The 17 day diet???

KAR1959
KAR1959 Posts: 4,335 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
A co-worker sent me an email telling me a little about this plan. I have never heard of it. Is anyone familiar with the 17 day diet and what is your opinion? One thing she did say is it is something that can be a part of a lifestyle change...she knows how I feel about "diets". Your thoughts???

Replies

  • ilovedeadlifts
    ilovedeadlifts Posts: 2,923 Member
    diets should be long term and sustainable.
  • lauraatkinson85
    lauraatkinson85 Posts: 84 Member
    diets should be long term and sustainable.

    totally agree - Im trying to change my way of life, rather than losing weight as quickly as possible.
  • stefwi2000
    stefwi2000 Posts: 44 Member
    I agree with all of you. I have made a lifetime change with my food and drinks. I try to get moving everday with some form of exercise.
  • lily653
    lily653 Posts: 18
    I bought the book. It does promote it as a lifestyle change despite the title. There are 4 phases and each phases is 17 days. It starts with eating mostly protein and veggies with the exception of two servings of fruit and yogurt. I find that to be a little restrictive. I'm trying it somewhat with having a carb at breakfast (i.e. oatmeal or whole grain bread) and I also will never give up milk. Good luck.
  • DanaDark
    DanaDark Posts: 2,187 Member
    ...fails on the 18th day?
  • laserturkey
    laserturkey Posts: 1,680 Member
    I think it's unnecessary.
  • Onesnap
    Onesnap Posts: 2,819 Member
    If fad diets really worked we would not be a Nation of overweight Americans.
  • Clumz27
    Clumz27 Posts: 60 Member
    Sounds something like Lyle McDonald's 'Rapid Fat Loss Handbook'. IT WORKS but it's hard and you have to be very strict on yourself. If you can handle it, by all means do it. There's no trying though, just doing.
  • Onesnap
    Onesnap Posts: 2,819 Member
    Sounds something like Lyle McDonald's 'Rapid Fat Loss Handbook'. IT WORKS but it's hard and you have to be very strict on yourself. If you can handle it, by all means do it. There's no trying though, just doing.

    Actually there's research that should be done before doing.

    Cons:

    The scientific proof isn't totally convincing. Moreno claims that shifting your meal plan every 17 days before your body registers certain eating habits is a way to keep your metabolism in high gear, but not everyone is buying it. "There is no scientific evidence to support the efficacy of calorie cycling or its effect on metabolism," Mary Hartley, director of nutrition at Calorie Count, tells the editors of Diets In Review. "There is no harm in calorie cycling temporarily or indefinitely and the process happens naturally for most people, who don't eat or burn the same number of calories every day."

    Marisa Sherry, a registered dietician, questions one hard-and-fast rule of the diet-no starchy carbs or fruit after 2 P.M. "There's no proof that after certain times of day your body loses the ability to digest carbohydrates," Sherry tells CBS News.

    The first 17 days of calorie restrictions may backfire: "You are cleansing your body of the unhealthy foods you have been eating," says Sherry. "But if you are not consuming enough calories to meet your resting metabolic needs, then you are in starvation mode which actually slows your metabolism."

    It's an investment: While there's plenty of store-bought foods that fall into the meal plans, dieters are encouraged to buy specific 17-Day Diet branded snacks like the breakfast cookie. That can rack up your bills unnecessarily.

    It's complicated: "I have two nutrition degrees and found the explanations a little confusing," says Slayton. Since the guidelines of the diet are constantly shifting, following the plan takes focus, organization and the constant recording of calorie intake. Still, the basic principles are simple. "Cut your calories and increase your exercise, that's how it's done," Sherry tells CBS News. "If you can get away from the rules that aren't based on science, it should work just fine."
    (source: Yahoo)
  • mgmels
    mgmels Posts: 1
    I'm currently on the 17 day diet, and despite the title, it's not a fad diet. It is about changing to a lifestyle of healthier eating. Another poster already mentioned the 4 phases. While the first phase is strict, each 17 phase you add in more types of foods and the last phase is a sustainment phase. Basically in sustainment, you're encouraged to eat good during the week but allow yourself to eat some of your favorite "non-diet" foods on the weekend. So it sticks to the 80/20 principle, which for health conscious people should be pretty manageable long term, in my opinion.

    I've had success with this way of eating. I've been doing it for about 6 weeks, and I've lost 7 lbs. I would recommend the diet, hope this helps! Good luck!
  • ThatNeuroGuy
    ThatNeuroGuy Posts: 16 Member
    If you like the idea of seeing rapid results but also having a plan that will be able to stand the test of time and become a new lifestyle for you; consider looking into nutritional ketosis.

    I agree with the general tone of the rest of the posters here too. A diet is really just like learning to ride a bike. At first you have the training wheels on but then after time you take them off and have become comfortable riding that bike all the time without a second thought. That's what I'm striving for atleast, with my dieting... retraining myself to think and eat different when it comes to food.
  • Clumz27
    Clumz27 Posts: 60 Member
    Sounds something like Lyle McDonald's 'Rapid Fat Loss Handbook'. IT WORKS but it's hard and you have to be very strict on yourself. If you can handle it, by all means do it. There's no trying though, just doing.

    The first 17 days of calorie restrictions may backfire: "You are cleansing your body of the unhealthy foods you have been eating," says Sherry. "But if you are not consuming enough calories to meet your resting metabolic needs, then you are in starvation mode which actually slows your metabolism."

    Definitely do the research before doing anything that sounds "crazy". This quote ^ in particular is true. You do go into starvation mode and yes, it does slow down your metabolism. This is also stated in Lyle's book. He suggests, actually recommends, that you take an EC stack to keep metabolism up. Haha.. I personally am not one who is particularly fond of these sort of supplements but I can also be considered a hypocrite because I have taken them before and do like the effects, but feel guilty?? Anyway, for any sort of "cleansing" or "rapid" diet, do the research. I have and what I've found is that if you do it right, it will work. Doing it right means maintaining afterwards.
  • Susanthecatwhisperer
    Susanthecatwhisperer Posts: 141 Member
    I heard about it. A coworker is always trying to find the easy way out. It's not really 17 days, but 3 stages that are 17 days EACH. Sounded unhealthy to me.
  • Snotori
    Snotori Posts: 156
    I don't know anything about this diet but from everything I've learned on here and out in the world anything done quick never lasts. I mean it's proven if someone looses weight almost overnight they are less likely to keep it off where as if you do it slow & steady you are probably doing it right and healthy and are less likely to put it back on because if you take the year and do the work to loose 100+ pounds chances are you are going to think twice about putting it back on because you know how hard it was to take off in the first place. I'd skip any fast promising diets or pills do it slow and stead and RIGHT and you will reap the wonderful results for the long term.
  • CM9178
    CM9178 Posts: 1,251 Member
    I agree with some of the comments above. This "diet" MIGHT work in losing weight fast, but I don't believe it is something you can do for the rest of your life. If you want to keep the pounds off, you need to learn the proper and healthy way of eating, and I don't believe this is it. You should never have to deprive yourself of any foods, regardless of the day of the week. It is about moderation and balance. Following this type of plan for the long run is unrealistic. It is just a quick fix.
  • KAR1959
    KAR1959 Posts: 4,335 Member
    Thanks every one for your advice. I did the research and decided not to go on this "diet". My weight loss has been slow and steady...sometimes very slow but I am losing. I'm trying to make a lifestyle change and change the way I deal with food. I'm going to stick with what I've been doing...portion control and exercise. I think in the long run this will be more sustainable.

    Thanks again!
  • onyxgirl17
    onyxgirl17 Posts: 1,722 Member
    I don't diet. After 17 days, then what? You've lost a couple pounds but go back to old ways and guess what? Those pounds come right back.
  • valmr2
    valmr2 Posts: 3
    It's really a great way of eating and in spite of the name it is not only for 17 days. Please read the whole book first though since too many people only look at Cycle 1 and say it's crazy. I get plenty to eat on it and have never felt better. I am diabetic and my blood glucose is in a very good range now. I have been on it since June 4th and have lost 25 pounds so far.
    And by the way----I DO have my doctor's ok to be on this. Also will add that I found out about the diet when my MIL called and said her doctor and his wife were on it and she wanted to know if I would go on it with her. She has lost 28 pounds and cholesterol, BP, etc improved greatly. Needless to say I am a great fan of this eating plan.
  • CM9178
    CM9178 Posts: 1,251 Member
    so what happens when you are done losing weight and want to just maintain and live a normal life? Are you supposed to deprive yourself of certain foods and follow a strict plan for the rest of your life?
    Following this plan does not teach you how to eat properly and in a healthy way, that is doable for the long run. The reason we are all overweight is because we don't know how to eat properly. If you don't learn this, you'll never keep the weight off, no matter how fast you might lose it with this quick fix. It is similar to getting gastric bypass or the lapband surgery. Sure, it will help you lose weight really fast, but you don't learn how to eat properly, which is why so many people who have those surgeries end up gaining a lot of weight back.
  • tlish2008
    tlish2008 Posts: 10
    I really feel that if everyone who is skeptical of this program read the book, they would all realize that this just isn't a quick fix to weightloss. Nothing is. This has 4 cycles. Cycles one through three (51 days) are about the weightloss and creating new eating habits and then cycle 4 lasts forever and puts you on the right path for weightloss maintenance and sustainability. Most of you are right, for the first 2 cycles, you just need to put the donuts, cookies, and chocolate down, but after that, your favorites are re-introduced... in moderation! Yes of course treat yourself. But IN MODERATION as any health nutritionist or dietician will tell you. This book reiterates a lot of what we already know, eat healthy and exercise and you will be able to have successful weightloss.

    I have been doing it for a week and yes, the first cycle has rapid weight loss, but then you enter into cycle two which keeps you on the path of successful and healthy weightloss. My mother did this diet and has kept all of her weight off for the past year. She doesn't exercise but works for the post office and has a walking route. It's because this book taught her how to make the lifestyle change she needed in order to maintain her weight in a healthy way.

    I really encourage you all to read the book before you say it is an un-realistic "diet". Essentially everything is a diet but this one also helps you create a lifestyle change instead of leaving you hanging after you finished the program. Read the book. I assure you that your opinions may change at least a little if not entirely.
  • tlish2008
    tlish2008 Posts: 10
    It's really a great way of eating and in spite of the name it is not only for 17 days. Please read the whole book first though since too many people only look at Cycle 1 and say it's crazy. I get plenty to eat on it and have never felt better. I am diabetic and my blood glucose is in a very good range now. I have been on it since June 4th and have lost 25 pounds so far.
    And by the way----I DO have my doctor's ok to be on this. Also will add that I found out about the diet when my MIL called and said her doctor and his wife were on it and she wanted to know if I would go on it with her. She has lost 28 pounds and cholesterol, BP, etc improved greatly. Needless to say I am a great fan of this eating plan.

    Yay! Congrats! I'm glad it worked fo ryou and that your wife's health improved so much. I'm glad someone else pointed out you need to read the book before you dog it. It DOES teach you how to maintain the new healthy lifestyle!

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