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 of the moment.

Initially Dr. Moreno designed the diet to help people to prevent weight gain or lose any extra pounds gained during the holidays. But the diet can be used any time during the year to assist with the rapid and effective release of excess weight.

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 Basics



The 17 Day DietIn 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.

Recommended Foods

Eggs, turkey breast, chicken breast, seafood, yogurt, grapefruit, berries, lettuce, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, tomato, cucumber, asparagus, green tea.

Sample 17 Day Diet Meal Plan

Breakfast

Scrambled eggs
Grapefruit
1 cup green tea

Lunch

2 boiled eggs
Large salad with lettuce, carrots, broccoli, onion, tomato

Afternoon Snack

Yogurt with fresh berries

Dinner

Turkey breast
Steamed carrots and asparagus

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. Click Here to order your discounted copy.

Click here to order the 17 Day Diet Workbook which has recently been released.

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 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.

Conclusions

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.

427 Comments

  • Cindy Apr 30th 2012

    Barapapapaaaa im lovn it! Wooow! Im amazed. Tres bein

    Reply
  • Dawn Apr 27th 2012

    @Dorothy, Me too. Let’s try it together and see what happens :-) well, I work out some, but it’s getting harder and harder to get going.

    Reply
  • Dorothy Apr 26th 2012

    I’m 46 years old and have Hashimotos Hypothyroidism and currently taking Levothryoxin 150mg daily. My thyroid levels are normal each time I go for my blood work. I have a VERY VERY hard time losing weight even inches and have NO energy to work out. Will this plan work for someone like me? Someone please help!!!

    Reply
  • Kathleen Apr 25th 2012

    @ lindsey
    yes two apples two light yogurts – grapefruit every day – i lost over 60 pounds – and I am restarting after a few months need to loose 30 nore pounds-

    Reply
  • lindsey bunch Apr 24th 2012

    so in the first 17 day cycle is it only lean protein and low starch vegetables? is there any fruit or yogurt in first phase?

    Reply
  • Souzan Apr 22nd 2012

    How does this diet t make a belly flat?

    Reply
    • lynn May 15th 2012

      carb restriction

      Reply
  • Sarah Apr 19th 2012

    I tried this diet a year ago and lost ~9lbs. in one week. However, I couldn’t stick with it because I got really bad headaches from not eating any carbs. I tried starting it again today and got a really bad headache from lack of carbs and finally broke down and got chinese food for dinner lol. Any suggestions on how to follow this diet and curb the headaches?

    Reply
    • ted Apr 20th 2012

      @Sarah, Are you also stopping or changing your caffeine consumption when starting the diet? This could be causing the headaches.

      Reply
  • Claire Clifford Apr 19th 2012

    I am 38 years old, have two children, and I started these diets becuase I was looking to lose some extra left over baby weight. Thanks 17 Day Diet, you reall changed my life. I have lost 21 pounds with this diet
    ☺☺☺.

    Reply
  • Dewayne Hardeman Apr 16th 2012

    I would like to try this diet but how would it effect my dibetes?

    Reply
    • lynn May 15th 2012

      my boyfriend is type 2 and he has been following this diet. he lost 14 lbs in the first 2 weeks and i’m sure his A1C and cholesterol numbers will head in the same direction. the fruits may not be a #1 choice for some diabetics, but if choosing between a bagel with butter or an orange, i think the orange is a much better choice. you can eat 5 times a day, which keeps your sugar constant.. i wouldn’t say this diet is “bad” for type 2′s, but I’m not a doctor. as always, check your blood to see how the food is affecting you.

      Reply
  • Mike Keller Apr 15th 2012

    Some observations from a guy (me) . . . yes, this diet really does work. I wasn’t enormously fat, but just wanted to lose some weight and feel better. I followed the book exactly and actually stayed on Cycle One for 21 days instead of 17 days and lost 20 pounds – it was very easy. Never hungry, never deprived. Unlike Atkins, you get lots of vegetables and fruit (well, “only” two pieces of fruit a day – but that was two more than I was eating before!! lol) – and so it is a very healthy diet. I’m not as strict now, but have found that the following works very well for me: Breakfast – one day fruit and probiotic natural yoghurt mixed together, the next day 2 eggs and half-a-grapefruit. Lunch – big salad with either tuna, turkey or feta cheese cubes (1/4 cup) and lots of vegetables (e.g. peppers, tomatoes, celery, carrot, etc) with a dressing of one Tbs oil and two Tbs vinegar). Dinner: either chicken or fish or turkey with lots of vegetables. A great sauce for the meat by the way is Hot Wing Sauce – no calories, literally, and very tasty. If things get boring, I also cycle in chicken soup into the mix, either for lunch or dinner. I also have two cups of coffee every day and all the water and green tea, as suggested in the original diet. AND, I have a square of dark chocolate every night after dinner, woo hoo! You DO feel better and it DOES work – losing 20 pounds was great and very easy. Good luck.

    Reply
  • Julie Apr 5th 2012

    I put my husband on this and decided to follow it along with him. 6 weeks later I have dropped one dress size, my stomach is flatter, but best of all I feel 1000 percent better. My husband has dropped 12 pounds and is below 190 for the first time in years.

    Reply
  • Brittany Apr 2nd 2012

    I love this diet. I was on it for about 2 months and lost 30 pounds. I went off the diet for six months and didn’t gain anything back besides a few pounds of water weight, so it really works :) I’m back on the diet now and have about 30 more pounds to lose. I really recommend this- it not only helps you lose weight, but helps you keep it off :)

    Reply
  • Leslie Apr 1st 2012

    Do u have 2 buy the book 2do the diet plan

    Reply
    • lynn May 15th 2012

      the book gives you a comlete shopping list for each cycle, so i would recommend buying it.. go to amazon.com to get it as cheap as possible.

      Reply
  • alexus Apr 1st 2012

    I am on day 5 and have lost 9.2 pounds as of this morning. My blood sugar numbers are VERY good….yes, I’m diabetic. I hope my results continue! Previously gave up on dieting because I just couldn’t get the scale to move! There’s a high chance my next A1c test will hugely IMPROVE!!!

    Reply
    • lynn May 15th 2012

      congrats! and good luck with your A1C!!!

      Reply
  • revital Mar 28th 2012

    i did everything by the book and i didn’t loss at the weight at all!!!! its been over a week+
    i”m so angry ‘ someone answer me why???????

    Reply
  • wilma Mar 22nd 2012

    I really like this diet

    Reply
  • Donna Mar 21st 2012

    I loved the diet on so many levels. I was successful in loosing weight and my cholosterol went down about 30 points also. My husband is considering it, but I want to know for sure that it is nutritionally sound for a man. Should the amounts of food be increased? I will be looking for an answer.

    Reply
    • ted Mar 22nd 2012

      It works for men and yes calories should be increased. Here’s a great story of a couple that did the 17 day diet together. http://www.diet-blog.com/11/couple_loses_over_100lbs_on_the_17_day_diet.php

      Reply
    • lynn May 15th 2012

      my boyfriend is doing this diet with me.. he is 6’3 – went from 280lbs to 266lbs in the first 2 weeks. men need more calories, so you can give him some extra protein and vegetables to compensate.

      Reply
  • Tara Mar 15th 2012

    I am on the maintenance cycle (4) and eating from Friday at 6 to Sunday at 6 reasonable amts. of just about any food. When I strictly had only one carb or no carbs as on the earlier cycles I had better control and satisfaction with my food intake. I’m feeling that pang of deprevation during the week when I’m supposed to be living on the more controlled cycles. I wondered if anyone else felt this way after being reintroduced to “less controlled eating” on the week end? I’m thinking about going all the way back to cycle 1 and staying there … I really like the diet and think it is very healthy … just wondered..

    Reply
  • Hayley Mar 14th 2012

    Hi

    For a guess, diabetics won’t be able to do this diet due to level of protein intake. High protein diets put your body into a state of ketosis, similar to that that diabetics go through already so would probably cause a lot of health complications. Google ketosis and you’ll get a ton of information. Alternatively, go see your doctor.

    Reply
  • julia Mar 10th 2012

    Hi. I’m on day four and finding the sugar cravings very hard, and not being able to eat carbs makes my meals feel unsubstantial.

    Days 1-3 I had only lost 500g, then went to a dinner party and ate carbs (tiny amount mind you) and put 600g back on! So I’m starting all over again. Still waiting for that amazing “fast weight loss”.

    Reply
    • ted Mar 12th 2012

      If you have to measure your weight loss in grams, I doubt you should be dieting.

      Reply
  • Steel Mar 4th 2012

    Have a very physical job outdoors, and hard to eat at specific times,is this still worth a crack?

    Reply
  • ROSA Feb 29th 2012

    I want to know why this diet is not good for diabetics?

    Reply
    • lynn May 15th 2012

      probably because of the fruits. i’m not a doctor, but it’s my opinion that the diet will produce huge improvements in your blood sugar control, A1C and cholesterol.. .. how can you go wroing with eating whole, fresh, unprocessed foods?? my boyfriend is type 2 and following this diet with good results. check with your doctor, or at the very least, make sure you are monitoring you blood glucose levels.

      Reply
  • Nuur Feb 27th 2012

    Can i eat eggs or something else instead of turkey breast??
    and am 19 years my height 170..weight 95 !
    do this diet is good for me?

    Reply
  • Kat Feb 24th 2012

    Mimi I think this is why. You will lose more if originally you were more overweight. I would stick to 4 cycles and if after that you didn’t get to your 8 kg goal, I would go back to #1. Good luck.

    Reply
  • mimi Feb 23rd 2012

    To add to above comment, I probably only have about 8kg’s to loose… could this be why?

    Reply
  • mimi Feb 23rd 2012

    Hi – Cycle 1 was great, lost 5kg, but only 1kg on cycle 2, despite increasing my exercise. Has anyone else found this? I’m 2 days away from cycle 3, and am wondering whether to do it, or go back to cycle 1 (which was fine – didn’t feel hungry etc)… thoughts?

    Reply
  • Andrea Feb 22nd 2012

    My husband and I are just finishing cycle 1 and have lost a combined total of 31 lbs!! Day 4 was the toughest for us but once we pushed through that the last 2 weeks have been great! We’ve both kept our morning coffee/tea but increased our water and added green tea in the afternoon’s. Having a partner in the journey has made it easy to follow and stay motivated and the quick results on the scale are VERY rewarding!

    Reply
  • snap Feb 20th 2012

    What kind of green tea is reccomended . Hot or cold.

    Reply
    • ted Feb 20th 2012

      It doesn’t matter as long as it’s all natural and not sweetened with sugar.

      Reply
  • Dave Feb 14th 2012

    My gf and i just started on this…9th day…we’ve both alrady lost 8-10 lbs. Enjoying the meals. feeling great!

    Reply
  • melissa Feb 12th 2012

    Im really excited to start this plan.I have great things about this diet plan.

    Reply
Date Created / Updated: May 8, 2012