Prism Diet

I was on PRISM ten years ago, and learned how to eat correctly.  Over the last few years all the weight came back.  I attribute it to losing focus, and the inability to sustain the parts of the PRISM program that actually worked.  A no-cost program that changes you from the inside-out, which is what PRISM did for me, is OA (Overeaters Anonymous).  I loved PRISM, but each of my groups ended, and after losing all my weight I couldn't find anyone else to meet with for continued support.  I am using the PRISM food plan with Overeaters Anonymous, and discovered there, all the same components that PRISM offered me, without the prohibitive cost.  PRISM also teaches some bunk pseudo-science, which you will not get in OA. I highly recommend both, but PRISM with several reservations. 

I just started prism, but have 3 weeks left of Visalus. I was told by my mom (who went through prism) that the vi shakes are fine....they only contain 1g of sugar....just use unsweetened almond milk or water to mix it.

they did this diet at our church. everyone lost tons of wieght and felt awesome. it is a healthy diet. 1200 calories a day. eliminate potatoes, bread, white flour in the first six weeks....no crackers or snacky foods. you can eat meat , fruits , veggies, even desserts if you make them youself and use other sweeteners other then white sugar. you also eliminate white sugar. they have a cookbook too. its very sensible.

:-)

The Prism program is far more than just food. Yes, it has a food plan that is followed and in the first phase it is mainly vegatables, fruits and protein but dairy and carbs are allowed. The carbs are limited though. Yet, the true sucess of the Prism plan comes with the support group and the reflection questions in the book. The questions make you dig deep on why we overeat, why we could never stick to a "diet plan," and so on and so forth. I've just started the program but it's honestly been amazing, I feel more and more empowered and equipped to reach my goal by my birthday and by the end of the year :-D

As a PRISM leader I would say that "shakes" are NOT allowable. According to the agreement of resolution, meal replacement drinks/shakes are NOT allowed. This is because this type of "eating" is not sustainable lifelong and focuses on a short-term solution of weight-loss rather than transforming habits, thinking, and lifestyle.

I lost 30lbs on Prism over 9 years ago.  It is well worth the drastic measure of waking us up to the fact that food manufacturers are putting sugar in EVERYthing!  Really, I focused on eating foods without sugar listed in the top 5 ingredients - I didn't focus on the calories at first.  I lost 20lbs with the sugar focus and 10lbs with the calorie focus. 

I had been running 16miles per week and eating "healthy" for 4 years PRIOR to trying Prism and my weight remained the same.  Once I removed foods with added sugar (bread, un-natural peanut butter, most salad dressings, even balsamic vinegar, ketchup, any processed/boxed food, etc., etc., ), removed any fried foods (which I in-frequently ate anyway), and removed anything "white", the INCHES just fell off and the weight followed.Now, I maintain my weight by adjusting my intake of these foods.  It is difficult to stay tuned to it - but if your sister is sensitive to sugars (as I apparently was) and her MIND is set - go for it.  My bloodwork at 43 is "perfect".  I don't own a scale - I just pull back off any white foods that I might graze toward (when family is around), but really EVERYthing is too sweet for me now and I don't enjoy that kind of food.  Sometimes, I put on weight during "stress eating" episodes, or after the birth of babies (2 more since PRISM), but I have never gained back what I lost (I'm usually fighting again 7lbs) - and I know how to adjust. 

I really prefer a pure, raw, non-white nutrition - but it's hard to stay TOTALLY on that plan within a family of 6.  So, often I eat a little different but mostly the same.  They eat bagels, I don't.  They eat chips, I eat sprouted seeds.  They eat regular yogurt, I eat plain. They eat ketchup and regular salad dressing, I eat brands with no sugar.  They eat white rice, I eat brown - but I introduced them to black rice and they love it. And we often eat wild rice, too.  They eat chocolate, I eat carob (and my 3 yr old LOVES carob) 

I NEVER eat "sugar-free" anything.  

So LOOK at the INGREDIENTS more than the "LABEL" of grams of sugar listed.  You want to see if ANY TYPE of SUGAR is listed in the 1st five ingredients (ending in "ose" or evaporated cane juice, or rice sugar or any ANY type of sugar). 

It trains your palate well!  And makes you aware of what REAL FOOD is!

Also, I don't think it is like Atkins at all.

You CAN eat fruits! and it is not HIGH protein.

I found it very balanced.

I have a scanned copy of PHASE 1 if you want me to email it to you. I never entered any other phase and lost 30lbs - which was my goal.

COUld you please send me your scanned copy. I did all phases of Prism years ago with huge success; however, I have gone off bandwagon and cannot locate my books. I would love to try it again. THanks so much, Brenda Barnes

I would also appreciate a scanned copy. I have looked for meetings and found they are no longer available & the Prism business is now closed. thank you very much

Protein shakes are not allowed. I think because they either have sugar or artificial sweeteners. Also they don't help you learn how to eat food healthily.

Where do you find the phases and videos for the program? It's as if the while plan doesn't exist anymore.

Can you email me a copy too?

could you possibly send me a copy also. thanks

In 2001 I was a facilitator for The prism weight loss program PLUS I followed it myself. 

This is NOT Atkins. You do NOT eliminate carbs. You eliminate refined sugars and refined flours. I personally lost 45 pound. Went from a size 16 to a 6/8 over. 6 month period. I kept the weight off for several years. You log food into a food journal. There are daily lessons and DVDs to help you understand. I am planning on beginning again tomorrow. The weight also comes off differently. I had many women and men in my group that could get all there calories in! Why? For the first time they were not consuming sugar laden foods that pack on the calories and pounds. Refined sugars and refined flours are killers.  This became a way of life and lifestyle for me, not a diet.