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Smart for Life

Smart for Life

A low calorie cookie diet supervised by a medical doctor.

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QUICK FACTSQUICK FACTS Start the Diet Now Advertisement
  • Established: 2004
  • Founder: Dr. Sasson Moulavi
  • Headquarters: Boca Raton, Florida
  • Accessibility: Centers and online
  • Diet Type: Cookie diet, low-calorie
  • Gender: Male and female
  • Coupons: Get started by saving with these Smart for Life Coupons

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BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND

Eat decadent carbs like cookies and muffins and lose weight? Sounds great, doesn't it? That is the premise behind the Smart for Life diet. The program uses its own line of "no hunger" foods and its own interventions like vitamin injections that are used to correct any metabolic conditions. All of this is accomplished under the supervision of a medical doctor. Smart for Life promises to help you lose 12-15 pounds in one month as long as you adhere to their program.

The Smart for Life program is built on the premise that 25% of overweight or obese people have metabolic or hormonal conditions that prevent them from losing weight.

With a line of "no hunger" foods like muffins, cookies, soups, shakes and desserts, all of the foods are made with organic and natural ingredients and contain protein, fiber and amino acids. Most famous for the Smart cookie, the product line has expanded to include different flavors and products of their trademark line.

In the fall of 2010, Smart for Life introduced its first ever gluten-free product, a gluten-free Banana Chocolate Chip square. The square is low in calories and includes HeroFiber(TM), a super fiber, which includes ForteFiber(TM) Soluble Dietary Fiber, which helps to maintain cholesterol, glucose and insulin levels that are already within the normal range. By adding this new gluten-free product, the weight loss plan can now be followed by anyone who follows a gluten-free diet.

The program also includes education and motivation instruction to help you target the emotional and mental issues behind your cravings, binges and weight issues. As part of the program, you are teamed up with a physician who works one-on-one with you to customize a program and treat any underlying metabolic dysfunction that you may have.

Once you sign up, you undergo a comprehensive physical examination that includes blood work, an EKG, a Body Mass Index analysis and a discussion of the program vitamin and supplement component. In some cases, injections of Smart injections at done at specified Smart for Life Centers.

You work with the Smart for Life staff at the designated Smart for Life Centers each week to monitor your weight loss. Once you've reached your weight goal, you enter into Phase 2 of the program which is the maintenance stage. Constant contact with the trained health professionals is required until you feel confident enough to keep your weight under control on your own.

But the Smart for Life Medical program also requires that you receive an injection of hCG, a growth hormone that increases during pregnancy. hCG is a very controversial diet practice because its long-term health effects are not known and it is not accepted or approved of by the medical community. The Smart for Life Medical Weight Loss program recommends the dieter receive this Smart Injection, which is intended to kick-start your weight loss and gives you a serious boost in energy. Just how long you must receive the injections is not known.

Read also: hCG Diet

PROPRO
  • There is medical supervision for the Smart for Life program
  • Addresses underlying emotional issues of eating
  • Teaches healthy eating habits that will allow you to maintain weight loss
  • Food products are organic and all-natural
  • Maintain healthy blood sugar levels and metabolism
 CON CON
  • No scientific proof that the metabolic and hormonal conditions cited as being dysfunctional in overweight people are in fact dysfunctional
  • Eating the trademarked Smart for Life line of food is no magic bullet for losing weight
  • Smart for Life food line may be more of a marketing hype than the real deal
  • Extremely low calorie diet
  • Uses hCG injections as a way to stimulate weight loss, a very controversial and potentially dangerous practice
DIET and NUTRITIONDIET and NUTRITION

On the Smart for Life eating program (the program doesn't like using the word "diet") you consume seven balanced meals throughout the day, which are intended to keep you in the fat burning zone continuously.

Six of those meals are Smart for Life cookies and one healthy, low fat dinner of chicken or fish with five cups of vegetables as outlined in your Program Guide included in your order.

The Smart for Life eating routine is built along the concept of mini-meals and retraining your body and mind to eat small and portion-controlled meals regularly throughout the day.

Daily caloric intake for Smart for Life is about 800 calories per day, eating seven meals and their food products, namely the Smart for Life cookies, and a healthy, low fat, high protein dinner.

Smart for Life cookies contain a proprietary blend of amino acids, fiber, and vitamins that are designed to quell cravings and give you the nutrition your body needs.

In addition, you can also use the cookies as a basis for certain Smart for Life recipes, like a Summer Parfait, which adds sugar-free preserves and chocolate dips to crumbled cookies.

There are also Smart Shakes, Smart Muffins and Smart Soups which can also be eaten as part of the Smart for Life program. One shake is the equivalent of two cookies and one soup or one muffin is the equivalent of one cookie.

The Smart for Life products contain HeroFiberTM, a super fiber blend, fish oil, plant sterols, inulin, flax seed, whole oats, and canola oil. There is also a gluten-free Smart for Life Banana Chocolate Chip Granola Square for those who cannot tolerate the protein gluten.

EXERCISEEXERCISE

On the Smart for Life diet, exercise is only a part of the maintenance of your weight loss. You will work with a Smart for Life health representative to work out an exercise plan that allows you to maintain your goal weight.

When you do start an exercise program on the Smart for Life program, you are encouraged to increase your intake of water and other clear and calorie-free liquids.

Once you have reached your goal weight, it is recommended that you exercise moderately for at least 3 hours per week.

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

The Smart for Life program is not that much different from other similar diet programs that have you consuming specific trademarked food in order to achieve weight loss. But a very stark red flag with the Smart for Life program is its requirement of hCG injections to jumpstart weight loss. This potentially dangerous and controversial weight loss practice has unknown health effects and is not accepted by the medical community.

The good news is that the Smart for Life program does incorporate such an eating plan with the addition of using their specific foods as well as an exercise plan once you reach your maintenance phase.Moreover, this program does instill in the dieter tools and knowledge for keeping weight off for good.

Even though the Smart for Life is under the supervision of medical doctors who can monitor your progress safely, you are strongly encouraged to exercise caution before spending any money on this weight loss program.

Rather, research on successful weight loss programs has shown us that long-term and immediate weight loss comes from a smart exercise program and an eating plan that includes a low calorie, low saturated fat diet.

Common MisspellingsCommon Misspellings

Smart Four Life, Smart for Live, Smart Life, Soup and Cookie Diet, Cookie and Soup Diet, Smart Cookie Diet, Smart for Life Diet, Smart Life Diet, the cookiediet.com

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User Feedback

(Page 1 of 11, 217 total comments)

Don

This is my second time around. First time in 2015 lost more than 40 lbs. in a little over 8 weeks. Problem was, when I hit plateau, it was devastating, and it lasted far too long - got bored and fell "off the wagon". Jump forward to 2018, must lose 30lbs before radical knee surgery, so far a breeze - three weeks in and down 18lbs!! Two issues I continually read about in the comments. First, and perhaps the most important, the cookies do take some getting used to, if you find them them offensive, try warming in microwave for 10 seconds, no more, no less and I think you will be pleasantly surprised. Also, depending on taste, I found the choc. chip superior to the others, once I got used to the cookies, trust me, you will to if you give it a chance, I no longer heat the cookies, and am satisfied with any of the flavors. One other secret, keep a bottle of water - I lace mine with the pomegranate flavoring for maximum flavor - nearby while eating the cookie, washing down each bite will make the entire experience more palatable. The second major issue is weight loss. Obviously, when you limit intake to +-1000 to 1500 calories, you will lose weight. The key with Smart for Life, is the lower calorie intake coupled with high protein and fiber which do an excellent job of curbing your hunger cravings. From the first day of the first go round in 2015 the one thing I noticed, I was never and I do mean never, hungry! I have been on a number of diets in the past, all of which had their benefits, but the one problem with them all, I was always hungry until I would finally give up - usually when I hit a bump in the road called weight plateau..the baine of dieters. Nothing will buzz kill a good diet like a plateau, the longer it lasts, the better chance I would fall off the diet. Hey, lets face it, no one enjoys a diet. If you like me, an individual who does not overeat, does no longer drinks alcohol, usually eats a quasi sensible meal and still gains weight, for me, it is the sweets, I love sweets, never met a donut that I disliked, same goes for a bowl of ice cream, a good candy bar, etc. Worst of all, the beautiful bowl of ice cream at night before bed. I grew up in a household with June Clever (for you younger crowd, look it up), new desert every night, topped with ice cream, and it did not even matter what it was, if it was worth eating, and sweet, ice cream would only make it better. Top that (no pun intended) with the lack of moderation - a word that rarely shows up in my vocabulary - and you have the perfect storm for weight gain. You want to talk diet, I know diet. What have I learned, well I know have a better understanding of the word "moderation." Just as important, I have very little trouble replacing the sweets with Smart for Life Cookies and a big glass of flavored water. Total calories: less than 200 and I am satisfied. Now the disclaimer - I do not work for Smart for Life, I pay for my cookies just like you (best deal, after your first order to get started, is Costco), and I am not paid for my opinion. that is how much I like this diet. Six cookies each day with three or four of the 17.9 oz bottles of water, each with two squirts of Smart for Life flavoring, celery, carrot spears, mixed green salad with vinegarette dressing and 6 0z. of chicken or turkey (I split my 12 oz of protein) for lunch, usually salad with the other 6 oz of protein for dinner and that is it, and I want to tell you I feel fine, no hunger pangs, no exceptional cravings (I would be a liar if I told you no cravings, just no exceptional cravings) - stick with it and take it from me, you will enjoy the diet and feel comfortable all day and all night long, especially if you suffer from acid reflux like I do - since I have been on the diet this time around, no acid reflux, I sleep and I feel great. I hope to reach my goal by this time next month, if not, I do not mind an extra month if necessary...thanks for sticking with me through this rather long feedback. Good Luck!!
Regards,
Don

posted Mar 29th, 2018 5:26 pm


Jen

I am one of those 25% you mentioned in the article, and I can say that in the 2.5 weeks since I began Smart for Life, I have lost 9.5 lbs. Its definitely not for everybody. It works for me because I'm not big on eating very often, but by the time I eat that one or maybe two meals in a day, I'm famished. I am constantly on the go so I prep meals as often as I can, but 2 meals a day, 7 days a week is too much effort & time. I also get hyper focused on tasks and forget to eat, then the meal goes to waste. This is an absolute perfect fit for me. It's convenient, healthy, small enough portion so I don't feel like I'm eating a meal 6 times a day. The cookies are pretty good, better when heated. I'm not a fan of their chocolate shake though, tastes like bad metallic breath to me. I added some peanut butter powder & cinnamon which seemed to help a little bit. Maybe I got a bad batch? I purchased the 42 day plan through Costco and even though the price seemed a bit much, if you average it out it's definitely reasonable.
Like I said, it's definitely not for everybody, just like the plans that have you eating "anything you want" keeping track of points and calories are not for me.

posted Jan 30th, 2018 4:13 pm


Colin

Hello, I work for Smart for life and wanted to provide some clarity.

1) HCG is NOT required to do the Smart for Life program. We offer it inside some of our medical clinics, but is an optional service.

2) The science behind our program- Doctor Moulavi, our founder, is a board certified obesity physician with 15+ years of experience. Although low calorie, all our products feature high protein, low sugar, gluten free, and NON-GMO. The products are designed to help you lose weight while maintaining as much muscle mass as possible. Our ingredients(fiber & protein) also help you feel full.

3) Variety - we've expanded our products to include cookies, protein bars, shakes, soups & extras like our chocolatey protein coins. All designed to help you lose weight, avoid hunger & complete your weight loss goals.

4) We really care, and have thousands of success stories to prove it! You always have the option to do the program as a medically supervised program. If you can't make it into one of our locations, you simply buy from our online store at shop.smartforlife.com. Adrian, one of our best customer service reps offers 24/7 support for both purchasing and for maintaining your weight loss goals.

5) The plan is flexible! Maybe you want to cook just one normal meal a day, or two. Perhaps you want to do a variety of cookies, bars & shakes during the day. Our expanded product line offers that variety & selection more now than ever.

posted Jun 12th, 2017 12:47 pm


Rose

People if you don't like the cookies now there are so many other choices to choose from. There are the bars different flavours and are great then you have the shakes and soup sect...so there is no excuse..please get your facts straight. I lost 70 lbs in 2009 and still feel great...

posted Jul 14th, 2015 6:07 pm


linda

+

My husband started the diet Jan 11, 2015 and has been on the cookie diet for six weeks and together has lost over 20#'s
This is the easiest diet ever with results. Sometimes I do feel a little hungry but after drinking some water the hungry feeling quickly goes away. Good luck to all who choose to do this diet, it really works.

posted Feb 16th, 2015 10:42 pm


carlos

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Cookies are awful, no wonder you lose weight eating those. Specially the chocolate cookie....so bad!

posted Jan 22nd, 2015 3:43 pm


Janell

Is this program safe for a 15 year old boy who needs to lose about 20 pounds?

posted Oct 30th, 2013 12:00 am



Zelmia Ameera Harvey

what hCG shots!? I never had to take one of those...

posted Dec 6th, 2012 1:42 am


MadgePadge

+

My goal is to lose 30 lbs. in 2.5 months. I've been on the Smart for Life diet for five days, and I have lost four pounds. So far so good, but I am hungry! A couple of days, I ate an extra cookie or two, because I was fearful that I was going to binge on something else. I sure hope the hunger pangs go away soon!!

posted Mar 28th, 2012 5:31 am


betty

I'm on the diet I bought my cookies at Cosco.com.

Where do I get the multivitamins?

posted Jan 13th, 2012 8:19 pm


Laura

I just started the Smart 4 Life diet and I do like the taste of the cookies. I work with 3 ladies who are on the diet, lost weight, look amazing and are keeping the wight off. I expect to lose 70 lbs on this diet. Maybe the cookies do not taste great to everyone, but if you are like me, you got fat from eating pizza, nachos and drinking margaritas so how can you expect to lose weight without any sacrifices now? I order my cookies from Costco and purchased my fat free dressings and toppings from Sprouts market. I bought canned and pouches of tuna fish and also fat free vegan burgers and will be posting my SUCCESS on this website. Good luck everyone who has made a decision to live healthy and longer!

posted Jan 3rd, 2012 3:10 pm


Ric

+

been on the diet 1 week down 6#, have been a little hungry but over the weekend it got alot better.

posted Nov 7th, 2011 2:53 pm


Ric

+

This is my second time on the diet,,,first time lost 58# and then went back to my old habits. The cookies work if you stay with it. This time cookies seem to taste better. Been on it 8 day have lost 6# on my way again. Good luck to all of US

posted Nov 3rd, 2011 3:31 pm


andree

+

good diet, easy to fulfill

posted Aug 30th, 2011 3:41 pm


BP

+

Sending in an update! Just starting week four and have lost 12lbs so far!!! Cookies still taste great. Oatmeal seems to be most filling but switching around with the blueberry and chocolate added some variety. Feel great and cant wait to weigh myself each morning!

posted Jul 18th, 2011 1:24 pm


BP

This is my first week on the diet and I�??m LOVING it! I can�??t wait to wake up every morning and weigh myself! I started at 207 on Monday and on Wednesday I weighed in at 202! I am female, 40 yrs., 5"5.
A multivitamin is essential even when eating a "regular" diet so I�??m not too sure why people are freaking out over taking a vitamin.
For those who complained about the taste of the cookie - maybe you need to consider why you got this big to begin with if you can't make any compromise for getting thinner and healthier! If everything tasted as great as a grilled cheese wouldn't life be grand!
I refuse to continue to be fat and sloppy as so many of us have let us lose ourselves in supersizing and eating until we are stuffed. I have been a huge fan of weight watchers and have had much success with it in the past. I decided to turn to Smart for Life this time as I needed to see results quickly! Best of luck to everyone on their weight loss journey.

posted Jun 29th, 2011 1:08 pm


Will

Awesome diet. it's all about the cal intake and training you not to eat bad stuff. The ridged plan does not allow much room for going off track. Lost 14 lbs in the first 18 days. Food is wrth the cost as it's all about hnger control. you get to have one normal meal a day (vegies and lean meat)

posted Jun 27th, 2011 12:18 pm


Jenny

+

I am currently on the smart for life program and have lost 25 lbs in 6 weeks. The cookies aren't bad, but don't expect them to taste like a homemade chocolate chip cookie. Sticking to the plan has been really easy and I don't feel like I'm starving myself. Drinking at least 64oz of water a day is essential.
You don't have to have the hcg injects, I don't get them.
I meet with the doctor once a week for an evaluation. The blood test they did when I signed up showed I have an underactive thyroid so they are treating it with meds. They provide me with vitamins.
All in all it's really easy. The cookies keep me full and the weight is melting off.
To all those people who didn't like the diet, I'd say you probably weren't committed enough to stick with it. This diet isn't about eating Oreos and expecting to loose weight. It's about retraining your body for proper portion control. The cookies provide your body with the nutrients it needs in order to function. Your body gets used to eating less junk and more nutritious food so that when you stop the cookie diet you're prepared to monitor your own nutrition and portion control.
Short term sacrifice, long term gain.

posted Mar 24th, 2011 11:11 pm


Kristen B.

I absolutely LOVE the smart for life cookie diet.! I love that instead of reaching for something unhealthy that just makes you more hungry. You grab a cookie! They are NOT bad honestly-the people complaining just want to stay fat. I would say try it-I personally love it.

posted Mar 19th, 2011 7:05 pm


momknowsbest

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I wrote a review months ago that was never published. I don't know if they didn't like what I had to say or I forgot to hit submit. Let's see if this one gets published.

Basically, I was really disappointed. I bought a bunch telling myself that I would do this cookie diet if it killed me. I guess I didn't tell myself hard enough.

The cookies were really dry. They still don't taste too bad, but I think my problem is I am the kind of person who can only have the same meal 2 or 3 times in a week, then I'm done with it.

I am absolutely sure that you will lose weight if you follow this diet (unless you already eat about 1200 calories a day). I am a healthcare provider and it just makes sense that less calories, you will lose weight.

On this diet I just craved other things too much. It was, "oh no, I have to eat one of those again" and that was only day 2.

Not only that, but the nutritional content of the cookies is awful. You have to take a multi-vitamin to make up for all of the nutrition that is missing.

I decided that it was okay for me to lose my weight a little more slowly, so I have just changed my habits slowly. I do eat the cookies every once in a while, when I don't have time to get real healthy food. I have also found some protein shakes and protein bars with way more vitamins and minerals than the cookies that I use aswell, when I am in a pinch. I am way happier this way. I eat the same stuff as before, I just snack on a cookie or protein bar instead of chips or cookies. I even have icecream or cake a couple of times a week.

I've lost 17 lbs in 6 months (and have moved from "obese" to "overweight"). I still have a ways to go but I am happy with the variety of food I get to eat.

posted Oct 21st, 2010 11:12 am



 

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