Suzanne Somers, known for her roles in television series like "Three's Company" and "Step by Step," also gained recognition for her health and fitness endeavors. The Suzanne Somers Diet, often referred to as "Somersizing," has garnered attention as a weight loss approach that emphasizes food combinations and mindful eating rather than strict calorie counting. This article delves into the various aspects of the Suzanne Somers Diet Plan, providing a structured overview of its principles, benefits, and potential drawbacks.
Introduction to the Suzanne Somers Diet
The Suzanne Somers Diet revolves around the concept of combining specific food groups to optimize digestion and metabolism. The diet advocates for avoiding sugars, foods that break down into sugars, and white flour. The diet is presented in a series of books filled with recipes designed to adhere to the principles of food combining.
Somers herself asserts that her dietary philosophy stems from her experiences in France, where she learned about eating food groups together to enhance metabolism and digestion. She maintains that this approach helped her overcome cycles of dieting and weight gain.
Core Principles of the Somersizing Diet
The Suzanne Somers Diet focuses on three fundamental components: eliminating certain foods, separating specific food groups, and combining others. The diet promotes the consumption of fresh, whole foods while discouraging packaged or processed items. Calorie counting is not a requirement, and portion sizes are not explicitly defined. Somers posits that consuming the right foods in the right combinations enables individuals to eat until comfortably full without hindering weight loss.
Food Categorization
The Somers Diet categorizes foods into four main groups:
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- Pro/Fats: This category includes proteins like meat, poultry, fish, and eggs, as well as fats in their natural state, such as oil, butter, cream, and cheese.
- Veggies: This group encompasses a wide array of low-starch, fresh vegetables.
- Carbos: This category includes whole-grain pastas, cereals, breads, beans, and nonfat dairy products.
- Fruits: This group includes a variety of fresh fruits.
Funky Foods: Foods to Eliminate
The diet advises eliminating "Funky Foods," which do not fit into the four Somersize Food Groups. These include sugars, highly starchy foods, caffeine, and alcohol.
Seven Easy Steps to Somersizing (Level One)
The initial weight loss phase, Level One, involves following these seven steps:
- Eliminate all Funky Foods.
- Eat Fruits alone, on an empty stomach.
- Eat Pro/Fats with Veggies.
- Eat Carbos with Veggies.
- Keep Pro/Fats separate from Carbos.
- Wait three hours between meals when switching from a Pro/Fats meal to a Carbos meal, or vice versa.
- Do not skip meals; eat at least three meals a day until satisfied.
Sample Recipes
The diet promotes healthy and delicious recipes like the Grilled Onion Frittata:
- Ingredients include red and yellow onions, salt, pepper, olive oil, eggs, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, butter, and rosemary.
- The recipe involves grilling the onions, combining the eggs and cream, and baking the mixture in the oven.
Another recipe is the Israeli Salad:
- Ingredients consist of Kirby or Persian cucumbers, tomatoes, green bell pepper, scallions, and radishes.
- The vegetables are diced and tossed with salt and pepper.
Diet Levels
The Suzanne Somers Weight Loss Plan has three stages:
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- Level 1: This is the strictest phase, where alcohol, avocados, nuts, olives, and soy are not allowed.
- Almost Level 1: This level is for those who have seen significant results and allows for occasional consumption of foods or combinations that are not optimal.
- Level 2: This maintenance phase allows some previously forbidden foods in moderation, such as alcohol and soy, and occasional combinations of carbohydrates with fats.
Function and Intended Outcomes
The Suzanne Somers Weight Loss Plan aims to establish lasting, healthy eating habits. The primary goal is weight loss, but the diet is designed as a lifelong approach, with Level 2 serving as the weight maintenance phase. Emphasizing fresh foods over processed options also intends to promote better overall health.
Potential Benefits
Weight loss, as a result of following the diet, can lead to several health benefits, including a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. A diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains provides essential vitamins and minerals, contributing to general well-being.
Precautions and Risks
It is crucial to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new diet. Individual requirements for calories, fat, and nutrients can vary significantly. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should exercise particular caution to avoid vitamin or mineral deficiencies, which can negatively impact the baby. The Suzanne Somers Weight Loss Plan's restrictions necessitate careful attention to meeting daily nutritional needs.
Potential risks include:
- Difficulty obtaining all necessary vitamins and minerals due to food restrictions.
- Cardiovascular problems associated with high intake of fats, red meat, and animal products.
Expert Opinions and Scientific Research
While there is no specific scientific research on the Suzanne Somers Diet program itself, research supports the benefits of weight loss and a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Some studies suggest that diets high in red meat, fats, and animal products may increase cholesterol levels and the risk of heart disease, even with weight loss.
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Experts emphasize the importance of nutrient-dense foods and well-balanced meals for proper bodily function. Avoiding hyper-palatable foods high in sugar and fat can reduce cravings over time.
Alternative Perspectives and Considerations
Some critics argue that the Suzanne Somers Diet is not unique and primarily serves to promote Suzanne Somers herself. The emphasis on food combining lacks strong scientific backing. The diet's restrictions and potentially low carbohydrate intake may make it challenging for some individuals to adhere to it in the long term.