How I lost weight on the ‘Gelato Diet’ | Expert Opinion

It’s about walking and enjoying life like you’re on vacation in Italy.

I followed the ‘Gelato Diet’ for 14 days, as did my husband and children. Every night after dinner we would bolt, saunter, or wander to the local gelateria for a piccolo, or small, serving of gelato. Only in Italy would there be a gelato shop on every block. And in the Renaissance town of Florence, two right next to each other, sharing a wall and a glorious view of the legendary Duomo Cathedral.

When we got home from our pasta- pizza-, gelato-filled vacation, I cringed as I stepped on the cool glass square of my scale to weigh myself, preparing to recommit to the gym. My eyes popped. I had to do the math twice to verify I lost 6 pounds.

As a scientist, I reweighed twice more. In science, we repeat experiments at least three times, as one result could be miscalibration, and two could be chance. But three readings told me with relative confidence that my kids had not messed with the scale.

The reason for my weight loss was simple: I walked. A lot.

I wish I had one of those watches that captured all my steps from various train stations to iconic spots like the Trevi Foundation and Colosseum in Rome, or our walk to Vatican City, technically another country. In vertical seaside picture-perfect villages like Positano and Capri we walked up stairs that seemed to lead to heaven, all with the clear mission of walking for our gelato reward at the end of the day.

Speaking of our reward: Gelato has less fat, sugar, and calories than ice cream and, in my opinion, also has a more intense flavor. Ice cream has, by USDA Standard and FDA decree, at least 10% butterfat. Most brands have between 15%-25% fat, while gelato is about 4-9% fat.

It didn’t hurt that we ate virtually no processed food. Everything from pici-shaped pasta to piping-hot brick-oven pizzas was made fresh.

Public health recommendations call for 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week; that’s 21 minutes a day. Many people aim beyond, taking 10,000 steps a day, or five miles.

Back at home, I’ve been reexamining my routine. My quest to exercise with the rigor of my 16-year-old self, jamming to a Jane Fonda video, while attempting to resist desserts does not mean much if I don’t stick to it.

Yet on vacation I ate indulgently and exercised effortlessly — largely because of the environment I was in. It was the best of both worlds: Eat what you want and walk it off without thinking twice.

As we reimagine communities, we need more pedestrian walkways and thoughtful design for walkability. Our culture should embrace the concept of mini walks. Maybe we could take a stroll during our kids’ after-school activities, instead of continuing to work on our laptops. A crucial step would be to attract more authentic gelaterias in neighborhoods.

Walking is accessible to all without requisite equipment like a bat or a racket. My doctor has been on me to just move. I’m telling you the same, because if you do, there is a cup of silky gelato waiting for you. My favorite flavors are classic pistachio and honey lavender.

Angela K. Shen is a retired captain in the U.S. Public Health Service, an associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and senior fellow at Penn’s Leonard Davis Institute.