Anne Collins weight loss program

LOW-CARBOHYDRATE DIET. The Anne Collins low-carbohydrate diet is designed to be followed for 28 days, after which the dieter may repeat the 28-day cycle or switch to another Anne Collins plan. The four weeks are divided into two phases of 14 days each. Phase one supplies meal plans for three meals a day, averaging 30 g of carbohydrates per day. In phase two, the day’s carbohydrate allotment is raised to 55 g per day. This plan claims that the dieter loses as much as 10 lb during phase one. This diet plan includes a number of food substitutes, advice on eating in fast-food restaurants, a shopping list, and a list of acceptable snack foods.

LOW GLYCEMIC INDEX DIET. The glycemic index (GI) is a measurement system devised at the University of Toronto in 1981 for ranking dietary carbohydrates. The GI measures carbohydrates in individual foods on a gram-for-gram basis in regard to their effect on blood glucose levels in the first two hours after a meal. The higher the index number, the more rapidly the carbohydrate breaks down in the digestive tract and the more rapidly it raises blood sugar levels. A lower GI number is thought to relate to a longer feeling of fullness in the stomach, better control over insulin and blood sugar levels, and lower levels of blood lipids.
The Anne Collins low glycemic index diet plan is designed for people with type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, or women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS, an endocrine disorder associated with obesity and insulin resistance) who need or want to lose weight rapidly. Like the Anne Collins low-carbohydrate diet, the low GI diet has a 28-day cycle of meal plans and shopping lists, but is not divided into two phases. It is fundamentally a lean-protein with low-GI carbohydrate diet, intended to stabilize the dieter’s blood glucose level during weight loss. The meal plans allow about 1,100 calories per day but may be adjusted upward to 2,000 calories for men (and for dieters who wish to lose weight more slowly) by adding calorie- controlled snacks.

10-MINUTE MEALS DIET. The Anne Collins 10-minute meals diet is geared for dieters who wish to lose weight rapidly but have little time to cook. This plan is also for 28 days and is not divided into phases. The lunch menus have fast-food, brown-bag, and quick-cook options. Dinners provide fast-food, quick-cook, and two-day meal options; which are dinners intended to last for two days, thus freeing the dieter from having to cook twice. Like the meal plans for the low GI diet, the meal plans for the 10-minute meals diet allow about 1,100 calories per day, adjustable upward to 2,000 or 2,100 calories through a choice of snacks, including fastfood options. After four weeks, the dieter can either repeat the 28-day cycle or choose another Anne Collins diet plan.

CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING DIET. This diet is intended for people who must lower blood cholesterol levels while losing weight and/or who wish to lose weight rapidly. The 28-day cycle of meal plans shows the total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol content of every food item on the diet as well as the calorie values. The diet allows about 1,200 calories per day, with an average content of 22 g total fat, 4 g saturated fat, and 120 mg cholesterol. The meal plans are rich in dietary fiber, particularly soluble fiber, which has a number of important health benefits that include lowering blood cholesterol levels. The cholesterol and fat values of this diet plan fall within the guidelines recommended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As with other Anne Collins diet plans, the calorie level can be adjusted upward for men and people who desire to lose weight more slowly.
The e-book that comes with this plan contains suggestions about and guidelines for exercise as a way to further lower blood cholesterol levels. The diet plan suggests that cholesterol levels should begin to fall within two to three weeks of beginning the diet. After four weeks, the dieter may repeat the cycle if blood cholesterol has not fallen to the desired level, or choose another diet in the program to continue losing weight.

14-DAY LOW-CALORIE BOOSTER DIET. This diet plan has only a 14-day rather than a 28-day cycle. It is intended for dieters who have only a short-term weight-loss goal (such as fitting into a specific outfit for an important event) or feel unable to reach a longterm goal and want a quick breakthrough. The plan allows for six meals or snacks per day to promote rapid food metabolism. The meal plans include a number of quick-cook recipes and convenience food or fast-food options. The basic diet plan allows about 1,000 calories a day to maximize weight loss but can be adjusted upward for men.

VEGETARIAN QUICK-START DIET. The Anne Collins vegetarian quick-start diet is a rapid weight-loss plan for committed vegetarians, those who would like to try a vegetarian lifestyle, and those who would simply like to lower their meat and poultry consumption. Technically, the diet is ovolactovegetarian, which means that it includes eggs and dairy products. This diet plan is based on a 28-day cycle, and allows about 1,250 calories per day, adjustable upward to about 2,000 calories for men. It also contains about 90 recipes, advice about cooking whole grains, vegetarian fast-food options, and calorie counts for all menu items.

NO-NONSENSE BALANCED DIET. The no-nonsense diet plan is intended for dieters who want to lose weight rapidly but also want some flexibility in a diet plan. This diet also has a 28-day cycle, with meal plans averaging 1,100 calories per day. Flexibility includes home-cooked and convenience meal options for every lunch as well as every dinner. As with the other Anne Collins plans, the calorie level can be adjusted upward for men. Sample menus from this diet are as follows:
Breakfast: 2 low-fat pancakes; 1 tbsp maple syrup; 2 slices Canadian bacon; one-half cup berries. Alternate menu: 1 cup fat-free yogurt; 2 tbsp wheat germ; 1 medium banana; 1 tbsp sesame seeds.
Lunch: Convenience option: Subway six-inch roasted chicken breast submarine sandwich and 1 serving fruit. Home-cooked option: 1 cup low-fat ready-toserve soup; 2 slices whole wheat bread spread with 2 tbsp fat-free mayonnaise and filled with chopped vegetables; 1 oz fat-free cheese.
Dinner: Conveniencemeal option: Lean Cuisine angelhair pasta meal; 2 cup salad; 1 tbsp fat-free dressing; 2 graham crackers with 1 tbsp fat-free cream cheese; 1 serving fruit. Home recipe option: 1 oz (dry weight) pasta or thin spaghetti; 3 oz very lean ground beef; one-half cup sliced bell peppers; 1 large tomato, chopped; 1 clove garlic, minced; one-half tsp oregano, one-half tsp Italian seasoning.
Snacks: Select from list included with diet plan.

DIET FOR LIFE. The diet for life is essentially a slow weight-loss or maintenance-level diet plan that contains a 14-day starter set of meal plans. The meal plans are low in fat, moderate in protein, and high in carbohydrates. In addition to the usual calorie counts, this plan contains guidelines for lifelong sensible eating habits. It can be continued indefinitely, or the dieter may switch to another Anne Collins plan. The basic calorie allowance in the diet for life is 1,300 calories per day, adjustable upward to 2,000 or 2,100 calories.

VEGETARIAN DIET FOR LIFE. The vegetarian diet for life is similar to the general diet for life plan, with a 14- day set of starter menus, a large number of easy-toprepare recipes, and advice about lifelong sensible eating habits. Like the diet for life, the vegetarian diet for life plan is low in fat and moderate in protein. The menu plans provide about 1,250 calories per day and can be adjusted upward.

Function The Anne Collins weight loss system is intended for the dieter who is ‘‘looking for safe permanent weight loss without using pills, special foods, or gimmicks of any sort.’’ Most of the nine specific plans are intended for more rapid weight loss, but several are maintenance diets including a maintenance diet for vegetarians. All the specific plans can be tailored to allow higher calorie intakes for men or for dieters less concerned to about losing weight rapidly.

Resources
BOOKS
Scales, Mary Josephine. Diets in a Nutshell: A Definitive
Guide on Diets from A to Z. Clifton, VA: Apex Publishers,
2005.
ORGANIZATIONS
Anne Collins Weight Loss Program. [cited April 26, 2007].
<http://www.anne-collins.com>.