Thrive Diet Review

Thrive Diet Review 

Thank you for joining me on my mission to make weight loss accessible and transparent for everyone. My food and fitness diaries are my way of helping you navigate the world of healthy eating, diet, and exercise. Recently, I tried the Thrive diet for one month.  

Here is my honest Thrive review.  

If you’ve never heard of The Thrive Diet, by Brendan Brazier, you’re not alone. Before beginning my in-depth exploration of diet trends, healthy eating ideas, and lifestyle adjustments for overall wellness, I had never heard of the Thrive weight loss path.  

The book outlines a vegan whole food lifestyle which is purported to slow aging, burn fat, improve energy, and encourage overall health and wellness. The program described in the book is 12 weeks and includes 100 different recipes. There are also online resources, through Thrive Forward, which offers educational videos, additional recipes, and whole meal plans for registered users.

First Impressions 

1. I love food and a variety in my meals. I have never been one to limit myself by removing items like meat, fish, dairy, sugar or caffeine. So, the Thrive diet was a little daunting. However, once I started reading the book, I realized the focus was more on overall nutrition and improved digestion than any anti-meat agenda. Since the program is designed for vegans, however, it transitions to eating more fruit and fibrous vegetables and away from meats, etc. 
2. The other adjustment I found unsettling was eating a mostly raw diet. The thrive weight loss plan involves changing not only what you eat, but how you eat it as well. Foods are either prepared sans cooking or heated at under 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Brazier contends that cooking food eliminates necessary digestive enzymes, thereby stressing our bodies more than eating raw. He also states that a diet high in fruits and vegetables encourages an alkaline environment in your body which doesn’t support cancerous growth.    
3. The plan allows you to follow a specified 12-week meal program or merely adjust your eating habits to the guidelines. There are recipes for every taste from meals to energy drinks to snacks. I did like the flexibility and being able to prepare my meals each day or ahead of time. I also found that many of the recipes were creative and exciting.  Taste Test 

1. I love to cook, so the adjustment to raw food was difficult for me. However, I found the innovative recipes helpful in combating cravings for foods I had eliminated, like sugar and caffeine. I enjoyed a healthy drink each day. My favorite was the pear-licious drink. This green smoothie combines pears, avocado, and kale for a vibrant and healthy energy booster.  
2. Since I like to eat on the go each morning, I found the base muffin recipe extremely versatile. I was able to adapt the recipe each week for a ready to grab breakfast or midday snack. Instead of eating the same bland bar or cereal, I was provided with the knowledge to create flavor profiles which I would love. 
3. The book and website offered many interesting recipes that I did enjoy preparing and eating each day. Everything from tacos to burgers to desserts is covered, with a focus on raw and vegan eating.  Progress Report 

1. After one month on the Thrive diet, exclusively, I felt more energetic and happier. However, the first couple weeks were hard to overcome. The initial addition of fruits and vegetables to my diet was easy. The next phase, eliminating meat, caffeine and artificial sugars was harder. Once I had stopped caffeinating myself, I suffered from a few migraines and several sluggish days. I was even asked a few times at work if I was sick.  
2. Once I adjusted to the change, I did feel healthy and happy. The Thrive weight loss promise was, however, misrepresented. While my system felt more robust and I can agree that the lifestyle changes were mostly positive, I did not lose weight over the month. My weight held steady through the four weeks I practiced the program. Don’t misunderstand me, though. I firmly believe that continuation of eating raw vegan meals will benefit my healthy lifestyle. 
3. I just don’t think that following the Thrive weight loss program, to a tee, is for me. Firstly, I miss meat. I hate supplementing with pills and worry that eliminating meat, long-term, would affect my iron levels negatively. Additionally, I enjoy cheese way too much to remove it from my diet for more than a month at a time.  
4. If you’re looking to add some healthy recipes and up your intake of fruits and vegetables, the Thrive diet may help you get started. However, I think it’s more of a guide for healthy changes than a diet program to follow, even for 12 weeks at a time. 
5. I hope that my honest Thrive review has helped you on your journey towards fitness and feeling great. Thanks for following My Food N’ Fitness Diaries! Eat Right, Feel Right!