Do not eat between meals and do not snack. That advice might seem to fly in the face of conventional wisdom, but here’s the truth: if you’re over forty, snacking can be destructive to your goals. It can cause insulin resistance, weight gain, hot flashes, and inflammation. If you feel hunger pangs during the day, add more healthy fats, oils, and nuts to your meals. You can also increase your portion size. The hunger pangs will disappear. Eventually you’ll retrain your body to not desire snacks at all.
You might be thinking, “What happens if I get to day 6 and I go off the plan?” Great question—one that I hear all the time. My answer is to continue on and do the best you can, starting at the very next meal. I would love you to get an A-plus on this, but it’s just as good to get a passing grade.
If you have been testing your urine but haven’t gotten into ketosis or consistently alkaline, this plan is still working so stay with it. Often it may be because of a significantly stalled metabolism, candida or yeast, or high blood sugar and will take more time for some of us than others.
Above all, don’t beat yourself up. Be kind to you. We women can be our own worst critics and talk down to ourselves and bash our bodies. I say, “Get that nasty witch off your shoulder!” Step outside yourself and think of yourself as another person—your daughter, your best friend, your mom. Would you say those things to them? Of course not! Dispense with self-talk that is judgmental and discouraging. Instead, talk to yourself with encouragement—be your own best friend and coach.