17 Day Diet
The 17 Day Diet was created by Dr. Mike Moreno, a family practice physician in California.
After being featured on The Doctors TV show and Dr. Phil it has rapidly become one of the hottest weight loss plans for two years running.
The diet involves a series of 17 day cycles with adjustments in the composition of the foods you eat.
Moreno suggests that a weight loss of 10-12 pounds is possible in the first 17 days. He cites recent research showing that rapid weight loss does have long and short-term advantages over the slow weight loss approach.
17 Day Diet in a Nutshell
In basic terms the 17 Day Diet is a carbohydrate cycling diet whereby you adjust your intake of carbohydrates in accordance with whatever phase of the diet you are in.
At certain times you will follow a very low carbohydrate diet, while at others you can enjoy specific foods that are higher in carbohydrates.
According to Dr. Moreno, this has the effect of confusing your metabolism and enhancing the rate at which you are able to lose weight. It also can help to reduce the frustration and boredom that is generally associated with long-term dieting.
The 17 Day Diet includes four cycles:
- Accelerate
In this initial phase you dramatically reduce your intake of carbohydrates to promote fat burning, cleansing and rapid weight loss. - Activate
This 17 Day Diet phase involves carbohydrate cycling, which has the purpose of resetting your metabolism to stimulate fat burning and prevent plateaus. - Achieve
You reintroduce some previously restricted foods and will learn how to develop healthy eating habits. - Arrive
The final phase allows you to maintain your goal weight by eating a healthy diet during the week and indulging in your favorite foods on the weekends.
During all of the four phases of the 17 day Diet there is an emphasis on clean eating and the avoidance of sugar and all processed foods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Dr. Moreno believes green tea helps to speed up the metabolism and give the body a boost of antioxidants. Any brand of green tea is fine and it can be hot or cold, but sugar-free.
The book promotes the use of Stevia as an all-natural sweetener, but doesn’t endorse artificial varieties like Sucralose and Aspartame.
Dr Moreno says that his diet is perfect for type II diabetics, but type I diabetics should be cautious of using his plan. Always consult your physician before beginning any new diet.
Yes, the book has many alternate suggestions for vegetarians as well as those on the gluten free diet.
There are provisions for wine in cycle 3, but Dr. Moreno says that the 17 Day Diet isn’t about depriving you. Wine in cycles 1 or 2 will just slow down your progress, but not ruin the diet.
Dr. Moreno says that since the 17 Day Diet isn’t missing nutrients, it’s fine for woman who are breastfeeding and want to lose the baby weight. He advises mothers to consult with their doctors to be sure it will fit with their particular health histories.
Recommended Foods and Food App
The iPhone App
There is a helpful iPhone app available that gives dieters 100, 17 day diet recipes at their finger tips.
These recipes are formulated to be tasty yet easy to prepare. This is helpful because the app incorporates all of the recommended foods into the recipes, while eliminating all of the restricted foods and ingredients.
Click here to download the app.
Sample 1 Day Meal Plan
| Breakfast Scrambled eggs |
| Lunch 2 boiled eggs |
| Afternoon Snack Yogurt with fresh berries |
| Dinner Turkey breast |
Exercise Recommendations
The 17 Day Diet involves a 17-minute exercise routine that should be performed six days a week. An exercise DVD is available of the 17-minute workout program for $15.
Costs and Expenses
The 17 Day Diet retails for $25.00 and the workbook is additional.
Dr. Moreno Video
Pros
- Encourages the intake of a variety of unprocessed, natural foods.
- Carbohydrate and calorie cycling may help to accelerate the rate of weight loss.
- Variety in the 17 Day Diet structure can help to maintain motivation and prevent boredom.
- Eating plan is simple to understand.
- Includes meal plans and recipes.
- Exercise program is short and effective.
- Home delivery meals are available for an additional cost.
- Includes tips for avoiding holiday weight gain.
Cons
- Not suitable for type I diabetics.
- Calorie intake may be too low for physically active dieters.
- Irregular eating patterns have the potential to trigger disordered eating in susceptible individuals.
- Does not adequately address the psychological factors required for successful weight loss over the long term.
A Healthy Lower Carb Diet
The 17 Day Diet involves adjusting your intake of carbohydrates, fat, protein and calories over a series of 17 day cycles, which may have the effect of boosting metabolism and preventing the plateaus that are common with most diets.
Even though the plan was created to help dieters avoid holiday weight gain, The 17 Day Diet can be followed at any time when fast and effective weight loss is desired. However dieters must be aware that permanent changes in eating patterns, lifestyle habits, attitudes and beliefs are essential if weight loss is to be maintained.
Click to vote!
Loading ...
Hi.. I’m italian girl so sorry for my bad english!! I’ d like to begin this diet tomorrow!! margaret in italian version you can eat orange, apple, peach, pear during cycle 1. So you can substitute grapefruit with one of them!! (sorry for the bad english and rectify my mistakes please!)
Byeee
I am on cholestrol medication, notice one of the menu included grapefruit juice, my doctor restricted me from drinking or eating grapefruit, can I replace this with another fruit such as orange or ???
I am interested in doing this diet. I have heard good reviews about it. What type of Green tea do you reccomend? I’m not really a tea drinker, so just wanted your thoughts.
I am currently doing cycle 1 and we are drinking the Lipton Green Tea Superfruits and love them. YUMMY!
Im 5″1 and weigh 100 pounds. This diet has helped me to loose 5.pounds.in a week along with daily excersise. I plan to stay.on the diet once i reach 85 pounds. But excersise less. Of course ill have to cut calories. i wish my sister would join me. Shes unfortulanty 190 pounds but shr thinks that looks dont matter. Its for her own good.
Hi Gloria….I have a FB site with a private board for people on the plan. We are starting a “lose 20 pounds in 8 weeks” program next Monday (we do this every few weeks and it’s very successful) and I wanted to invite you to join us!
You can email me if you’d like….I worked WITH Dr. Moreno as a participant on The Drs TV show! I hope to see you!
Terri
Hi Terri, I’d love to join your Facebook group. I have followed the 17 day diet excactly for 17 days (acceleration) and I have nog begun activation. BUT – apart from losing 2,5 kg the first week absolutely nothing has happened. I love the food, My digestions is better and I sleep better, but I don’t lose weight!!!
Have you any idea what I’m doing wrong? I am 60 years old and started on 70 kg, hoping to reach 63.
Eva
Hi Terri!
I too am beginning the 17 day diet. I am looking to lose around 20 pounds. Would love to join your group!
Kara~
Gloria, you should look up what the healthy weight is for your height. It’s great you want to eat healthy, but 100 pounds is tiny, let alone 85 pounds! Your bones will become too brittle and fragile if you lose any more. Don’t focus on losing any more. I’m sure you look wonderful and should be happy with being healthy- don’t focus on the numbers.
Please seek counseling. 85 pounds is not an appropriate weight for you. That is too thin. Please seek help.
Hello, i am Dolly, i am from Greece. 30 years ago i had lost 25 kilos and then i had worked for WW for 7 years as a leader. I believe in WW and i think that is the most healthy program diet. Since 1990 until now i gained some extra weight and i couldnt find a healthier diet. The WW came in Greece in 1984 from an American Lady Sophie Branof and many women and men succeded loosing many kilos. Now i am a pernament member in WW, and i am gonna visit them again in brussels in order to loose same kilos again thanks a lot.
I absolutely loved this diet. To date I have lost 41 lbs and have kept the weight off for more then a year. I want to lose another few pounds so have just started cycle 1 again (after 6 days I have 5lbs gone). This diet totally changed my life. I have more energy then I have ever had and have been able to transform my body completely. I totally recommend this diet to anyone who wants to see results quickly. The only drawback is that it really requires will power, and you have to be ready to make a big change in the way you eat and view food. if you have the drive to succeed then I say “DO IT”!
hi. I am Iranian and I want tack this diet. but I dont know what should I do and eat. I see just one day of 17 days plans in this page. every the seem? or deferent? thanks for answer and excuse me for my missteks in righting.
Hi, Sara. I bought the book and am starting it today. There are meal plans for each of the days – at least for the first 2 phases I’ve read. There is also a food list for each phase to help direct you if you want to make your own meal decisions. Interestingly, there is additional information specific to some cultures, including Persian, which gives you additional food choices. Good luck.
If you have lots of weight to loose (40-50 lbs.) do you just rotate the cycles? Which cycles: 1-2-3-1-2-3, etc. until goal? Or 1-2-1-2-1-2, etc. until goal? (It seems cycle 3 is preparation for the maintenance cycle.)
YES THAT IS CORRECT!
I was beginning to get quite excited about this diet. Had done a fair bit of research and was literally just about to go and buy the book when I stumbled on this site.
Now I am going to keep my $$$ in my pocket as I totally refuse to put a single cent into Dr M’s wallet. The diet may be great and I may use it, but will I support in any way someone who is so totally ignorant and rude. Errr no. I will search the internet and find everything I need to know and leave the book on the shelf. Sir if you were a cashier in Walmart yu would be fired, being a doctor does not in any way absolve you from having basic manners.
can anyone tell me, My daughters and I just started this 17 day diet and we have been drinking the green tea, but I bought truvia for the tea and I do see that this diet says to use Stevia can anyone tell me if this is ok to use? also on Phase 1 it states to drink 3 cups of green tea a day is it ok to drink more? cause I have to say I love this stuff.
truvia is actually made from stevia, so it is ok to use.
I use Truvia and it works fine for me. If you look at the sample menu it does mention using Truvia.
Hi Iris, Truvia should be fine, it’s a blend of stevia and a sugar alcohol, it’s also fine to drink more than 3 cups of green tea daily. All the best and fill us in on your progress.
I am on the 17-day diet and love it! I was wondering if I can take my Viactiv soft chocolate calcium chews. One piece contains 20 calories, 0.5 g of fat (0 trans fat), 3 carbs, and 2 sugars. Also is there anything I can eat for an afternoon snack. I don’t like yogurt.
You know I want to do this diet, but you would think the author of the book would be a little nicer to people even if their questions are self explanatory. It’s supposed to be support not time to be rude to the people that need the most help. I am an active duty Army soldier who just had a baby and is looking for a way to lose weight but I don’t know about all of the negativity on this website. Promote good things and nicely and maybe you’ll change the lives of the people who really need the help. But for all of you who are doubting yourselves. You can do it, with ot without the support. It’s a plus to work out but everyone’s bodies are different.Some of my friends went right back to being skinny after having their babies, me on the other hand….I have struggled. I work out twice a day and eat less than 1200 calories a day and just doing this in the last week I have lost 5 lbs. Don’t let anyone kill your motivation because you can’t feel comfortable enough to ask questions.
Michael you are soooo rude!!!!!
Weightloss isnt complicated…Eat less, eat healthy..workout!
These ppl asking if you need to work out on this diet, are the ones who get bored too fast and are lazy. Get off the couch!
It can be fun, and you are able to achieve anything you put your mind to…remember that.
Wow! Sounds like you’ve been successful. Do you think it’d be okay for me to substitute nonfat cottage cheese in place of yogurt (in cycle 1)? I really dislike yogurt.
I’ve never been a yogurt eater in the past but I love the Activia vanilla flavored one especially when mixed up with Grape Nut granola cereral. yummy!
this book changed my life. I started this diet on 06/03/2012, to date i have lost 65 pounds!!!!
Can you send me your story? I would love to feature it in the above review as an inspiration to others. email it to diets@everydiet.org Thank you
This Diet DOES work. My Mom, Sister and I did it and we all lost 25+ lbs. It is hard at first but well worth it!!
It’s especially worth it when you get to the 4th cycle.
I would like to start this, Can you guys tell me where i can find this book ?
You can find the book at WalMart. They do not have the workout DVD, though. I’ve been using a Jillian Michaels “Shred It” DVD instead. The 17 Day Diet DVD doesn’t give much instruction and I got frustrated trying to use it.
I believe the review told you where to get the book.. Otherwise check you local library.
I am in my 16th day now. In my 12 day I had lost 10 pounds. I am no drinkin the green tea and some times, I take a bit of some foods that are not in the diet, but I still loosing weight. I drink more than 8 glases of water every day. Also, I walk about 30 minutes every day. I love this diet, it is easy and you can see results in three days, Loosing weight fast, keeps you motivated. Good luck everybody
i am now at the end of 2nd cycle, doing great w a total loss of 22lbs. this really surprised me. maybe bec i have a lot to loose but entering the 2nd cycle makes unstable loss weight sometimes.. i did not follow it strictly by the book there are times where in i ate unhealthy food but it doesnt make me break the diet totally however i keep track of my daily exercise and calorie intake all day for the pass 30days i try to incorporate new exercise as this was advise at the book!
Love the 17 day diet
Is it nessesry to exercise?
Absolutely necessary to do some physical activity. While you will still lose weight, the activity is about helping you to change your lifestyle and maintain weightloss.
I am on my 7th day of the first cycle and have lost 7lbs. I have my two cups of coffee a day, drink 1 cup of green tea with each meal and have my lemon water with each meal. I did not exercise at all as I was sick. I plan to do the excercise starting tomorrow for further weight lose. The first 3 days were hard since I love carbs, but now is easy and I don’t feel the hunger like I did in the beginning. I am 37 yr old and am doing this to lower my blood pressure and try better eating habits. This seems to be a good program and the weight loss keeps you motivited.
does anyone know in the 1st stage does it have to a orange can it not be a huge satsuma as dont like oranges
my mate and her girlfriend did this diet and have lost loads gonna start tomorrow no excuses this time
The Waldron farms dressings are appropriate. No sugar, fat or calories. Many flavors
My husband and I both went on this life changing diet. I lost 30 lbs in three months and so did my husband. My dr asked me what I did to lose all that weight, and when I told him he said well you can continue on with it. We drank some alcohol while on it, and still lost a lot of weight. It gave me so much energy and stamina I love it.
can you tell me what did you do to lose weight?thanks
Hi Linda,
Congratulations and well done!! I have lost 9 pounds in the first 17 days now moving into next cycle. Mostly looking from encouragement from you. Did you eat strictly what was on diet for each cycle? Did you do 17 day exercise DVD plan? Any other personal tips to keep me and others on track would be greatly appreciated. Keep up the good work! THank you in advance for your added encouragement
In the book it only mentions using oil and vinegar dressing. Is there any other dressing I can use? I absolutely hate balsamic vinegar! I’m ok with everything else and look forward to trying the diet. Hopefully there is another dressing to use.
Thanks for your help!
it’s really work for 17 days only?
Did you read the review? It’s a series of 17 day cycles.
How many cups of Green Tea is it a day? Also, I see you can have up to two cups of coffee a day – Can you use coconut milk as a non-dairy substitute?
I am looking to start a diet because I need to loss 14lb to join the national guard. I am an active rugby player and workout about 2hrs 4 days a week. I have not bought the book yet and I’m wondering if this would be a good diet for me?
Can you tell me what is the difference between the 17 day diet and the Dukan Diet? From what I have read and heard they are very similar.