The key to success with regard to your eating management program is that you must keep the ratio of protein, carbohydrate, and fat in a correct balance at almost every meal. Remember that this is not a calorie deprivation program. Your goal is to maintain the correct hormonal balance in your body, which is dictated by the correct protein and carbohydrate content of your last meal or snack.

Whether you are hungry or not, do not let more than 3 hours go by without eating a meal or snack. Plan your daily dietary strategy based on the time you wake up. Determine the time points throughout the day when it is necessary to re-fuel your body and maintain relatively constant hormonal levels. Treat food as if it were prescribed medicine.

Always drink at least 8 ounces of water or a sugar-free, decaffeinated beverage 8-10 times a day. Increased amounts of water is required as you switch from a carbohydrate-burning to a fat-burning metabolism.

If you are a heavy caffeine user, gradually reduce caffeine intake whenever possible as the breakdown products of caffeine stimulate insulin secretion.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day since you are coming off an 8-12 hour fast, and your body is basically running on empty. Breakfast is sometimes the most difficult meal to achieve the correct proportions of protein and carbohydrate, either due to time constraints or lack of suitable protein choices.

No matter how consistently you follow your new eating strategy, you are bound to make mistakes, especially at parties. Remember you are only out of the desired hormonal balance for a short period of time, and are only one meal away from being back on track. Never consume more than 500 calories per meal.

Don't consume complex carbohydrates after 7:00pm in the initial phase of your eating management regimen. This includes bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, yams, lentils and beans. If you are hungry at night eat a small amount of protein with simple carbohydrates or 1 Tablespoon of Sorrel Ridge preserves. If this does not satisfy you, take another spoonful rather than resorting to candies.

RULES TO GO BY:

Protein: Never consume more requires protein than your body requires, but never consume less.

Carbohydrates: Choose most of your carbohydrate blocks using favorable (low-glycemic) carbohydrates, and use unfavorable (high-glycemic) carbohydrates in moderation.

Fat: Restrict the amount of arachidonic acid and saturated fat in both your protein and fat units.

You must always give yourself a nutritional meal or snack every 4-5 hours. It is recommended to consume no more than 500 calories per meal. However, it is acceptable to consume up to 600 calories per meal.

Plan your daily food consumption based on your wake-up time. Determine those time points throughout the day when you will need to refuel your body. This will maintain a relatively constant hormonal level.

Treat food as if it were prescribed medicine.

If you get hungry and crave sweets or sugars 2-3 hours after a meal, you probably ate too many carbohydrates for your last meal. Always look to your last meal for the clue.

Try to select the right type of carbohydrates so as to reduce insulin secretion. These favorable ones are fiber-rich vegetables and fruits. Unfavorable carbohydrates are grains, pasta, bread and starches. You may eat them but in smaller amounts.