Scarsdale Diet
The Scarsdale Diet was a famous book written in the 1970s. Dr Herman Tarnower ran a clinic in the town of Scarsdale, and (like so many other doctor-designed plans) created the diet for overweight patients.
The book has always been a huge seller, and is still popular today.
Low Fat, High Protein
The Scarsdale Diet has a peculiar nutrient ratio – the only diet exactly like this. It contains 43% protein, 22.5% fat, and 34.5% carbohydrate.
Dr Tarnower claims this level of diet brings about the process of ketosis. Indeed the diet is low calorie (about 1000 per day), and has very strict rules during the first two weeks. After the first phase, the calorie limit is lifted a little (the “keep-trim” program).
The supposed weight loss is 20 pounds (9kg) in just 14 days.
Scarsdale Meal Plan
| Breakfast 1/2 grapefruit slice of wholemeal toast (no spreads or butter) coffee (no sugar or milk) Lunch Dinner Drinks |
Scarsdale Diet Issues
Like many diets of this kind – the calorie recommendations are too low. While weight loss will occur, it is neither healthy, or sustainable in the long-term.
See Also
The Complete Scarsdale Diet which retails for $7.99.


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This really does work…completed my 12 days and lost15lbs. I started to slip a little noticing i gained 5lbs after quitting and eating wjat i was craving. Got back right into eating right and lost the 5lbs in 4days. The point is too eat more healthy things than fast and easy greasy foods.
Well now, this is working like it said it would. This is day 5 and I’ve lost 8 pounds. I’m a little light headed, but I find when I drink lots of water, it goes away. I’ve had a lap band put in and taken out, and this beats that hands down. Good luck to everyone out there!
Thanks for the advice! Did you incorporate exercise into that?
This diet works!! I went on this as a freshman in highschool needing to lose about 30 lbs. Over a summer I lost all the weight. But I also incorporated aerobic exercise 5x a week for 45 min. This diet taught me how to eat a low fat diet and still be able to live. I usually took one day a week to reward myself and have a candy bar or something else that I would consider a “cheat.” This really became my basis for how I would eat over the next 28 years. I am 43 now, have had 3 children and am still a size 4:)
I want to try it but not a fan of fish or tuna any suggestions?
This diet works! Toward the end of first week the lack of sugar caused me to have a headache, but there was a remedy listed in the book and everything worked out great. I lost 36 lbs in 6 weeks and kept it off!
I was just shown this diet and I’m curious about I really want to try it. I’m worried about the energy levels. I am 220lbs and I am 5’3″ so I really need to lose the weight. I’m going to start in the next few days I hope it works. Anyone have ideas for meals in the Keep trim diet?
Just looked this up I am starting tomrrow on this diet I am at 178.2 I am short 5 1 so i need to lose48 pounds anyone else starting in July 2011?
It’s 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off. During the 2 weeks off you still diet but it is different, called the keep trim plan. Same basic concept as the first 2 weeks except you create your own menu according to what you learned the previous 2 weeks, but you can add fat free salad dressing and skim milk etc to it. This is a way to continue and make it safe and also to “shock” your metabolism so it doesn’t get immune to the diet. After the 2 weeks off you can go back to the regular diet for 2 more weeks and continue to alternate on 2 off 2 on 2 off and so on. Hope this helps!
Four yrs ago i tried this and went from 175 down to 163. I admit the first two days were not easy but after that it went smoothly and I didn’t even eat the carrots so much. This is the only diet that has ever worked for me, I’ve struggled with weight my entire life. I tried the detox with the drink made of lemon, cayenne pepper, and honey and the cabbage soup diet and most people reported losing up to 25lbs and I only lost 4!! I’ve slipped a little and am now 188.7 but I’m on day 1 and am very optimistic, this diet really does work and it’s not deprivation it’s just learning discipline for a better quality of life in the end. So 188.7, I’ll check-in after the two weeks. Good luck everyone!
I started the scarsdale diet on May 15th and I love it it gives me enough food to get satisfied. I have lost 8lbs in only 4 days Im so excited and I want to keep this going cuz one day it will stop. I have learned to eat on this diet
How many calorie aday?
you shouldn’t stay on for more than two weeks because it can cause liver and/or kidney damage. google it.
Question for anyone that knows. What happens if you stay on the scarsdale diet for longer then two weeks? I see everywhere that you should do the two on and two off but what happens if you stay on it for say 3 weeks?
is it necessary to drink tea or coffee?
I don’t really like drinking either.