Scarsdale diet has been very popular diet program for many years. It has proved to be a great way of losing weight for lots of people who have tried the Scarsdale diet plan. The diet is especially suitable for those who are serious about losing weight in a short period of time.
Principle of the Scarsdale Diet
It works on a simple principle when low calorie food is consumed for a period of two weeks. It automatically causes the body to lose excess weight quite easily. After maintaining the disciplined approach of the Scarsdale diet for 2 weeks, dieters then maintain the ‘keep-slim’ or also called ‘keep-trim’ diet period. This is a follow-up program to the Scarsdale diet. The ‘keep-trim’ diet program needs to be followed for another 2 weeks. After this, the dieter goes back to the Scarsdale diet plan for another 2 weeks and then follows it up with another ‘keep-trim’ plan. This cycle is maintained till one reaches the desired weight.
Where the Scarsdale Diet Came From?
This diet plan was created by Dr. Herman Tarnower already in 1979 when Dr. Herman Tarnover published a book on it. It also probably explains why he called the program Complete Scarsdale ‘medical’ diet plan. The idea of a low carbohydrate low fat diet was a completely novel concept at that time though it is quite a popular concept nowadays. He wrote a book on the diet plan that he had been advocating to his patients and the book became a bestseller.
Thousands, if not millions of people have adopted the Scarsdale medical diet plan since the book was published in 1979 and have benefited their health by achieving a low weight. If one were to combine moderate exercise with such a diet plan, the person could achieve an ideal body weight in a short span of time. All that needs to be done is follow the menu plans recommended in the Scarsdale medical diet and eat according to the plan in a disciplined manner. Those who wish to lose weight fast yet effectively only needs to be good followers of this plan to get all the benefits.
Major Benefits of the Scarsdale Diet Plan
The good thing about the diet is that it promises to keep weight down for the whole life instead of only helping a person lose excess weight temporarily. Once the weight loss is achieved, the diet program includes a lifetime ‘Keep-slim’ program. The diet plan includes low carbohydrate and low fat food items while it includes high protein items. It does not completely cut out the carbohydrates though, it includes some bread and fruits as well to provide the carbohydrates to the body.
Before Starting With the Scarsdale Diet
Before you or anyone you know follows the Scarsdale diet plan, it is important to check if there is any disease or medical condition that the person might be suffering from. In those cases, it is not advisable to put extra stress on the body by following any weight loss diet plan like the Scarsdale medical diet. The good thing about the diet is that it allows people to eat chosen food items in unlimited amounts till they feel comfortable. Diets that make one feel uncomfortable and unfit are usually difficult to be followed for a long time and this is why most people steer clear of such diets. The Scarsdale diet, however, allows one to eat unlimited amounts of the chosen food items.
Scarsdale Diet Menu
The diet comes with a 14 day diet program that has 5 menu plans. As specified above, one needs to stay on the strict diet for 2 weeks followed by 2 weeks of normal eating. One reverts to the Scarsdale diet again for 2 weeks which makes it easy for the body to get comfortable with the new eating habits. The meals in the Scarsdale diet include fruits, vegetables and a lean source of protein. For snacking between meals, one can eat carrots or celery as much as one wants.
Here is a look at everyday’s breakfast menu which is to be followed for the first two weeks of the Scarsdale diet plan.
- Half a grapefruit (in case this is not available, you could eat any other fruit)
- A slice of protein bread, can be toasted but no spread allowed
- Coffee or tea (no honey, no milk or cream and no sugar allowed)
As we can see, anyone will be comfortable after eating such a breakfast. It is tasty and healthy while strict in calories. And everyone can eat based on what and how much the body actually needs. Instead of eating to achieve a full-stomach, feeling that a person might be used to due to previous unhealthy habits.
Scarsdale diet is a balanced diet which does not exclude any food group completely. This is one of its strongest advantages since that is a highly important aspect of any diet plan. Any diet plan that excludes carbohydrates or fat from a person’s diet completely is unhealthy since the body needs its carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins as well as minerals. The Scarsdale diet simply reduces the sizes of portions and the choice of carbohydrates from the usual diet which helps the body in losing weight in a comfortable, yet healthy manner.
What Makes Scarsdale Diet So Effective?
The diet plan allows a person following the diet to consume 1200 calories a day. And if we look at the percentage break-up in terms of food groups, it includes:
- 43% protein
- 22.5% fat
- 34.5% carbohydrates
The diet was designed after a thorough research and study by its creator, Dr. Herman Tarnover and could seem to be a bit uncomfortable for starters. But if one is firm about desired goals, it won’t be as uncomfortable as some of the other popular diet plans.
People who follow the diet plan end up losing around 7 to 15 pounds based on how exactly they stick to the plan. There is low calorie intake due to low carbohydrate and low fat intake while the protein consumption is kept high. It is however, very important to follow up the diet plan with the ´keep-trip´ phase to ensure that one doesn’t regain the lost weight. Just maintain your focus and stick to the diet plan as recommended by Dr. Herman Tarnover.
Tarnover also explains that other diet plans are too difficult and too rigid for dieters to follow comfortably. However, this is not the case with the Scarsdale diet plan. And it is one of the most important reasons for its popularity ever since Tarnover book’s publication in 1979. The Scarsdale diet has remained exactly the same as it was 32 years ago and it still very popular, which proves how strong its fundamentals are.