The 17 Day Diet was created by a California physician, Dr. Mike Moreno. The diet has been featured on popular television programs, including "Dr. Phil" and "The Doctors." The diet was developed as a way for patients to quickly lose weight gained over the holidays, but it soon developed into a plan that could be followed at any time of year.
Method
The 17 Day Diet consists of three phases, each lasting 17 days, and a longer maintenance cycle. Each phase allows a different level of carbohydrate intake; the theory is that metabolism is confused and weight-loss does not plateau. The first phase focuses on a low-carbohydrate, low-calorie regimen that encourages fat burning and causes rapid weight loss . In the second phase, the dieter resets her metabolism by adding back some carbohydrates. The third phase adds even more foods to the diet and is intended to teach lifelong eating habits. The final, maintenance phase involves a restrictive diet matching one of the other phases during the week and a splurge on weekends. The diet also includes a 17 minute exercise routine to complete each day.
Materials
The main precepts of the 17 Day Diet are outlined in a book by Moreno that is available through the diet website. You can purchase the 17 minute exercise routine on DVD. You can create your own meals from recipes in the book and on the website, or you can have prepared meals delivered that are appropriate for whichever phase of the diet you are on.
Advantages
The foods included in the diet are healthy and nutritious. The diet plan includes specific instructions as to what and how much to eat each day, so you don't need to do any calculations or counting of carbohydrates, fat grams or calories. The changing nature of the diet helps ensure that you won't get bored. The diet teaches concepts vital to long-term, weight-loss success, such as portion control and making healthy food substitutions.
Concerns
The book detailing the diet cannot be purchased anywhere except the official website. People who use this diet might have trouble sticking to it because of the lack of predictable eating patterns. The diet might disappoint people who don't realize that the plan involves three separate 17-day intervals and that permanent healthy weight loss is not achievable after only 17 days. Diabetics, pregnant women and nursing mothers should not use this diet. Any would-be dieter should talk with her doctor before beginning a weight-loss program.
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