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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
Scarsdale Diet book at Amazon.
I was put on the scarsdale diet by my famiy doctor. He monitored me very carefully. He also gave me vitamin B-12 by injection. This helped with my energy, or lack of it. I was also given a sheet with a oneweek diet plan. You are right, the morning meal was always the same, but the other meals were different. I would follow the same plan for two weeks. then go off for two weeks and start over. It really worked. Unfortunatly I no longer have my copy, and my doctor passed away. How do we get the “original” diet plan. Will someone post it, if they have a copy? Thank You!…SAMM
Hey James- no exercise is needed as the calorie count is so low you will lose weight without exercise. This sounds like a lie but it is true. You will probably not have much energy for much anyway, but if you feel up for it and want to do some to speed up results you can- just be prepared not to be able to do much.
With this diet how much exercise is needed ?
I have done this diet when I was much younger and lost 20lbs in 2wks and doing it now after having babies and still lost weight which is great. I love it, I have to say I tryed many and this is the only one that ever worked.
well i typed some words wrong way so i meant success story>>>and i meant 30 years not 3 years ,,,couldnt have 3 kids in 3 years looool ..sorry about that.
Hello all …this is my stsuccess story with scarsdale ,i am 47 years old and i have 3 childeren ,i did scarsdale during the 70s when i was 17 i started with 210 and i lost 50 lbs in just 4 months and during the 3 something years and after i got pregnant 3 times i only regained 20 lbs ,and today iam back to my great life style diet scarsdale no diet no plan worked for me like this one,,so wish me luck and good luck all
…love cammey .
my mother did this diet back in the 70’s. She lost so much weight. It was the best thing for her. I seem to remember her making cabbage, lamb and hamburger patties. what is the original menu?
The Breakfast was the same every day for 14 days but I know that Lunch and dinner was different every day for 7 days and then it was repeated for the other 7 days. Has any one got the origanal diet?
I have done this diet many times and it works. Only thing when we moved my book was mis layed.
This is not the full diet or at least not the one I followed 20+ years ago. The meal plan shown above looks like just a sample of one of the 7 day plan. Each day had a different meals. I also remember there being a suggestion for Protein Bread instead of Wholemeal Bread. I followed the orginal diet and lost a lot of weight and kept it off for several years. However, I was exercising daily(bike riding) and did not return to the eating habits that caused the weight gain in the first place. I was told that the Scarsdal Diet is not a diet one should stick to for very long periods of time because it could result in kidney problems. I followed it for a few months without any problems. It is important to eat exactly what the plan suggest. It’s the combination of the foods listed that cause the wieght loss.
This diet works. I first tried it in 1977 and I lost 14 lbs in 14 days. That was my goal and I maintained that weight pretty much for 25 years.I just ate and drank sensibly and weighed myself regualrly. If i went up a couple of lbs then two days back on the diet and evrything was ok.
Ive tried this diet a couple of months ago and I can definately swear by it… People say with “fad diets” you just gain all the weight back.. NOT TRUE! you only gain the weight back if you go back to your old junk food eating habits. I lost a total of I believe 9-10lbs and kept it off for a goood while..I am getting back onto the diet because I want to lose another 10lbs for my birthday! wish me luck!
-lah
I love the diet, the only part I have a problem with is the no drinking!
I followed this diet (if not to the letter, in principle, at least) and lost 60 pounds–and kept it off for 20 years. I credit the diet a lot; however, I also did a daily exercise routine to help with weight loss and toning as I lost weight. Because of the exercise, I probably always ate a bit more calorie-wise, but anything I ate was in keeping with the diet’s principles and I never over-consumed the simple carbohydrates. Unfortunately, I gained weight again during midlife while going through some very stressful times. Now I am back to the Scarsdale Diet principles — and exercise — to lose again. I have about 25 pounds to go. My exercise routine is 90-minute walk (and/or 40 minutes on a stationary bike) 6x a week, 30-minute calisthenics/pilates-like workout 5x a week, plus 20-minutes with arm weights 3x a week. Oh, and I do the Wii Fit sometimes, too.
This diet really works and I lost a stone in two weeks despite having a couple of new potatoes with the evening meal, a glass of red wine at the weekend and ceasar salad dressing (not much!). At no time did I feel ill or hungry, in fact I felt energised.
I first did the diet in 1980 and go back on it everytime I feel the weight creeping back on. Funnily enough the diet is virtually identical in principle to the ideas in the new book ‘The Diabetic Revolution’ which my husband has just bought for himself.
I stillwalked my dog for 7 miles a day and worked out on my rowing machine whilst on the diet but ate an extra slice of granary bread if I felt weak.
Good luck.
hello from the heart of Dixie USA. yes, this diet definitely works. tried it many years ago along with my mother and brother. we lost so much!! yes, the breath thing is yukky but just keep you a little spray breath stuff in your pocket. also, the note about buying the book is so important. when we first began i had a copy of only the daily menus. even that was an improvement over the way we normally eat here in the deep south. i was raised on cornbread, fatback, biscuits, potatoes, sausage, gravy, fried catfish, hushpuppies, homemade custard ice cream, syrupy sweet iced tea and i didn’t wear it well!!! needless to say, when i got the book and read it through, we had made several mistakes, but even then had lost many pounds. when we really got on track, it was astonishing. try it. stick to it as closely as humanly possible and you will shock yourself. do the full two weeks, then the next two recommended. you can’t fail if you follow it like a prescription. and that is really what it is. a prescription for weight loss, for huge energy, for GOOD HEALTH. i wonder who it killed?? never heard that one before!! unless you have a serious medical condition {check with MS first!} you have nothing to lose but{t} fat. show it to your MD anyway. i would bet he will give you a quick go-ahead!!!
Today is the second day since i’ve been on this diet, and i’ve lost 1.5 pounds which to me was really unbelievable! Love this diet
I am just about to start tomarrow and bought all the ingredients today. I have about 55 lbs to lose total but thought this was a great way to jumpstart my diet and healthy eating. I was wondering if adding exercise would help lose more or with some diets it doesn’t seem to make a difference. I work 12 hour shifts so squeezing them in would be hard but if it would really help I will do it. If anyone knows, I’d love to hear it. Thanks!
I did this diet back in 1979, and lost 26lbs. I have saved the book and love the diet. I have also shared it with so many people over the years, that they too want to start it. I love the food and that you don’t have to count out calories. I am now 51 and am going to do it for 20 pounds, and hopefully keep it off too!
I did this diet years ago and lost cellulite, inches and weight – I need to lose 20 lbs and am beginning this diet again tomorrow, I love the breakfast and lunch, the snacking is the hard part
I started this diet on Monday and i thought that i was probably going to starve to death but that was not the case.I actually didn’t find it that hard to follow and to stick with it. I have tried other diets and after a few days i just gave up, but this one seems to be going great. I am determined to follow it, and hopefully loose some weight. I actually do feel full after every meal and if i do feel a little bit hungry between meals, i just snack on celery and carrots as mentioned, which is not bad with a little bit of limon on them. Anyways, it is great to see that this diet has worked for many, can wait to see the results!!
oops i just noticed there are 2 jo’s here. i’ll go by jolene.
lisa, i have the same goals as you. i am going to lose 20 to 25 pounds. have been trying for years & they won’t budge. i am 5′1 & now weigh 137. i bought all the required groceries this morning & officially started this morning as well. i already feel better believe it or not. i did a workout & feel very energized! good luck.
Response to Leah:
I didn’t gain any of my 10 lbs back… the rule of thumb with this diet though is that if ever you regain 4 pounds go right back on it so that you do not regain the weight in a yo-yo style. Just make sure that when you finish you don’t eat lots of junk and you should be fine. Honestly though, when you are done you don’t crave junk anymore and you won’t want to ruin your progress. Good luck!
I am thinking about doing this diet, but after finishing it and going on a low calorie diet such as 1500 calories a day or so. Would I gain weight?
This diet is awesome. You get to eat salmon, lean steak or pork and chicken, plenty or fruits and vegetambles. So to whoever think its not nutritious then tell me what’s more nutritious than those foods.
Did this diet a few weeks ago and I am now on it again. I lost 12lbs in the 10 days I managed to keep it up for, and I kept it off! It is very tough and prepare to be hungry but with a bit of will power its worth it. Seeing a pound off or more every morning is a great motivator. I am doing it now again after giving myself a break. I would recommend it if you need a kick start or if you only have a few pounds to go that just wont shift. Good luck.
i just started the diet today I have about 20 to 25lbs to lose. So after 2 weeks I hope to almost be at the weight I used to be at. I am also planing to run alittle. I heard from so people that you won’t be eating enought to do any exercise. Any thought out there about doing exercise while on this diet?