Should we consider the Engine 2 diet for weight loss?
When it comes to dieting, the idea is simple: you eat fewer calories than you burn. However, despite being one of the simplest things to do, it’s one of the hardest to do, which is why diets fail for most people. The Engine 2 diet focuses on eating foods that are whole or as close to nature as possible and eating them in a specific pattern that promises weight loss.
What is this diet all about?
The Engine 2 diet is a vegan diet based on the idea that eating many fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is better for your health than eating animal products. It was created by Rip Esselstyn, a former firefighter who also wrote the book The Engine 2 Diet. The Engine 2 diet is low in fat and high in fiber, vitamins C and E, potassium, and magnesium.
The plan recommends eating ten servings of fruits and vegetables each day, which can be difficult because many Americans get only five servings per day. The Engine 2 Diet is based on the premise that eating a plant-based diet is the single best thing you can do for your health — and it’s also one of the most effective ways to lose weight.
Who created this diet?
Engine 2 Diet is a diet designed by a Texas firefighter to help people with heart disease and other health problems. The Engine 2 Diet was inspired by the diet of the Pritikin Center, which has been shown to reverse heart disease and diabetes.
The diet is also based on Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn’s work at the Cleveland Clinic, which found that a plant-based diet could reverse heart disease. The Engine 2 Diet was created by Rip Esselstyn, who was inspired by his father’s heart attack in 1995. After his father recovered from heart surgery, he decided to change his lifestyle and become a vegetarian.
Rip wrote a book about his father’s story called “My Beef With Meat.” In addition to being a firefighter, Rip is also an athlete and author who have written several books on health.
Does this diet work for weight loss?
The Engine 2 diet is a plant-based, low-fat diet similar to the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet and other heart-healthy diets. The plan was developed by Rip Esselstyn, a former professional football player who was inspired to change his lifestyle after witnessing his father’s death from heart disease. It emphasizes whole foods, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and legumes; minimizes processed foods like white bread; and limits intake of red meat and full-fat dairy products.
The Engine 2 diet has been studied in several clinical trials — most notably in one published in the American Journal of Cardiology in 2014 — but with mixed results. One study found that participants lost an average of 14 pounds over 12 weeks following this regimen; another showed that they lost 4 pounds over 24 weeks. The Engine 2 diet may not be effective for weight loss because it doesn’t give specific guidelines for calorie intake or portion sizes, so participants may not be able to follow it strictly enough to achieve their goals.
However, even though it’s not developed as a weight-loss diet, the Engine 2 diet is low-fat and vegan, which means that it may likely work for weight loss. Another reason that can make it practical for weight loss is that this diet is ranked in 15th position in the “Best Fast Weight-Loss Diets” above or better than lots of diets that promise quick weight loss.
What is the cost of this diet?
Although you may pay more for the Engine 2 diet fresh produce, you will save money by skipping the butcher. You may need to buy the book because it provides a list of low-cost ingredients and recipes. Also, for those wishing to extend the lessons from the Seven-Day Rescue Challenge further, there’s a paid 10-week intensive behavioral change program called Rescue 10x with group support focused on applying the principles of the dietary approach to real life.
Enrollment in the program, which includes educational videos by Esselstyn, weekly lessons with at-home activities, live group calls with Engine 2 coaches, and coaching in a smaller private Facebook group is $199.
What to eat on this diet?
This diet aims to improve your health and well-being through a whole-foods, plant-based diet. It’s more than just a healthy eating plan; it’s an educational program that teaches you to make better food choices for your body and lifestyle.
To follow this diet, you need to eat at least three servings of fruits and vegetables each day and two servings of legumes. You also need to limit your intake of processed foods such as refined grains, sugars, and vegetable oils.
Here are the lists of what you can eat on the Engine 2 diet:
- Legumes
- Whole grains
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Nuts and seeds
- Non-dairy milk
- Tofu and tempeh
- Engine 2 product line: This is available exclusively at Whole Foods Market.
What not to eat on this diet?
Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn Jr. recommends eating only whole foods — unprocessed with nothing added or taken away — and avoiding processed foods such as white bread, white rice, and refined sugar products like cookies and cakes.
Here are some tips from Esselstyn on what not to eat or considered off-limits on the Engine 2 Diet when following the plan:
- Animal products
- Vegetable oils
- Refined foods
- Processed vegan food
- Added salt and sugar
- High-calorie liquids
Engine 2 diet’s Sample Shopping List
Here’s a sample shopping list from the Engine 2 diet. Many of the items can be found in the whole foods market.
- Dark leafy greens {spinach, kale, Swiss chard, Bok choy, arugula}
- Veggies {broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, bell peppers, eggplant, carrots}
- Whole fruits {grapefruit, oranges, berries, bananas, apples, avocados}
- Whole grains {oats, quinoa, barley, amaranth, brown rice}
- Dried legumes {black beans, lentils, chickpeas, mung beans}
- Tofu and tempeh
- Nuts and seeds {walnuts, almonds, cashews, chia seeds, flax seeds}
- Non-dairy milk {oat, almond, soy}
- Tahini
- Engine 2 products {veggie burgers, hummus, burritos, pasta, plant milk, etc.}
The dos and don’ts of the Engine 2 diet.
The dos of Engine 2 diet…
- Eat the plan, not a substitute.
- Stick with it for at least 3 weeks before deciding whether it’s right for you.
- Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans.
- Be sure to get enough protein from beans, nuts, seeds, and eggs.
- Have a glass of water with every meal or snack. This will help keep you full longer.
- Consult a physician before choosing any new diet or exercise program, especially if you have certain health conditions like type 2 diabetes or heart disease (or if you are pregnant).
- Eat real food, not processed food (i.e., no artificial sweeteners, food coloring, or preservatives)
- “Go raw” by eating more raw nuts and seeds, fresh fruit, and veggies.
- Eat organic produce whenever possible.
The don’ts of Engine 2 diet…
- Don’t eat white flour or refined sugar.
- Don’t eat trans fats
- Does not eat anything that came from an animal.
- Don’t use sugar as a sweetener; salt your food if needed; otherwise, dip your food in vinegar or lemon juice.
- Don’t go against the Engine 2 diet guidelines if you want to achieve a quick result for your weight goals.
What fitness does this diet recommend?
Esselstyn suggests a corollary fitness program with his Engine 2 diet in his book.
Suppose you choose to integrate the recommended exercise program into your new lifestyle. In that case, you’ll devote 20 to 40 minutes to aerobic activity (walking, swimming, or tennis, for example) at least three days a week. You’ll follow the “E2 Exercise Program” on two other days—three rounds of four exercises that blend strength training with aerobics. To learn the specific amount of strength and aerobic training your body needs, we recommend you try this customized fitness program.
What are the benefits and risks of the Engine 2 diet?
The benefits.
Achieving optimal health through this type of diet can be difficult at first, but it can lead to better health in the long run.
Here are some benefits of this type of diet:
- Highly recommended for weight loss
- Lower risk of heart disease and diabetes
- Improved digestion and regularity
- Better skin appearance and less acne
- Lots of fiber benefits.
- Emphasizes whole foods
- No calorie counting
- It helps control blood sugar and improve insulin sensitivity.
- It lowers the risk of developing obesity and type 2 diabetes.
The risks.
- You can’t cheat on it – There are no cheat days in the Engine 2 diet.
- It’s expensive – The Engine 2 diet costs around $200 per week.
- You will need to be willing to make drastic changes to your lifestyle.
- You need time management skills.
- It’s hard to stick to due to its restrictions on certain foods.
- You may experience food cravings.
Experts’ conclusion on the Engine 2 diet
From our perspective, there are certainly some real positives to this diet, but readers should approach it with both caution and an understanding of the scientific evidence. Engine 2 diet is popular because it has worked for some people but not for everyone I’ve tried. That indicates being a vegetarian or vegan doesn’t mean the Engine 2 diet might suit you. Especially you might have other genetic risk factors that may cause additional health issues if you don’t follow the diet correctly.
The Engine 2 diet caters to specific audiences that want a more plant-based approach to eating. Moreover, it is difficult or impossible to ensure you are getting your lab results for Engine 2 diet protein diets.
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