has anyone tried The 17 Day Diet? does it work?

It works for 17 days...then it stops working

My trainer at the gym has all of her clients on this. Every single one of them has been successful on it. The title is misleading its not really a 17 day diet it is a lifestyle change. For people with PCOS or insulin resistance this is a great plan to use. I lost most of my weight on it. The zig zagging the calories when you get to cycle 2 and 3 really helps. It is a retraining tool on how to eat. No more massive portions of rice, potatoes, and other starches. It focuses more on lean protein and veggies. Also when you have issues like I do with PCOS the eating of all the fruit before your afternoon snack really helped me

I know what the 17 day diet is and I call it a fad soley because it's another book and diet plan designed for the author and publisher to make money on something we already know will help lose weight.

Following a strict diet plan with things removed, added, etc is a fad for those who will not stick with it.

It works for some people yes. For some it won't. For most though, if you eat healthy, clean, whole, fresh foods and lean meats you will lose weight - which is almost exactly what this diet is about (the 17 day diet seems the same as the Eat Clean diet but with a bit more restrictions.

What is a fad for one person won't be for another.

I personally just don't see the point in spending money to read about what I already know. I also don't want to spend money on a restrictive diet when I can do it on my own. That's me though.

If you need the structure and the meal plans/meal ideas written out for you than go for it. Some people need that and some don't.

People are different.

Of course everyone is entitled to their opinion, but don'tcha think it is a bit rich for you to be so dismissive of it when you're 50lb overweight yourself? If you knew all the answers maybe you wouldn't need to be on here?

A lot of your posts are really negative, instead of being supportive and encouraging like most around here.

Just saying...

I agree.

When posting its great to have your own opinion but at the same time this isnt a place for people to hate on ones ideas, if they want to try it then let them.... and saying "just saying" doesnt make it ok either.

I have been on the 17 day diet and I maintain that the name sounds like a fad but I think the principle is sound. It is working for me (18 pounds down). I wish they would have named it something different but unfortunately the name makes people automatically think it's a magical cure in 17days-- and it's immediately labeled a fad. My only insight is that if you have a hard time with eating limited carbs the first cycle might be discouraging so in that case maybe something else might work better for you. Good luck!

I did and for me it wasn't a diet, but a lifestyle change. The beginning is hard because it targets our addiction to carb. After a few days it calms down and I didn't crave carbs anymore. I read the book, there is no miracle in it, just things that makes sense and it give you idea of recipe and of menu for every day. I am not following anymore per se, but it has surely helped me change my eating habit. It was a great support. Of course you can do it without but for me it helped me structure the change... Now I eat way less carb, still eat them when I feel the need and have learned to cook vegetable to incorporate them more. I followed it for about 150 days (i.e. 3 times the 3 cycles) and lost about 35 lb doing it. I think if you like structure and the idea of having a plan, this book is for you. If you are the kind of person that like to do your own little thing ... then maybe not.
Similarly, it doesn't take a trainer to help you lose weight, you can succeed without it but some people like the fact that someone else make the decision, help us do what is good for us. (after all if we did what was good for us by ourselves... we wouldn't be here... maybe).
That combined to MFP which give you more accountability (again MFP is a tool, not a miracle) you can succeed!

Add me if you want!

I know what the 17 day diet is and I call it a fad soley because it's another book and diet plan designed for the author and publisher to make money on something we already know will help lose weight.

Following a strict diet plan with things removed, added, etc is a fad for those who will not stick with it.

It works for some people yes. For some it won't. For most though, if you eat healthy, clean, whole, fresh foods and lean meats you will lose weight - which is almost exactly what this diet is about (the 17 day diet seems the same as the Eat Clean diet but with a bit more restrictions.

What is a fad for one person won't be for another.

I personally just don't see the point in spending money to read about what I already know. I also don't want to spend money on a restrictive diet when I can do it on my own. That's me though.

If you need the structure and the meal plans/meal ideas written out for you than go for it. Some people need that and some don't.

People are different.

Sooo true.. sooo very true

My brother and his wife tried it, cause her mother lost alot of weight on it. My brother didn't like it cause he said you stayed hungry all the time. Guess it depends or varies for some people.

As long as you eat whats unlimited in the first part you wont feel hungry. If you are hungry you can eat more lean protein and more vegetables you just do not want to stray from the list of items you can eat. Personally all the green tea they tell you to drink made me constantly feel full.

I know what the 17 day diet is and I call it a fad soley because it's another book and diet plan designed for the author and publisher to make money on something we already know will help lose weight.

Following a strict diet plan with things removed, added, etc is a fad for those who will not stick with it.

It works for some people yes. For some it won't. For most though, if you eat healthy, clean, whole, fresh foods and lean meats you will lose weight - which is almost exactly what this diet is about (the 17 day diet seems the same as the Eat Clean diet but with a bit more restrictions.

What is a fad for one person won't be for another.

I personally just don't see the point in spending money to read about what I already know. I also don't want to spend money on a restrictive diet when I can do it on my own. That's me though.

If you need the structure and the meal plans/meal ideas written out for you than go for it. Some people need that and some don't.

People are different.

Of course everyone is entitled to their opinion, but don'tcha think it is a bit rich for you to be so dismissive of it when you're 50lb overweight yourself? If you knew all the answers maybe you wouldn't need to be on here?

A lot of your posts are really negative, instead of being supportive and encouraging like most around here.

Just saying...

So, you come into this thread and preach about supporting and encouraging people by... insulting someone. Brilliant.

Also, who the heck are you to assume that her weight gain came as a result of poor nutrition, and not pregnancy, or illness, or injury, or any of a million other causes that have nothing to do with her level of nutritional knowledge.

If a guy has a Masters degree in exercise kinesiology, but doesn't have a six pack and 20" arms, does that mean he has no idea what he's talking about? How about a molecular biologist who spends her entire life studying influenza, if she gets the flu, does that mean she isn't qualified to give advice on dealing with it?

And then on top of that, you talk about how negative the other poster is. Pot, meet kettle.

To the OP, I'm not that familiar with the intricacies of the 17 day diet, but from what I've read, it's just another low carb, Atkins style diet, restrict carbs, then slowly add them back. It's honestly no more effective than any other diet out there. Restricting carbs will cause you to lose a bunch of water weight initially, and then the slow reintroduction will allow the water weight to slowly make it's way back in. Fat loss will not be any different, either way. If you have a metabolic issue, PCOS, Diabetes, or anything of that ilk, you may benefit more from the reduced carbs. Otherwise, it's mostly a placebo, mental effect. It won't hurt you, however, so go for it if you want, just understand that a lot of the initial weight loss is actually water, and not fat.

Perhaps the word "fad" is what sounded offensive, it has such a negative connotation. Most people use diet plans at one point or another, but you don't see the same diet plan being used for years upon years, thus the word "fad". Even the diets that have been around make changes. I have read the diet and it does seem to have merit for people who are needing to get a good start. The real problems come from not making a complete life change.

I agree you have to be willing to make a life style change in order to continue seeing the results you get from any diet!

the actual definition of fad diet is ....fad diet - a reducing diet that enjoys temporary popularity so perhaps the 17 day diet may be one, but only time will tell. If it works for you, then go for it!! At least it isnt one of those only eat this one thing everyday diets! the key here is to be supportive of each other!! I wish you the best of luck!!!!

I think everyone knows by now that diets by themselves do not work. However, a diet can be an impetus to get you off in the right direction to overall health and wellness. I read Dr. Ian Smith's Four Day Diet book and followed the induction plan as outlined (very restrictive detox foods) and dropped weight. I do not follow the rest of the plan tooth and letter but I'm still losing weight because of what I learned in the first part of the book which is how to properly choose foods and activities that will get me to my goal. The "Kickin Cabbage Soup" recipe is now a staple in my regular day-to-day eating.

So if the OP wants to try the diet, she should. It could very well be the motivation she needs to get going. But bottom line..we exercise more and eat less which generally leads to successful weight loss.

good for you!!