Why is exercise NOT recommended during the Ideal Protein Weight Loss Method?

Dieters on the protocol are on a very low caloric diet, yet their body is actually “getting more calories” than they were prior to starting our protocol. Why? Because they are burning (using their fat stores) fat. They are getting about 900 Kcals per day from the foods they are eating (on Phase 1) but if they lose 4 lbs per week (on average) 4 x 3500 Kcal/lb of fat means 14,000 Kcal/week, divide by 7 equals 2000 Kcals per day. They are actually consuming 900 Kcal + 2000 Kcals = 2900Kcals per day. Understand their bodies must make the necessary enzymes to fully burn the ketonic bodies that are produced from fat metabolism (beta oxidation). It takes about two weeks for this to happen. During the first 3 weeks, your body is getting the necessary “enzymatic machinery” in place so it can use 100% of the ketonic bodies (for cellular fuel) that your body is producing from burning the fat. In the first couple of weeks, it cannot use all of them and you breath them out (acetone breath), “pee them out” (ketostix turn purple when you dip them in your urine) or you excrete excess ketones in your feces. If your blood sugar gets too low during this time period, the proteins we supply and the muscle you have can undergo gluconeogenesis and glucose can be produced.

If you increase the glucose demand (i.e. exercise vigorously during these first 3 weeks) you will increase gluconeogensis markedly. This CAN result in muscle loss, SOMETHING WE WANT TO AVOID!!!! If you MUST exercise during the first 3 weeks, please do it lightly, (1/3 to 1/2 your normal intensity) or not at all. Here’s the beauty of the program: During this period…you literally are “peeing out calories” without having to exercise!!! You will lose the same amount of weight, but will not risk losing muscle. This is not about calories in – calories out, it’s about hormones and metabolism. They were fighting a hormone (Insulin) before and you can’t exercise your way out of that, the hormone always wins. After the first 3 weeks, you may exercise, but please keep in mind:

· Do not get overly tired
· Supplements are a must! (serious cardiac problems can result; arrhythmia, tachycardia, etc)
· Keep well hydrated, if exercising you must increase your water