Fat Smash Diet

Has anyone read the new book by Dr. Ian (of Celebrity Fit Club fame)?  He was on our local news this morning talking about it.  Here's a link to the video of the interview.  I'm tempted to buy the book, but 12 pounds in 3 weeks sounds a little drastic to me.  I'm interested to see if anyone has read the book and what you thought of it.

Edit:  I should mention that I've already lost 20 pounds using the tools on this site, making healthy choices, and exercising.  I just have about 10 more pounds to lose, and weightloss has seemed to stall for me.  I'm only losing at a rate of about 1 pound a month now.  Yes, I'm at a healthy weight, but still at the high end of a healthy BMI so I can still lose more and have a healthy BMI.  :)  The reason I'm interested in this "diet" is because I thought it might shake things up and help me lose weight a little faster.  I don't expect 4 pounds a week, but more than one a month would be nice. :) 

It looks like the book focuses on healthy foods, but I don't know if I like the idea of restricting things, i.e. only having fruits and veggies the first week.  I'm pretty sure that would trigger my migraines since I have to be very careful about what and when I eat so I don't get them.

sometimes it really bugs me that I don't have speakers on this computer!  :p

Here's a summary of the diet.  What do you think?  Does it seem to offer something that you think will be beneficial that you've been unable to create for yourself?

12 pounds in 3 weeks = about 4 pounds each week. From what Ive read in every health mag, journal, website, etc. losing more than 2 pounds is unhealthy. Considering hes a doctor, he must know something that the entire health world doesnt to consider this healthy.

its gotta be some water weight. I dont believe in those quickie plans personally.

hailrain, the 2 lbs a week is a recommendation, not an iron-clad rule.  It all depends on the quality of the diet that one is following -- whether it provides good nutrition - and whether the extra deficit comes from doing more activity, not just from calorie reduction.  For example, the biggest losers at the ranch were on very healthy diets and much of their deficit came from the intense, long exercise periods.

cecily, one of the most important things to consider when looking at all the different ways to lose weight is -- Can I do this for the long-term, for the rest of my life?

The other very important thing to consider is the nutritional quality of the program -- either short-term or long-term.  You can go to nutritiondata.com and plug in a recommended day's food for the program and see what the detailed nutritional analysis says.  It will not only give you calorie count and the macronutrietns of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates -- but also tell you if your protein is a complete protein and give you details of all the micronutrients you need. 

Interval weight loss (?)

It has occurred to me that interval training could apply to weight loss as well as to exercise.  On the treadmills, the interval program has a jog speed and a run speed.  The long-term program could be the jog speed, and the short-term program the run speed.

Short-term programs intended to give greater weight loss could be helpful, to ignite the fire so to speak, to get the person going, or to get over a plateau.  

But you have to know what the long-term plan is, so that when the short-term program sprint is over, you can immediately switch to the jog pace of the long-term program.

In interval training, the recommendation is for only 10-30 seconds at the run speed, and 3-5 minutes at the jog speed.  So the long-term program is the one that you would be doing most of the time.

It's up to you -- you are the only person responsible for your own well-being. 

Why buy into someone elses diet plan?

Calorie counting + exercise + water already works!   Heck you don't even technically have to do the exercise, but it helps to keep the weight loss going and overall helps the final you to have the muscles and so on to look great.

I see no reason to pay someone for this, unless it helps track the calories and is an overall long term plan.

So stay away from the fad diets.   Everyone wants to cash in on people who want to lose weight.   Calorie-count.com is free and it works... and it's just one of many calorie counting diets out there and they are all basicly the same tried and true doctor recommended healthy diets/lifestyles.

Thanks for all the replies so far!  I edited my original post to give you more info on my situation.  I'm not looking for quick weightloss, but I need to do something to get out of this rut I'm in.   

Honestly, I'd, personally, reject any diet that tells you to restrict foods. That's not the kind of diet I'd be in, or suggest for others.

I think nomo's question is good.. what do you hope to get out of the Fat Smash diet that you can't offer yourself at this stage? Just trying something new and different to get you out of a rut?

And if so, what is it about this particular diet that appeals?

Ok I see, so you plateaued a bit... now is the time to kick it into gear and work harder to push your body past this "Comfortable" stage you've reached.

Just be sure you eat enough.   This other diet isn't going to help you shed those last 10 pounds... those are the hardedest pounds for ANYONE to shed... just keep at it... and up the exercise as well as up the eating that goes with the exercise.

Also as for plateauing... are you sure you are eating enough?   Too many people fall in the rut of not eating their minimum body needs (1200 women/1500 men) + what they burn through exersise.   I've seen it countless times in my short time here (nearly a month)... but it's pretty universal.

Anyway best of luck... keep at it though... you'll lose those last 10 pounds.

Don't worry, I'm definitely eating enough! :)  I have to admit that some days I eat at maintenance level, but I strive for a deficit of 500-700 most days. 

What appealed to me was the fact that in the interview, Dr. Ian stressed that it's about healthy eating.  He also said that the book is filled with recipes and kind of outlines a meal plan for you.  I'm not a good cook, and I'm always looking for new things to make.   I didn't really catch on to the fact that the 'diet' is in phases.  I'm not sure if he said it or not, or I may have been momentarily distracted.

The bottom line is, I was looking for something *healthy* that might help with these last few pounds.  I know I've been able to lose following my own meal plan, but I was thinking something more structured (not neccessarily in phases that restrict food) might help now.   

what if you read the book and pick and choose the parts you like. For example, perhaps skip the fruit and veggie-only phase and go right to the part where he's designed menus for you?

See, HK, that's exactly what I was thinking!  I like the idea of having my menu planned for me.  I'm finding that I'm running out of meal ideas for the nights my husband is not at home (and that's pretty often).  I think it's hard cooking for one, and it would really help me to have meal ideas that are easy to make for myself only. 

If they're healthy meals, than I don't think it matters WHERE you got them, so long as you eat them. :) I use stuff from the Abs Diet, but I wouldn't suggest that diet to anyone. :)

Any healthy living plan that says you can only eat certain kinds of food for this week or that week, or completely eliminates certain foods screams red flags in my opinion!!!

So seriosly, you know that if you restrict yourself, you set yourself up for failure. I am 5"4 and I weigh now 246.4 pounds. The only way I have been losing weight is reduction in calories. I am a bit restricted on excersize because of asthma and arthritis and weight! However, I am losing weight I started at 265 lbs. and now weigh 246 and I have been counting calories since April 14th, I allowed myself to cheat on vacation and in june I am going to a family reunion, however I know now that it takes a lot more thought and determination to lose weight so I hopefully won't be tempted to cheat on calories. Besides my family is not really known for being great cooks! The last ten pounds are going to come off, by more excersize or less calories. Doing both will take them off faster, however you will be a skinnier grumpier girl! If you are still losing 1 lb. a month then you are doing what you should be doing and your body is telling you that. So, good job!