The major purpose of the Maximum Metabolism plan is to limit the amount of fat we eat and maximize the amount of healthy nutritional intake. Each week's menu is based on an average of 1400 - 1500 calories a day. Of this, approximately 50% - 60% are carbohydrate, 20% - 25% fat, and 25% - 30% protein calories -- with an average of over 22 grams of fiber each day. This level of calories can help you lose weight without slowing your metabolism, or losing muscle mass, as so many of the 'starvation' diets do. And since your calorie intake is not being severely restricted, regular aerobic exercise is extremely important to your success.

The plan also includes such serotonin-containing foods as avocado, banana, eggplant, pineapple, plum and tomato that the body naturally uses to control appetite, maintain a positive mood, and feel satisfied after a meal.

The menu contains no red meat due to its high saturated fat content. A healthy weekly weight loss is about 2 - 3 pounds. More than that could mean you are losing protein (muscle tissue), which you don't want to do.

If your weight plateaus (a common occurrence), you should try to increase daily exercise in terms of time and/or intensity. It's usually a result of water retention, bodily adjustments to weight loss, metabolism and lifestyle changes. You might reevaluate your food intake to make sure you're not getting extra calories from somewhere. And drink plenty of water.

Individuals with a small body frame may want to eat one less snack per day if they find they are not losing 1 - 2 pounds per week.

Important note

Consult with your health care professional before beginning your diet and exercise program.

Other diet products from Source Naturals include:

Diet-Phen Ephedra-Free combines St. John's Wort with Phenylalanine and Chromium to increase your metabolism and energy...while supporting a sense of calm satisfaction to help decrease the dreaded 'munchies' syndrome.

Chitosan is a natural fiber substance, similar to plant cellulose. Formed from sea crustacean shells, Chitosan is both non-digestible and non-caloric, and so may promote the transit of food through the intestinal tract and on out of the body in an insoluble gel-like complex. The positive attributes of Chitosan are obvious when used in conjunction with a sensible, balanced diet and regular exercise. Available in 250 mg and 500 mg potencies.

Life Force™ Multiple enables you to maintain complete nutritional coverage while you're dieting. Lots of multiples offer high potencies of essential vitamins and minerals, but Life Force goes further. Life Force contains coenzyme Q10, lipoic acid, n-acetyl cysteine, silymarin, and ginkgo, breakthrough ingredients which support cellular energy production, nourish the brain and protect the liver. This is critical because it's the liver that activates nutrients to be used by the body - which is why you buy a multiple in the first place.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA), found mainly in meat and dairy products, used to be abundant in our diets. But the trend to lower fat diets, plus a much lowered CLA content in today's non-grass fed beef, now translates to lower levels of CLA in our daily intake. New research suggests that CLA may be an important nutrient for optimal body composition, possibly helping to reduce body fat and increase muscle. Now, with Tonalin CLA, you can derive the benefits of CLA -- without consuming large amounts of animal fat.