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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
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
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- Has Only Natural Components
- Good Taste
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(Editor’s Choice) - 97/100
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User Feedback
(Page 8 of 11, 217 total comments)Jenna
I just started the SFL diet today...I'm 23, 5'6 and 209 lbs. I had my first cookie this morning and I'm really surprised how filling it is, but I'm not crazy about the taste..I will keep you all updated!!! I'll weigh in again next Monday!
posted Jun 1st, 2009 11:03 amcarolina
+Well...I love it...I love it..This is the only thing I can say..This program is so easy to follow. I work and study full time..I have been on the program for 5 weeks, and I have lost 17 pounds..My clothes fit better... Also I don't feel hungry as I used to..The chocolate cookies are the best...If you really want to lose weight and you are tired of waiting for the pounds to come off. This is the program for you..Believe...THE BEST!!!
posted May 27th, 2009 1:32 pmandy
-The problem I see here is that once on the 'Diet" your stuck on it for life everyone I hear about losing all this weight keep mentioning the same thing as long as you stick to the program you keep the weight off but as soon as you stop the weight comes back just like all other "diets" and back you go for more cookies, so they�??ve got you as a client as long as your too lazy to eat a sensible diet an do a little exercise on your own I tried an experiment I ate 2 chocolate chip cookies and a glass of water when I was hungry and ate a sensible dinner and guess what I lost 5 lbs in a week. In my opinion. Fad died like all the others. Listen learn to eat properly and do a little exercise may be the loss wont be as dramatic but it will stay off and you�??ll be a lot healthier.
posted May 21st, 2009 7:43 amtheekr
+diet Is easyy soo far soo good but
posted May 19th, 2009 10:36 pmI WaS WONDERING (for those who use it) IF ITS OKAY TO NOT EAT ALL 6 COOKIES I STARTED THE PROGRAM YESTERDAY IM ( A FEMALE 5'10, 220 LBS) AND WOULD THAT EFFECT MY RESULTS.? IM NOT HUNGRY AFTER EATING 3 AND MY EVENING MEAL
losingit
My husband and I have been on it for five weeks. He weighed in today has lost a little over 25 pounds. I don't weigh in until Thursday, but as of last week I had lost 21.
posted May 18th, 2009 9:59 pmI like the shakes in the bottle, even though they are a tad more expensive. The chocolate is really good.
Andrea
+I LOVE THIS PROGRAM.15 POUNDS DOWN IN THREE WEEKS..I AM SO HAPPY..FULL OF ENERGY. I NEED TO LOSE 36 POUNDS...(I CAN BELIEVE THAT IS ONLY 36) WITH THIS PROGRAM I AM PRETTY SURE THAT BY AUGUST I WILL BE DOWN TO 140. BELIEVE ME IF YOU FOLLOW IT THE WAY IT IS..YOU WILL SE RESULTS..FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE NEW TO THE PROGRAM, IT WORKS..THERE IS NOT DOUBT IT ABOUT.
posted May 18th, 2009 1:33 pmkac610
Am I the only one keeping up with posting for this diet on this site? Ah well, 5lbs down in 1 week, still feeling great, and the jeans are starting to fit better. :)
posted May 18th, 2009 12:33 pmKelly C.
So far, I feel great and I am definitely not hungry. I am on the 'at home' version of this diet. I bought the kit from Costco which is a great deal and you also get to try the shakes, three kinds of cookies, and soup. It's a good deal. I am only in my first week. I would love to lose 60-75 lbs. I will stay in touch. Reading all of these posts of successful experiences really helps motivate me!! Stay tuned...
posted May 13th, 2009 12:38 pmAndrea
+I just came from the center, and I lost 5 pounds. I am very excited about this new life in my life. I don't feel hungry anymore...
posted Apr 30th, 2009 1:03 pmminnesota pride
O have been on the diet in 4 months lost went from 220 to 181. i order from the Kansas city location as they let me pick what cookies i like instead of the web sight that do not let me decide, check out there sight and bogs,overland park KS. The cookie are great( muffin tasting cookie) i warm them up in micro 10 sec. and they have muffins also. dressings ect, seriously the easist diet
posted Apr 27th, 2009 12:08 pmPam Bromley
+Love this diet and still doing it! I have more energy and I am healthy! Both program work well, medical and non medical
posted Apr 27th, 2009 12:00 pmAndrea
Today I started the diet. I weight 189 and I am 31 years old. I have tried everything, but I haven't been able to keep my weight off. I did W.W, and I lost 20 pounds in 7 months. Now I want to lose the weight quickly. I am so tired of being fat. I will keep you posted how this journey goes.
posted Apr 24th, 2009 9:50 amLM
OK today is my fist day. I am 45, 5'2 and weigh 137. I
posted Apr 22nd, 2009 10:00 amexecerise on a regular basis.
I will try to post my results regularly.I am excited and hoepful that this diet will work.
Like everyone else I have tried everything under the sun and nothing really works for me.
John I
-This diet has pro's and cons. This is one of the easiest diets to get on (just by the products) but one of the hardest to live through. I lost 3.5 lbs in about two weeks, but I wonder if I ate as little and skipped the SFL products, wouldn't I have lost the same? The "cookies" are simply awful. They have this horrible spongy texture, and even with copious amounts of water (I am 84 oz daily), can result in bloating and constipation. As you eat them, they form this pastry goop that makes them hard to swallow. The shakes are bland and the soup is barely edible. In addition, I quesiotn the healthiness of ingredients, which include: collagen, which gives the cookies the awful, spongy texture; palm oil, which is about the worst oil they could use; and, high amounts of maltodextrin. Using the name cookie, SFL insults to every cookie ever made.
posted Apr 21st, 2009 1:10 pmAF
+I just started SFL today and I must say, if you heat the cookies in the microwave for 10 seconds and sprinkle a little splenda on them they are actually really, really good! I am actually looking forward to my next cookie!!!!
posted Apr 20th, 2009 10:27 amFat in the Past
+Well, Im a radio contest winner here in AZ and currently doing the Natural Weight for Optimized Living, which is the newest phase of Smart for Life.
posted Apr 17th, 2009 3:57 pmI started on Monday and have to admit, the cookies first tasted like cardboard with chocolate chips. haha.
Now, im banging them out like candy. The chocolate chip muffins I think are the best so far.
I love fish, so im pumped I can gobble up 8oz. and salads. gees, this is heaven in a white bag.
I weighed in at 287.5lbs at 5'10". We are on the program for free for 2 mos. my goal is to lose at least 30-40 lbs. Then the winner gets the plan for a year with some cash. My ultimate goal, 100lbs gone. Ill let you all know how this goes.
Ms. KG
+Ok, I had to report this. I started SFL on Thursday morning. I cheated because it was Easter and I wanted to eat. Guess what???? I lost 3 lbs. From Thursday-Monday. I couldn't believe it. I am on a fresh start today and I am very anxious to see how much weight I lose in a full week. There is nothing coming up (special occasion) that would make me want to cheat so I am going to see how this goes. I will check in to let you all know. I am hoping and praying for a big loss. I am 195 lbs and 5'4". I am in a size 14/16. I will report my loss at the end of the week.
posted Apr 13th, 2009 11:06 amkari goodale
+my husband and myself need to lose 16 and 13 pds. We like the program because of the ability to eat dinner as a family. we orderded the plan with cookies,shakes,and soups. The variety is helping with thesame old same old of only having the cookies.
posted Apr 7th, 2009 1:05 pmEm
+I started SFL last Thursday Im 5'4 and weighed 137 Ibs, It has been 7 days and I now weigh 132lbs. This diet is effortless so far.
posted Apr 2nd, 2009 6:21 pmJamie
I have been on the diet for 2 months and have lost almost 30 pounds. I have tried everything since I had my Daughter 2 years ago to loose the weight and have found the thing that works. I am going to the Plano location and love all the staff there! I still have 30 pounds to loose and know I will have it off before summer. I feel better then I have in a while and would recomend this to any one that is serious about loosing weight, and willing to follow the program.
posted Mar 29th, 2009 4:12 pm