Banana Diet
 

My final straw was when my work pants ripped after work as I was getting into the car, I love those pants. Well almost final. The actual Final was a few days ago when I weighed myself and saw it go to 200lbs. SO I decided to start a eating plan to get down. I found this Banana diet I heard about somewhere on the internet, it is really big in Japan. You just eat 1 or 2 bananas in the morning and 8 oz of room temp water. You can eat whatever you want for lunch and dinner as long as it is sensible. Restrictions: dessert high in sugar, alcohol, soda. I drink water all day. I combined it with the meal plan of Crunchlesss Abs but I modified it a bit.

I keep a food diary and track of my progress at dnramblings.livejournal.com of what I eat and so far I have lost 5 lbs. I started this thing Wednesday. If you want to see if it works, you could always go to the blog an see. I will post here my weight loss every week.

Right now I am on Day 3 and I will post my results for Day 7.

THis is working so far, since I don't feel hungry and I dislike eating breakfast, but I can deal with a couple of bananas and some water.

Yeah, eating whatever you want as long as it's sensible often works, with or without bananas :) Sensible eating is a fine way to go :carrot:

But if you give it a name and a sexy pedigree, it's magic!

But hey bananas are good and they make cute smileys :cb:

What Julie said. :)

Whatever works for you to keep the calories down :) There is no magic in the banana diet and there have been a few posts previous about it. Fruit for breakfast isn't a bad idea though.

Does sound sensible, although I am sensitive to bananas and if I ate two in the morning on an empty stomach, I'd be in the hospital. :)

But sensible is totally great. Good luck.

I think there was a pretty entertaining thread on the banana diet a couple of months ago but I couldn't find it when I searched...

I agree with some of the other posters - whatever works for you works for you. I do think the magic in this obviously isn't the banana it is the sensible rest of the time like Julie said. But, if it works keep at it! :)

I do know there is something it that helps flush the extra water out of you too. Plus there are some vitamins in bananas that I probably miss out on when I don't eat them.

Bananas are a really good source of potassium and I do think that might be the reason it releases water, especially if one eats a lot of sodium.

I like bananas, actually, but can only eat small amounts at a time or have maybe a half or so in a protein shake.

I love microwaved bananas as well, although again never a whole one.

I think this worked for me because it asks me eat breakfast. It is a breakfast I can stand and actually feel full from it. Plus, I can eat it on the go.

I'm glad it's working for you and bananas ARE healthy. Just understand they're not magic. It's eating a balanced and sensible diet that helps you lose weight - not a magic food.

I know they are not magic, I never said they were. It is just the only food I can stand to eat in the morning that does not make me feel sick later. Where did this magic crap come from? I know there is no magic way to lose weight. I am not one of those people who are looking for some magic way to lose weight quickly with no effort. I am also not some teenager who does not know any better. I never mentioned anything about magic.
I am just trying out a way that might help me loose some pounds while I am here in the States, until I go back overseas to Japan where I really don't need to diet or exercise as hard because I have way more things to do and do not need a car to get anywhere. This one is working for me and I was wondering if anyone else was trying it.

This might sound mean, but my original post was going to be "No s--- Sherlock.", but I decided against it because that might have been too rude even thought that was exactly what I was thinking.

Anyway, enough of that, since certain factors like a cycle have shown up, I might be stuck at my current weight for the next couple of days. I will see tomorrow. I usually gain weight the first few days, if it goes down I will be surprised. I have noticed with this eating plan I have been waking up usually before my alarm clock and sleeping better. Another added bonus that I noticed to day was that my tummy is not as big as it used to be. I can look down and see only my chest and not both, even if I try to stick out my stomach. :D

So I will keep with this longer and after Day 7 of this week with no exercise test, I will incorporate some exercise.

Bananas are my saviour food! I have a couple of tiny ones for breakfast, and I take them with me to meetings and so on, and eat one instead of a cookie at the coffee break.
I find them settling to my stomach too - last night I was chairing a meeting, which I hate doing, always makes me nervous, and I hadn't had much to eat yet in the day and didn't want to sit rumbling, and eating a small banana with a glass of water filled me up fine; if I'd had other fruit or a cookie it would have sat making rude noises inside me all evening. TMI?
And finally, I find them quite cleansing, I have a picture of the chewed banana doing a gentle scour of my intestines on the way through and having a good clear out. TMI?

just got this email today about bananas.


Bananas
A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas. He said
the expression 'going bananas' is from the effects of bananas on the brain.
Read on:

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!!

This is interesting.

After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.


Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined
with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.


Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a
strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit
with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help
overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making
it a must to add to our daily diet.


Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND
amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better
after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan,
a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to

make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.


PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains
regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of
hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in
potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure.
So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed
the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to
reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school
(England) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas
at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power.
Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist
learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help
restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without
resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to
make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms

the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood
sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.


Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body,
so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps
to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try
rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people
find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work?
Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads
to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital
patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in
high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food
cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high

carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal
disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only
raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases.
It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the
lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a
'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temp
of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat
bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.


Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help
SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer
tryptophan.


Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying
to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium
and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects
of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heart
beat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance.
When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our
potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-
potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine,
eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by
strokes by as much as 40%!


Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want
to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart,
with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster
or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare
it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three
times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other
vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best
value foods around. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase
so that we say, 'A banana a day keeps the doctor away!'

That is a lot of benefits. And to think, I eat them mainly because they taste good and they do not make me sick.

I guess I need to eat more bananas when it is close to that time of the month.

Thanks for the information.

Day 7 - This is a test to see how much I would lose without exercise and eating pretty much whatever I wanted.

Starting weight - 200 lbs.
I didn't do my measurements because I did not think about then until today.

Day 7 weight- 194

Stuff I have noticed:
--------------------
My stomach has went down. I can look down and only see my chest and not both. I am able to put on pants without any trouble that had just came out of the dryer. I am actually getting up before my alarm clock or when it goes off and I am awake and coherent (more than usual). I do not have any craving for soda or sweets. I sleep better and actually stay asleep, well until my bladder catches up to me from all the water I am drinking. So far so good.

Here are my measurements in inches
--------------------------
27 - thighs both
36.5 - waist
35 - part underneath chest (forgot name)
40 - bust
14 - arms
14.5 - neck
47 - hips

Starting today I will exercise.

DGRAMIE: Thanks for the info about bananas.

As previously posted, I become deathly ill if I eat a banana too quickly or if I eat a whole banana, although I can eat them in small amounts.

While I agree that bananas do provide all the health benefits you cite, for some people they can spike blood sugar too quickly or have other adverse affects, so like everything they have their positive and negative side and aren't a magic fruit, but I really love the little bits of banana that I am able to use in my menus.

Bananas, in my opinion, are not really a great fruit for diabetics who have trouble controlling blood sugar. Ripe bananas are very high glycemic, in my opinion. Green ones provide a slower release of insulin and are more suitable.

I like to blend small amounts of bananas with whey powder and a little cold water for a shake. The protein blunts the high glycemic effect of the banana and it really does taste very good and the potassium boost is excellent.

I like bananas also because they are inexpensive and real food as opposed to "magic pills" some people use in weight loss attempts.

My local convenience store chain here has begun selling bananas at 99 cents a pound, which is a lot of bananas. They are also marketing them by asking all their customers if they'd like a banana with whatever purchase the person has bought.

WOW, I had no idea bananas had all those nutrients. I knew they were good before a workout with a little PB, but you don't even need the PB with all the banana contains! Thanks!

Sandy, do you just dab the pb on the banana and eat it that way?

I've put pb in the shakes I make with a quarter to half banana and whey. Pb is another great way to blunt the high glycemic effect of bananas, also seems a natural flavor combo. Thanks for the idea.

Janga, do you have a sensitivity to Latex too? I'm asking because people sensitive to bananas are sometimes also sensitive to latex products. They are closely related. Also kiwi, avocado and chestnuts can cause problems.

Anne, thanks, yes, I am sensitive to latex, although not to avocados. I've never considered kiwi or chestnuts as I don't desire to eat them.

It's true. It's the worse fruit for diabetics. My friend and I were discussing different fruit he can eat as a diabetic.

I will sometimes eat bananas by themselves but most often, I put them in smoothies. I like bananas and the various properties that they have but I think they are just part of a well rounded diet.

Wow, I knew I loved bananas for a reason.....Nogisune...I am going to try the banana diet too. I was just diagnosed with low potassium and put on a daily potassium tab. I would love to eliminate that tab with bananas. My level is just slightly low so I think the banana diet may do the trick.

Thanks for the info on bananas, dgramie.

i could eat a hundred bananas a day. every time i eat one, they remain the reigning king of favorite fruits.

annie - bananas are good for potassium but there are some better sources of potassium.

Potatoes and Raisins - Both of these almost have twice the amount of potassium of bananas

Beans - All beans, Lima beans are king here but pinto, lentils and various other beans all have more potassium than bananas. Chickpeas have a little less than bananas but still a good source.

Prunes, Spinach, winter squash and artichokes are all good sources and again more potassium than bananas.

THank you Nelie...

I eat lots and lots of raw spinach. I love beans but being a bariatric patient, my gas is awful as is....potatos are too filling for my wee little tummy now. I have to pick and chose. Thank you for the info.

Wow. Lots of good info. Here is how I feel about the banana...Probably not my favorite fruit but, the last few days I have been eating a banana in the morning and it really does keep the hunger at bay. I just found this post this morning and was already thinking that I need to keep eating at least 1 banana a day. Aside from that, my DD suffers from ADD, ODD, and seasonal affect disorder. She loves bananas. And I have noticed that if she doesn't have a banana her moods are, well, let's just say that it probably won't be a very good day. Now I know why. Yea for the banana!:cb:

Here is my Day 14 post.

Last Weight - 194 lbs
Current Weight - 190 lbs
Pounds lost = 4 lbs

Previous Measurements (inches)
-------------------------------
Here are my measurements in inches
--------------------------
27 - thighs both
36.5 - waist
35 - part underneath chest (forgot name)
40 - bust
14 - arms
14.5 - neck
47 - hips

Current Measurements (inches) ---> inches lost (-) or gained (+)
-----------------------
Neck - 14" ---> - 0.5
Waist - 34" ---> -2.5
Thighs - 25" ---> -2
Chest - 34.5" --> -0.5
Bust - 40.5" --> +0.5
Hips - 46" ---> -1
Arms - 13.5" --> -0.5

Exercise
---------
Heh... I was slacking off in this department, it got hot here pretty quick in the last couple of days. Though, I guess since I am constantly stretching and bending at work while straightening the store it did some good. I also messed with my leg magic too, Not seriously but I was on it for a little bit while talking to my mother. Turns out she has been messing with it also and her butt firmed a little, neither of us do the full 10 minutes because you feel it in the first 30 seconds. I also have been using the Easy Curves the last half of the week. My stomach is still down and my Mom has started to notice that I am slimming down. Certain things that used to jiggle when I walked aren't any more <-- her words not mine. So I will keep at this. This is the simplest plan I have stayed on that doesn't have me craving anything.

Nelie, thanks for the potassium source list. I also have low potassium levels often and do agree that bananas are a good source and despite problems with bananas sometimes eat small amounts of them in smoothies, or in small bites spaced far apart.

I knew about some of the sources but had not thought about others.

This is a good discussion.

Nogitsune, congratulations on your weight loss.

Thank you Janga.

You're going to need one a banana bunker.

Hilarious FAQ:

Q: I don't really like bananas. Will this work with apples?
A: No.

Q: Since the Banana Bunker can be mistaken as something else, does it come packaged describing it's intended use?
A: The plastic casing of the Banana Bunker has the words "Banana Bunker" written on it.

Q: Would this help to improve the size of my banana?
A: No. The Banana Bunker can only help you protect what you already have.

Q: Can it be used for sexual pleasure?
A: You could probably use a fax machine for sexual pleasure if you put your mind to it, so we don't doubt that you could do it with the Banana Bunker. We don't recommend it, though.

Q: can this banana bunker prevent nasty banana diseases from being transmitted?
A: The only real protection from nasty banana diseases is to abstain from contact with bananas.

Q: Is lubrication recommended for really large bananas?
A: If you have to lubricate your banana to get it into the Banana Bunker, you're probably going to have a tough time eating it without it getting away from you. The Banana Bunker is quite accommodating, and we recommend that you just stick to bananas that fit in your bunker (which is most all bananas).

Q: Is there a smaller size for those of us without larger bananas?
A: No, but if your tiny banana is getting banged around in the Banana Bunker, you might try stuffing it with something soft to minimize the movement.

Q: How hard is it, on a scale of 1, where it is as soft as grass, to 10, to, let's say, titanium?
A: We would give the Banana Bunker a 6; harder than flaccid but softer than blue steel.

Q: what if my bananas are claustrophobic?
A: Eat them and get new bananas.

Q: Should I see a doctor if my banana remains for more than 4 hours in the Banana Bunker?
A: No. This is perfectly normal and desirable. If you leave it in the Banana Bunker for more than 4 weeks, however, you should see your garbageman.


Q: Will the banana bunker protect my banana from hungry, thieving chimps? I hate those greedy monkeys!
A: It's not 100% foolproof (and really, what protection is?), but it should definitely confuse them!

Q: Wow, the Banana Bunker ranks somewhere between great inventions like the mechanical clock and modern plumbing. Is it true that the estates of DaVinci and Edison are fighting over the patent?
A: Hey now, only Vat19 staff is allowed to be sarcastic.

Q: Does the Banana Bunker ever go soft?
A: No, just the bananas inside of it.

Q: can you throw it at someone?
A: I don't know, can you?

Q: can it handle a very big banana?
A: Yes. We've yet to meet a banana the Banana Bunker couldn't accommodate.

Q: Is your banana bunker safe in warm, wet places?
A: Yes. The Banana Bunker is made of clear, sturdy, waterproof plastic.


Q: DOES THE BANANA BUNKER COME WITH ACCESSORIES--LIKE A BATTERY CHARGER OR A BLUE TOOTH EAR PIECE?
A: No. In order to offer you this rock-bottom price, the Banana Bunker is sold without accessories.

Q: Have you tried cucumbers in the banana bunker?
A: Nope, it isn't called Cucumber Bunker.

Q: Hi can this be dipped in coffee together with the banana? thanks? - Hanslo
A: Why are you dipping a banana in coffee!? You should not dip the Banana Bunker in coffee. Nor should you want to.

Q: hi is there a protector to protect this protector which protects my massive banana? thanks
A: Nope, the Banana Bunker Bunker hasn't been invented yet.

Q: If my Banana Bunker breaks in use, do I need to worry about little bananas running around?
A: We're glad you're thinking about safe banana protection. Bananas don't have seeds, so even if the Banana Bunker breaks and the banana peel breaks open, more bananas won't sprout up. For more bananas to grow, you'd have to plant part of an existing banana tree. It's unlikely that you could "accidentally" go through the effort of planting a banana tree, so you should be safe.

Q: Is the Banana Bunker ribbed for her pleasure?
A: The Banana Bunker is ribbed for your banana's pleasure.

Q: At what age is it appropriate to use the Banana Bunker?
A: The Banana Bunker is appropriate for people of all ages who enjoy smush-free bananas.

Q: Can you use the banana bunker to make Banana Cream Pie?
A: Wow. You can use the Banana Bunker to store and protect the banana that you will use to make the banana cream pie.

Q: I've seen a similar product called BananaGuard. Which is more functional?
A: The Banana Bunker is way more functional! The Banana Bunker is open at both ends (unlike the Banana Guard), so that even the longest bananas can be accommodated. Furthermore, the Banana Bunker is "ribbed" for flexibility. This allows the protective bunker to conform to the unique curve of every banana. The loser Banana Guard cannot bend, which means that if your banana doesn't fit its set shape, you're out of luck.

Q: Bananas are a trisomy which means they have three sets of chromosomes. How many chromosomes does the Banana Bunker have?
A: Hmmm, we read that bananas are actually triploids because they have 3 entire sets of chromosomes. A trisomy would mean that there is an extra chromosome on one set. Anywho, Banana Bunkers don't have chromosomes.

Q: Will the banana bunker protect a banana split?
A: Nope, just the banana.

Q: Will the Banana Bunker fit the musa acuminata species aka dwarf bananas, which are native to the SouthEast Asia region?
A: Sure, you could put a dwarf banana in the Banana Bunker. Whatever floats your banana boat.

Q: I am interested in purchasing your product, however I am quite sensitive. Have you heard of anyone being injured whilst using the Banana Bunker?
A: Not yet and we hope we never do.

Q: If I kill someone with the banana bunker will i be arrested?
A: Maybe, but you could always plead innocent by reason of having gone bananas.

Q: for all of us with small bananas, could my friends and i fit 3 or 4 bananas in at the same time?
A: The Banana Bunker is a single banana home.

Q: Will the Banana Bunker prevent my Banana From turning Mushy and Brown?
A: The Banana Bunker protects a banana from bruising and squishing. It cannot prevent the natural process of old fruit getting gross.

Q: Do you sell any banana hammocks to store my banana bunker in?
A: Vat19 does not sell banana hammocks!

Q: Can the banana bunker keep a banana safe if it fell into a wood mulcher?
A: No way. Keep your banana away from wood mulchers. I repeat, keep your banana away from wood mulchers.

Q: Is it possible to eat a banana while it's in the banana bunker?
A: This banana container protects a banana from bruising, peeling, and eating!

Q: i think the banana bunker can't handle my banana, my banana is too huge
A: Doubtful.

Q: What I find disturbing is on the Bannana Bunker page, it said For people who like romance! Why are you insulting the Bannana Bunker's sacred awesomeness?
A: 1. We aren't insulting the Banana Bunker. Banana Bunkers are sexy. 2. Have you ever heard the song "Hollaback Girl" by Gwen Stefani?

Q: Do you ever think that that Banana Bunkers will ever be sold in rest room vending machines?
A: Probably not.

Q: My girlfriend got mad because i bought her a banana bunker. Any suggestions?
A: Next time, just go with flowers!

You are welcome, Nogitsune! :wave:

THey have a swnsw of humor. I like it, but I am not going to waste $6 for smething I am about to eat in the first place.

Another thing I have noticed... Actually my Mom noticed. If you are not loosing weight you are losing inches. Mom told me last night when she looked at me an noticed that I looked different. It took her a few minutes and she said that I am slimming down in the face. So don't get discourage if the weight is not just falling off or not budging you could be loosing inches you just have not noticed yet. :)

Wow, that made me laugh.

Magic also makes certain people a lot of money, just not the consumers!

Day 21
------------

Last - 190
Current - 190
Lost - 0 (Did not lose weight but have lost inches which is still good in my book.)

Measurements for this week -> Inches lost
-----------------------------------------
Neck = 14.0 --> - 0
Waist = 34.0 --> - 0.5
Thighs = 24.5 --> - 0.5
Chest = 34.0 --> - 0.5
Bust = 41.0 --> + 0.5
Hips = 46.0 --> - 0
Arms = 13.0 --> - 0.5
-------------------------
Lost 2 inches all around and gained 1/2 an inch in my bust.

Exercise
----------
Still slacking in it. This was my week off from school on my online classes, so I have been lazy all around the last few days. I do move around a lot at work.

Still drink nothing but water all day. I did have a couple of poppers my Mom made. She bakes cakes as a side job abd I am at times her tester. I don't test the whole cupcakes anymore, but she made poppers which are small enough to pop in your mouth comfortably. It is like the size of spoonful of rice or a piece of sushi. Actually I think it is smaller than a piece of sushi.
Any extra cakes she has she has me take them to work and the guys will eat them pretty quickly.

Things I have noticed
----------------------
I lost weight in my face, enough to the point my computer does not recognize me to log me on with the face recognition. I was also able to pull up a pair of pants that I could not get over the bottom part of my thigh before. I can't button them at all yet and they are pretty snug at the hips. I will be in them soon though.

I won't be buying anymore bananas this week because we are going out of time for my brothers graduation from the Air Force in two days. I will get back on it when I get back. I still will sort of be following the diet, but I may not have access to bananas while I am away. I think this would be a good test, since I doubt I would be eating bananas every morning for the rest of my lif. I would get sick of them.

Ah ha! Today I went shopping for a new pair of jeans. Last time I lost some weight I could only fit into the 14/16 sizes. This time I went and I can now fit in the 12/14 sizes. I bought the 12 size as an incentive. I can actually pull these up and button them, but they are still a little tight in the thigh area and I would like my middle (sides) not to go over like that since they are low rise pants.

I LOVE the thought that you've lost weight so that your computer doesn't recognize you!!!!! Congratulations. :clap: