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The Scarsdale Diet

The original low carb diet. This diet is a two week, low fat, low carbohydrate, high protein diet.

 

What is the Scarsdale Diet

The Scarsdale Diet has been around for some time. Developed by Dr. Herman Tarnower, this diet promises an unreasonable one-pound-per-day weight loss while you limit your food intake to specified amounts of fruits, vegetables and mostly lean sources of protein. It encourages the use of artificial sweeteners and herbal appetite suppressants to speed up weight loss. There is no calorie counting, but meals are limited to breakfast, lunch and dinner and snacking is not allowed.

 

 

 

How does it work

The Scarsdale Diet consists of a seven to fourteen day food plan that outlines the types of foods to be consumed at three meals each day. Snacking is not allowed, and herbal appetite suppressants are encouraged. Meals consist of fruit, vegetables, and lean sources of protein in unlimited amounts. You do not have to count calories or grams of fat, and there is no limit on portion sizes. Weight loss often occurs rapidly, and you will not have to worry about hunger. The strict meal plan must be followed exactly.

 

What you can eat

Drink at least 4 glasses of water or diet soda per day. Don't drink any alcoholic beverages. The only beverages allowed are regular or decaffeinated coffee, black; tea; club soda (with lemon, if desired); and diet sodas in all flavors. You may drink as often as you wish. Prepare all salads without oil, mayonnaise, or other rich dressings. Use only lemon and vinegar. Eat vegetables without butter, margarine, or other fat; lemon can be used. All meat should be very lean; remove all visible fat before eating. Remove skin and fat from chicken and turkey before eating. It is not necessary to eat everything listed, but don't substitute or add.

 

	DAY 1
BREAKFAST	coffee or tea with sugar substitute & 1/2 grapefruit
LUNCH	any amount of lean beef, chicken or fish + tomato salad + coffee or tea
DINNER	broiled fish + tomato and lettuce salad + grapefruit or melon

	DAY 2
BREAKFAST	coffee or tea with sugar substitute & 1/2 grapefruit
LUNCH	any amount of fruit salad + coffee
DINNER	hamburger (without bread) and all the cooked vegetables you desire

	DAY 3
BREAKFAST	coffee or tea with sugar substitute & 1/2 grapefruit
LUNCH	tuna salad + grapefruit or melon
DINNER	2 lean pork chops + mixed green salad + coffee

	DAY 4
BREAKFAST	coffee or tea with sugar substitute & 1/2 grapefruit
LUNCH	2 eggs + cottage cheese + 3 oz. squash + 1 toast + coffee
DINNER	chicken ( grilled or broiled w/o skin ) + spinach or green pepper + coffee

	DAY 5
BREAKFAST	coffee or tea with sugar substitute & 1/2 grapefruit
LUNCH	all the dry cheese you want + spinach + 1 toast
DINNER	broiled fish + cooked veggies or green salad + 1 toast

	DAY 6
BREAKFAST	coffee or tea with sugar substitute & 1/2 grapefruit
LUNCH	fruit salad (as much as you want) + 1 coffee
DINNER	broiled chicken w/o skin + tomato and lettuce salad + grapefruit or melon + coffee

	DAY 7
BREAKFAST	coffee or tea with sugar substitute & 1/2 grapefruit
LUNCH	cold or hot chicken + tomato & lettuce salad + grapefruit or melon + coffee
DINNER	lean beef + mixed salad + coffee

 

 

What health experts say

This plan can be dangerously low in carbohydrate and many vitamins and minerals. Herbal appetite suppressants are encouraged and these can be dangerous, especially for people with heart disease or high blood pressure. The herbal appetite suppressants have been related to death when used in large amounts or in conjunction with other stimulants such as caffeine. The Scarsdale diet, like other low carbohydrate, high protein plans, eliminates foods that are high in fiber and many nutrients in favor of quick weight loss. Do not stay on the diet more than fourteen days.

The Scarsdale diet claims it can have a weight loss of one pound per day. The Scarsdale diet does not recommend any exercise as part of the diet plan especially for those over 40. This is due in part to the low calorific value of the diet plan.

The extreme carbohydrate restriction induces rapid water weight loss. However, weight will be regained after going off the diet and returning to former eating habits.

 

 

 

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