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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
Do You Know the Best Diet Shakes of 2024?
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
- User Rating
- Has Good Appetite Suppressant
- Has Only Natural Components
- Good Taste
- 18Shake
(Editor’s Choice) - 97/100
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User Feedback
(Page 5 of 11, 217 total comments)Andres
-That's funny. The person who wrote all the comments on the 3rd is because is part of the company. THIS DIET IS THE WORST THING EVER. YOU LOST THE WEIGHT BUT YOU ARE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO KEEP IT OFF. DON'T DO THAT..DON'T SPEND YOUR MONEY.
posted Feb 11th, 2010 11:51 amJanice
Well I am into week 2, and after losing 5 lbs last week, this week I have gained back 2! Anyone suggest why I am gaining now when my calories are still around 1200 a day?
posted Feb 11th, 2010 8:16 amMichelle, yes the hunger eases. I found after a few days I would have to set reminders for myself to eat them.
Michele
I started today and i actually am fine with the taste and if u heat in the microwave for 8 secs it infuses the chocolate taste.
posted Feb 8th, 2010 3:24 pmI have already had more than enough water with 4 cookies.......it is now 3:20 pm but i am sooo hungry
Does the hunger ease at all???
larry
-Tasted terrible.
posted Feb 7th, 2010 1:24 amKaren
+Love, Love Love this diet. Lost over 50 lbs. 4 years ago and have keep it off ever since. I have set an alarm weight that I never want to go above and if I get close to that number I go back on the cookies and take off those unwanted pounds. So easy, you can take them anywhere.
posted Feb 4th, 2010 6:39 pmFranci
+This diet works because it retrains you to eat more often throughout the day (much smaller quantities) to keep your blood sugar level AND your metabolism burning. Granted the cookies aren't MRS. FIELDS...but they are quite tasty and really are a tool. They are more like little mini-meals, and if you check out the ingredients there is NOTHING in them that is unhealthy. I lost 18 lbs in 5 weeks! I'm VERY happy with the program.
posted Feb 4th, 2010 6:36 pmShosh Komornik
+This diet is great, the first month I didn't lose that much due to my thyroid not working but the doctor quickly adjusted that and the pounds really started coming off. Gina, Elvis and Dr. Kowalksie are the best. They are professional and really know how to motivate you. The cookies are OK but their new muffins, soups and creals are absolutely delicious. I would wholehartedly recommend Smart for Life to any of my friends and family.
posted Feb 4th, 2010 6:07 pmJanice
+Well 3 days successfully complete. I have lost 3 lbs so far. I always was a good water drinker, so I am hoping that was real fat I've lost. Can anyone else tell me if they eat lean Pork & Beef instead of chicken? I need a little more variety so could I just cut back my portion size?
posted Feb 4th, 2010 2:47 pmJackie
+I love the Smart For Life cookie diet. I lost 18 pounds usingthe cookies and now I started the hcg program. In a week I lost 9 pounds and am so happy. I onlyhave 7 more pounds to get to my goal. Thank you Elvis and Gina - you are a winning team in Aventura, Miami
posted Feb 4th, 2010 11:58 amAdam
+showed me to eat small and often during the day
posted Feb 3rd, 2010 3:46 pmjim bart
+The taste of the chocolate chip was very good. I microwave them for 10 seconds before i eat them. I lost 16 pounds and very pleased with the results without a lot of effort. i would highly recommend this product
posted Feb 3rd, 2010 3:19 pmCassie
+Did it - love it - use it to maintain my weight now that I am at my goal. Medical program yields grand results. Me, my mom and my sister all did this diet in aventura, florida. Dr Blumenthal was great and helped us all lose over 20 pounds each. miss savage and mr jimenez were extremely helpful throughout our weight loss journey. we are forever grateful to smart for life. My friend went to the Jupiter one cause she lives there and said the people there are great too.
posted Feb 3rd, 2010 1:54 pmSusan Hammond
+The diet is simply amazing. I lost 15 lbs in 4 wks. This is the first diet that has worked for me. I am a school teacher and have very little time for taking food breaks. The cookies and other products are fast and easy to prepare while controlling hunger. Now I am using the products to maintain. I would highly recommed this program!
posted Feb 3rd, 2010 1:52 pmDanielle Imperiale
I have tried so many diets. This is the only diet that has worked and I have been able to keep the weight off. It is quick, easy and effective. I love this program. I like the chocolate chip cookies the best! You should try it, you will be so happy. The only thing you have to lose is weight!!!
posted Feb 3rd, 2010 1:50 pmVanessa
+I liked this program very much. Me and my husband lost a combined 80 pounds on it. The ingredients are so healthy and really speeds up your metabolism. We didn't even have to exercise at all to lose the weight.
posted Feb 3rd, 2010 1:44 pmNever Thin Enough
+Cookies? Who would have thought. I do the medical cookies in Hallandale Beach, right near the Aventura hospital. I feel healthy, look great, just married the man of my dreams. Lost 18 pounds in 4 weeks. I went in and told the folks I need to lose weight for my wedding and look at me now!
posted Feb 3rd, 2010 1:22 pmAlwaysOnADiet
+I'm always on a diet. Let's face it, I always will be. I lost 80 pounds on the smart cookies and I have kept if off for 6 months now. I still go into the aventura location from time to time to say hi because if it weren't for the folks there, Elvis & Gina, I would never have kept it off. They get really busy but always take the time to address my concerns about gaining the weight back. I love them both and invited them to stay at my cabin in the Rockies anytime, for free. You can't put a price on great people. If you are even considering this diet, go see my peeps in aventura. Let them show you how great it is to be thin and healthy and feel good. As for Dr Kowalskin, he is a lot of fun and makes the weight loss process painless!
posted Feb 3rd, 2010 1:17 pmMelissa
+For those people who didn't like the program, please take responsibility for yourselves. I mean, if you're going to invest in your health, at least follow the program. Smart for Life is an incredible program. As a matter of fact, if it wasn't for the SUPPORT at the Aventura office, I would not have stuck to the program like I did. I lost 53 lbs and I have MAINTAINED IT for almost 6 months. Not only that, THIS PROGRAM SAVED MY FAMILY'S LIVES! My father has lost over 70 lbs, my mother lost over 50 lbs, my best friend lost 50 lbs, and I have 3 business partners that have lost ALL of their weight (over 70 lbs each) and have ALL MAINTAINED IT! And I have to stress that it was the SUPPORT of the Aventura office, especially Gina and Elvis. If it wasn't for them, we would not have made it because it's easy to go back to your old habits and once we veered off the path, they would bring us back with phone calls and encouragement. This is an AMAZING group of caring professionals that I have recommended over 30 people to them. And every single one of them is a success story.
posted Feb 3rd, 2010 1:13 pmThe bottom line is this, if you're REALLY ready to lose weight, you will. It's not just about the food, it's a mindset. Obviously, you guys weren't ready for it. If you only lost 5 lbs because you perceived someone to be less than perfect and you're blaming them for your lack of progress, the only person to look to for blame is in the mirror. I wish you guys luck in losing weight and finding happiness. As for me and my family, we are SMART FOR LIFE - FOR LIFE!
Gina, Elvis, and the staff at the office, I THANK YOU FOR SAVING MY FAMILY! I call in an act of God that you guys were the ones who took care of my family. I am forever in your debt!
Tammy
+Awesome diet. Great team. I am smart for life. Doing hcg and cookies and loving my life. Lost 40 pounds in 2 months and can't believe the transformation. See Gina & Elvis in the Aventura Miami office. I went to Boca and Aventura. The staff at both places was great and I am a new person. Gina really understands because she was there and lost a bunch of weight. It's great to see that she gains a bit and can lose it right away. It proves to me and everyone else that goes there that we can do it if we want to. She is an inspiration to us all and Elvis, well, what can I say - a doll! I love you guys!!!! TM
posted Feb 3rd, 2010 1:13 pmKathleen
+Smart for life helped me lose 22 pounds in 6 weeks. I did the Hcg injections and can't believe the results. I look 5 sizes smaller. I started at a smart for life center in the state of MA but then I moved and went in to the clinic near the hospital in Aventura. I have been on many programs in my life but these people are serious about weight loss. In the first 2 weeks I lost slow but admitted I had cheated on the diet. Geena sat with me to find out why I was cheating and even though they were so busy, she really took the time to help me. The 2nd week, I lost 9 pounds. I was amazed. The pep talk I get every week is worth a million dollars. The doctor suggested I have Elvis take my blood to see if my thyroid was low and it sure was. These guys have changed my life, The cookies taste great, I do the cookies and regular food on the hcg program. I love you smart for life - thank you
posted Feb 3rd, 2010 12:58 pm