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The Drinking Man's Diet

The Drinking Man’s Diet Review (UPDATED 2024): Don't Buy Before You Read This!

Enjoy your favorite cocktail while you lose weight.

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What is it?

The Drinking Man’s Dietis a weight loss fad diet that emphasizes low carbohydrate foods and alcoholic beverage. There are 2 versions of the diet, but the one now used by people is featured in a pamphlet explained in 48 pages.

There is no needed exercise and this diet claims it can promote weight loss by drinking a few glasses of alcohol for lunch and dinner. There is a strict limit on carbohydrates and it’s advised to only drink lite beers or cocktails. In reviewing many different weight loss diets our experts found that the best solution for weight loss is the 18Shake Diet. It offers a meal replacement that suppresses appetite for hours alongside a fat burning diet pill. Many users have lost weight using this diet which has no stimulants, preservatives, or artificial ingredients. Discover more information about the 18Shake Diet by clicking the link here.

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The Drinking Man’s Diet Ingredients and Side Effects

The limit for carbohydrates is 60 grams a day, so it’s advised to only drink lite beers if needed, but preferably unsweetened cocktails.

There is a contradiction in the official manual, since one page it advises to eat at least 60 grams of carbohydrates, and another page says to eat under 60 grams a day.

This carbohydrate limit will likely ban the eating of:

• Pasta, grains, potatoes, baked goods, beans, bread, sugars and rice.

These kinds of foods are known to be lacking in nutrients and they are simple carbohydrates.

It’s recommended to eat the following:

• Whale, raccoon, opossum, chicken, steak, frog legs, lobster claws, and other proteins.

There is no calorie counting required, so one can eat as much protein and drink as much as one wants. When the diet became popular a review by the Harvard School of Public Health stated it was unhealthy to follow. A sample meal of what’s offered can include:

• Breakfast: Ham or 2 slices of bacon, a fried or boiled egg, coffee or tea, ¼ of cantaloupe or 4 ounces of tomato juice.

• Lunch: Broiled fish, steak, or chicken, a dry martini or whisky with soda, green beans or asparagus, lettuce and tomato salad, coffee or tea, and 2 glasses of dry wine.

• Dinner: Coffee or tea, shrimp cocktail, martini or highballs, 2 stalks of celery stuffed with pate, greens beans, 1 cup of Brusselsprouts, a half cup of cauliflower, 2 glasses of dry wine, ½ an avocado with French dressing, cheese: Swiss, cheddar, camembert, or Roquefort, and a servingof lamb, pork, beef, or veal chicken.

This sample daily menu would consist of 33 total grams of carbohydrates.

There are possible side effects from eating like this, as alcohol is known to have damaging effects on the body. Alcohol cannot be stored so it must be metabolized which stops fat from being metabolized.

This can lead to weight gain and a reduced metabolism which when combined with food means the body will burn fewer of these calories. Alcohol also has 7 calories per gram which is almost the same amount as fat. The tally for fats per gram is:

         • Carbohydrates: 4 calories

         • Protein: 4 calories

         • Fats: 9 calories

         • Alcohol: 7 calories

It’s also advised to limit oneself to the following drinks:

         • Men: 2 standard drinks a day.

         • Women: 1 standard drink a day.

What qualifies for a standard drink is:

• 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer, or 1.5 ounces of a shot of alcohol.

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The amount of alcohol that The Drinking Man’s Diet recommends exceeds this small advised daily limit. Alcohol is also not an effective drink for weight loss, as the body is forced to metabolize it which reduces fat burning. A study by the University of Navarra found:

“alcohol intake and weight gain have been reported”

Web MD has outlined potential threats:

“Drinking alcohol leads to a loss of coordination, poor judgement, slowed reflexes, distorted vision, memory lapses, and even lapses”

Other issues are:

“Drinking alcohol could cause your blood pressure to rise, increaseyour heart rate, cause your heart to beat abnormally, and it could increase the size of your heart”

There are several potentially serious damaging effects to drinking alcohol on a daily basis. The diet also asks for a 60 gram carbohydrate limit which can be difficult to uphold.  When limiting carbohydrates it can reduce water weight but not fat. This is why people experience a sudden drop of weight on similar diets.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggests a diet with 45 to 65% carbohydrates; this is significantly lower in this diet. For a list of the highest rated weight loss diets, click the link here.

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The Drinking Man’s Diet Quality of Ingredients

There is no limit on the amount of foods and drinks one can have in a day. This can make it hard to keep track of calories and alcohol also slows down metabolism. There’s no proof that this diet would be safe and effective for weight loss.

Much like other fad diets there is a lot of claimed benefits without any evidence. There are a lot of suggested foods which are high in saturated fats. This can further increase the risk of cardiovascular especially when mixed alongside the high rate of alcohol.

The list of the best weight loss diets isavailable here.

The Price and Quality of The Drinking Man’s Diet

The overall price depends on what kinds of alcohol one chooses, and the brands of food. It’s a very high protein diet that emphasizes animal protein and many kinds of hard alcohol.

It can be extremely dangerous to drink alcohol on a daily basis alongside heavy protein and fatty foods without considering caloric intake. There is no limit on the allowed foods, which for some may lead to overeating and weight gain.

Without any evidence to help show what science went into the making of this diet, it’s unclear if it would be safe to use.  As you’ll see in the “Business of The Drinking Man’s Diet”, the creator had no background in weight loss support.

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Business of The Drinking Man’s Diet

The creator of this diet is Robert Cameron who first published the official manual in 1964. It sold over 2.4 million copies at the time.

The creator has no background in health, nutrition, or weight loss. He is known as a photographer, and it’s unknown how he came up with this diet, or if he had any support in making it. The book suggests you can lose weight “with a minimum of willpower”; though this is not a guarantee it can help with weight loss.

EDITOR’S TIP: The top 10 list of the best diets is available here.

Customer Opinions of The Drinking Man’s Diet

There aren’t many reviews about the diet itself, most people who discussed it had questions or they thought the diet manual was strange to read.

Even though it was created in the 1920’s, there’s a lack of information on whether or not customers found it helpful for weight loss. This is common with other fad diets which have similar strange demands for foods.

Customers also found errors in contradictions in the book. There are a few recommendations such as either eating at least 60 grams of carbohydrates, or eating under 60 grams. There are other errors that customers have found in the official manual.

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Conclusion - Does The Drinking Man’s DietWork?

The Drinking Man’s Diet became popular due to its suggestion that one can eat as much food and alcohol as one wants, as long as carbohydrates are limited to 60 grams a day. Alcohol consumption at an unlimited amount can not only stall metabolism, but it can lead to significant health problems. The diet has no limit on calories so it’s still possible for one to be overweight. Much like other low carbohydrate diets, it can promote a loss of water weight, but this is only short term. There is also no science to back up any of the claims that this diet can help support healthy weight loss. It’s much like other fad diets which have no legitimate science to prove its worth.

Our review experts have ranked and rated several weight loss diets, and they found that the 18Shake Diet provided the best all-around weight loss support. It combines an appetite suppressing meal replacement and a fat burning diet pill. Both have no added preservatives artificial additives, colors, fillers, stimulants, or any cheap binders. Customer testimonials are available on the official website from satisfied customers who have lost weight with this diet.

The 18Shake Diet is also supported by a full 30 day money back return policy. This allows users to try it risk free with no questions asked. To learn more about the benefits of the 18Shake Diet, you can read more here.

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User Feedback

(Page 1 of 1, 9 total comments)

Valerie

If this works for you, so be it, but ketosis is not achieved so easily. I'm on Atkins and induction phase has a 20 carb limit and not more than 40 thereafter. We shouldn't be wasting our carb allotment on alcohol, namely beer & wine, which contain carbs. And because alcohol takes priority when the body is burning fuel, it can slow you down. I save my drinking for the weekend, and only drink "hard" liquors, either on the rocks or with a zero carb mixer (you can have a dry martini, for example) And as long as you don't become so uninhibited that you eat prohibited foods, you'll be fine. That said, we are not punishing ourselves! Have fun with your new eating lifestyle, whatever it is!

posted Jul 1st, 2018 6:37 pm

Zoe sullivan

this program was the best program i have done ever

posted Mar 1st, 2018 9:03 am

A. D.

Firstly, The Drinking Mans Diet was something of a joke about fad diets. Secondly, all things in moderation. And thirdly, the author here is trying to sell (or at least promote) another fad diet that involves none of the pleasures of the Drinking Man's Diet, the sort of temporary health fix the pamphlet was originally composed to satirize. Besides, in 1964, diets were largely unnecessary, as obesity was not the epidemic we know and love today. In 1964, soda pop and fast food were treats, consumed sparingly. Granted, the era did have its ills, but they did do some things right (see statement on pop and fast food), such as remembering how to laugh at their foibles, political correctness be damned.

posted Dec 15th, 2017 2:48 pm

Jon

This is an asinine review.

The diet is not concerned with calories. It is concerned about carbs.

Robert Cameron was not a "expert", he did seek out, and take direction from an expert at UC Berkeley. It states that plainly, so A) you did not read that page, or B) you left that out on purpose, which makes this article dishonest.
Contradictions: "Customers also found errors in contradictions in the book. There are a few recommendations such as either eating at least 60 grams of carbohydrates, or eating under 60 grams." The booklet is quite clear, stay at 60 carbs a day. As the expert, who was failed to be mentioned, expounded, under 60 carbs, according to her research, induced ketosis, and she did not believe that was a good siutaion.
There was science that went into tis diet. Again, the schmuck that wrote this "review" fails to note that. They also fail to note that the author states emphatically, moderation. He is very clear, if you have eating issues counseling should be an option. If you are drinking to much, not practicing moderation attend AA.
This review is rather piss poor.
Try again.

posted Apr 20th, 2017 12:14 pm

Denise

This diet works! Don't ask me how, but it does! Salute!

posted Feb 28th, 2017 8:45 am

Vlad

this website seems to be a punt for this 18 shake diet that they are pushing. Nice try.

posted Jan 4th, 2017 10:38 am

Jossie

I was wondering who the author of this article was because I found the information very helpful and would like to cite some information for an essay.

posted Dec 12th, 2016 12:09 pm

Carole Doyle

+

I remember this from the 60's...would like a copy of it!

posted Jan 10th, 2016 7:03 pm

Kim

+

Easy way to lose weight and keep it off.

posted Sep 16th, 2013 10:31 am


   
 

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BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND Start the Diet Now Advertisement

The Drinking Man’s Diet is a fad diet that was made famous by William the Conqueror around 1087. The king had gained so much weight that he was too heavy for his horse to carry.

One day in an attempt to lose weight quickly, he stopped eating food and started drinking alcohol. Thus began The Drinking Man’s Diet, which has evolved through the years and is considered an extreme and unsafe fad diet.

Today’s version of the diet includes drinking martini’s before lunch and eating steaks for dinner. The new version is the brainchild of Robert Cameron and his pamphlet outlining the diet sold over two million copies in 1964. Cameron has lived to be 93 and is still trim from following this diet over the years.

Overall the Drinking Man’s Diet includes lowering carbohydrate consumption and encourages consumption of things certain kinds of alcohol and meat.

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PROPRO
  • Great for those who enjoy a good steak and a glass or two of alcohol
  • Doesn’t involve counting calories
  • Cookbook available
  • Drinking modest amounts of certain kinds of alcohol has been linked to health benefits
CONCON
  • Diet restricts carbs
  • May encourage binge drinking
  • May promote using alcohol to control weight
  • Consuming large amounts of red meat can lead to higher cholesterol levels
  • Classified as a fad diet
  • Those who have specific known risk factors for breast cancer should abstain from alcohol
  • Not that much different from other low-carb, high protein diets
DIET and NUTRITIONDIET and NUTRITION

The Drinking Man’s Diet focuses on drinking alcohol and lowering carbohydrate intake. The diet originally started with just drinking alcohol and not eating at all when William the Conqueror used it in 1087. But today, it has been altered to include real food in the form of animal protein.

A sample day on the Drinking Man's Diet might look like this:

  • Breakfast: A few slices of cantaloupe, two slices of bacon, two poached or scrambled eggs, coffee or tea.

  • Lunch: Two glasses of dry wine, or one dry martini or whiskey and soda, broiled fish or steak or roast chicken, green beans or asparagus, lettuce and tomato salad with French or Roquefort dressing, and coffee or tea.

  • Dinner: Martinis or high balls, shrimp cocktail, steak, pork, lamb or chicken, one cup of low starch vegetables, 1/2 an avocado with French dressing, small serving of cheese, coffee or tea.

There are no calorie counts for the Drinking Man's Diet, but daily carbohydrate grams should be kept to 30 or fewer.

EXERCISEEXERCISE

There is no formal exercise plan given.

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

The Drinking Man's Diet is a low-carb diet plan with the addition of allowing a glass or two alcohol during lunch and dinner.

While this diet is not seriously flawed, its low-carb approach might be difficult to maintain in the long-term and its allowance of alcohol a few times a day is not a recommended practice, particularly for those who have a genetic predisposition to breast cancer and to addiction.

If you have any pre-existing health conditions, do get clearance from your doctor first before following this plan.

Common MisspellingsCommon Misspellings

drink man’s diet, dranking mans diet, drinking mans deit, alcohol diet

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