GOLO Diet: How to Manage Your Hormones to Lose Weight Faster

Modern life can be very stressful. Dealing with the challenges of work, family, and building the kind of life you want can sometimes result in developing bad eating habits.

Things like binge eating, emotional eating, and overeating in general are stress responses that are intended to deal with your frustrations at the expense of your health and body.

The GOLO diet philosophy is a weight loss program that focuses on managing the hormonal imbalances that drive stress, anxiety, bad eating habits, weight gain, and poor health.

What Is the GOLO Diet?

The GOLO diet plan was developed in 2009 by a team of healthcare providers and registered dietitians. They felt that conventionally formulated diets based on calorie intake and food restrictions were missing the target.

The diet consists of following a personalized meal plan and taking a supplement designed to assist with weight loss.

Unlike some other popular or fad diets, the GOLO diet plan allows you to choose the foods you eat based on your unique energy needs. Subscribers of the GOLO diet are encouraged to focus on daily servings of carbohydrates, healthy fats, lean proteins, and vegetables.

Because the creators of the GOLO program feel that diet and exercise alone are not enough to achieve optimum health, they also developed a dietary supplement.

These GOLO diet pills contain a variety of plant-based extracts and minerals specially selected to help physically and psychologically manage health and weight. A 30-day supply of the Release supplement costs $59.99.

Can the GOLO Diet Help You Lose Weight?

According to a study published in Trends in Diabetes and Metabolism in 2019, researchers determined that over 13 weeks, the GOLO program resulted in significantly greater weight loss for its users compared to the placebo group [1].

In addition, company studies have shown that participants who follow the complete GOLO program have experienced significant weight loss results of up to 45 pounds over the course of a year.

While these are great results, it should be remembered that the sample sizes in these tests were relatively small, and GOLO funded the research.

4 Main Benefits of the GOLO Diet

Here are some of the benefits that you may potentially enjoy when you follow the GOLO diet plan.

1. Promotes Weight Loss

GOLO has funded several studies that supposedly show that a diet can improve metabolic health and promote significant weight loss if the program is faithfully followed. While some reviewers are still unsure about these results, most agree that the diet’s ingredients are based on sound nutritional principles.

2. Improves Blood Sugar Levels

Your blood sugar levels are regulated by a hormone called insulin. When blood sugar rises after eating, the pancreas releases insulin, which opens the cells so glucose can be used for energy.

An unhealthy diet promotes higher insulin levels, which causes glucose to be stored as fat rather than used for energy due to insulin resistance.

The GOLO diet claims to manage glucose, insulin, and blood sugar levels, which is the secret to sustainable weight loss. One study showed that the diet can also help patients with type 2 diabetes or obesity manage blood sugar levels when combined with standard anti-diabetic medication.

3. Rich In Important Nutrients

Each 10-ounce meal container in the GOLO diet plan contains 16 different superfood ingredients and provides 300-410 nutritious calories. There are no harmful additives, low-quality fillers, food dyes, preservatives, or artificial ingredients.

Plus, each meal is contained in an eco-friendly and fully biodegradable container.

4. Easy to Create Well-Rounded Meals

GOLO offers pre-prepared meals that make it easy to get healthy meals created specifically for you. There are several to choose from, and each can be supplemented with your healthy favorites like salmon, fruit, or anything else included in the GOLO major food groups. GOLO meals can also be broken up into smaller portions for healthy snacks.

You can also create your meals based on the GOLO guidelines by mixing and matching from their allowed major food groups and prepping ahead of time for a weekly menu.

Potential Disadvantages of the GOLO Diet

Regarding any potential side effects of the GOLO diet, the big disadvantage cited by most critics involves the Release supplement. This proprietary blend of plant ingredients and minerals lists what is used but doesn’t specify the amounts.

The website claims the Release supplement has had no reported side effects, yet without knowing the actual formula, it’s hard to know if it’ll cause an allergic reaction or clash with any medications one is taking.

Another negative aspect of the GOLO diet is its caloric limit of 1,300 to 1,500 calories per day, which is fairly low and might be difficult for many adults to adhere to.

Is GOLO Safe?

If you have a history of disordered eating, or if you are taking prescription medication, diabetic, pregnant, or breastfeeding, you should avoid the GOLO diet.

What Foods Are Allowed When on the GOLO Diet?

The consensus is that the GOLO diet plan menu is safe and healthy. Here’s what it includes:

• Proteins: The GOLO diet plan menu allows proteins such as chicken, fish, eggs, beans, tofu, lentils, and low—or non-fat dairy products.
• Vegetables: Leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower, and zucchini are all permissible in the GOLO diet.
• Fats: Monounsaturated fats in avocados, olive oil, and nuts are all allowed.
• Carbs: Brown rice, whole foods, and lentils, as well as fruits like bananas, apples, and berries are all allowed in the GOLO diet.

Foods to Avoid When on the GOLO Diet

Like any other weight loss plan, there are foods the GOLO diet has identified as complete no-nos.

• Red Meat: The GOLO diet plan does not include animal meat with a high fat content, such as beef, pork, and lamb.
• Sugary Beverages: Soda, sports drinks, and any beverage containing sugar are among the first two ingredients to avoid in the GOLO diet.
• Processed Foods: Foods like chips, cookies, most commercially manufactured baked goods, and many other packaged snacks are not allowed in the GOLO diet.
• Artificial Sweeteners: The GOLO diet plan menu does not permit aspartame, sucralose, stevia, or any other commercially manufactured artificial sweeteners.

7-Day Sample Meal Plan

The GOLO Reset 7 Plan is a sample strategy that gives you an idea of what to expect during your GOLO dietary journey and helps you get back to practicing healthy eating habits.

During the 7-day weight loss diet plan, you will eat a selection of superfoods designed to help you detox, manage inflammation, lose weight, and identify the foods that may be causing you problems.

GOLO Reviews by Customers

GOLO reviews are generally positive about the efficacy of the weight loss system. Annie, a devoted GOLO user, showers the program with praise in her 5-star Trustpilot review. She credits GOLO for helping her smash her weight loss goals, boost her energy levels, and feel decades younger. At 65, she claims to feel like she’s 39 again [2]!

However, Tony’s experience paints a less triumphant picture. Despite diligently following the program and exercising regularly, he hit a plateau, falling short of his goal and failing to lose his “gut” [3].

Meanwhile, another user raises a rather unexpected concern: the texture of the food. While acknowledging the fresh ingredients and good quality, they describe the finely minced texture as “gag-inducing” [4].

FAQs About the GOLO Diet

Here are some questions that have been asked by online customers who may also be wondering, “How does the GOLO diet work?”

What Kind of Food Do You Eat While on GOLO?

The GOLO diet consists of wholesome, natural foods, including lean, high-quality protein, fruits and vegetables, healthy carbohydrates, and healthy fats.

Do GOLO Pills Really Work?

According to GOLO’s own studies, their pills help manage blood sugar levels, burn fat, decrease insulin resistance, and facilitate significant weight loss. However, their detractors say that there is a lack of independent research to back up the claims that the Release supplement is effective.

What Is Not Allowed When on the GOLO Diet?

Some foods not permitted on the GOLO diet are red meat, artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and sucralose, and processed foods with a high sodium or fat content. High-sugar products like sweet drinks or candy are also prohibited.

How Many GOLO Pills a Day to Lose Weight?

The recommended dosage of the GOLO Release supplement is to take 1 pill with each meal for a total of 3 pills per day.

What Is a Good Breakfast When on a GOLO Diet?

A pair of nutritious and weight-watching breakfasts following the GOLO diet would be:

• Scrambled eggs with avocado and spinach
• Oatmeal with berries and chia seeds

What Did Kelly Clarkson Use To Lose Weight?

In her interviews, Kelly Clarkson revealed that she has explored several weight-loss strategies. These include:

• Exercise, including a lot of walking and working out with a trainer
• Hormone therapy due to a confessed autoimmune and thyroid conditions
• Infrared saunas and cold water plunges
• Weight loss medication (she did not reveal which one she used)
• A more holistic approach to her diet, including a lectin-free diet

Final Thoughts on the GOLO Diet

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases, 42.4% of U.S. adults are obese, and 30.7% are overweight [5].

It’s understandable that many Americans are scrambling to find a weight loss program that works for them. There are so many programs available today, and GOLO is one of them.

Some feel that the recommended daily GOLO caloric intake is too low to sustain an average adult. Others worry about the possible side effects of its proprietary supplemental formula on those taking medication or with certain health conditions.

Yet, if you’re reasonably healthy and have no pre-existing conditions, the GOLO diet is a healthy way to eat. When combined with exercise, it has helped some lose weight.

Plus, with a 60-day money-back guarantee, what do you have to lose except those unwanted pounds?