Suzanne Somers' Eat, Cheat, And Melt The Fat Away

1. Calorie restriction damages your metabolism and triggers survival mode

Cutting calories lowers our metabolism and puts our bodies on an unhealthy diet roller coaster with physical and emotional ups and downs that all of us would like to eliminate.

The starvation trap. When you drastically cut calories, your body perceives a threat of starvation and slows down its metabolic rate to conserve energy. Instead of burning fat, it first depletes glycogen and muscle tissue, leaving you feeling chronically fatigued and listless. This survival instinct makes weight loss stall, creating frustrating plateaus despite strict dieting.

The rebound effect. Once you return to normal eating patterns, your newly slowed metabolism cannot process the extra calories. This mismatch causes your body to store the excess fuel as fat, leading to rapid weight regain and often adding extra pounds beyond your starting weight. This vicious cycle is why ninety-five percent of conventional dieters fail long-term.

A metabolic cure. Somersizing heals your damaged metabolism by encouraging you to eat abundant portions of real food whenever you are hungry. By eliminating the cycle of deprivation, you reprogram your body to burn fat efficiently without skipping meals. You can enjoy rich, satisfying foods while allowing your metabolism to run at its peak.

• Depleting glycogen stores causes temporary water weight loss rather than true fat loss.
• Metabolic adaptation reduces daily energy expenditure to keep you from starving.
• Calorie counting creates psychological stress and physical fatigue.

2. Insulin is the primary fat-storing hormone triggered by sugar and starches

Insulin is called the “fat-storing hormone” because insulin is solely responsible for determining whether food will be burned off as energy or stored as fat.

The insulin connection. When you consume carbohydrates, they break down into glucose, causing your blood sugar to rise. In response, your pancreas secretes insulin to transport this sugar into your cells for energy. However, if your cells are already full and cannot accept any more glucose, insulin converts the excess sugar directly into fat.

Understanding insulin resistance. Over time, a diet high in refined carbohydrates causes your cells to close their doors to glucose, a state known as insulin resistance. This forces the pancreas to pump out even more insulin, creating a chronic hormonal imbalance that locks your body into fat-storage mode. Even fat-free foods can be converted to fat under these conditions.

Identifying the signs. You can easily identify elevated insulin levels by looking in the mirror. Thickness around the midsection, such as love handles in men or excess weight around the hips and thighs in women, indicates that your cells are overloaded with sugar. Somersizing helps reverse this condition, allowing your body to release stored fat.

• Simple carbohydrates cause rapid blood sugar spikes and subsequent crashes.
• Hyperinsulinemia disrupts other vital hormone systems in the body.
• Refined foods like white flour and potatoes act like pure sugar in the bloodstream.

3. Natural dietary fats are essential for cellular health and hormone production

Saturated fats are good fats and essential to life.

The fat misconception. For decades, the medical establishment has wrongly accused dietary fat of causing obesity and heart disease. In reality, eating natural fats does not trigger an insulin response, meaning fat cannot be stored as body fat unless it is eaten in combination with carbohydrates. Natural fats provide a steady, clean source of metabolic fuel.

Essential cellular building blocks. Your body requires natural saturated and unsaturated fats to construct healthy cell membranes and synthesize crucial hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Depriving your body of these fats damages cellular reproduction and accelerates the aging process. Eating real fat in its natural state is vital for internal regeneration.

The danger of trans fats. While natural fats like butter, cream, and egg yolks are highly beneficial, chemically altered trans fats are incredibly dangerous. Found in margarine and processed foods, these hydrogenated oils raise bad cholesterol, lower good cholesterol, and damage your cells. Avoiding fake, processed fats is crucial for cardiovascular health.

• Saturated fats like butter and coconut oil are stable for cooking.
• Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids must be obtained through food.
• Cholesterol is a vital precursor for anti-stress and sex hormones.

4. Food combining optimizes digestion and prevents fat storage

The magic to losing weight while eating such rich food is correctly combining the foods you eat at every meal.

The mechanics of combining. The core of the Somersize program relies on separating foods that require different digestive environments. Proteins and fats require an acidic environment to digest, whereas carbohydrates require an alkaline environment. Eating them together neutralizes these enzymes, halting digestion and causing bloating, gas, and metabolic sluggishness.

Preventing the trap. When you eat a protein/fat with a carbohydrate, such as cheese with white bread, the carbohydrate triggers an insulin spike. This insulin release causes the body to store both the carbohydrate and the high-calorie fat directly in your fat cells. Keeping them separate ensures that fats are utilized properly rather than stored.

The simple rules. By keeping these groups separate, your digestive system runs efficiently, allowing your body to extract nutrients and discard the rest. You can eat rich, flavorful meals and still lose weight as long as you follow the combining guidelines. This approach turns your body into a highly efficient fat-burning machine.

• Pro/Fats include meat, poultry, fish, eggs, butter, and cheese.
• Carbos include whole grains, beans, and nonfat dairy.
• Veggies are low-starch vegetables compatible with both Pro/Fats and Carbos.
• Fruits must be eaten alone on an empty stomach to prevent fermentation.

5. Somersizing is a balanced, sustainable lifestyle, not a restrictive crash diet

First of all, my program is a balanced plan with all the necessary vitamins and nutrients to keep your body in tip-top shape.

A lifetime plan. Unlike trendy low-carbohydrate diets that completely eliminate entire food groups, Somersizing is a balanced approach designed for long-term health. It includes plenty of fresh fruits, low-starch vegetables, and fiber-rich whole grains to keep your body nourished. It is a lifestyle you can happily maintain forever without feeling deprived.

No tedious tracking. You will never have to count calories, measure portions, or calculate carbohydrate grams on this program. You are encouraged to eat until you are comfortably full, ensuring you never experience the physical or emotional feelings of deprivation. This freedom makes it easy to stick to the plan and enjoy your food.

Restoring metabolic prime. By focusing on real, whole foods instead of processed, fat-free alternatives, you supply your body with the essential nutrients it needs to thrive. This sustainable lifestyle heals your metabolism and allows you to maintain your ideal weight effortlessly. It is about achieving health from the inside out.

• Includes whole-grain carbohydrates for energy and roughage.
• Promotes eating real, unprocessed foods over chemical-laden alternatives.
• Allows you to dine out easily at almost any restaurant.

6. SomerSweet offers a natural, chemical-free alternative to satisfy sweet cravings

SomerSweet is a natural, sweet fiber that is 99.9% chemical free!

The sweet breakthrough. Giving up sugar can be the most challenging part of any health program, leading many to turn to dangerous artificial sweeteners. SomerSweet solves this dilemma by providing a natural, sweet fiber that satisfies your sweet tooth without spiking your insulin levels. It allows you to enjoy sweets without halting your weight loss.

Safe and chemical-free. Unlike aspartame or saccharin, which are loaded with chemicals and linked to adverse health effects, SomerSweet is 99.9% chemical-free. It is made from a proprietary blend of fiber, fructose, and soy extract, making it safe even for diabetics. It provides the fiber your body needs with the flavor your taste buds crave.

Level One indulgence. This revolutionary sweetener allows you to enjoy rich, creamy desserts like vanilla bean ice cream and chocolate mousse even during the weight-loss phase. It has no bitter aftertaste and behaves beautifully in baking, making your health journey truly pleasurable. It transforms the weight loss experience by eliminating deprivation.

• Contains less than one gram of carbohydrate per serving.
• Feeds beneficial bacteria in the intestines to promote gut health.
• Eliminates the need for toxic chemical sugar substitutes.

7. Hormonal balance is the true key to weight management and healthy aging

Hormone imbalances always lead to disease.

Hormones rule health. Your weight, energy, mood, and overall vitality are entirely dictated by your hormonal systems. When insulin levels are chronically elevated, it disrupts every other hormone in your body, accelerating aging and leaving you vulnerable to degenerative diseases. Achieving hormonal harmony is the foundation of physical well-being.

Navigating middle age. As women and men age, sex hormones naturally decline, which can lead to sudden weight gain, fatigue, and loss of libido. If you are eating perfectly and exercising but still gaining weight, a deeper hormonal imbalance may be the culprit. Understanding these changes helps you address them proactively rather than suffering in silence.

Bioidentical replacement therapy. To combat the symptoms of menopause and aging, bioidentical hormones derived from plants offer a safe, natural solution. Unlike synthetic hormones made from pregnant mare's urine, bioidentical hormones are identical to those naturally produced by the human body. They help restore balance, rebuild bone mass, and maintain a youthful metabolism.

• Stress blocks estrogen receptors, leading to weight gain.
• Balanced hormones protect against osteoporosis and heart disease.
• Bioidentical estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone restore youthful vitality.

8. Children must be trained early to enjoy real, whole foods over processed sugars

Children learn to eat the foods we expose them to.

The childhood sugar epidemic. Modern children are fed a constant diet of hidden sugars found in cereals, juice boxes, white bread, and processed snacks. This excessive sugar intake overloads their young cells, leading to insulin resistance, childhood obesity, and early health struggles. Reversing this trend requires a commitment to real food.

Developing healthy palates. Children naturally learn to prefer the foods they are exposed to from an early age. By avoiding bland "kiddie foods" and offering real, flavorful options like fresh vegetables, meats, and cheeses, you train them to appreciate nutritious food. Persistence is key, as children may need to try a food multiple times before accepting it.

A family ritual. Establishing healthy eating habits is a collective effort that starts with the parents acting as positive role models. Gathering around the dinner table as a family without distractions fosters a healthy relationship with food and creates lasting traditions. Making healthy eating a family event protects your children's future.

• Limit children to one sugary treat per day to manage insulin.
• Introduce new foods multiple times to allow palates to adapt.
• Replace white flour and processed snacks with whole-grain alternatives.

9. Emotional healing is necessary to overcome food addictions and regain control

Addictions are never about being hungry, or thirsty, or needing to have more “things.”

The root of addiction. Food addiction is rarely about physical hunger; instead, it serves as a distraction from emotional pain and unhealed past hurts. Using food as a coping mechanism anesthetizes these feelings, preventing you from addressing the true source of your distress. Recognizing this connection is the first step toward freedom.

Facing the truth. True healing and lasting weight loss begin when you choose to be completely honest with yourself about your life and emotions. Accepting your vulnerabilities and facing your pain, rather than running to the refrigerator, builds genuine self-esteem and inner peace. Relief comes from self-honesty, not from what is inside your refrigerator.

Active commitment required. Wanting to change is passive; active commitment is required to make your desired life a reality. When you commit to the program, the weight goes away, and you regain control over your body and your future. Taking control of your health empowers you to live a happier, more productive life.

• Emotional eating is a distraction from unresolved psychological pain.
• Self-esteem grows when you face personal truths honestly.
• Commitment to the present moment makes lasting change possible.

10. Level Two allows controlled "cheating" to maintain long-term lifestyle success

Level Two is simply Level One with cheating.

The maintenance phase. Once you have reached your goal weight and emptied the built-up sugar from your cells, you graduate to Level Two. This phase is designed for life, allowing you to incorporate previously forbidden foods in moderation without gaining weight. It recognizes that we are human and need flexibility to succeed.

Learning to cheat. Cheating in Level Two means consciously choosing when to indulge in a glass of wine, a starchy vegetable, or a decadent dessert. Because your metabolism is healed, your body can handle occasional imbalances as long as you return to Level One guidelines afterward. This balance prevents you from ever feeling restricted.

Listening to your body. You are your own policeman in Level Two, using trial and error to find the balance that works for your unique metabolism. If you begin to feel bloated, tired, or notice your clothes fitting tightly, it is a signal to pull in the reins. This self-regulation ensures you maintain your slim figure for life.

• Keep imbalances isolated rather than combining them into massive meals.
• Enjoy red wine and dark chocolate in moderation for health benefits.
• Return to Level One for a few meals to correct any slipups.