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Home 
Diets
Meal Based
QUICK FACTS
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BACKGROUND
PRO
CON
DIET and NUTRITION
EXERCISE
CONCLUSION
Common Misspellings
Whats better than
Smart for Life?
Diets
Meal Based
Smart for Life
A low calorie cookie diet supervised by a medical doctor.
Top Rated Diet Shakes of 2024QUICK 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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BACKGROUND
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
PRO
- 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
- 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 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.
EXERCISE
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.
CONCLUSION
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 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
How Does Smart for Life Compare?- Product Name
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(Editor’s Choice) - 97/100
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Smart for Life?
User Feedback
(Page 10 of 11, 217 total comments)Big Time Looser
+Smart for life is a great program! There foods are 60% organic, they taste great, and you loose the weight fast. So far i have lost 20 pounds and let me tell you i am not bored not one bit :) i cant wait to see what week 7 brings!
posted Jan 26th, 2009 10:15 amGen
Becky! I hope you nuke the cookie before putting Equal on it--Equal is NOT heat stable and should never be microwaved!!! Very unsafe.
posted Jan 16th, 2009 11:09 amAmy
+The SFL diet plan is the best! I started the program in Oct. 07 and lost 25 lbs. by Jan. 08. The plan is truly effective if you have the mindset. It does take a comittment and at times it is a challenge, as any diet can be. I am back on the plan to lose a few pounds that I put on. The doctors and office staff are extremely supportive, I look forward to weighing in each week and chatting with the girls in the office. No diet is easy and weight can be put back on after completing any diet! I get that comment a lot , that o...you will put it all back on with this diet. I feel that is so untrue , because after losing on any diet the risk is there. It is of course, up to the individual on how the future pans out. My favorite cookie is the chocolate chip in the microwave for 10 seconds. I have not ventured much into the soups and shakes. I also love to know I can throw the cookies in my purse and my day is planned w/o any tupperware or much thought! I highly recommend this plan to anyone looking to lose weight quickly.
posted Jan 13th, 2009 9:28 pm
+ldiot savant
i began the program this past saturday. according to the Tanita scale in my gym at work, i'm down 6.5 lbs as of today. i'm excited, but have found myself hungry on this program. i'll try to remain optimistic.
posted Jan 13th, 2009 9:59 amAgnes McCarthy
+I love this diet. I have been on many, many different diets over the years and I find the Smart For Life cookie diet to be the easiest diet to follow, so far I have lost almost 50 pounds. I have recommended the diet to my friends and they are having the same great results that I have had. I recommend this diet to everyone.
posted Jan 12th, 2009 12:15 pmMarie
+Costco has the 42 day program on their website for only $199!!!!
posted Jan 11th, 2009 3:30 pm42-Day Kit includes:
14 packs Oatmeal Smart Cookies Squares
14 packs Chocolate Chip Smart Cookies Squares
7 packs Blueberry Smart Cookies Squares
9 Shake Pouches (4 Vanilla, 4 Chocolate, 1 Egg Custard)
6 Shake Bottles (3 Vanilla, 3 Chocolate)
12 Chicken Soup pouches
1 Instructional Brochure
1 Dinner Guide
I bought it and will give it 42 days and see what happens. I absolutely LOVE food but need to lose 30 lbs.
Barbara
+The first time I did the cookie diet , I lost 40lbs. I gained some back but I have restarted because this diet works. It's a no-brainer. You eat 6 cookies a day one real meal for dinner, and drink plenty of water. You don't have to think about it, you just do it.
posted Jan 8th, 2009 11:20 pmgettinslim
+I have been on the Smart for life program for 4 1/2 months now and I have lost 52 lbs. I can't tell you how easy the program is to follow especially when you are one of those people who like to be told what they can have and what they can't. The cookies are delicious with a variety of flavors. and oh my goodness the muffins are a great treat for after dinner. Thank you smart for life for transforming my life.
posted Jan 8th, 2009 9:35 amRobin
+Who knew that losing weight could ever be this easy and convenient. I lost 38 lbs. in 12 weeks and couldn't believe it that the weight was simply falling off. I ate a muffin for breakfast, then a cookie, a soup, a crunch, a cookie, a healthy dinner and saved a cookie for after dinner. These are all natural products that keep you satisfied without drugs or toxic ingredients. You can actually read the ingredients label and understand what you see. There are centers in many locations or you can do it yourself when you buy it online at their website. Give it a shot...it really works!
posted Dec 29th, 2008 9:45 amMicki
+I have been on the program for 2 weeks. I love the chicken soup but it is very expensive at $3.50 a cup. I hated the cookies at first, but then put them in the freezer and now I love them!!! I have decided not to weigh myself for a month but I can already see a difference. This program is sooo easy.
posted Dec 27th, 2008 10:54 amskinnycow
+I was borderline diabetic with high cholesterol of 352, I have been on the medical portion of this prgram for 8 months and have been taken off my sugar pills and my cholest has been reduced to 184. i have never felt better and will probably eat some cookies for the rest of my life to maintain my weight, because I am addicted to eating them..LOL!
posted Dec 23rd, 2008 12:34 pmDeb
+I did the diet about 3 years ago, Smart for life had started out with only 3 flavors, when they were Siegal. I had lost about 10lbs my first month. Unfortuantley I was getting sick of the cookies. I had to rejoin due to me putting weight from a surgical procedure. I have to tell you they have 7 different flavors and the cookies are incredible. They also have soups, shakes, and mini muffins which taste like pieces of cake. Its incredible!! I have lost a total of 43 lbs in 3 months!! People can't believe how great I look. I thank the lord for having Smart For Life!!
posted Dec 22nd, 2008 2:30 pmHungry Hippo
+Good Luck JayQ I think you are going to do just fine! Stick with it, it works if u are strict and follow the program to the tee. I have lost about 28 lbs. in 3 1/2 months The diet is great!
posted Dec 19th, 2008 2:49 pmfatnhappy
+I started at the smart for life in jupiter as well. I wanted to start before the holidays.So far I lost 18lbs in almost 6 weeks and thats with Thanksgiving thrown in there. The staff has been fantastic and has really helped me stay committed. I look forward to graduating to their maintenance program but am a liitle nervous!!!!
posted Dec 19th, 2008 2:49 pmJayQ
+I just started and it is pricey. (but, I know well worth it) It is a change that you will have to overcome. I have not been on the plan long and I am already seeing results. I workout and eat 4 oz of protein 1 hour before my workout and it is just will power in my opinion. I love food and I think I am just eating smarter on this plan. WIsh me luck!
posted Dec 18th, 2008 12:19 pmHungry Hippo
+The prices are not that high in the smart for life jupiter location, i paid $199 to start up that included everything but my product. You should give them a call they have many different options to choose from and they are very helpful there number is 561-745-4888.
posted Dec 17th, 2008 4:02 pmP.S
There are other centers if you dont live close to jupiter.
Dan
+I was considering starting, emailed them yesterday will probably start friday, however they are telling me it will cost 350$ a month and 300$ to start it off. Those sound kind of steep as I'm reading other sites saying it only costs 150$ to startup and 200-300 a month. could someone please comment on their price they paid?
posted Dec 3rd, 2008 4:37 pmNicole
+I had been thinking of starting the Smart for Life diet for some time but was a little skeptical. A friend of mine had been on it for a couple of months and she lost over 30lbs and she looks fantastic, so I decided to give in a try it. I'm just finishing up day 4. So far, it's been difficult because of the foods that are not allowed, and I feel tired and lethargic because of the lack of energy and iron in the diet. The cookies are bland at best, but having paid the 280$ and witnessing the results, I feel confident that it'll work for me too.
posted Dec 1st, 2008 8:41 pmBecky
+I love them , I sprinkle equal on top of choc chip an microwave 14 seconds they are delicious. I have lost 10 pounds in 1 week and I am not hungry.
posted Nov 25th, 2008 3:14 pmHilarie
+I lost 28 pounds in 13 weeks. I have since maintained my weight for over 2 months with no problems. I broke a lot of old habits during my time on the diet. I weigh myself daily and go up and down in a 2 lb range while eating normally, yet healthfully. My mindset throughout the diet was I could look back in a month or two and either be able to say "I got it done" or I could have gotten it done" - Lots of friends with similar results - hope it stays around for others.
posted Nov 15th, 2008 7:57 pm