Dear KL,
Although you may be able to lose that much weight in one month, the likelihood of gaining it back is great. This is due to the fact that rapid weight loss techniques usually result in loss of glycogen and water, not fat. A target of losing 4 to 8 lbs a month is a better strategy for long-term success. -- Dr. S

You don't say much about eggs. How many eggs can I eat a day? -- P.M.

Dear PM,
Eggs have gotten a bad rap because of fears of cholesterol. Most of the cholesterol in our bodies does not come from the diet but is made by the liver (under the control of insulin). That is why reducing dietary cholesterol isn't very effective in reducing serum cholesterol. Reduce your high glycemic load foods. If your serum cholesterol still remains high then you can worry about reducing cholesterol in your diet. In the meantime, you can eat two eggs a day. Your doctor will recommend a cholesterol lowering medication if needed. -- Dr. S

I usually start out my diets with a great deal of success but after awhile I loose interest and start gaining the weight back. This is very discouraging to me. I feel like I am doomed to failure. What do I do? -- S.B.

Deare SB,
Your problem is such a common theme in dieting. One theory is that people who obsess on food can change their obsession to a new diet for a period of time. We know that food does work like an addictive substance in the brains of obese individuals and it takes up to a year for the brain to normalize. Rapid withdrawal of any addictive substance can defeat the goals of even the most earnest dieter. Be patient! If you start low and go slow your chances for long term success are best. -- Dr. S

Doc. I like to see how long I can go without eating. Some days I don't eat until dinner. Is that OK? -- A.B.

Deare AB,
When our bodies sense impending starvation, a number of hormones are released to make sure we eat. These hormones may cause you to eat even more than you would have if you had just eaten reasonable portions earlier in the day. So the answer is no to mini fasts and yes to mini meals. If you aren't that hungry earlier then try a GRID Supplement or meal replacement. -- Dr. S

I've heard that dieting can cause you to gain weight. Is that even possible? -- L.B.

Dear LB,
An interesting observation has been that many people lose weight when they start a diet but gain even more back when they abandon their diet. Some call this the "yoyo" effect. One explanation is that reducing calories (especially carbohydrates) reduces available tryptophan in the brain leading to reduced serotonin and impaired mood. So dieting can lead to depressive symptoms and eating again fixes it. A second problem has to do with basal metabolic rate. Reducing caloric intake also reduces your basal metabolic rate so you burn fewer calories. If you stop dieting and resume your normal diet your reduced basal metabolic rate leaves you with excess calories that will be stored as fat. A week after you stop your diet you weigh more than before you started. Whoops! With GRID we ask you to focus on reducing or eliminating the high glycemic load foods. This lowers insulin need and insulin production. This helps burn body fat instead of constantly storing it. Successful weight loss is a slow process.
-- Dr. S

Doctor: Are the GRID Diet and GRID products good for diabetics? -- C.S.

Dear CS,
Yes. In fact some of our most dramatic successes have been with Type 2 diabetics. Keeping blood glucose levels in check is the goal of the GRID Diet and this is just what the diabetic needs. You can visit our sister site at www.gridfordiabetics.com. -- Dr. S

Doctor S. Can I take your program to my doctor to review? -- M.B.

Dear MB,
Please do share the GRID Program with your doctor. Many of the patients in our program are referred by doctors who want their patients to follow a balanced weight loss plan. -- Dr. S