The good BAD Diet
When you take pleasure in what you are eating, you can diet successfully,” says Dr. Jean-Michel Cohen, French physician-nutritionist, bestselling author, and television personality. This is the basis of the Bon Appetit Diet (BAD.) While fad diets that involve tasteless food and limited choices can result in quick and dramatic weight loss, the excess pounds are, more often than not, quickly gained back.
“The idea here is learning how to use food correctly,” explains Dr. Cohen who was in Manila recently. “We take into account different cultures and habits, and I am here to tell you that there is no room for guilt.”
What exactly is the BAD diet? “The Bon Appetit Diet helps people make wiser choices,” says Dr. Cohen. “By developing strategies to manage calories regardless of circumstance and situation, avoiding slips no matter how small, and learning how to develop one’s own diet and menu according to personal needs and tastes, the program teaches people to learn and adopt certain eating habits necessary for a better lifestyle and weight loss.” Precisely because there are no restrictions, the diet is pleasurable. It employs a variety of ingredients, and may be enjoyed by the entire family. “There is no such thing as a miracle diet. There is only a well-balanced diet,” adds Dr. Cohen.
“The good way to lose weight is not to starve,” shares the doctor. “A diet does not need to be too restrictive; it is flexible so that you can eat what you want.” It is a calorie-based diet plan that focuses on the consumption of nutritious, low- calorie meals. Feel like binging on a chocolate bar? Certainly, you can do so. Just remember to eat a low calorie meal later in the day so that you do not consume more calories than required. “I want people to like my diet. I don’t want to give them pain or misery,” Dr. Cohen continues.
He enumerates the basic principles of the Bon Appetit Diet: “First, you don’t have to be hungry; second, you have to find pleasure in the food that you eat; and third, you have to lose the extra weight progressively. Finally, you have to reeducate yourself with respect to your eating habits. The time spent while gradually losing weight serves to prepare you to acquire good eating habits so that you will be able to stabilize your weight for life.”
Perhaps, the revolutionary aspect about this diet latest regimen by Dr. Cohen is that it is an individualized coaching program that makes use of the Internet. The process begins when a participant fills up a questionnaire during the on-line registration so that his or her specific needs are determined, and a customized diet regimen can be devised. “The Bon Appetit diet is customized for each individual’s needs, and to further accommodate the differences in people’s capabilities and levels of discipline,” relates Dr. Cohen.
Following successful enrollment in the program, a ‘welcome video’ has Dr. Jean Michel Cohen explaining the main principles of the program and his approach to weight loss. Following this, an individual will have immediate access to his/her account, weight loss plan and Dr. Cohen’s book. And to keep dieters on track, they will receive daily motivational video advice and email coaching from Dr. Cohen. The subscriber will have full access to meal suggestions and shopping lists that are set up two weeks in advance, so that a member has enough time to put together a meal plan. And should a participant have specific concerns or questions regarding issues that are not addressed in the coaching videos, he/she may email these to the coach and team of registered dieticians who monitor online subscriptions to the program. A reply from the team is forthcoming two days at most.-- Think of it as having access to your dieting coach every single day.
But for Filipinos, the good news is that Dr, Jean Michel Cohen’s Bon Appetit Diet will soon be available locally through BelleToday.com.ph. The website is a free online guide to a healthy lifestyle with a mission to provide an accessible, easy to follow online weight-loss guide for the modern Filipina who is eager for actual results. While “helping to educate women what it means to be healthy inside and out,” it is an online community where women can share experiences and offer support. “The Bon Appetit Diet will be customized for Filipinos; with a diet plan using local ingredients to make local dishes,” Dr. Cohen assures us. A team of qualified Filipino dieticians and nutritionists will provide vital support.
