The Shangri La Diet

This reminds me of the reasoning behind why people gain weight when they drink diet soda. Since it has zero calories and therefore no energy value to the body it does not satisfy hunger the way a sugary drink can.

I am still not going to jump on the Shangri-La bandwagon.

This also doesn't take into consideration those people who overeat due to stress or boredom, even if they feel full.

Drink sugarwater and olive oil? Yuk! I drank castor oil before to induce my labor and I almost threw up and that was mixed with orange juice! Drinking any oil just makes one want to gag!

This reminds me of the anoretics I used to know who would drink apple cider vinegar every day because they were convinced it speeded up their metabolisms. Sad, really.

Megan: On page 83 - Roberts answers that very question: "I think the jury is out on whether the diet reduces eating that's due to frustration or stress"...

I remember I had to drink a tablespoon of olive oil (extra virgin) every morning because I did not get enough fat in my diet.
And every morning I almost threw up, then proceeded to chase it down with TONS of water. Not a big sugar fan either. I can't see myself or even imagine having to drink either of those on such a regular basis. ick.

Drinking oil would definitely make me puke. I, like Yan, have to consume some pure fat in my diet every day because I'm trying to gain a little weight. I prefer it in the form of an olive oil viniagrette, NOT straight up. That is just icky sounding. I guess I would have a smaller appetite if I had to drink oil and sugar water before eating. It's just not appetizing. :P

My my my... aren't we the negative bunch? Reminds me of something I read recently. What was it? Oh yeah -- "When our paradigms are challenged, we all too often respond with our own familiar dogma." And that goes double for you James.

I'll grant you all that there are many many charlatans out there passing off idiocy as a diet, so that's probably why you're all so suspicious and incredulous. But, you know, sometimes there are new ideas that work. I lost 15 pounds on this diet, and I know others who've lost twice that. It's not a magic bullet -- it's a useful tool to help quell appetite. And there's science behind it -- the author is a PhD professor at Berkeley for crying out loud. He's not some real estate salesman who took a correspondence course in nutrition. So don't judge too quickly. And if, like so many millions of dangerously overweight Americans, you need to lose weight, you might want to give it a whirl.

And honestly, the extra light olive oil isn't "icky" at all. It has no taste. But if you can't stand the thought of it, try the sugar or fructose water. And if it works for you -- pass it on.

Spectra: Sadly, my so called "nutritionist" insisted that I take the oil straight up. But your version sounds so much better.
Open Mind: I do agree with your name.
I think most of us are just tired of the endless diet tirade coming our way. It seems these days, as though everyone has some kind of qualification be making dietary claims, and yet most of the time it's a bunch of well publicised, well packaged and unwound BS. I personally, don't know if it works or not (other than your example) and am fine with my current diet... more or less. Also, I don't deny that it is a very fascinating idea/discovery, but still think it pays to be a little skeptical.

Ironically I know many people who scoff flax oil, UDO's, etc by the tablespoon...

Another BS diet book – desperate lazy people will buy anything that gives them the hope of weight loss without effort.

It is not surprising that at least two of the seven deadly sins, gluttony and sloth, lead to weight gain.

Somehow I don’t think guzzling sugar water is an effective weight loss or antiaging medicine strategy.

http://www.antiagingatlanta.com

One thing I'd note is that this diet is extremely easy and cheap.

You can use either sugar (which you probably have around the house) or olive oil (extra light) -- or you can buy five dollars worth of it at SAMS or COSTCO, which will last you five or six months.

In five months I've lost 47 pounds (as of this morning) on the method (it is more of a method than a diet).

Try one disciplined week of the diet. Drink three tablespoons of sugar in a cup of water every morning at ten o'clock (with no other food or flavors, including mints, diet drinks or chewing tobacco) from 9:00 to 11:00 and two tablespoons of olive oil at 2:30 (with the same no food or flavors from 1:00 to 4:00) and see what has happened after a week.

If it works, keep it up for another week.

It isn't as if it costs much money, takes much time or is that difficult to try.

Simple enough to try it and see what happens.

Megan: I was a terrific boredom muncher. After the 1st 2 or 3 days using this system, I noticed an absence in my munching. It has little or no control over me now. I have been on the plan for about 2 mos and I am down 25 lbs. I mostly use the fructose water, but when I am in a rush I use organic canola oil. This has no taste and I just wash it down w/water.

Folks, give it an honest try for 1 week. It's amazing the decrease in appetite you'll have. :-)

I can relate to this. I use heavy cream in two or three cups of coffee a day. I get full on much less food. Maybe it does not matter what the fat is. One could read this book and experiment with other fats. I've tried virgin coconut oil straight. It tastes pretty good.

You know, seriously. If you replace any meal with simply sugar water or a tablespoon of something of any kind OF COURSE you are going to lose weight. But what are you doing to your body?! I am a recovering anorexic, it is difficult. Before I started starving I tried these kinds of diets (then I thought the weight loss was not enough)
You've got to eat sensibly and exercise. (even if it is just a walk/stroll around the block) I understand this and I am learning to practice it. I am hoping that eventually I will be able to eat normally with out the continuous verse that traces through my mind, calling myself the worst of names.