The Fat Smash Diet by Ian Smith – Does it Really Work?

If you're a fan of VH1's Celebrity Fit Club, you can now put yourself on the same diet plan as the contestants with Ian Smith's The Fat Smash Diet. Instead of trying a new fad diet, the author encourages everyone to adopt this healthy eating plan that combines lifestyle changes, exercise and a steady diet to encourage weight loss and keep the weight off for life. In addition to a step-by-step eating plan, the book contains several recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. But does The Fat Smash Diet really work? Here's a closer look at this program:

Key Benefits of The Fat Smash Diet

The Fat Smash Diet is designed around a 4-5 meal-per-day eating plan which means most people can make it through the day without drifting into starvation mode. This in itself can make it easier to stick with the diet program, and the variety of foods ‘allowed' on this diet may make it easier to stick with the plan for the long-term.

Key benefits of The Fat Smash Diet include:

• A balanced eating plan of carbohydrates, protein and fats

• A detox phase that can reduce cravings for high-carb, processed foods

• Elimination of caffeine and stimulants to keep the body healthy

• A healthy way to boost the metabolism

• Being able to add exercise slowly and progressively

• Simple strategies to manage sweet cravings and overcome sugar addition

• Food choices are relatively inexpensive and can be found at the average grocery store

• There are no meal replacements or supplements required

Principles of The Fat Smash Diet

The Fat Smash Diet is broken into four stages, and begins with a ‘Detox' phase to flush out toxins from the body and prompt the weight loss cycle.

The Detox phase is comprised of fresh fruits and vegetables that help to flush out impurities in the body and naturally reduce cravings. Since most people begin the diet after eating large quantities of processed foods, sugar and excess carbohydrates, this phase essentially ‘shocks' the system to begin shifting gears toward a healthier regiment. The detox phase can be challenging at first, but most of the discomfort subsides within a few days. The Detox is a necessary step to begin the program and maximize the benefits of the new food plan.

The second phase is the Foundation phase. This is a dieter's opportunity to build up steady meals that provide energy and keep the metabolism in great shape. The Foundation phase requires eating 4-5 small meals per day, and ensuring that each meal is well-balanced and nutritious. The entire program encourages removing fried foods and overly processed food from the diet completely. This is an important phase for major lifestyle modification and the meal plan needs to be repeated until it becomes a habit.

The third phase of The Fat Smash Diet is the Construction phase. This is a 14-day plan that builds upon the Foundation phase and introduces even more foods into the diet. At this phase, the body should be in a stable weight loss mode so it's easier to eat more healthier foods on a regular basis. Still, this phase requires eating a wide range of healthy fruits and vegetables, whole grains and other nutritious foods throughout.

The fourth phase is the ‘Temple' phase which is the maintenance phase of the program. Since the detox will only need to be completed once, the Foundation and Construction phases will become part of the day-to-day lifestyle. After the gradual changes in eating habits, this phase involves sticking with the principles of the diet program and incorporating exercise into the lifestyle for the long-term.

Bottom Line: If you're looking for a well laid out eating and exercise plan, The Fat Smash Diet is a great way to kickstart a weight loss regiment. Besides purchasing the book and the different foods, there are no added costs involved with this program. It's easy to understand and follow, and many dieters have reported amazing results with this gradual - and healthy - approach to weight loss.