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.

I just started the diet and have noticed I have much less
appetite, and I have no problem taking the oil or sugar water. I notice most critics haven't bothered to read the book at all. I do have one question of those who have
been on this a while: my husband says the oil has made
him a little nauseated, so he's sticking with sugar water. Is the nausea usual, and will it resolve with time? He has no hx of GI problems, gallbladder problems, etc. Also, since I am kind of new, which food plan/diet
plan are you following, what tips are good, etc. Skinny
holier-than-thou experts please don't bother answering.

The side effects of the oil (rather than weight loss) seemed to drop off over the course of a week or so.

I eat a couple of eggs in the morning, with a toast (no butter).

Non-fat yogurt for lunch and dinner, with a sandwich.

That totals about 1600-1800 calories a day or less. What I'm focused on is getting enough protien every day that I don't lose muscle mass along with the fat.

One thing about this diet, it's pretty easy to try it and see if it works for you. It's not a big commitment or lifestyle change to consume a relatively small amount of oil and/or sugar water between meals. When I did it I used the sugar water and found that my appetite was greatly reduced and I lost about 20 pounds. Here's an interesting paradox: because of my reduced desire to snack I actually ended up consuming LESS sugar while I was on Dr. Roberts's diet.

The fact that the diet is counterintuitive has no bearing on its effectiveness.

I am curious to know if anyone has experienced migraines or normal headaches (or an increase thereof) as a result of drinking sugar water. I have in the past had isolated incidences when too much sugar (even a fruit salad) triggers a headache.

I started with sugar water before I switched to oil (and sometimes do sugar cubes now), and had no problems with headaches or migraines, but it seems like your experience is not similar to mine (I've never gotten a headache from a fruit salad or a candy bar).

Thanks for the quick response. To start with, I will try taking the sugar water only in the morning - I have a feeling that drinking it slowly as you are supposed to will not trigger a headache. I've only just started with the oil and wondered whether or not I should try the fructose water too. I guess we shall see! Thanks again.

I've heard so many horrible things about white/refined sugar. Would honey or molasses water work as well, or would that add too much flavor to fit the requirements? If it's gonna be something you ingest every single day, it should have some nutritional/healing benefits, no? Maybe I've just been brainwashed by Atkins and his crew. :) Thanks in advance!

I just did some googling and found out that nope, honey/molasses/brownsugar/maplesugar will not work in this diet because of their strong and delicious flavors. Sad!

50lbs overweight and use to play football and wrestle, 41 and will start gulping the olive before meals. Also, will start exercise regime. Only problem is when i start working out it makes me hungrier. Lets see if oil works!

I just read this book and have started taking the oil. I am worried about something- I actually think the taste of the oil is ok. I wouldn't choose to drink it on my own, but I don't mind it. I know that sounds very strange, but it's not disgusting as I thought it would be. Should I switch oils? I am confused about that part. Does my body think it is a rich food source?

If anybody could help- that would be great.

I have the exact same concern as Beth....will I start linking the taste to calories?? Wouldn't this undermine the diet?

I have been doing the diet since September and lost 30 pounds. It works. It almost works too well. I'm tired of buying new smaller clothes.

Drink very light or light tasting olive oil. Or canola oil. And the quantities are
quite small, so it's probably not adding much in the way of empty calories.
You can still eat whatever you want during meals and snacks, but keep the suger/oil at least an hour away from any eating with flavor. Virgin olive oil doesn't work.
Brown sugar and honey don't work.

I found that the 800 calorie diet is the best diet that worked with me. You can eat anything just as long you don't exceed 800 calories a day. If you do, you can always go to the gym and burn just as much as you exceeded. It is a slow but worth while process. I lost 12 pounds in a month :)

Teeba

Does anyone know if this diet can be used by diabetics? thanks

I just ordered the book today and look forward to reading it.I was wondering if you are supposed to eat something different every day?What are you allowed to drink during the day? Lorna

How long does it take for the appetite suppressing/curbing effects to kick in? I don't have any overtly emotional issues (at least not consciously), and I've been taking in 400-450 calories of canola and sucrose water for the past 2 1/2 days with ZERO effect on curbing my appetite. I don't eat for 60-90 minutes before or after the canola or sucrose. I am starting to wonder if the effects are solely the result of losing several hours of eating time while just waiting for the "flavorless time zone" to pass.

Really.....how long will it take for me to feel like I can control my appetite?

Steve, it took me 4 full days, and my friend 7 days before we noticed anything, but then it came on really strong for me, less so for him--but still significant. I'm doing only sugar water (the oil made me feel sick). For me, once the effect kicked in, it continued to get stronger for the next several days, and now it has stabilized at a dramatically lower appetite than I had before. I dilute the sugar with so much water that it feels no sweeter than a typical soft drink--not at all unpleasant.

Serena,

Thank you for the reply. I'll hang in there, though I have to admit that I have the typical need for instantaneous gratification. Hoping you are right, and that I need to be patient!!

I started weight - watchers in March of this year and quickly lost 13 lbs in the first 3 weeks. Then the weight loss slowed down and I started feeling more and more hungry, but stuck to the plan. My weight loss slowed to 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6lbs/week in weeks 3 to 6. In my 7th week, I learned of Shangri-La and tried the sugar water. I lost 1.6 lbs the first week - eating less than I did before WW, but more than I did on program. This week I switched to the oil and the scale indicates another 2lbs down. The diet is not for those looking for a fast fix, but it seems to change one's hunger patterns (I am definitely less hungery than usual) and I'm going to stick with. I'm monitoring my weight every morning, just to ensure I don't gain a ton by drinking oil or sugar water. I am curious to see how long the pounds will continue to come off and what my body thinks it's 'set point' is, in comparison to where my brain thinks it should be.

i fully agree. Go for beans and similar vegetables: that's nutrition and flavour without troubles. That's not a surprise that most Herbal dietary pills (like proshape RX) use Beans powder as part of their recipe.

Stay away from french fries, chips and crips. If you like potatoes, cook them yourself sometimes, roasted or boiled. Don't fry them.

just heard about 'olive oil' diet on dennis prager radio show.
if you have tried, will you please confirm it works? and are you 'cutting' any calories consciously? what was your beginning weight and in what amount of time have you lost 'how' many pounds...plz specify beginning weight and 'length' of this diet?
THANK YOU!

I have been on this diet since this past Saturday. I have lost 3 pounds with no effort. I have been trying to lose weight for 5 years. I have had about 15 pounds that won't budge. I have tried EVERYTHING and nothing worked. After reading this book, I now know why!!! I thought it was worth a shot, and I am so glad I did. I am now past hopeful that I will be ready for bathing suit season this year!! I know that 3 pounds is a small amount to get excited about, but I promise the scale has not budged for me when following anything. Just give it a week and you will be amazed.

Just heard about this diet... can someone tell me the directions.. I keep reading different things.
I think it is you take 2 tablespoons of Light Olive Oil - 1 hour after each meal??? Or sugar water? I think Id prefer the sugar water. How much of that would I take and how often? THANKS!!! Im excited!

OK, here I am going...."WHAT??!!" Sugar water and oil?? I would be most interested in hearing quick directions also as I am a newbie in hearing about this appetite supressor. Thank you in advance, I am totally interested!