*newbie delurking* Hi all!

It's been 2 months since I started working on my weightloss program with the 3 day diet, and although the wonder results it promises are not exactly what I got, I lost 20lbs. I also started working out so I can't really tell how much is due to my new meal plan.

But anyway, I decided to check out some reviews of this diet on the internet and it sorta scared me because apparently it's not the healthier choice I could have made. My problem is I didn't experience any of the drawbacks (fatigue,...) and I have to admit that especially concerning the dinner-menu I don't really see how it's not nutritionally sound

Anyone had any expierce on this or is more savvy than me?

Well, it looks to me like the main nutritional problems are monotony--they specify just a few fruits and vegetables when the recommendation is to eat a variety--and lack of whole grains and calcium-rich foods. Saltines and toast are not the healthiest complex carb choices out there, and ice-cream may be satisfying, but it wouldn't cover all your calcium needs. Overall, it would depend on what you ate the rest of the time, I suppose.

Thanks for clearing some things up and you're right about variety, not having any substitutes doesn't help but I did some changes at times and it worked out fine. But one thing is true: I wouldn't imagine myself staying on this specific plan forever because I couldn't give up my cornflakes and yogurt fix

The reason this diet works for fast weight loss, is because you are eating about 1000 calories a day. It has nothing to do with the actual foods that you are eating. It is an extremely low calorie diet. That is why they only have you do it for 3 days at a time. On a regular reduced calorie diet-you should never go below 1200 calories a day.
What I would recommend is a reduced calorie diet that you follow EVERY DAY, not just 3 days at a time...and at a level of around 1500-1600 calories per day.
The basic "meal plans" used in the 3 day diet are a decent guide to follow when making your own meals-a little protein, grain, and a fruit or veggie at each meal-BUT-you can make the meals much more healthier by adding more variety to the fruit/veggie/protein portion...and having whole grains (such as a bowl of oatmeal, or whole wheat toast instead of saltines/white toast). Having more calories each day would also help you get in your dairy as well.
Try this for a while...and see how you do.
Good luck,
Aphil

Thank you Aphil for the extra info.

I actually just made a quick count of the calories yesterday and realised that they were around 1000/day: I never really felt hungry or fatigued so it didn't really dawn on me right away.
So I guess if I can imagine keeping the dinner-menu the same (because all in all, with some variety thrown in, is not that bad) I can balance out the whole with the other two meals and keep around 1500 calories/day, which is what I tried to do in the other 4 days.

Thanx for the info guys! I had just heard about the diet today and was thinking about buying the book. I logged on to their web site and took the profile test which said that i could loose 160 pounds by December of next year and thought that sounded pretty sweet. Have any recommendations for other diets? The ones i have been on are SB and Atkins, but i didn't like the restrictions with SB and got sick with Atkins. Or should i just calorie count?
Thanks!
-Mel-

For a plan to be successful, you have to choose one that you can do for LIFE. That is the key. That is why some calorie count or do Weight Watchers-because of the freedom (no specific food restrictions) and others tend to go with South Beach or other plans. You have to do something YOU can stick with.

Hi, no restrictions with tops either. so its a group and alot of help that way. so good luck in what ever you chose. yes shes right we have to do it for life what ever it be. i went on atkins will be a year the 5th. i loss wt and reached goal. but i am heading for lower one now. so starting with the fruits and vegies alot. with atkins i have done that part and had my fill of meats and eggs. ha ha but it worked so thankful for that. but its a plan i use more in the fall. and i like variety.. so garden time and fresh vegies and fruits so going for it. have a good 4th to all. LaDean