The so-called grapefruit diet is one of those mythic fad diets that seem to come and go every few years.
It is a terrible diet – very low in calories, nutrient deficient, and cannot be sustained beyond a matter of days.
You might lose some water, some muscle, and a bit of fat – then gain it all back again.
What started the Grapefruit Diet fad?
The Scripps Clinic made a press release claiming that the humble grapefruit does assist in fat loss.
The 12-week pilot study, led by Dr. Ken Fujioka, monitored weight and metabolic factors, such as insulin secretion, of the 100 men and women who participated in the Scripps Clinic “Grapefruit Diet” study.
On average, participants who ate half a grapefruit with each meal lost 3.6 pounds, while those who drank a serving of grapefruit juice three times a day lost 3.3 pounds. However, many patients in the study lost more than 10 pounds.
However the study seemed isolated, and it was unclear just how much support came from the Florida citrus industry body.A further study has been undertaken, and has found that red grapefruit “significantly decreased blood levels of triglycerides.”
The grapefruit was consumed by patients who “had undergone coronary bypass surgery and had found that Zocor, or simvastatin, was ineffective.” (to be published in this journal)
…the study’s lead author, said that eating red grapefruit would “most probably” help anyone with high cholesterol, not just heart patients.
The star ruby grapefruit has a yellow peel with a red blush and an intensely red pulp. It is very sweet, and has few or no seeds.
Does it really work?
So what does this prove? That the grapefruit, like many other fruits and vegetables has excellent healthful properties.
There will, however, never be a quick-fix diet based on a single food. That’s a fantasy.
my name is Liezandra today is 5.10.2012 and my current weight is 165 i believei am 13 years old 5’3 and my goal is 110 by august this year. i get depressed about my weight thinking im never going to go this ive been on a diet for 3 weeks now but im so young i dont know what a real diet is i eat 3 times a day whole weat egg whites turkey bacon nutella fruits i take vitamins everyday i excersize almost everyday i have a sauna suit coming in the mail tomorrow i go outside 3 times a day to walk my dog and play around outside i am homeschooled so i gained alot over the last year an a half -40 pounds- im going to start going to bed early eating grapefruit with everymeal no soda milk or juice im going to limit my tv time my computer time and go outside i feel horrible that there are children out in the world without food and im eating my life away. i eat when im depressed or sad so instead of that i just go for walks with my dog and we hang out in the back of my dads truck with a blanket watching the sunset or we just run around. im proud that im making a change since i have never tasted a grape fruit before so im going to add grape fruit to my diet wish my luck pray for my health and i wish you all the best. i know im beautiful and im devoted 100% to showing the world how beautiful i am.
Can I drink ruby red grape fruit juice?
Yes. You can either have the actual grapefruit, or else the juice. Ruby Grapefruit juice is perfect, as long as it says 100% fruit juice.
Enjoy
Update everyone…
Since I started the diet on 27/2/2012, I have lost a total of 9kg and 38.5cm overall. Today is 24/4/2012. That is amazing! No diet I have ever done has allowed me to lose so much weight, so quickly. All my clothes are loose! It’s phenomenal…
Obviously, dropping carbs for me was the key to success. It allows me to not crave more food, and no sweet tooth like I usually used to have.
I hope this continues, I still want to lose another 10kg, even though I already look great, I want to be at goal weight, which is the proper BMI for my height.
Good luck all.
Good luck Keya!
You CAN do it… it definitely works, so keep at it.
Stay strong, resist temptation and focus on your goals.
Keep a food diary of what you eat, it keeps you disciplined too.
Wishing you the best!
I started the diet on monday 4/16/12 and lost 3 lbs. by the next day. Today which is 4/18/12, I am 4 lbs. lighter. I still would like to lose alot more so wish me luck, but I love this!!!
So it’s 4/15/12 I started 4/13/12 so it’s day 3 I haven’t had any weight
Loss that I can see but it said you won’t see anything until the 5th day
So fingers crossed I find the diet pretty easy I’m a pastry chef so the 1st day was HELL but I’m sticking to it. The only question I have is do I have to drink the milk?
16/4/2012
Hi Charlie,
No, you don’t have to drink the milk, it is optional. I’ve been losing and for the first 3 cycles of 12 days on, 2 off I never had it or the tomato juice. However, now into my 4th cycle on this wonderful diet, I began to want something nice at night, so I have the milk. I actually get a kiddie milk (Nido) that has lots of vitamins & minerals, to make sure I’m getting what I need. I love it and limit myself to having it on alternate nights. Or if we go and see a movie, I take the Nido milk with me, and have that instead of soda/coke and so on
Where there is a will, there is a way!
Good Luck pastry chef
ALL my clothes are fitting now, even a dress I last wore in 1991 during my final year of tertiary education, I tried it on yesterday and it fits. I can actually use it for a wedding in a weekend’s time 
hehe
So I guarantee results… be patient, don’t check daily, wait the full 12 days, THEN check the next morning. Also, don’t only weight, also check your measurements, because you will feel it in your clothes first.
Once you finish your first 12 days, you can gauge how it’s gone, and continue on with more cycles of it until you get to goal weight.
I’m still going strong, since 27 Feb and still no chocolate or cake. You CAN do it
the results are more strong than the cravings!!!!!!!!!
My boyfriend told me yesterday I have strong willpower, so I guess that also helps
Heeeellllllooooooo,
Anybody there? For the record, the date is 13/4/2012.
Good Luck everyone! I will post soon again
KellyB and KE – are you both back on the wagon and fighting the good fight? this worty cause of OUR HEALTH?
Good Luck….
I will come back too now that I’ve finally found a more recent site where people are posting
Hi Everyone,
Just to assure you the Grapefruit Diet DOES work. I started it on 27 Feb, and to date have lost 6.5kg and 21.8cm in total.
I’ve basically done 3 cycles of 12 days on, 2 days off. During the 2 days off, don’t go crazy. Also, be warned, if you re-introduce carbs into your diet, you will crave things again which does not happen while on the diet.
Note – I also stopped all chocolate, sweets, cake, etc. No junk food or cooldrinks. Only the 3 meals as per the plan. Lots of water. Tea (green or other herbal teas with no milk or sugar).
I have not exercised while on the diet. I have just enough energy for the day’s activities, if I added exercise I may not make it
So I plan to get to goal weight, and THEN re-introduce exercise to maintain.
I used the 100% grapefruit juice as the actual grapefruit was out of season when I began the diet.
If you are determined, and your mindset is right, you CAN do it.
Go for it, you have nothing to lose except – the weight
Good Luck and wish me luck so that I can also get to goal weight. Still want to lose a further 10kg.
Bye!
I’m gnna finally start my diet today!!! This site really motivated me. March 21st was my first day.. I’ll be bk after 12 days
Hi Sarah
How did it go?
are you still losing?
Yes, every 12 days I continue losing… like clockwork.
A tip to everyone – DO NOT include anything else not on the diet. I included cashew nuts for movies, and noticed I lost cm this week, but kg was less. So back to basics – stick to the diet.
wow that is great
glad you have not given up!!!
Going to start tomorrow 3/17 158 lbs and 5ft5 Been reading the blog and need encouragement because willpower is my downfall. Will post progress, hopefully I do not give up. Need a quick weight loss for encouragement.
How is it going Vick?
is it ok if i just ate 1 grapefruit a day? or i really need to follow d diet menu?
I would advise to follow the diet completely. Best results that way…
I’ve fallen off of it too!!! I do good during the week but then the weekend comes & it’s hard! I got down to 201 but now I’m 204 ughhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!
Just get back on… you can do it!
Grr, I fell off the wagon
I almost didn’t wanna post this because of how ashamed I am/was. But, I picked up on it this Monday, and I will NOT fall off again. Wish me luck, and good luck with your weight loss journeys well KE!(:
I forgot to add this to the last post
Age: 24
Height: 5’4
Starting Weight: 209
Today was my 5th day it’s so much easier! I have not weighed myself since I’ve been on GFD so not sure how much ive lost? I kinda want to wait to see how much I lost at the end of the 12 days…but I don’t know if I can wait till then!
So this is my first day on GFD & it BLOWS!! I’m hungry tired, & bitchy! I need some Dr. Pepper!!! But I AM NOT GIVING IN!!!! I just wish GF tasted better :/
Good luck KellyB! I start my diet in a few hours…wish I started yesterday(Monday)
Starting weight: 180
after 1st cycle (1st 12 days): 173
This is great for me, because I wasn’t even able to work out for those 2 weeks. I am now on the 5th day of the 2nd cycle. Wish me luck on my journey! And of course, good luck to all of you(:
I have started this grapefruit diet from 2day.. my current wt is 69-71kg my target weight is 55kg hopefully.. will keep u all posted..
Goodluck to everyone on the same ship :p tada!
I’m back! I will officially be on day 5 when I wake up tomorrow. My initial weight was 180. Yikes! Anyways, I won’t be weighing myself again until the cycle is complete. I’ll come back and update soon! Oh,and good luck Porshay!(:
So im too excited about this diet, I hope it work. Right now I weight 250 I want to get down to 170. My bday is n 2months and I hope I lose about 30-40pounds before then. I will be starting this diet on Friday. Wish me luck people ill keep yall updated
So I bought all of the items necessary, and my mother and I are more than ready to start tomorrow. I’m 5’5, btw. Don’t know how much I actually weigh, but I’ll weigh myself tomorrow. Either way, my goal weight range is anywhere between 125-135 lbs. I plan to do this diet until I reach anywhere from 140-145. I would say “I’ll keep you posted”, but it seems like I’m the only one still blogging, lol. Oh well, I’ll just make this my public private journal til someone new comes along, hahaha.
Hi guys! I am 16 years old, and though it’s cliche, my New Year’s Resolution is to lose weight. I plan on starting the GF Diet along with my mother on Monday. I have tried this diet in the past and received great results (8 lbs in 12 days!), so now that I’m a bit older/more determined I hope that this time I can continue with the diet for longer than 1 cycle. Wish us luck!(:
1/5/12- ok I know i should wait to weigh myself but I can’t help it so with that being said I weigh 205.6!.. I was taking turkey bacon, but imma make that switch to regular bacon- it’s toooo nasty! Turkey bacon that is. I will try not to weigh myself until the 12th day but I know I’m lying….
1/3/12- started today I weigh 209.4 so my two days off this diet will be sun/mon
, I should’ve started on a monday…lol! I was on this diet a couple years ago I did lose some weight… I would like to weigh 165….