by Karel Kinnett

Created on: April 25, 2009

The 5 Factor Diet was created by the author of 5 Factor Fitness and celebrity trainer, Harley Pasternak. It is a five week plan offering 5 meals a day, each using 5 ingredients. You are allowed five cheat days during the diet, one per week. Alicia Keys, Eva Mendes, Kanye West and John Mayer all report success with the 5 Factor Diet.

Each meal takes no more than five minutes to prepare and five minutes to cook.The meals include lean protein, fruits and vegetables, and whole grains and healthy fats, like olive oil. All of the foods on the diet are low on the glycemic index and help regulate insulin production and helps to control hunger.

Breakfast options include egg white omelets, frittatas, sugar free cereal,like Kashi Go Lean, blueberries, strawberries, cottage cheese and yogurt. If you like hot cereal, you can have some oatmeal with whey protein powder. For lunch, try low fat soup and a salad. You can also have an open faced sandwich on bread made without flour, a rice cake or a low fat tortilla wrap. Lean protein, like fish, chicken and turkey, wild rice, sweet potatoes and vegetables like broccoli, spinach and cauliflower should be eaten for dinner. For a snack, you can have cottage cheese, fat free cheese, celery with cream cheese, salmon, toast, or an apple. Beverages must be sugar free. You are allowed five cheat days during the diet, one per week. On these days, you may eat whatever you want.

The exercise plan consists of five exercises, performed for five minutes each, five times a week. The exercises combine cardio with strength training and can be done at home. The plan begins with five minutes of cardio warm up, followed by strength training. There are two different strength training exercises each day, one for the upper body and one for the lower body, each performed for five minutes. After strength training, you move to core exercises, such as sit-ups and crunches. This is followed by five minutes of cardio on an elliptical machine. If you want to maximize your results, you may do up to 30 minutes of cardio. Different muscles are targeted daily. The goal is to burn fat and build lean muscle.

The Five Factor Diet is flexible eating plan that provides results. This diet is safe enough to be used for the long-term and teaches healthy eating habits. The 5 Factor Diet is published by Meredith Corporation and can be found on line at 5 Factor Diet.

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