Starting right in 2009

My squash mate Jun del Rosario sent this text the other day – ”After all the festivities, let us pause and reflect for a moment. Breathe deeply and ask the ultimate question ... ‘Lord, ano na kaya ang timbang ko ngayon?’”

Not too many of us were spared from gaining weight during the holidays. There was little time to exercise because it was just too much fun to indulge, celebrate and make merry with family and friends.

To start the new year on the right foot, my wife Menchu suggested going on the General Motors seven-day diet. It isn’t just a quick fix to shed off unwanted pounds. It’s also a good way to “detoxify” and cleanse our digestive system.

For the record, this diet was developed by General Motors in conjunction with the US Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. It was initially tried on experiment at the Johns Hopkins Research Center. In 1995, the Board of Directors of General Motors officially endorsed the health program to all its employees and their dependents. It was the Board’s intention “to facilitate a welfare and fitness program for everyone.”

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The diet aims to drop seven to 10 pounds in a week. The downside is the body has a natural tendency to regain the lost weight once you get off the program. The key is to eat healthy and moderately once you’ve attained your target weight. Exercising to keep fit is vital. Playing a sport like squash, badminton or basketball is highly suggested but don’t overdo it. Always listen to what your body tells you. Another critical element is drinking eight to 10 glasses of water a day.

“The effectiveness of this seven-day plan is that the foods eaten burn more calories than they give to the body in caloric value,” said an Internet source. “The plan can be used as often as you like without any fear of complications. It is designed to flush your system of impurities and give you a feeling of well-being. It will improve your attitude and emotions because of the cleansing systemic effects. After seven days, you will begin to feel lighter. You will have an abundance of energy and an improved disposition.”

Before taking the diet, it is advised to consult your doctor just to make sure your body is primed for the program. If your body isn’t prepared to go through with the diet, you should consider other alternatives.

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Here’s the General Motors seven-day diet (specifically, for those 40 and over):

Day One. Eat only fruits, except bananas. Melon is highly recommended. Don’t hold back. You may consume as many fruits as you want but don’t stuff yourself.

Day Two. Eat only vegetables. There is no limit to what you may take in. For breakfast, you may eat one large boiled potato.

Day Three. Eat any mixture of fruits and vegetables of your choice – any amount, any quantity – but no bananas and no potatoes.

Day Four. Eat eight bananas and drink three glasses of milk. You may take one bowl of vegetable (cabbage, onions) soup.

Day Five. Eat one cup of rice and six whole tomatoes. You may mash the tomatoes and mix with your rice. Also, drink 12 glasses of water to cleanse your system of uric acid you will be producing. For those who are 39 and below, you may consume 10-ounce portions of lean beef (like hamburger).

Day Six. Eat one cup of rice and all the vegetables – cooked or uncooked – you want.

Day Seven. Eat one cup of rice and all the vegetables you want plus drink a glass of fruit juice.

If you want to do a second take, it is advised to rest three days before you repeat the health program. Even if you’ve stabilized your weight to where you want it, you may still go on this diet every so often “to cleanse your digestive system and remove toxic substances that have accumulated in your body.”

I started this program yesterday. I’ll tell you how many pounds I lost, if any, next Tuesday. It’ll be tough to survive the week but I’m hoping my mind and body will be up to the challenge.