Bernstein Diet

Dr. Stanley Bernstein is a Canadian physician who specializes in medically-supervised weight loss programs. Dr Bernstein’s weight loss practice began in 1974 – and has now grown to over 50 clinics in Canada alone. Dr. Bernstein’s program is clinic-based only – and there are currently clinics in Canada and the USA.

What is the Bernstein Diet?

The Bernstein Diet aims to lose 4-5 pounds per week and involves 3 visits to the clinic each week during the program.
The Bernstein diet program is a combination of low calorie diet (regular grocery
store foods), behavior modification, education and vitamin and mineral supplements. The daily calorie intake could be anywhere between
800 — 1350 calories per day – it is a case-by-case situation.

The diet claims that only fat tissue is lost during this rapid weight loss phase, and all other tissue (muscle, electrolytes, fluid) is retained. One of the major features of the diet is the vitamin and mineral supplementation – this is achieved by vitamin injections.
Updated:Patients receive a Vitamin B complex injection.

Dr. Bernstein has a number of phases on the diet – a Weight Loss phase, a maintenance phase and also the “tune-up” diet for small amounts of weight loss.

Foods on the Bernstein Diet

Here is a sample of the kind of foods found on the Doctor Bernstein Diet.

Protein

veal cutlet
chicken livers
small steak
chicken breasts
shrimp
tuna
white fish

Fruit and Vegetables

celery
mushrooms
tomatoes
lettuce
bean sprouts
cabbage

tomato sauce
apples
lemons
oranges
green, orange, red and yellow peppers

Bread Substitutes

triscuits
melba toast

Spices and Seasonings
bay leaves
dried herbs
caraway seeds

soya sauce

Beverages and Miscellaneous
liquid Sweetener
Hermasetas/Equal
Jello Light
herbal tea

decaffeinated coffee
club soda

The Bernstein diet also has a number of other foods allowed.

More low calorie recipes can be found here.

I have used dr. bernstein’s diet in Toronto and it’s amazing!
I lost 20lbs. within 2mths. If you are able to do the diet do it, it’s worth every penny…
I am on this site b/c now i have moved to NY and am unable to find clinics..Please open atleast one here…I have tooo many people who are interested in the diet!

by Tina on 4/21/08

I am going to start the Dr. B. diet tomorrow. Am anxious to hear how many people can actually keep the weight off on this program.

by Judy on 4/28/08

Both my wife and myself did the Bernstien diet last year.Can’t give enough praise.In just 78 days my wife lost 45 pounds and I lost 85 pounds.We did it at the Dundurn Hamilton Ontario location.The clinic staff were fantastic.They were supportive and made the experience pleasent.It is really strict and you have to follow it to the letter in order for it to work, but if you enjoy cooking and know your spices and flavours it really makes it alot easier because you can keep your meals interesting.Not cheap, but worth every penny.

by marc on 4/29/08

I am still in shock! After struggling to lose weight for 4 months and not being able, I joined this program, it has not even been 1 weeks and I am down 6 pounds! And I am eating alot! I will definately get to my goeal of 20 pounds in another 2 weeks. I cant recommend this enough!

by Ann on 5/10/08

I lost over 155 lbs in 9+ months with this diet. I would recommend this diet to anyone.

by Tony on 5/12/08

I’ve great success with the Dr B diet. For health reasons I had to lose weight, and this plan has been the answer for me. Seventy pounds in 6 months, and I was losing at a slower rate than a lot of people. It’s strict, and expensive but worth every penny.

by Dianne on 5/12/08

Starvation diet. Lost the weight but everything comes back because its a rediculous diet. Waste of money

by maria on 5/15/08

I’ve done this diet once already and lost 45lbs in about 10 weeks after trying just about everything from lots of excercise to Atkins, to cutting back portions… all to no avail. I felt great, got huge comments on how good I looked (they cut me off when I was about 10lbs than I wanted to be – it really is run by Doctor’s). Unfortunately, I got a bit cocky after losing the pounds and did not follow through on the maintenance program (where you learn how much your body can take in (and what kinds of foods) so eventually (over 5 years) put it back on.

I’ve just rejoined the diet (not much has changed) and have already lost over 5lbs on my first week. I expect that I’ll be down at my goal weight in about 8 weeks (I’ve learned this time NEVER to cheat… you lose 3-4 days of weight burning everytime you do).

It is hard to keep on the diet but the Nurses pester the crap out of you if you break it and give you lots of encouragement when you are doing well. After the first week or so, you don’t really notice anything but the lack of choices of your original diet.

I wholeheartedly recommend this diet. Nothing else ever worked for me and you can see QUICK results.

by Burt on 6/1/08

I did Dr B a couple of years back and lost 67 lbs. Unfortunately, after not watching what I ate; I gained it back and a little more in 3 years. I restarted in January and have lost 74 lbs to date. I know I need to do maintenance. Unfortunately, I will not hit their goal of 140 lbs. I do not want to be that low. Does anyone have ideas and suggestions on how to maintain the weight lose after maintenance is done?

by Gabrielle on 6/6/08

my husband and several friends of ours all went on this diet. it worked wonders for all of us, however, we eventually gained the weight back. the problem that we all find now is how hard it is to lose ANY weigh what-so-ever and we all feel that this diet has somehow screwed up our metabolisms. great diet – but you need to stick to maintenance and don’t gain any weight back because you will have a hell of a time getting rid of it on your own.

by brigette on 7/9/08

Started this diet 9days ago and I not sure this is a good thing. I have not gone into keotosis (their big thing) and am starving. Today they cut me out of fruit, bread supplements and lentils. Starting is feel angry and do not know what, shakey, headaches, and not able to sleep well because my stomach is so empty it hurts. Loss only 2# and don’t see how I can keep this up. Has anyone else experienced this. Also, if you drop out for the above reasons do you think you will get your money back? I think the nurses at my office have all been drill sgts. One is about 280# and the other is okay but neither has tried this and keep telling me I have to be creative in making the meals. Big help! Would like to hear your comments and help.

by barbara on 7/25/08

I did this diet 2 years ago and lost 36lbs in 8 weeks! now, 2 years later and a 9 month old baby I’m back. Started 4 days ago on monday and by Wed. I had already lost 4.5lbs.That’s motivation enough for me. I’m in BC and find the nurses supportive and very helpful.

by Tracy on 7/31/08

Went on the Diet for 6 months and lost 90 lbs…. Nurses knowledge about Ketogenic Diets limited, B6/12 shots are way too expensive as is the diet. You can accoplish the same by going to your GP and telling him you want to go on a VLCD . He will monitor you vitals. ( bloodwork etc). I know maintain through my family doctor who basically tole me I could have done the same through him for a fraction of the cost.

by Stephen on 8/25/08

rate this diet is influenced by the fact that most of the 36 votes originated from members of a DR B message boards which is run by a loony named Brian who after starving himself for 12 months lost 150 lbs. He conciders himself a diet Guru but after reading his website much of his information is plagerized from Google.

The bottom line is if you starve your self you will lose weight… essentially this is what the Bernstein Diet is all about ( Cals ~ 500-600 per day) Tlow carb component of the diet ensure Kotisis, and one of the main side effects of Keotisis is appetite supression.

There are no credible studies which indicate B-6 or B 12 assist in weight loss , so that too is another rip off.

Depite Bernsteins claims that most patients keep weith off , everyone I know ( including myself) put weith back on once they began eating normal calorie ammounts .

If Carbs are your problem I suggest Protein Power over this nonsense

by jojim on 8/27/08

Well i have just started this diet 2 wks in and i feel great, iv lost 13lbs and before this i tryed everything to lose weight!!! To all the people out there with nagative feelings toward this program id like to say thanks for the concern and good info, but also this is the best thing i have ever did for myself and my health, yes it is expensive, but we wast money on silly things everyday that dont help us in any way; fast food,smoking,drinking buying clothes that fit our bulky size, instead of doing somthing about it…soo please live and let live Cheers to all on the program!!!

by Michelle on 10/1/08

I dropped 23lbs in a month back in 2006. Very expensive though. Could not afford to stay on. Now they have reduced their price. I am going to get back on to get this baggage off. Wish me luck!

by Heather on 10/8/08

I have been doing this diet for 2 weeks now and I am down 12lbs already! Everyone will give you their opinion if you tell them you are doing this diet it is SO brutal. Everyone needs to keep their opinions to themselves. It doesn’t matter what diet or exercise program you do, if you go back to being a slacker and make bad decisions you will gain weight. It is not just this diet that does that. I have never done anything that works so I am thrilled with this! I am never hungry, I can barley get through the amount of food you are allowed in a day. If you can learn to eat in moderation after you are done the strict phase you will be fine! Good luck everyone!

by Amy on 10/15/08

I lost 50 pounds in 4 months. I also lost half my hair, started to damage my kidneys and my skin was sallow and dry and I was extremely unhealthy. BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THIS – AVOID IT ALL TOGETHER.

by Kristen on 10/18/08

I started this diet on 10/31/08 and I have lost 8 lbs so far, it has been about 6 days. The first day was the hardest for me (handing out Halloween candy to the kiddies) but I got through it. It has been a breeze since then. No real cravings, an I am in ketosis since the second day. I want to lose the extra weight badly and this diet is working wonders for me. The calories are low but the amount of food you can eat is amazing. You do need to be creative, I was a carb addict before starting I would always eat pasta, chocolate, and mexican food. And I had no concept of portions. This diet has changed my thoughts from living to eat to eating to live. I am so much more conscious about the things that I am eating and I feal like I am truly in control. To the people that are whining about this diet…you must not want it bad enough! My daily menue usualy consists of coffee (regular, you are allowed 1 regular coffee per day) in the morning, with sugar free coffee cream and a dannon carb control yogurt with a piece of fruit. for lunch I will have a Josephs wrap cut in half which measures about 18 inches long by about 12 inches wide before cutting, with spicy mustard a piece of fat free kraft singles veggies and turkey, chicken breast or tuna and a glass of water. Dinner has been 4 oz of chicken with the other half of the wrap and seasonings and a salad. after dinner I will have a jello cup for desert and I am Never hungry. This diet is wonderful, it has been such a great experience so far. I will keep you posted on my progress.

by michellem on 11/6/08

One thing no one has mentioned is exercise. I dropped 35 pounds on this diet and with increased exercise was able to keep it off until an injury sidelined me and caused me to eat too much. I am starting again and will be exercising 60 minutes 5 x per week which is what most diets call for as well as a healthy lifestyle. Too many people who use this diet think they can drop the weight, not add exercise (which causes a lot of weight problems on its own)and then start eating normally again. If they learn to live iin moderation, diet and exercise the weight should stay off. It’s not rocket science just calories in and calories out. But like myself we want the good jump start to encourage us, as long as we don’t forget the real formula you should be fine.

by Debby on 11/6/08

i am about to start Dr Bernstein this week, i am so fed up of being fat and my husband is going to do it with me, although he does not have as much to lose, but we figure we’ll do better doing it together. I guess you have to behave aftewards else it is a lot of money to flush away.

by Michele on 11/10/08

Works very well, I lost 85lbs in 5 1/2 months, got pregnant gained it all back…my mind said it was ok because I was pregnant! Now I fully understand how important it is to have a healthy mind to go with eating healthy & exercise. Anyone who has ever had weight problems will know what I’m saying when I say there needs to be more out there for the mind battles!

by Anonymous on 11/19/08

Michelle M. Thanks you for your post – I was on the fence about starting this and your comments have really helped me. It’s been almost a month since your post … how are you managing?

by Francine on 11/20/08

I suggest that you guys do NOT do this diet. First off, its a starvation diet. I weighed 260lbs and went down to 160lbs. I maintained. But right when my body was gettin ANY kind of calorie it was sucking it in and I gained back almost 60lbs. right away. I swear on everything I ate healthy, worked out..and even cut down my normal foods (which you shouldnt have to do after a diet) I wasted thousands of dollars. I now go to a naturopath doctor and they are giving me the B12 shot 3 times a week for only 40 dollars. I am on a strict diet now but not a stavation diet. I am not saying this because im angry I gained it back on, but I dont want this happen to you guys. Seriously, you can find a different doc to give you the B12 shots and still loose weight. It may not be as fast (3-4lbs per week) BUT you wont gain it back on. Trust me on this one!!!! Hopefully it works for you guys!

by Kris on 11/27/08

Im about to start the diet and i was told my insurance could cover it how can i find out. does anybody have any tips for keeping the weight off after reaching my goal

by keyshia on 11/30/08

I just started this diet and have lost about 10 pounds in about a week in a half. I like the accountability piece because I have to chekc in 3x a week. Obviously everyone on here prior to the diet had poor eating habit, otherwise we wouldn’t be overweight. I don’t think that this diet is too expensive, I have probably spent thousands over the years on personal trainers, diet pills, supplements, gym memberships, diet books/magazines, etc. I plan on keeping the weight off by #1 NOT going back to my old eating ways and #2 completing the maintenance program and adopting a healthier relationship with food and not relying on junk food for pleasure or comfort.
For those of you that did not do well on this diet, understand that there is more than one way to skin a cat, so what may work for one does not work for all, but to say “It’s a waste of money or to Stay away”, is a bit much. Additionally I was never told that the B6/12 shots encouraged weight loss. I checked with my insurance company ( AETNA) and they cover the shots for certain medical conditions like anemia.
I wish everyone the best of luck with whatever wellness plan they choose. Everyone deserves to feel good about him or herself.

by Bonnie on 12/6/08

if you follow it 100% strict you will be successful, its all about discipline. we gained because of what we put in our mouth, and as we all know, the majority of people that gained weight are those who choose to have unhealthy food choices. A recent study shows that if you are wanting to lose the excess fat your carrying in your body, calorie wise diet is way more effective than exercise. To all who complaint and whine about ” i gained it all back” Im sorry to say bout you all know to yourself that you have not watch carefully on what you are eating after doing the program , its hard to make a change to what eating habit you used to have . You must think carefully before you insert any food in your mouth whether you really need it.

for those who are confused about ketosis heres a note : ( copied from the website )

“Question: What is Ketosis?
Answer: A lot of people are confused by the term “ketosis.” You may read that it is a “dangerous state” for the body, and it does sound abnormal to be “in ketosis.” But ketosis merely means that our bodies are using fat for energy. Ketones (also called ketone bodies) are molecules generated during fat metabolism, whether from the fat in the guacamole you just ate or fat you were carrying around your middle. When our bodies are breaking down fat for energy, most of the it gets converted more or less directly to ATP. (Remember high school biology? This is the “energy molecule.”) But ketones are also produced as part of the process.

When people eat less carbohydrate, their bodies turn to fat for energy, so it makes sense that more ketones are generated. Some of those ketones (acetoacetate and ß-hydroxybutyrate) are used for energy; the heart muscle and kidneys, for example, prefer ketones to glucose. Most cells, including the brain cells, are able to use ketones for at least part of their energy. But there is one type of ketone molecule, called acetone, that cannot be used and is excreted as waste, mostly in the urine and breath (sometimes causing a distinct breath odor).

If enough acetone is in our urine, it can be detected using a dipstick commonly called by the brand name Ketostix (though there are other brands, as well). Even though everyone is generating ketones continuously, this detection in the urine is what is commonly called “ketosis.”

The higher the concentration of ketones in the urine, the more purple the sticks will turn. The Atkins Diet, in particular, advises people to monitor ketosis as an indication of fat burning. Other reduced carbohydrate diets don’t pay much attention to this, or aren’t low enough in carbs to make much of an impression on the sticks. (The latter type of diet is sometimes called a “nonketogenic” low-carb diet.)
Why do some people think ketosis is a bad thing?
There is an assumption that if a body is burning a lot of fat for energy, it must not be getting “enough” glucose. However, there is no indication, from studying people on reduced carbohydrate diets, that this is the case (though there is usually a short period of adjustment — less than a week, in most cases). Although it’s true that our bodies can’t break fat down into glucose (though, interestingly, they easily use glucose to make fat), our bodies can convert some of the protein we eat into glucose. Indeed, this works well for people who don’t tolerate a lot of sugar, because this conversion happens slowly so it doesn’t spike blood glucose.

A dangerous condition called ketoacidosis can develop in those with type 1 diabetes, and it is sometimes confused with normal ketosis. The body usually avoids this state by producing insulin, but people with type 1 diabetes are unable to produce insulin. Even most people with type 2 diabetes who inject insulin usually produce enough insulin of their own to prevent ketoacidosis.

Low Carb Luxury has a good primer on how to use Ketostix.”

http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/faq/f/lctheory.htm

by anonymous on 12/19/08

how much do this diet cost per week, i have 50 lbs to loose
please let me know
joan

by joan stead on 1/5/09

Before I joined the Dr. Bernstein’s Diet, I did a lot of research online. I read comments from people, and found mixed reviews. In the end, I chose to join the Langley, BC location near my home. The staff are great, and very helpful.

I am a 35 year old male, and I was 217 pounds when I joined. I lost 27 pounds in exactly 28 days (4 weeks). As I write this, and am down another 2 pounds, as it is now 30 days since joining. My target weight is around 185 pounds, so I’m almost there.

The secret is to “NOT CHEAT” and stick with the plan. Everyone’s body requires so many calories each day. This diet restricts calories, so the rest come from fat. If you cheat, you run the risk that you will consume more calories, and prevent fat from being burned.

Like anything in life, with every action, there is a reaction. In other words, when you’re done the diet, if you go back to the same old eating habits, the weight will all come back. This would not indicate a problem with the diet, but a problem with “YOU”.

Once your goal weight has been achieved, they offer a maintenance program, where they continue to meet with you, and re-introduce foods back into your diet. The purpose for this step is to ensure that you don’t over-do things and fall back into your old eating habits. I strongly recommend this step, even though I’m not quite there yet. It just seems like common sense… you’ve spent so much time, energy and money to get to your ideal weight, don’t blow it by acting all alone.

As far as cost goes, think of the cost of not doing it! What toll does being unhealthy and overweight take on you physically and mentally? People generally have no problem on spending tens of thousands of dollars on a vehicle to move them around, but are as cheap as hell when it comes to their ultimate vehicle… their body!

by Brad on 1/9/09

I have been on the Dr. Bernsten’s Diet for 9 days and I have only lost 3 lbs so far even though I have not cheated and I have been burning ketones since the second day. The nurses told me to restrict my fruit and breads and I will am not losing? Any advice?

TIA

by Vonda on 1/14/09

I have used dr. bernstein’s diet in Toronto and it’s amazing!
I lost 20lbs. within 2mths. If you are able to do the diet do it, it’s worth every penny…
I am on this site b/c now i have moved to NY and am unable to find clinics..Please open atleast one here…I have tooo many people who are interested in the diet!

by Tina on 4/21/08
I am going to start the Dr. B. diet tomorrow. Am anxious to hear how many people can actually keep the weight off on this program.

by Judy on 4/28/08
Both my wife and myself did the Bernstien diet last year.Can’t give enough praise.In just 78 days my wife lost 45 pounds and I lost 85 pounds.We did it at the Dundurn Hamilton Ontario location.The clinic staff were fantastic.They were supportive and made the experience pleasent.It is really strict and you have to follow it to the letter in order for it to work, but if you enjoy cooking and know your spices and flavours it really makes it alot easier because you can keep your meals interesting.Not cheap, but worth every penny.

by marc on 4/29/08
I am still in shock! After struggling to lose weight for 4 months and not being able, I joined this program, it has not even been 1 weeks and I am down 6 pounds! And I am eating alot! I will definately get to my goeal of 20 pounds in another 2 weeks. I cant recommend this enough!

by Ann on 5/10/08
I lost over 155 lbs in 9+ months with this diet. I would recommend this diet to anyone.

by Tony on 5/12/08
I’ve great success with the Dr B diet. For health reasons I had to lose weight, and this plan has been the answer for me. Seventy pounds in 6 months, and I was losing at a slower rate than a lot of people. It’s strict, and expensive but worth every penny.

by Dianne on 5/12/08
Starvation diet. Lost the weight but everything comes back because its a rediculous diet. Waste of money

by maria on 5/15/08
I’ve done this diet once already and lost 45lbs in about 10 weeks after trying just about everything from lots of excercise to Atkins, to cutting back portions… all to no avail. I felt great, got huge comments on how good I looked (they cut me off when I was about 10lbs than I wanted to be – it really is run by Doctor’s). Unfortunately, I got a bit cocky after losing the pounds and did not follow through on the maintenance program (where you learn how much your body can take in (and what kinds of foods) so eventually (over 5 years) put it back on.

I’ve just rejoined the diet (not much has changed) and have already lost over 5lbs on my first week. I expect that I’ll be down at my goal weight in about 8 weeks (I’ve learned this time NEVER to cheat… you lose 3-4 days of weight burning everytime you do).

It is hard to keep on the diet but the Nurses pester the crap out of you if you break it and give you lots of encouragement when you are doing well. After the first week or so, you don’t really notice anything but the lack of choices of your original diet.

I wholeheartedly recommend this diet. Nothing else ever worked for me and you can see QUICK results.

by Burt on 6/1/08
I did Dr B a couple of years back and lost 67 lbs. Unfortunately, after not watching what I ate; I gained it back and a little more in 3 years. I restarted in January and have lost 74 lbs to date. I know I need to do maintenance. Unfortunately, I will not hit their goal of 140 lbs. I do not want to be that low. Does anyone have ideas and suggestions on how to maintain the weight lose after maintenance is done?

by Gabrielle on 6/6/08
my husband and several friends of ours all went on this diet. it worked wonders for all of us, however, we eventually gained the weight back. the problem that we all find now is how hard it is to lose ANY weigh what-so-ever and we all feel that this diet has somehow screwed up our metabolisms. great diet – but you need to stick to maintenance and don’t gain any weight back because you will have a hell of a time getting rid of it on your own.

by brigette on 7/9/08
Started this diet 9days ago and I not sure this is a good thing. I have not gone into keotosis (their big thing) and am starving. Today they cut me out of fruit, bread supplements and lentils. Starting is feel angry and do not know what, shakey, headaches, and not able to sleep well because my stomach is so empty it hurts. Loss only 2# and don’t see how I can keep this up. Has anyone else experienced this. Also, if you drop out for the above reasons do you think you will get your money back? I think the nurses at my office have all been drill sgts. One is about 280# and the other is okay but neither has tried this and keep telling me I have to be creative in making the meals. Big help! Would like to hear your comments and help.

by barbara on 7/25/08
I did this diet 2 years ago and lost 36lbs in 8 weeks! now, 2 years later and a 9 month old baby I’m back. Started 4 days ago on monday and by Wed. I had already lost 4.5lbs.That’s motivation enough for me. I’m in BC and find the nurses supportive and very helpful.

by Tracy on 7/31/08
Went on the Diet for 6 months and lost 90 lbs…. Nurses knowledge about Ketogenic Diets limited, B6/12 shots are way too expensive as is the diet. You can accoplish the same by going to your GP and telling him you want to go on a VLCD . He will monitor you vitals. ( bloodwork etc). I know maintain through my family doctor who basically tole me I could have done the same through him for a fraction of the cost.

by Stephen on 8/25/08
rate this diet is influenced by the fact that most of the 36 votes originated from members of a DR B message boards which is run by a loony named Brian who after starving himself for 12 months lost 150 lbs. He conciders himself a diet Guru but after reading his website much of his information is plagerized from Google.

The bottom line is if you starve your self you will lose weight… essentially this is what the Bernstein Diet is all about ( Cals ~ 500-600 per day) Tlow carb component of the diet ensure Kotisis, and one of the main side effects of Keotisis is appetite supression.

There are no credible studies which indicate B-6 or B 12 assist in weight loss , so that too is another rip off.

Depite Bernsteins claims that most patients keep weith off , everyone I know ( including myself) put weith back on once they began eating normal calorie ammounts .

If Carbs are your problem I suggest Protein Power over this nonsense

by jojim on 8/27/08
Well i have just started this diet 2 wks in and i feel great, iv lost 13lbs and before this i tryed everything to lose weight!!! To all the people out there with nagative feelings toward this program id like to say thanks for the concern and good info, but also this is the best thing i have ever did for myself and my health, yes it is expensive, but we wast money on silly things everyday that dont help us in any way; fast food,smoking,drinking buying clothes that fit our bulky size, instead of doing somthing about it…soo please live and let live Cheers to all on the program!!!

by Michelle on 10/1/08
I dropped 23lbs in a month back in 2006. Very expensive though. Could not afford to stay on. Now they have reduced their price. I am going to get back on to get this baggage off. Wish me luck!

by Heather on 10/8/08
I have been doing this diet for 2 weeks now and I am down 12lbs already! Everyone will give you their opinion if you tell them you are doing this diet it is SO brutal. Everyone needs to keep their opinions to themselves. It doesn’t matter what diet or exercise program you do, if you go back to being a slacker and make bad decisions you will gain weight. It is not just this diet that does that. I have never done anything that works so I am thrilled with this! I am never hungry, I can barley get through the amount of food you are allowed in a day. If you can learn to eat in moderation after you are done the strict phase you will be fine! Good luck everyone!

by Amy on 10/15/08
I lost 50 pounds in 4 months. I also lost half my hair, started to damage my kidneys and my skin was sallow and dry and I was extremely unhealthy. BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THIS – AVOID IT ALL TOGETHER.

by Kristen on 10/18/08
I started this diet on 10/31/08 and I have lost 8 lbs so far, it has been about 6 days. The first day was the hardest for me (handing out Halloween candy to the kiddies) but I got through it. It has been a breeze since then. No real cravings, an I am in ketosis since the second day. I want to lose the extra weight badly and this diet is working wonders for me. The calories are low but the amount of food you can eat is amazing. You do need to be creative, I was a carb addict before starting I would always eat pasta, chocolate, and mexican food. And I had no concept of portions. This diet has changed my thoughts from living to eat to eating to live. I am so much more conscious about the things that I am eating and I feal like I am truly in control. To the people that are whining about this diet…you must not want it bad enough! My daily menue usualy consists of coffee (regular, you are allowed 1 regular coffee per day) in the morning, with sugar free coffee cream and a dannon carb control yogurt with a piece of fruit. for lunch I will have a Josephs wrap cut in half which measures about 18 inches long by about 12 inches wide before cutting, with spicy mustard a piece of fat free kraft singles veggies and turkey, chicken breast or tuna and a glass of water. Dinner has been 4 oz of chicken with the other half of the wrap and seasonings and a salad. after dinner I will have a jello cup for desert and I am Never hungry. This diet is wonderful, it has been such a great experience so far. I will keep you posted on my progress.

by michellem on 11/6/08
One thing no one has mentioned is exercise. I dropped 35 pounds on this diet and with increased exercise was able to keep it off until an injury sidelined me and caused me to eat too much. I am starting again and will be exercising 60 minutes 5 x per week which is what most diets call for as well as a healthy lifestyle. Too many people who use this diet think they can drop the weight, not add exercise (which causes a lot of weight problems on its own)and then start eating normally again. If they learn to live iin moderation, diet and exercise the weight should stay off. It’s not rocket science just calories in and calories out. But like myself we want the good jump start to encourage us, as long as we don’t forget the real formula you should be fine.

by Debby on 11/6/08
i am about to start Dr Bernstein this week, i am so fed up of being fat and my husband is going to do it with me, although he does not have as much to lose, but we figure we’ll do better doing it together. I guess you have to behave aftewards else it is a lot of money to flush away.

by Michele on 11/10/08
Works very well, I lost 85lbs in 5 1/2 months, got pregnant gained it all back…my mind said it was ok because I was pregnant! Now I fully understand how important it is to have a healthy mind to go with eating healthy & exercise. Anyone who has ever had weight problems will know what I’m saying when I say there needs to be more out there for the mind battles!

by Anonymous on 11/19/08
Michelle M. Thanks you for your post – I was on the fence about starting this and your comments have really helped me. It’s been almost a month since your post … how are you managing?

by Francine on 11/20/08
I suggest that you guys do NOT do this diet. First off, its a starvation diet. I weighed 260lbs and went down to 160lbs. I maintained. But right when my body was gettin ANY kind of calorie it was sucking it in and I gained back almost 60lbs. right away. I swear on everything I ate healthy, worked out..and even cut down my normal foods (which you shouldnt have to do after a diet) I wasted thousands of dollars. I now go to a naturopath doctor and they are giving me the B12 shot 3 times a week for only 40 dollars. I am on a strict diet now but not a stavation diet. I am not saying this because im angry I gained it back on, but I dont want this happen to you guys. Seriously, you can find a different doc to give you the B12 shots and still loose weight. It may not be as fast (3-4lbs per week) BUT you wont gain it back on. Trust me on this one!!!! Hopefully it works for you guys!

by Kris on 11/27/08
Im about to start the diet and i was told my insurance could cover it how can i find out. does anybody have any tips for keeping the weight off after reaching my goal

by keyshia on 11/30/08
I just started this diet and have lost about 10 pounds in about a week in a half. I like the accountability piece because I have to chekc in 3x a week. Obviously everyone on here prior to the diet had poor eating habit, otherwise we wouldn’t be overweight. I don’t think that this diet is too expensive, I have probably spent thousands over the years on personal trainers, diet pills, supplements, gym memberships, diet books/magazines, etc. I plan on keeping the weight off by #1 NOT going back to my old eating ways and #2 completing the maintenance program and adopting a healthier relationship with food and not relying on junk food for pleasure or comfort.
For those of you that did not do well on this diet, understand that there is more than one way to skin a cat, so what may work for one does not work for all, but to say “It’s a waste of money or to Stay away”, is a bit much. Additionally I was never told that the B6/12 shots encouraged weight loss. I checked with my insurance company ( AETNA) and they cover the shots for certain medical conditions like anemia.
I wish everyone the best of luck with whatever wellness plan they choose. Everyone deserves to feel good about him or herself.

by Bonnie on 12/6/08
if you follow it 100% strict you will be successful, its all about discipline. we gained because of what we put in our mouth, and as we all know, the majority of people that gained weight are those who choose to have unhealthy food choices. A recent study shows that if you are wanting to lose the excess fat your carrying in your body, calorie wise diet is way more effective than exercise. To all who complaint and whine about ” i gained it all back” Im sorry to say bout you all know to yourself that you have not watch carefully on what you are eating after doing the program , its hard to make a change to what eating habit you used to have . You must think carefully before you insert any food in your mouth whether you really need it.

for those who are confused about ketosis heres a note : ( copied from the website )

“Question: What is Ketosis?
Answer: A lot of people are confused by the term “ketosis.” You may read that it is a “dangerous state” for the body, and it does sound abnormal to be “in ketosis.” But ketosis merely means that our bodies are using fat for energy. Ketones (also called ketone bodies) are molecules generated during fat metabolism, whether from the fat in the guacamole you just ate or fat you were carrying around your middle. When our bodies are breaking down fat for energy, most of the it gets converted more or less directly to ATP. (Remember high school biology? This is the “energy molecule.”) But ketones are also produced as part of the process.

When people eat less carbohydrate, their bodies turn to fat for energy, so it makes sense that more ketones are generated. Some of those ketones (acetoacetate and ß-hydroxybutyrate) are used for energy; the heart muscle and kidneys, for example, prefer ketones to glucose. Most cells, including the brain cells, are able to use ketones for at least part of their energy. But there is one type of ketone molecule, called acetone, that cannot be used and is excreted as waste, mostly in the urine and breath (sometimes causing a distinct breath odor).

If enough acetone is in our urine, it can be detected using a dipstick commonly called by the brand name Ketostix (though there are other brands, as well). Even though everyone is generating ketones continuously, this detection in the urine is what is commonly called “ketosis.”

The higher the concentration of ketones in the urine, the more purple the sticks will turn. The Atkins Diet, in particular, advises people to monitor ketosis as an indication of fat burning. Other reduced carbohydrate diets don’t pay much attention to this, or aren’t low enough in carbs to make much of an impression on the sticks. (The latter type of diet is sometimes called a “nonketogenic” low-carb diet.)
Why do some people think ketosis is a bad thing?
There is an assumption that if a body is burning a lot of fat for energy, it must not be getting “enough” glucose. However, there is no indication, from studying people on reduced carbohydrate diets, that this is the case (though there is usually a short period of adjustment — less than a week, in most cases). Although it’s true that our bodies can’t break fat down into glucose (though, interestingly, they easily use glucose to make fat), our bodies can convert some of the protein we eat into glucose. Indeed, this works well for people who don’t tolerate a lot of sugar, because this conversion happens slowly so it doesn’t spike blood glucose.

A dangerous condition called ketoacidosis can develop in those with type 1 diabetes, and it is sometimes confused with normal ketosis. The body usually avoids this state by producing insulin, but people with type 1 diabetes are unable to produce insulin. Even most people with type 2 diabetes who inject insulin usually produce enough insulin of their own to prevent ketoacidosis.

Low Carb Luxury has a good primer on how to use Ketostix.”

http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/faq/f/lctheory.htm

by anonymous on 12/19/08
how much do this diet cost per week, i have 50 lbs to loose
please let me know
joan

by joan stead on 1/5/09
Before I joined the Dr. Bernstein’s Diet, I did a lot of research online. I read comments from people, and found mixed reviews. In the end, I chose to join the Langley, BC location near my home. The staff are great, and very helpful.

I am a 35 year old male, and I was 217 pounds when I joined. I lost 27 pounds in exactly 28 days (4 weeks). As I write this, and am down another 2 pounds, as it is now 30 days since joining. My target weight is around 185 pounds, so I’m almost there.

The secret is to “NOT CHEAT” and stick with the plan. Everyone’s body requires so many calories each day. This diet restricts calories, so the rest come from fat. If you cheat, you run the risk that you will consume more calories, and prevent fat from being burned.

Like anything in life, with every action, there is a reaction. In other words, when you’re done the diet, if you go back to the same old eating habits, the weight will all come back. This would not indicate a problem with the diet, but a problem with “YOU”.

Once your goal weight has been achieved, they offer a maintenance program, where they continue to meet with you, and re-introduce foods back into your diet. The purpose for this step is to ensure that you don’t over-do things and fall back into your old eating habits. I strongly recommend this step, even though I’m not quite there yet. It just seems like common sense… you’ve spent so much time, energy and money to get to your ideal weight, don’t blow it by acting all alone.

As far as cost goes, think of the cost of not doing it! What toll does being unhealthy and overweight take on you physically and mentally? People generally have no problem on spending tens of thousands of dollars on a vehicle to move them around, but are as cheap as hell when it comes to their ultimate vehicle… their body!

by Brad on 1/9/09
I have been on the Dr. Bernsten’s Diet for 9 days and I have only lost 3 lbs so far even though I have not cheated and I have been burning ketones since the second day. The nurses told me to restrict my fruit and breads and I will am not losing? Any advice?

TIA

by Vonda on 1/14/09

Bernstein Diet

What is the Bernstein Diet?

Foods on the Bernstein Diet

See Also

983 Comments

POPULAR

NEW DIETS

DIET REVIEWS

TOPICS

Bernstein Diet

What is the Bernstein Diet?

Foods on the Bernstein Diet

See Also

Rate & Share

983 Comments

Add Your Comments

POPULAR

NEW DIETS

DIET REVIEWS

TOPICS