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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.
See Also
DrBdiet – Official site.
Hello!
What is NEO-BEX? I’ve seen a few posts on it. Is that what should be incorporated to the b6, b12 injections?
Thanks!!
I seen the post about Micro K, but from what i have just read it does not contain calcium.. So its not exactly the same then as Cal_K? I just want to be sure if i decide to do this on my own.. Thank you!
Brenda, thanks for the response. I did manage to find some places here on Vancouver Island that will order the B6 – Pharmasave in Qualicum Beach, and now the Shopper Drug Mart at Country Club Mall in Nanaimo. Yaaayyyy! Everyone seems to carry the B12, but B6 is only next-day delivery so that’s great.
Have a great day!
I’m on this diet.. but would love to do it on my own.. I was told that potassium in large amounts needs to be prescribed.. Does anyone know where in Alberta you can get the equivalent to Cal-K?.. I’m going to be looking into buying the liquid b vitamins also
You can get the following from Shoppers Drug Mart, London Drugs, or Kerrisdale Pharmacy (5591 W Boulevard, Vancouver. Tel 604.261.0333). I think Kerrisdale Pharmacy is a few dollars cheaper:
1) B6, 30ml: DIN #02245215 – also known by the trade name Pyridoxine HCl (about $50 dollars and takes one or two days to come in) OR NeoBex: 00147680 (Either B6 or NeoBex, not both)
2) B12, 10ml: DIN 00521515 (around $7 – $10)
1 and 2 above both require 35cc + 35cc = 70cc
Hi Brenda,
Where in Vancouver did you go? and what syringes are you using?
hi Mike and Jiggy
If you go through all the older posts you may find out where you can get your Vit b6 and b12. I am not too sure about the States but I am about Canada and the GTA. Jiggy I bought mine here in the Durham Region. I bought the B12 ay Walmart pharmacy for about $5.00 for 10 ml (which lasts awhile only using 0.35 mls) and I ordered the B6 at the local shoppers Drugmart for about $42.00 for 30 mls. Give them the DIN and ask them to order it. There is an older post on this site where someone is in Toronto and gives an exact location of the shoppers they went to and purchased it, but you will have to go back and read a few older posts. The DIN for B6 is DIN 02245215 B12 DIN 00521515.
Mike maybe if you use the DIN numbers you may have better luck. I hope this helps you guys out.
Dishearted
No you do not have an allergy to the B vitamins,I have bruised myself and it is usually cause I moved the syringe. I also had a large very black bruise that seemed to take forever to go away but it did it just took some time. If I hadn’t have noticed it in the mirror I wouldn’t have known because it wasn’t sore. Not to worry, it willgo away. Even when I did go to Dr. B clinic the girl there occassionaly left a bruise which was usually on my butt LOL . I think if once you do inject then release the area you are squeezing it will be better and plunge down the liquid nice and steady makes a difference. Any way try and see if that makes a difference. And yes you do deserve a big whooooot whooooot for the 10lbs !! That is awesome ! keep going you are almost there
Glenda – I live in Vancouver and have had no problem getting the B6 or B12. Where on the west coast are you?
Went to London Drugs – they carry the B12 in stock, had to ask for it from the pharmacist, who ordered the B6 in but it only took a day or so. No prescription necesary.
Brenda
I need your help. Where in the U.S. (Michigan to be exact) can I buy B6 & B12 liquid vitamins for injenctions? I have read responses on here that claimed they have bought the liquid vitamins from pharmacys without dr perscriptons. However, In Flint, Fenton, several other close-by cities (Michigan, USA) I have been told I must have a dr perscription to be able to purchases the liquid vitamins. Can someone help and tell me where did you go to buy them in the states without a dr. perscription? Please confirm, as I want to do this diet on my own as I can not afford to pay dr. b $600 a month! Please help.
Hi
I’ve been trying to find the vitamin B6 injectable for days now. Every Shoppers I go to is telling me they can’t get it. I also tried to find the Neo-bex and they told me it is on back order. I got the B12 easily. Does anyone know where you can get the B6 without a rx around the Leslie and 401 area or even in the GTA. Thanks
Hi, I was just wondering if anyone knows if it would make sense to take the shots every day rather than every other, you would get the same amount weekly, to be clear, rather than take .7 every other day, take 3.5 daily, also, do you think this would work with any other 1000 cal diet
I am having trouble getting the B6 on the westcoast. Being told not without prescription, etc. If I can’t get it, should I be taking .70cc of just B12?
Hey Phatchic,
I just caught on to your name … it’s cute
Anyway, thanks for your reply. The bruise probably resulted from my squeezing that fat with one hand while I puncturing the needle into my tummy with my other hand. Watching the needle go in did cause a bit of fear in me!
But that bruise that I still is large! Like 2 inches by 1.5 inch in size!!! So it wasn’t an allergic reaction or anything right?! Cause this was the first time I inject both b12 and b6 into myself.
And oh … up date … I’ll have lost about 10 pounds in total over 4 weeks! Slow … but still deserves a Woot woot!
i would like to know if this diet works if you just wanna lose 10 pounds? or am i waisting my money? will i lose the 10 pounds in the first week? or should i rather get B100 tabs from costco and do a low cal diet from home???
Hi Dishearted The reason you bruised is because as you said in your comment you were a bit clumsy,what will happen is you will brake some blood vessels which will cause the bruise. You will get better with the injections with time. I have bruised myself when I am trying to hurry. I hope you do well on this diet
Hi Marci,
Even though I’ve had some bumps with this program (i.e. charging me $50 for missing an appointment – but not informing me that I’d be charged the money if I had missed the appointment; and not getting my shots until I see the doctor; and a two out of 10 unfriendly nurses) … I am still grateful for the program. That’s cause it’s helped me learn to eat less and prevent me from having cravings! I’ve lost minimal amount of weight (not as fast as I would like), but I was tiny to beign with (4′ 10 and 115 to begin with).
My suggestion (as I was skeptical to begin with), is to read this entire site on the bernstein diet … so yeah, click to see the other pages and what everyone else said.
Myself … after reading this entire thing … I signed up at Dr. B for one week (about $315 I think) to see what it was all about … and I have signed up for another two weeks after that (roughly $160 per week). After all my shots (which will go into fourth week … cause I couldn’t get any shots in the third week), I plan to go on maintenance for two months (and where I might / will really continue to give myself the shots from home until I reach my desired weight) so that I can learn what the maintenance portion is all about. That’s cause one the cost of the program is expensive and I don’t want to pay $160 a week just to loose one pound … which is what is happening with me now … and trust me, I’m also following the diet strictly! Again, the slowness is probably cause I’m at my last ten pounds. And I think I will incorporate exercise now to get rid of the last 10 pounds.
So … that’s what I did … first two to three weeks so I can understand the program and get supervision. Then off to maintenance … and I will shoot myself, and likely visit my doctor to get blood work, etc.
Hope this info helps! And I am still grateful for Dr. B cause I gained the weight over the last two years and whatever I did, I didn’t really loose weight and had a hard time curbing my appetite … until now that is.
Hello Disheartened,
I was reading your e-mail note and I am interested in starting the Dr. B diet. Actually I have an appoointment upcoming for the consult. How did you find the diet when you first started? I would like to loose 55 lbs. But according to their guidlines it is more like 95lbs. I am a little nervous about this, but I have been struggling with other diets and I need a good boost to see results. Please let me know what you think. Thanks.
HI Everyone,
So … after my last week’s experience … the Dr. B clinic told me not to go in until I see the doctor on Friday. So … in the meantime, I got myself some B6 and B12, and gave myself and injection.
The first time I did it was only with B12 (needle was 3ml 25G1 – 0.5mm) and that went fine although I was a bit clumsy.
Today, I used another needle (1ml 27G1/2 – 0.4mm) and gave myself a B6 and B12 shot in the lower portion of my stomach. About two hours later, I noticed a big huge, huge bruise where I shot myself. Hmmm … can anyone explain why that is? I’m a bit worried that I’m doing things wrong.
Thanks!
And oh … my B6 … I asked the pharmacy close to my home and they brought it in with no problems. Cost just under $50.
I did the bernstien diet approx 7 years ago and lost 25 pounds in 5 weeks..awesome..I have managed to gain the wieght back and then some unfortunately so I called them to see if I could just get an updated food plan..Well now..it was like I was asking for their right arm..I was told that I would have to start the program again including initial fees to be able to get it.I already gave them enough money as it is.Im am not paying out again just to get a few more food choices than I had 7 years ago.The plan 7 years ago is so stale to me already cause I am a picky eater and I was trying to choose the foods that gave you the most quantity..so I didnt feel hungry all the time.. I find that I am eating the smae things over and over and it is getting boring..Really hard to follow a plan when you get bored with your options and have nowhere else to turn
Glenda…. Just make sure when you do do the injections you are using 0.35 cc of B6 and 0.35 cc of B12 for a total of 0.70 cc, these are in the same syringe. congrats on you 22 lb loss and I do wish you luck with this
Forget my last post. I moved back in time to earlier posts and found mh answers. Thanks so much. Will try to find the B6 and B12 in the Nanaimo BC area. Wish me luck!
I am also doing Dr. B diet on my own, after having gone through the program a few years ago. No clinic in my area so I am following diet and taking B100 tablets (from Costco). So far have lost 22+ lbs in 5 weeks so it’s working fine. Just recently heard that I can buy B12 (and possibly even B15) shots from Shoppers. Phatchic, you mentioned $42 for 30 mls injectibles…..is 30 ml the amount of each injection we should be using, and do we do the 3 per week same as clinic?
Dishearted….. sorry I called you Brenda in my last message … my bad.
Hi Patty and Brenda !!
Patty you can get Vit B6 Injectable from shoppers but they do not have it on hand. You will need to give them the DIN# which is DIN O2245215. Shoppers will order it for you and it will be there the nxt business day (usually) it costs about $42 for 30mls which is what I bought and I live in the Oshawa area.
Brenda thanks for sharing your story! I went to the clinic about 2 years ago and one time I was going to cancell my appointment due to another obligation I had, anyway I was told that day if I did not make the apointment that I too would not be given any more shots until I seen the Doc. So needless to say I kept my appointment but when I did see him, the girls had written in my chart that I was going to cancel and he was quite rude about this. I tried to explain that I was not doing this to avoid the appointment but because I had another obligation which was work related, and that it was not fair to punish me by withholding my injections, after all I needed to work in order to pay for the program. He did not want to hear it and basically said it that way. I was never told that a missed appointment would also cost me $50 either. when I had the blood work done I also had to go to my own clinic to have it drawn because not one of the girls could get a drop out of me. I had 1 week to have it done or they would too with hold your injections. A few times he blood work results never came back to them when they figured they should and were going to stop my injections until they recieved them, but I asked them to call the clinic to prove the requisit was completed and they did and injections continued. I no longer go to the B clinic I now do my own and every 6 weeks I have my blood work done through the Doc at work. I am now completing week 2 of doing this on my own and will let you know how much I have lost when I weigh myself tomorrow. Good luck to you and keep me posted on your weight loss and clinic adventures LOL !
Hi Brenda, Phatchic, and Everyone!
I’m sorry for not writing earlier … I didn’t check this site since I first posted my ad and there was no email notification that people were making new posts.
Anyway … I lost a total of 7 pounds on the Dr. Bernstein diet in two weeks. I think this minimal amount may be but I am at the point where I’m trying to loose my last 10 pounds
And yes, I follow the food plan and drink 10 to 12 glasses of water a day. I find that I feel better when I drink more rather than less and I don’t experience as much cramps in my muscles.
Anyway … I’m still on the diet … but just in case anyone wants to do this program at the clinic … I need to share my little experience that I had today with you:
Don’t ever miss your doctors appointment that they book for you at the Dr. Bernstein clinic. They didn’t tell me, but if you miss the appointment, you have to pay $50 for missing the appointment, and they won’t give you the shots until you see the doctor again. As I was unaware of this two policy, I had to pay the fine, and I also couldn’t get my shots today … and I won’t now be getting any shots until next Friday!!! It was a bit frustrating as no one had mentioned these two rules to me before … so I just want to let all those on this diet out there to know NOT to miss any of the doctors appointment they make for you at the clinic!
And oh another tip … they also said not to eat past 6:30 pm … as well as to drink three glasses of water just before going to bed so that the fat can be flushed out. I found this to be very helpful and when I get on the scale in the morning, I feel happier cause it appears I’m lighter! The nurse also said that the churning in my tummy in the evening is normal as that is when I’m already in the fat burning mode. So again … I just wanted to share this for those doing the program unsupervised. Hope this info helps!
And lastly, although I’m disappointed that I’m not loosing as much weight as I want to … I am still however very grateful for the Bernstein diet. That’s cause I had packed on this weight for over two years now … and during these two years I tried to loose that extra weight but nothing I tried really worked. However, I’ve lost some weight on the Bernstein diet … and without much effort at all. And so for that, I’m grateful … cause it’s given me a kickstart into the loose weight process.
Additionally, I’m learning about portion control and what foods are good for me. I like this weighing my food, without counting points and calories, which is easier for me. And by the way … the July 2009 is still the most up to date version of their food list available.
All the best to everyone … wishing everyone much success in their weight loss goal!
I’ve called a dozen different pharmacies tonight and have been told by all of them, that B6 is NOT available in injection form …. HELP !! I’m in the GTA, have called, Shoppers, Rexall, Pharma Plus, Costco and Walmart pharmacies, and none of them have it. If you were able to obtain it – please let me know the specific pharmacy and location. any help would be appreciated.
I did the Bernstein diet about 10 years ago, with great success. ( 60 pounds ). I was able to keep it off for years even without going through the maintenance program, but through a series of life challenges ( breakup, depression etc… ) gained all the weight back. I refuse to pay the price to go to the clinic again, but desperately want to do this diet again, since i was so successful the first time.
any help would be greatly appreciated.
cheers
Thank you! I was trying to remember that name because I had problems with Cal-K (stomach did not like it). I bought the B12 and B6. Shoppers (Rideau Centre) cannot find NEO-BEX. Still searching…
Hi Sara, you can get Micro K which is the same as Cal K at any pharmacy, with Costco being the cheapest. HTH!
I would like also add that I never liked going to the clinics. The one here in Ottawa is very cold. They treat you like you are just another number. And the doctor even though you see him once a week or so he still could not remember your face much less the last conversation you had with him. Terrible motivator.