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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.
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Where can you buy the b6/b12 injections. Do the pills work as well.
@phatchic
People doing the Dr. B at home are the majority???? I do not think so. I have searched and searched for support. I think there would be more if that were the case. Just my opinion though
Hi
Would anyone happen to have the new Alberta food list
that has been updated in June 2010?
If so would you please send it to me.
janet.m.west@shaw.ca
Thanks
@sandra
I hate to say it but we are the majority out there !!
Hi HMac,
Dr. B. cook book (what to eat and what not) is available for download online. Google the term “dr. bernstein cookbook”. B6/B12 pills will work but not as effective and as fast as the injections.
For me personally, the best form of support came from blogging http://phatpast.wordpress.com my weight loss process. You can also read more about the diet break down.
Good luck to you.
I am interested in following the Dr. B diet at home without the injections (obviously). Does anyone know where I can find a meal plan or a breakdown of the diet? Is there any point to taking B6 and B12 in pill form? I would love to find a couple people to support me through this as well.
@ Freedom…..I am in Abby. I am also wanting to do this at home. Would be great if you could pass along your email so we could help and encourage each other along.
Hi Thanks for the replies. I would like to do this with someone who needs to lose around 50 pounds or more. Also want to say I think my computer monitor is going so if you don’t hear from me for a bit that is why.
I just thought I’d say hi. Thanks to everyone for keeping this conversation going. We are a minority out there!
Hi Kimberly,
Not a stupid question at all. Go to a pharmacy like Shopper’s or the one in WalMart. That is the best place. You do not need an RX for either.
Good luck!
OK I am sure this is a dumb question…but where do I buy the B6 and B12 injections? Health food store? I live in Ottawa, Canada. Thank you
@Angel
I will do it with you. I am like you and need the accountability. When I do it in clinic IO have no problem sticking to it but at home I am a “I will start tomorrow” person.
Here is my email:
arinanddavid@hotmail.com
Last year at this time I was 57 pounds lighter, I had just quit going to Dr. Bernstein due to a few things but mainly the cost. So here I am., up 30 pounds of the 57 pounds I lost!! Before I left the program last time my liver enyzmes were raised., one thought was a fatty liver,. so I never bothered to go have it looked at. Now I am thinking about going back…
@Angel
hey I would definately buddy up with you if you would like to do this. I like to have the support myself. I found when I was going to the clinic some time back I found myself more accountable too. I would prefer the email thing, so if you are wanting to do this, this way let me know and give me your address. I will keep checking back to see what you have decided.
hey guys! I am trying to do the dr. b diet at home and i must say its soooo much harder this way.
angel- i’ll be your diet buddy! i have about 25 pounds to lose. iam currently 135 but iam only 4’11 so iam quite chunky. i did the diet at the clinic a few yrs back and lost 35 pounds. the thing about this diet is that its not forever. you will lose the weight but gain it back as soon as you start to eat normally. my suggestion to everyone is do the injections as prescribed, eat abit more than what dr. b tells you and exercise 3-4 times a week.
for now iam doing a transition period. the first few days i will eat less than i normally do. then slowly take away the breads, and reduce the fruits. i find it hard to be strict on the first day. i get all agitated and feel sickish. so my official dr b strict diet will most likely be monday may 31. iam giving myself 1 month to lose 20 pounds. i need to dress sexy for the summer!
So I’ve been on this diet since Jan 23 and lost 70 pounds (this is my second time doing the diet, I did it back in 2008 and lost over 100 pounds). I have been doing the program on my own without the clinic or the injections and i have been 110% faithful to the diet.
The problem is this past month my ketones have change. I went from burning extremely high (deep purple) to recently much lower (peach colour) and now just since yesterday I’ve been negative. I have not changed anything eating wise and have been completely faithful. Anyone have any suggestions or information? I’m getting REALLY frustrated and wondering if I’m at a Plateau? But also wondering how my ketones can change so drastically when I don’t take in much to ANY sugar (I don’t even eat my fruit servings daily)
Please help…
Hi Angel, I could def. use a buddy!! What is your email address??
Hi I really could use some support. I am so tempted to go back to Dr.B the weigh ins are very good for me I need to be accountable to someone. Not finding enough people posting here…I just really need to get back on track. When I go to the clinic I can stay almost 100% for a month or two. When I try to do it at home…..I keep putting it off and say tomorrow I will do it. I could really use a buddy for this…..anyone would like to buddy up and check in with each other daily. Maybe thru e-mail……or on here just really need to be more accountable. Thanks
Hi everyone,
Just saw your site as I researched Dr. B’s diet! A friend had great success recently but was really discouraged by their attitude at the clinic … in fact they kicked her out for not losing enough weight!
I’m in Vancouver BC and my partner and I are going to try this at home … we both have about 30 lbs to lose.
Really encouraged by everyone’s stories of weight loss! Thank you for sharing and encouraging others … it really helps!
You can only have 1 coke zero a day
so im starting the shots on monday or so…..i have been on the dr.b full on befor but got to expensive for me. what im wondering is is there some something that ic an inject to help build mussle?? that is safe
@Phatpast
I went to Florida so I missed a Fri, but I did an update last week.
I’d be curious to hear from others who are doing Dr. B. at home – come on guys, let’s encourage one another
(I’m sure most of us don’t share what we’re doing with others – or do you?)
HI … before starting the Dr. Bernstein diet, I would strongly urge you to go see your doctor and do a blood test before beginning the diet. That’s because you want to make sure that your liver and thyroid is ok before starting the program.
I believe the Dr. Bernstein diet caused me to have a fatty liver problem!!! The fatty liver likely resulted from me extreme weight loss!!! And unfortunately, by taking the potassium tablets and getting the Vitamin B shots to increase my metabolism has caused me to have hyperthyrodism … where my metabolism is going so fast cause the gland won’t stop producing thyroid! And now dealing with hyperthyroidism is another can of worms!!!
So as a precautionary measure, I would suggest everyone starting the Dr. Bernstein diet to first get a blood test … and to do interval blood test during the diet just to make sure everything is in order and that you don’t get the results I’ve gotten!!!
I’ve now been off the diet for over a month and the fat in the liver is starting to decrease a bit … but sadly my hyperthyroid problem is still around.
Lesson learned: There are no short cuts to dieting! It’s a life long process and one that must be done with good healthy food and exercise! It’s a bit daunting to think I paid over $800 to Dr. Bernstein’s clinic only to get more problems! The best thing would have been sensible eating and exercising.
@ Sandra,
1st thing first, I haven’t seen any new video updates from you – what’s up with that.
2nd, I was wrong. You are right, you can drink diet beverages in addition to iced teas, as you written. I personally recommend staying away from drinks with too much acid.
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@ Brett,
B12 and B6 can be given in the belly as long as it’s done below naval button, to the right or the left. Clinics do it, doctors do it, and I’ve been doing it just like many others. Also, you do not inject in the muscle, at least I don’t and it works fine for me.
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@ Angel,
Glad to know you are inspired to do it yourself at home. Good luck. As for your question about carrots, please read my response to a reader on my blog here http://phatpast.wordpress.com/about/
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“If you put a small value upon yourself, rest assured that the world will not raise your price.” — Unknown.
@ Monica
Perfect timing to your last question…
I got distracted this morning and took my eye off of the syringe as I administered my injection. I now have a lump(and a bruise) at the injection site because
(drum roll…)I did not pull the skin around the injection site taut enough!
When my husband told me about his “lumps” I gave him another quick lesson on how to inject – I guess that’s why he doesn’t get them anymore. Anyway, now we know
@ Angel
Thanks
@ Brett
This “conversation” is about the Dr. Bernstein (Weight Loss Center) Diet – which includes injections into either the buttocks, thigh or abdomen. The abdomen is most commonly used by Dr. B. because it doesn’t hurt also, among other things, if you get bruises they don’t show.
We are NOT injecting into the muscle – that’s the point.
The link you gave didn’t work for me, but I think I’ve seen the video. Dr. B is unconventional for sure and a lot of people do not agree with him – but the injections are what is required to follow the diet.
Sandra and PhatPast….enjoying you both. A big Thanks. I have “started” again today. I was doing good than stopped for Mothers Day big mistake it has taken me this long and reading and listening to you both has helped I want to get back on track. If it was not for you two I probably would have went back to Dr.B and spend money I did not really have.
Question I see PhatPast you are eating carrots which is not on plan but you con’t to lose weight. What are your thoughts about carrots…which I love. Thanks. Weight today 217.5.
@ JEN & @
IS YOUR HUSBAND CRAZY????
Sorry for the caps but you don’t give B12 shots in your belly. Your not injecting insulin.
B12 goes in your butt, upper arm (shoulder) or thigh. It has to be put right into the muscle.
View this video for help…and get educated before you mess around with this stuff. Copy and paste the bottom link or simply type
“B12 vitamin injection” and watch the video from “buyhghsupplementinfo”
All the best.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFOw1Cf5A4I
@ Phatpast
All my Dr. B material lists several diet drinks/colas that are allowed.
Some included are: Master Choice diet fizz beverages, Our Compliments diet beverages, President’s Choice diet beverages (incl. grapefruit ones), Light Spritz Up, Snapple Diet (cranberry/raspberry), etc.
And diet ice teas
I’m wondering what list you are referring to.
Sam
@ Olga,
I started a you tube site about how to get started. If you like, go on youtube and enter Dr. Bernstien diet (my site name is thehappycouple123). There are also a few people here who have blogs. Hope that helps