Trim Healthy Mama

 Trim Healthy Mama

The Trim Healthy Mama (THM) diet is a popular diet plan that was created by sisters Serene Allison and Pearl Barrett.  The THM diet focuses on balancing blood sugar and insulin levels by separating foods into different categories and consuming them at separate meals.  The plan encourages the consumption of healthy fats and proteins, and limits the intake of carbohydrates.  The main principles are eating fats and carbohydrates together, eating fats and protein together, and avoiding eating fats with carbohydrates.  The diet is mostly gluten-free, restricts added sugar, limits dairy and discourages processed food.  There are many rules associated with this diet that can be difficult to follow on a regular basis.  

Cost

The cost of the THM diet can vary depending on individual food choices and dietary restrictions.  The THM diet does not require any special products or supplements, although many participants do choose to purchase their special products to create low carbohydrate versions of their favorite foods.  They have a free app as well as a paid membership app.  

Time commitment

The THM diet may require additional time for meal planning and preparation, and learning and implementing the principles of the plan can take longer than the average diet.  However, once you understand the diet and have a rotating regular meal plan the time can be shortened the longer you spend on the diet.

Degree of lifestyle modification

The THM diet requires a moderate degree of lifestyle modification, as individuals must learn to separate foods into different categories and plan meals accordingly.  However, the plan can be adaptable to different lifestyles and dietary preferences.

Special products needed

The THM diet does not require any special products or supplements unless you want more variety in food choices, in which case you will need to buy their special products which different baking mixes, collagen, protein powders, sweeteners. The plan emphasizes the consumption of whole foods, and encourages the use of natural sweeteners such as stevia and erythritol.  

Family friendliness

The THM diet is not family-friendly, as it needs to be adapted to meet the needs of different family members.  If you are feeding growing children or teenagers, be prepared to make a separate extra dish or two with each meal to accommodate their particular needs.

Health considerations

The THM diet may be temporarily beneficial for individuals with certain health conditions, such as insulin resistance or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), as it can help to balance blood sugar and insulin levels while participants are on the diet. However, eating low carbohydrates for a long period of time will decrease your insulin sensitivity.  And when you go back to adding more carbohydrates back into your diet, your body will go through a period of adjustment and you will most likely gain weight and your glucose will possibly be unregulated.

Sustainability of weight loss after stopping the diet

The sustainability of weight loss after stopping the THM diet is always variable, but most likely you will gain the weight back if you increase your carbohydrate intake. The plan emphasizes the consumption of whole foods and the balancing of blood sugar and insulin levels, but the effects are only present while you are on the diet.  When scouring the internet there are many stories of people gaining the weight back they lost after they stopped eating the THM way.

Support provided

The THM diet provides a variety of resources to support individuals following the plan, including a website, app, books, and a social media community.  Additionally, the plan offers coaching services and online courses for individuals seeking additional support. 

Hormone friendliness

The THM diet may be a temporary benefit for individuals with certain hormone imbalances, such as insulin resistance or PCOS, as it can help to balance blood sugar and insulin levels while on the diet.  But once the diet is stopped and you add in more carbohydrates, your body will most likely be confused and your glucose will most likely be unregulated.  Also, since this plan is low carbohydrate, it can exacerbate certain thyroid conditions and cause mineral depletion.

In conclusion, the THM diet only works to balance your blood sugar as long as you stay on it.  When you stop it, your glucose will most likely be unregulated and you will most likely gain any weight back that you lost.  This diet can also be quite complicated to follow and cause anxiety surrounding food as a result of the many rules that need to be implemented.