fat-free cottage cheese and 1 T chutney) Snack: 1 caft latte: 1t instant coffee dissolved in hot fat-free milk, 1 t sugar (optional) |
2 cups beef stir-fry (2) with chickpeas 1 glass carrot juice |
| WEDNESDAY | ||
| 1/2 C wholewheat ProNutro, with warm fat-free milk and 1 t soft brown treacle sugar 1 grapefruit 1 skinny cappuccino with 1 sugar Snack: Carrot and apple smoothie: 3 large carrots, 1 apple with skin, 1/2 C crushed ice |
1/2 tin beef and lentil soup* with 1 slice low-GI toast 10 Rosa tomatoes Snack: 1 glass fat-free milk with 2 t Nesquik |
1/2 cup chicken a la king (3) with 1 C rice 1 C baby spinach 3 baby gem squash |
| THURSDAY | ||
| 2 slices low-GI toast with low-GI jam (no butter) 1 large mineola 1 cup Ceylon tea with fat-free milk and 1/2 t sugar Snack: Guava smoothie: 2 guavas, 1/2 C plain fat-free yoghurt with 1t sugar |
Chicken mayo toasted sandwich (2 slices low-GI toast, 1 chicken breast fillet, 2 T light mayo 1 tomato, 5 gherkins) Use in toaster with Spray ‘n’ Cook Snack: 1/2 C light custard 1 energy vitaminwater |
2 Weigh-Less pork bangers 3/4 C baked beans 1 C steamed carrots, tossed in honey and ginger 8 chunks cubed butternut |
| FRIDAY | ||
| 1 cup Bokomo Right Start Fibre Plus, with vanilla fat-free yoghurt and 1 sliced banana 1 Espresso Snack: 1 banana with 1/2 C light custard |
Lunch: 1/2 tin butternut soup* 6 Pro-Vitas with 1 tub fat-free cottage cheese and 2 T tomato sauce Snack: Hot chocolate: 1 C fat-free milk with 2 t Nesquik |
1 grilled salmon cutlet with corn mash ( 1/2 C mashed potato with 1/2 C whole kernel corn) and Oriental sauce (4) 1 C steamed red baby cabbage and 1 C steamed courgettes |
| SATURDAY | ||
| Omelette (1 whole egg and 1 egg white) with baked beans 1 cup fresh fruit salad 1 coffee with 1/2 t hazelnut syrup Snack: Paw paw smoothie (1 paw paw and 1/2 C fat-free vanilla yogurt |
1 tin pilchards in tomato sauce, 1 slice low-GI toast, 1/2 cucumber chopped and mixed with 1/2 C plain, fat-free yoghurt and chopped mint Snack: 1 Ola Moo ice cream on a stick (this ice cream was specially designed to be high in calcium and low-GI) |
2 chicken sosaties (5) on the braai with baby potato salad (6) 1 C carrot salad (7) and 1 C plain, grilled aubergines |
| SUNDAY | ||
| Grilled tomato and Weigh-Less bacon on toast 1 iced coffee (1t instant coffee and 1t sugar dissolved in a little hot water, then fill glass with cold fat-free milk and ice cubes) Snack: A large bunch of grapes |
150g beef fillet, sliced, with 1 roasted sweet potato, 1C mashed butternut, 1/2 C peas tossed in mint jelly Snack: Hot vanilla babychino (4-6 drops vanilla essence and 1/2 t sugar in 1C hot fat-free milk, frothed) |
1/2 tin chicken and chickpea soup, 1 slice low-GI toast 10 mange touts peas |
Special notes
- The products and brands mentioned in this eating plan have been specially selected by dietitian Tabitha Hume for maximum results. Carbohydrates are low- or medium-GI, proteins are lean, and dairy products are low-fat or fat-free.
- Water is essential for optimal metabolic functioning and you need 6–8 glasses a day.
- When buying mayonnaise, tinned soups and pasta sauces, make sure the product has less than 10g fat per 100g.
RECIPES
Pasta Alfredo (Serves 4)
1. Cook 2 C durum wheat pasta until al dente.
2. Gently dry-fry one chopped onion in a heavy-bottomed pot, using only chicken stock water when it sticks. When browned, add 1/2 C water and simmer till soft.
3. Add 3 rashers finely sliced Weigh-Less bacon, and toss until cooked through.
4. Add 1 punnet sliced mushrooms, 1 clove crushed garlic, and salt and pepper to taste.
5. When mushrooms are limp, add 1/2 tin low-fat ideal milk and 1 t maizena pre-mixed with a little water to form a paste.
6. Stir until thickened, and serve immediately over pasta. Top with chopped parsley.
Beef Stir-fry (Serves 4)
1. Cook 1 C rice (dry portion).
2. In a wok, place 250–500g extra-lean beef strips, and sear lightly (don’t cook). Remove from heat.
3. In a jug, mix 1/2 C soya sauce, 1 t maizena, 1 T brandy or sherry, 1/2 t ginger, 1 clove crushed garlic, and 1 T brown treacle sugar. Set aside.
4. Chop 1/2 cabbage, 3 carrots, 5 spring onions, 1 punnet button mushrooms; add 1 punnet mung sprouts and 1 punnet sugar snap peas.
5. Place wok with meat on high heat and add vegetables. Toss until just beginning to wilt (do not let them go limp and soggy). Add sauce, and toss until all vegetables and meat are covered, and sauce thickens.
6. Serve with rice and freshly chopped green chillies.
Chicken a la King (serves 4)
1. Cook 1 C rice (dry portion).
2. In a heavy-bottomed pot, dry-fry 1 chopped onion, using only a little chicken stock water when it sticks. When onions are browned, add 1/2 C water and simmer until soft.
3. Meanwhile, slice 4 skinless chicken breast fillets into cubes.
4. When water from the onions has evaporated, add in the chicken pieces and toss until sealed.
5. Add 1 chopped green pepper, 1 punnet sliced mushrooms, 1 T sherry, and toss in pan until vegetables have wilted.
6. Stir in 1/2 C low-fat ideal milk, add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with cooked rice.
Oriental sauce: Mix 1/4 C soya sauce, 1 t wasabi and 1 T sweet chilli sauce.
Chicken sosaties (serves 4)
1. Slice 4 chicken breast fillets into thick cubes. Chop onions, green peppers, and 4 Weigh-Less bacon rashers into pieces.
2. Thread these ingredients, alternating them with chunks of tinned pineapple and whole button mushrooms, onto skewers.
3. Marinade in sauce: 1 C tomato sauce, 1 C soya sauce, 1/2 C chutney and juice from the tinned pineapple.
4. Cover with foil and bake in the oven at 180 degrees C for 45 minutes or cook on the braai.
Baby potato salad
Boil and cool baby potatoes in their skins, chop and mix with just enough light mayonnaise to cover them and freshly chopped parsley. One portion is 4–6 baby potatoes.
Carrot salad
Grated carrots, chopped tinned pineapple, and a little orange juice
Can I keep this diet for longer than 7 days and if so, can you include the diet suggestions for the remaining days?
What is the best excercise to reduce and lift my boobs? Pleeeese
push ups, start with 5 each time you get the chance! when it gets easy to do 5 at a time, do 6, up until you can do 50 at a time, 4-6 times a day, beautiful boobs garenteed
Thank you so much, I enjoy reading about other vegetarians and vegans as it gives me the strength to continue. I have about a thousand vegetarian feeds in my google reader, but another can’t hurt!! I did manage to find a good lentil recipe here, but I’ll be sure to try yours too. Thanks!
Thanks for that, and for anyone that is having trouble chopping onions without the crying, here’s an incredibly simple tip – put them in the fridge first, then chop them straight away after taking them out! No more tears! I found some more onion soup recipes here if anyone wants to try some more recipes.
On the 7 day matabolism boosting diet on Thursday, there is 8 chunks for dinner, what is chunks? R
@ Roelien Engelbrecht
the chuncks they meant is butternut cubed
Hi, how much weight can be lost on this?
THANKS @shapemag.co.za this is so versatile and practical. Thanks for sharing.
Carla Viana
This meal plan sounds awesome… it would be wonderful to do but is very expensive, especially if you’re single and doing it! This may sounds very ridiculous but can it be purchased in meal sets and portions? It would be awesome… would hate to sit with all those veggies afterward going to waste because every day is a different cereal and veg!
Any advice? Where can all of these ingredients be purchased?