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Home 
Diets
Calorie Counting
How Does
Scarsdale Diet Compare?
BACKGROUND
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PRO
CON
DIET and NUTRITION
EXERCISE
CONCLUSION
Common Misspellings
Whats better than
Scarsdale Diet?
Diets
Calorie Counting
Scarsdale Diet Review (UPDATED 2024): Don't Buy Before You Read This!
A world-reknowned program since the 1970s.
Top Rated Diets of 2024What is it?
The Scarsdale Diet is a weight loss plan offering a high protein, low carbohydrate and reduced fat approach. It’s estimated that one can lose up to a pound a day, for a total of 20 pounds.
The book that outlined the diet is still the highest selling diet book of all time. It’s advised to limit use up to 2 weeks at one time.The basic ideas of the diet have been used by other plans, though with some changes . When reviewing many different diet plans out experts concluded that the most overall effective one was the 18Shake Diet. It offers a meal replacement and diet pill made with all natural ingredients. The combined effect allows for fat burning and appetite suppression for increased weight loss. Discover more information about the 18Shake Diet plan via the link provided here.
Do You Know the Best Diets of 2024?
ScarsdaleDiet Ingredients and Side Effects
The breakdown for macronutrients is 43% protein, 22.5 % fat, and 34.5% carbohydrates. It allows for the following main foods:
• Fresh fruit.
• Lean meats.
• Vegetables.
• 3 meals a day, no snacks are offered.
The high levels of protein are known to be satiating, since protein suppresses appetite better than fiber, fats, and carbohydrates. That’s why the diet often advises to eat generous amounts of proteins, as it’s harder to overindulge in protein than other macronutrients.
It’s also advised to:
• Drink 4 glasses of water a day.
• Drinking coffee and tea are recommended for breakfast and dinner. This is to help raise metabolism and suppress appetite.
• Walking 3 km a day.
• Eating as much as you’d like, but only to the point where you’re satisfied but not full.
A comprehensive list of the top 10 ranked diet plans is made available here.
The meals suggested remain similar, with breakfast lunch and dinner being:
• Breakfast (The same for the entire 14 days): ½ grapefruit, one slice of protein bread with no spreadand a portion of seasonal fruit if no grapefruit is available.
• Lunch: Day one is assorted cold cults and tomatoes. Day two allows for a lean hamburger and certain vegetables. Day three is grapefruit, melon, or seasonal fruit, tuna fish or salmon salad. Day four allows protein bread, select vegetables, low-fat cottage cheese and 2 eggs. Day five offers unlimited spinach, protein bread, and assorted cheese slices. Day six is a fruit salad. Day seven offers grapefruit or seasonal fruit, turkey or chicken, and select vegetables.
• Dinner: Day one allows grapefruit or seasonal fruit, slice of protein bread, combination salad, and fish or shellfish. Day two allows a fruit salad. Day three has roasted defatted lamb, and salad. Day four is chicken with fat removed and select vegetables. Day five has a slice of protein bread, salad, and fish or shellfish. Day six is roasted chicken or turkey, grapefruit or seasonal fruit, and salad. Day seven is brusell sprouts, salad, and lots of steak with the fat trimmed.
It’s unclear why all these specific food selections were advised. They also provide no portion sizes for all the foods advised. This can make it possible to overeat. For a comprehensive list of the top 10 diets, clickthe link cited here.
EDITOR’S TIP: Combine this diet with a proven meal replacement such as 18 Shake for better results.
Scarsdale Diet Quality of Ingredients
All the foods one selects have to be from the specific diet plan. There are quality ingredients such as many greens, lean meats, healthy fruits, and no allowances for sugary drinks.
The major issue is that there is no mention as to why these specific foods were chosen. Also, the high amount of protein required can be difficult for some. There’s also a potential risk factor in this type of diet as the Mayo Clinic Explains:
“risk of using a high-protein diet with carbohydrate restricting for the long term are still being studied”
“Several health problems may result if a high-protein diet is followed”
There’s also the issue of temporary results. The diet suggests up to 20 pounds can be lost in just 14 days at a rate of a pound a day. This might be due to water weight, which the body holds unto when carbohydrates are eaten. It’s unclear whether or not this is a healthy and safe approach to weight loss. The comprehensive list of the top 10 ranking diets is featured in the link here.
When water weight is lost there is no actual fat loss. This is why when people continue to eat carbohydrates that all the water weight will be regained.
The Price and Quality of Scarsdale Diet
The diet does call for a lot of meats, but the overall price depends on whether one chooses top quality vegetables, fruits, and meats.
The overall quality of this diet is in question. Many of the foods suggested are heavy on the amount of protein they offer. There’s many vegetables offered, but it’s unknown if this diet was scientifically created for the kinds of foods allowed. There’s no evidence that the specific foods allowed are any better than others.
It’s also not a long term diet. It’s only advised to use it for a 14 day period. It’s unknown if this is for health reasons or not. They also suggest one can lose 20 pounds, though there’s no evidence provided to help show if this is true or not.
Without much more proof it’s impossible to determine whether or not this was created with legitimate science, or if it was created with whatever foods the creator thought sounded good.
Business of Scarsdale Diet
The creator of the diet is Herman Tarnower, a now deceased former cardiologist. Since his focus was on diseases of the heart, it’s unclear how he came up with a weight loss diet. At the time thatthis was created ,it was seen as groundbreaking.
New information on the diet has shown it to be far too limiting. Live Strong.com adds:
“the weight loss isn’t necessarily achieved in a safe manner”
“most weight that’s lost is water weight, which is usually regained as soon as participantsreturn to their normal eating habits”
It’s clear from the kinds of foods suggested that the Scarsdale Diet is not a long term weight loss plan. For a list of the highest rated diet plans click the link available here.
There’s no official website offered, only a book which outlines the specifics of the diet. There are a lot of websites available that explain the diet in detail.
EDITOR’S TIP: The top 10 list of the best diets is available here.
Customer Opinions of Scarsdale Diet
Here are some direct quotes from online customers:
“A little too extreme for me”
“I was throwing up digestive acids and could not keep anything down for a week”
“I did not realize how it can damage your kidneys”
“meal plans are very unrealistic and don’t know how the could possibly satisfy the average person”
People often mentioned that while they have lost weight in the beginning, there was no weight loss in the middle or end portions of the diet. Many found it difficult to maintain, as it promoted side effects in some.
There was also a lot of disappointment from people who regained all the weight they lost when they resumed to eat normal foods. There were also complaints about the limits on foods, which some found far too restrictive and uncompromising for different choices.
Another main issue was that the information in the book is limited. People often had more questions they wanted answered, and there were issues with the very specific foods allowed. Click the link here for a list of the top 10 ranked diet plans.
Conclusion - Does Scarsdale Diet Work?
The Scarsdale Diet was once a revolutionary weight loss plan, as it emphasized a high amount of protein with limited fats and carbohydrates. Now that there has been more science available, it’s been shown that having little carbohydrates with high protein can potentially lead to side effects. Many users of this diet have also listed side effects and a lack of long term weight loss. This short term solution is not advised for longer than 14 days consecutively. Health sites have also shown that the weight loss is likely just water weight, which quickly returns and isn’t actual fat loss.
Our experts have found that the most effective weight loss solution is the 18Shake Diet. This diet combines a natural meal replacement and a stimulant free diet pill. Both of these formulas offer a combination of appetite suppression for hours and increased fat burning. This is a potent weight loss solution as it can keep one from feeling hungry as the body’s metabolism is raised. Many customers have also left testimonials and positive reviews. People mention their appetite was suppressed for hours, and that the diet pill helped to burn calories for a combined weight loss effect.
The 18Shake Diet is also backed by a full 30 day money back guarantee. Both the meal replacement and diet pill can be returned risk free with no questions asked. More information is made available about the 18Shake Diet in the link here.
- Product Name
- User Rating
- Easy to follow
- Cheap Price
- Fast Results
- High Protein Diet
- 91/100
-
-
- Dukan Diet
- 89/100
-
-
- Paleo Diet
- 87/100
-
- Plexus Slim
- 77/100
-
- Scarsdale Diet
- 49 /100
-
-
BACKGROUND
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Created in the 1970s by Dr. Herman Tarnower, the Scarsdale Diet is named for the town in New York in which Dr. Tarnower conducted his thriving medical practice, before meeting his untimely death by the hands of his long-time lover, Jean Harris. As a medical doctor specializing in treating obesity, Dr. Tarnower combined the medical phenomenon of ketosis, and its ability to generate weight loss, with an MD-designed food program that causes ketosis in otherwise healthy individuals.
Ketosis, or the production of excess Ketones, is described as producing the residual "ashes" or "embers" of fat-burning. Ketosis is generally a bad thing, causing both Alcoholics and Diabetics to lose fat rapidly as an unwanted side-effect of the disease. One can check if the body is engaged in Ketosis by measuring Ketones in the urine, though it should be noted that the Ketosis generated by the Scarsdale diet is generally at lower levels than those with illness-induced Ketosis.
The Scarsdale Diet is reknowned the world over for its rapid weight loss results, generally 1 pound per day. Some users boast a loss of 20 pounds in 14 days, though they readily admit that a significant part of that is water loss and readily returns once the diet is discontinued.
Do You Know the Best Diet Pills of 2024?
PRO
- The Scarsdale Diet has a long-running history of success all over the world
- The high protein component of the program resonates strongly with those who have had success with off-shoot programs such as Atkins
- Menu plan is very specific, making it easy for the user to follow
- Rapid weight loss is ideal for someone preparing for a vacation, wedding, or other special event in which appearance is important
- Easy to dine out
CON
- The calorie level of 700 to 1000 calories is too low for even a moderately active individual
- Many users complain of fatigue and extreme hunger
- The restrictive nature of The Scarsdale Diet could be too excessive for many, and leaves little room for error or variation
- No maintenance plan means the weight can quickly return when you abandon the diet
DIET and NUTRITION
A sample day on The Scarsdale Diet looks like this:
Breakfast
- 1/2 grapefruit
- slice of wholemeal toast (no spreads or butter)
- coffee (no sugar or milk)
Lunch
- canned tuna
- salad with oil-free dressing
- coffee
Dinner
- roast lamb (with all visible fat removed)
- salad with lemon and vinegar dressing
- coffee
Drinks
- Water
- Diet drinks
- Tea
- Soda water
The program's devotees have created a number of support websites, which include some fun, easy recipes that the whole family will enjoy. In addition, the unlimited nature of lean meat and plain vegetables, especially at dinner, makes it easy to dine out while still staying true to program.
EXERCISE
Never discussed, though that is a good thing, as the low-calorie nature of the program lends itself ideally to the individual that engages in little to no activity, other than some light gardening or housekeeping. Think "ladies who lunch" rather than "soccer mom who actually plays soccer."
CONCLUSION
The Scarsdale Diet, and its companion program the "Keep-Trim" Diet, is one that will never lose its style or place in dieting history. While Ketosis is best when medically supervised, it is not uncommon to find a container of Ketostix in the medicine chest of most American households.
In addition, high protein menu programs provide energy and satisfaction, from a sensory perspective, as well as making us feel full. Potential digestive disturbances aside, The Scarsdale Diet, doesn't feel like a restrictive diet at all, but rather permission to be diligent about food intake.
Common Misspellings
scarsdale diet, TSD, scarsdial diet, keep trim diet, scaresdale diet, scarsdale deit
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User Feedback
(Page 6 of 6, 110 total comments)emily
-i love this diet except now that i know what it is i dont like it.
posted Dec 4th, 2008 11:46 amilovemoses
Sam
+My entire family used this diet several years ago. We all lost weight and felt great. I personally lost 55 lbs over a period of time.
posted Nov 6th, 2008 4:46 pmFemale 20
+Love it! Lost 14 pounds in 2 weeks! Stuck to the diet most of the time, while substituting some of the dinner menus with things that I like a little better that was in other dinner meals. Loved it.. really worked... the only one thats worked... tried 4 different other diet plans.
posted Oct 20th, 2008 9:14 pmLee
+This diet is great. I have lost 16 kilo's in the past 12 months and managed to keep it off. Still having my glass or 3 of wine.
posted Oct 7th, 2008 1:17 amgirl
this diet sucks!
posted Sep 23rd, 2008 9:14 amMe
This diet works really well. However - if you aren't overweight but you only want to loose that little bit of fat on your stumach, it may take longer for you to lose weight. Don't worry, you will loose it, just don't get upset when you don't loose 2 kg a day! Good luck!
posted Jun 16th, 2008 9:08 amAnonymous
This diet is the best diet that was ever created! The calories I take in are a lot more than 700 to 1000!!! You are allowed to eat as much as you want until you are full! I have always fallen back on this diet when all else fails! I have been on it now for 3 weeks and have lost 15 pounds. I always have the substitute lunch. To eat this way is soooo healthy, especially compared to the things I used to shove in my mouth when hungry! I don't know why they compare it to the atkins, on this diet you get bread, cottage cheese, tons of fruit and vegetables and only lean meats! This is not a high protein diet! It is a healthy way of eating!!
posted May 29th, 2008 8:40 amAnonymous (girl)
My friends at work and I tried this diet years ago. We ate lunch together away from everyone else with their Quarter Pounders and fries. We all lost weight but the meals were awful. None of us liked spinach and that was usually what we made for lunch. I grew to dread lunch time. After about 2 months we stopped. I lost about 10 pounds.
posted May 5th, 2008 8:38 amLeyla
it does really work i have been on it since tuesday and i lost 8 pounds today is wendsday!!!!!! i love it!
posted Apr 25th, 2008 2:53 pmAnonymous
it works