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Unfortunately, nutrition is a “black hole” in many of today's health programs; they might be very evolved from a technical and instrumental point of view, geared towards maximizing performance, but 50 years behind as far as knowledge of the interaction between body and food is concerned. The GIFT Diet's aim is to close this gap and propose a new way of looking at nutrition, even for people who practice sports.
A normo-protein content and normo-caloric diet
In recent years many dietary regimes were based on the idea that it was useful or necessary for an athlete to lose weight, which is partly true. But sometimes the methods used to obtain this result were not only ineffective, but they were actually counter productive.
Forcing an athlete to follow a low calorie nutritional regime (like the ones proposed by many diets, whether explicitly or not) is wrong from a methodological standpoint and can result in negative consequences. As soon as the body perceives a reduction in food, it responds by slowing metabolism (that is it reduces calorie consumption). This reaction reaches back to an evolutionary legacy that protected our ancestors during periods of famine.
The first effect of this slow-down is the reduction of muscle mass: a harmful effect for an athlete as well as for someone who simply wants to lose weight. Therefore, the GIFT diet shuns nutritional sacrifices, renounces calorie counting and proposes a regime that is normo-caloric (with respect to estimated daily requirements) and normo-protein content in order to encourage proper muscle growth for those who exercise.
How can I lose weight if I'm eating just as much as I consume?
This is a key question that many professionals in this area - so accustomed to thinking exclusively in terms of calories - have difficulty answering. However, we have very clear ideas on this subject: in order to lose weight, that is lose fat and retained liquids, we need to send the correct signals to our hypothalamic (cerebral) regulation centers. As a result we activate those mechanisms that direct storage and consumption according to a criteria of health and reduction of weight (if necessary) equal to the calories ingested.
The signals that we detect are totally natural and without side-effects. They are based on human physiology, chronobiology, natural hormonal peaks and in-depth knowledge of our digestive system.
The GIFT diet: a “signal” diet
The paths that the GIFT Diet follows to achieve health and weight loss are based upon:
- The signal that comes from a hearty breakfast that includes protein.
- An adequate protein input, with different values for athletes and for sedentary people.
- A constant balance of proteins and carbohydrates in every meal.
- A control of glycemic peaks; not just in terms of “load”, but especially as a signal.
- The extinguishing of the inflammatory signal that comes from possible food intolerances.
- Proper chewing and an adequate input of water and whole fiber.
- The signal that comes from an adequate aerobic activation (personalized).
Together, these strategies act to modulate the metabolic signals that come from leptin (a hormone discovered in '94 that is produced by the adipose cells) and from the other adipokines. In this way it‘s able to communicate to our hypothalamus our body's real metabolic needs
What happens to your body when you follow the GIFT Diet?
The first thing that you'll notice is a marked sensation of energy, the disappearance of hunger sensations and a reduction in fat mass (especially at the waistline, skin folds, etc.). In other words, the body activates itself. The mind, finally free from the “drug-like” effects of simple sugars, starts to “breathe” again. In a short time the ratio between lean and fat mass changes because the body builds muscle and burns fat.
Therefore, body weight will decrease more slowly than it would with a drastic low calorie diet, but the results will continue over time and... every gram of fat that you lose will stay off for good.
Your weight will start to decrease and the sensation of psycho-physical tone will increase. The basal metabolism values, which are measured with a metabolimeter, will rise (consumption will increase), and the body will slim down, ridding itself of excess water.
Your mood will improve and there is proof that, under medical supervision, even some pharmacological treatments (for example, psychological, thyroid function and anti-histamine drugs) can be reduced.
How can I verify my progress? What are the necessary instruments?
The GIFT Diet program starts with a first visit in which a person's specific situation is examined. That person may be overweight, underweight, bloated, imbalanced, prone to eating disorders, etc.
During this meeting, we evaluate which tests could be useful in that particular case. Weight and fat mass are measured with an impedentiometric scale, or more precisely with an instrument (Biavector) for the evaluation of fat, muscle mass and water retention.
A test for food intolerances may also be suggested, or perhaps an evaluation of basal metabolism or the use of simple instruments which record daily calorie consumption ( from a simple step counter to actual metabolic “Holters”).
All of this information is used to give the professional a complete picture of the subject's situation. In this way he is better able to interact in a positive way with the specific characteristics and case history of each individual.
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