Did you know that fat could actually be good for you? All you need is the right kind of fat… at least, this is what Dr James Lyons, a former instructor at Yale University and practicing plastic surgeon claims in his book: the Brown Fat Revolution.
The first part of the book deals with the differentiation between the two kinds of fats. In the second part of the book, Dr Lyons elaborates upon his eating and exercise plan that will help followers bring their metabolism to an even keel. The doctor stresses that his program is not a weight loss plan but a plan that helps burn the fat. Any weight loss that follows is natural but is not the prime aim of the book. Losing fat, not the numbers on the scale, is the objective.
According to the book, the body contains two kinds of fat:
- Brown Fat
- Yellow Fat
According to the book, Brown fat is healthy and it exists naturally in the body. It gives shape and form to the body. Brown fat is not stored in the body but gets utilized during metabolic processes. Young babies and growing children have plenty of brown fat which they utilize for keeping warm.
Yellow fat, on the other hand, is slushy and semi-solid unlike brown fat which is solid. It is the kind of fat that jiggles and wobbles, and gives millions of people sleepless nights!
As people grow older, they lose deposits of brown fat and gain large amounts of yellow fat. That is why the face sags and the body ages. Wrinkles on the face and flabby parts appear as yellow fat deposits increase in the body.
The second half of the book deals with the healthy eating plan. The author advocates a four-week diet plan that centers on alternating high carb intake days with high protein intake days.
Other principles of eating expounded in the book are as follows:
- Eat six small meals a day to get a faster metabolism
- Choose foods according to their glycemic index
- Include different varieties of food
- Take in plenty of liquids
- Keep away from processed and refined foods, artificial sweeteners and preservatives of any kind
- A ‘choice day’ is allowed when you can eat whatever you want with an upper limit of 2,000 calories
The book also recommends the intake of multivitamin supplements.
The Brown Fat ‘burn the bad fat’ program stresses the importance of a robust exercise plan. There are different programs for different age groups. Instead of aerobics, the emphasis is on muscle building exercises that build core strength. A four week exercise program is explained in great detail along with pictures and descriptions.
The Brown Fat Revolution: A Review
Although the benefits of good fat have yet to be established beyond doubt through studies, the book offers an intriguing way of developing fat burning.
Pros:
- Encourages a sound diet
- Includes options of vegetarians and vegans
- Encourages exercise and muscle training
- Fosters healthy weight loss principles
Cons:
- The brown fat/yellow fat differentiation is still open to debate
- Directed mostly to women above the age of 35
- Cardiovascular exercises are largely ignored
Here is a short video with Dr. Lyons in which he talks about the Brown Fat Revolution:
In Conclusion
The Brown Fat Revolution diet book may have a different core philosophy but the diet plan is quite similar to other high protein, low carb diets. However, the book’s emphasis on developing good fat through proper eating patterns and regular exercise appeals to common sense. When these principles are followed, weight loss is only natural.
