The Fast Metabolism Diet

Boost your metabolism by rotating what you eat to see the pounds melt away

American nutritionist, Haylie Pomroy is changing the way we think about weight loss.

Her new approach to slimming, the Fast Metabolism Diet, has nothing to do with counting calories. Instead she believes that the key to sustainable, sensible dieting is 'firing up' the metabolism again so that you can lose up to 20lbs in just four weeks.

'Losing weight seems mysterious to some', Haylie says. 'But it's really not that complicated. It's not about calories or fat grams or carbs...It is about your metabolism. Fire it up and it'll burn everything you eat like a bonfire, even if you eat a lot.'

Haylie's background is impressive, but she didn't take the traditional route to become a nutritionist. Instead, she studied animal science at university in the hope of working as a vet - and that's what sparked the Fast Metabolism Diet.

'[College] is where I first began to understand that food can be used, systematically and purposefully, to shape the body the way a sculptor shapes a lump of clay', she says. 'The more I learned about animal nutrition, the more I thought about how some of the same concepts could be applied to people.'

And that's why the Fast Metabolism Diet gets results. Her method has been so successful in fact that she now has a client list which includes Cher, Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Lopez and the Sultan of Dubai, all of whom have approached her after recommendation. Fortunately for us, you no longer need to be an A-lister to reap the benefits of Haylie's weight loss research. She's now sharing her knowledge through the pages of a new book,The Fast Metabolism Diet: Lose Up To 20 Pounds In 28 Days

(Vermillon, £7.99).

Curious? Click through to find out more and get started on the Fast Metabolism Diet now.

Why the Fast Metabolism Diet is different

'Chronic dieting burns out your metabolism, but the Fast Metabolism Diet stokes the fires again', Haylie explains. It makes sense really - the more you starve your body of what it needs to function, the less likely you are to maintain a healthy weight. Faddy diets and processed foods are to blame. 'You know those people who always pack it in? They have fast metabolisms. Then there are people who hardly eat at all and remain saddled with extra weight. They are the ones with slow metabolisms that have cooled off and aren't burning the way they should', Haylie says. 'When you throw rubbish on a damp pile of wood, it's going to become a heap of wet mess. You can't start a fire with that...That's what happens when you throw junk food, processed sugar and all those other foods you know you probably shouldn't eat, into a body with a slow metabolism.'

How the Fast Metabolism Diet works

In order to lose weight, you have to take back control of what you're eating. And that's where the Fast Metabolism Diet comes in. Haylie teaches her clients basic biology and food science, so they know exactly how the body works, along with what to eat and when. 'Food can do a lot for you. But it must take a different place in your life for the next few weeks', Haylie says. 'Food is going to wear a different hat. It is your tool, not your entertainment source. It's definitely not your enemy. You are going to put it to work for you, and make it work hard. 'All you have to do is eat food - good food, delicious, real food - in the way that I tell you to eat it'.

Getting started on the Fast Metabolism Diet

First, you need to understand how your metabolism works. 'Metabolism is a process, not an object', Haylie explains. 'It's the change or transformation of food into either heat and fuel or substance (muscle, fat, blood, bone). At any given moment, your metabolism is either burning, storing or building. 'The beauty of your metabolism is that it can be manipulated...[but it] can also get you in to trouble because you can inadvertently manipulate a body you don't want. Dieting, nutrient-void foods, and living with too much stress slows down your metabolism. 'Your metabolism reflects what you do by creating a body that can survive the conditions it is subjected to.'

The Fast Metabolism Diet in practice: Cross-training

In order to kickstart weight loss, you need to shake up your metabolism so it starts functioning properly again. '[Cross-training your metabolism] keeps your body working, surprised and supported, reversing the biochemical patterns that have slowed it down. It will trigger a burn that will torch calories and fat like never before', Haylie says. That means 'two days eating one way, two days eating another and three days eating a whole new, specific nutrient mix' so your body is constantly working hard.

A typical week on the Fast Metabolism Diet - Phase one and two

There are three phases to the Metabolism Diet plan which must be followed strictly for four weeks:

• Phase one - unwind stress

Eat...'Three-carb rich, moderate protein, low-fat meals'

Serve up... High carb foods (brown rice), foods high in natural sugars (mangoes, strawberries), vitamin B and C rich foods (turkey, oats), moderate amounts of protein, low fat foods

Exercise...'Do at least one day of vigorous cardio, like running or an aerobics class'

For...Two days

• Phase two - unlock fat stores

Eat... 'Three high-protein, low-carb, low-fat meals and two protein snacks'

Serve up... Liver function-supporting foods (leafy greens), lean protein (lean beef, tuna), alkalising green vegetables (kale, swiss chard), carnitine-producing foods that help boost energy (chicken breast, cod)

Leave out...Fruit and grains

Exercise...'Do at least one day of strength training (weight lifting) during phase two.'

For...Two days

A typical week on the Fast Metabolism Diet - Phase three

• Phase three - unleash the burn

Eat...'Three meals and two healthy-fat snacks'

Serve up...Healthy fats (avocado, nuts and seeds), higher fat proteins (salmon), low GI fruits (berries) and vegetables (artichokes), unrefined carbs (wild rice), thyroid-stimulants (seaweed) and foods rich in inosital (a simple carbohydrate) and choline which is a nutrient rich in Vitamin B (pulses and chicken liver)

Exercise...'At least one day of stress-reducing activity like yoga'

For... Three days

Find out more about the Metabolism Diet

For meal plans and more from Haylie, buy The Fast Metabolism Diet: Lose Up To 20 Pounds In 28 Days (Vermillon, £7.99)