The Shangri La Diet

shoot chris, i was hoping that this diet IS for the lazy overweight desperate person.:)neeeeevermind.

You can visit Seth's site or drop by a book store and read the book in the Starbucks, then decide if you want to buy it. The diet is a little too long to fit into a single post on a blog, but the book is really cheap (about twelve dollars at amazon.com).

Zeta May 18, 2006 08:53 AM

Stephen M.

I noticed that you have done very well on the diet. I have been on this diet for two weeks I really have not budge from 192.00 and I have noticed that my appetite has gone down but this morning I notice I gained a 1 lb. I take just the oil 1 hour after I eat. Do you have any suggestions. Since you seem to have such great success with this diet.
Thanks

Well, some people take up to twenty-one days to start feeling effects. From the few delayed impact users, they all reported 2-3 pounds of weight gain until the appetite went down, then in the week following the appetite going down, they started to lose weight. Most were ahead a fair amount by the end of the second month.

I've yet to read of anyone getting the sort of instant results many people report who wasn't very overweight to begin with.

My wife and I saw Seth interviewed on TV. I am not a big one for trying out diets, but it didn't sound like he had anything to sell (other than a book! :)

I started with light olive oil and sugar, but quickly abandoned the sugar. Just didn't like the idea of consuming that much sugar. I immediately noticed an appetite drop.

Here is my record that I keep. I always weigh myself in the morning.

May Weight
4 - 241.0
5 - 240.0
6 - 239.0
7 - 238.0
15 - 236.0
16 - 236.4
17 - 236.2
18 - 234.2
19 - 234.8
20 - 235.8

So that is less than 3 weeks, and I have dropped 6 pounds.

Two points.
1. I used to eat a lot of snack foods, and consume the whole bag (see: http://www.cheezies.com/index3.htm). I have only bought 1 bag of cheezies in the last 3 weeks, it lasted 3 days.
2. I always, always, always eat popcorn if I go to a movie. Tonight my wife and I saw "Over the Hedge" (two thumbs up) and I did not have any popcorn. I just did not feel like having any.

I plan on going away for a few days for a short break. Has anyone stopped the method for a couple of days and noticed a marked re-set of their appetite? While I don't plan on overindulging I don't want to have to "start over" when I get home. So far I have had an extremely easy time losing 3 pounds in 3 weeks.

Ok, this is day 3 for me. Wt this morning up 2.5 pounds. I was doing the no carb thing but stopped that when I started this one on Saturday. I found the no carb just helped me maintain, not lose, because I really cant go with no veggies or fruit-just dont have the will power to do it. Even though weight is up, I do see a decrease in appetite--not a lot yet, but some. I have noticed that I "forget" about food though-this is major for me. I pack my lunch and it is usually quite large--today, without thinking about it, I made small dish of salad and piece of left over meat from last nights supper. Even though my stomach growls, I just dont feel that hungry and find that after 2-3 bites, I am really ready to quit eating. Even my hubby commented on my not eating much (he doesn't even know I am doing this diet). Headed out today to get book...... So, is weight gain like this normal??

To Stephen from Marie

I quit the ELOO after two weeks. I took 150 calories' worth in mid afternoon and repeated before bedtime (total 300 calories). I am 71 years old; 5.4 and weigh 158. I walk 30 minutes every day and swim twice a week. I keep a food diary (healthy stuff only) and have maintained this weight with due diligence for the past two years. I was hoping the Shangri La would make it easier; I am always hungry !!!! I refuse to gain weight b/c so many friends my age have problems with joints due to age and being overweight. Now I notice some people didn't notice a reduction in appetite until after 3 weeks. Maybe I should try again?

I am soooo hungry. I have lost a pound. I feel kind of sickly full, but feel un-nourished. I could not take it this afternoon and had a glass of milk in lieu of the sugar or oil water. One think I have noticed is that I am not craving chocolate or other sweets and am really conscious of what I am putting in my mouth. I am eating Special K with Berries in the am with 1% milk. At lunch today it was a slice of meatloaf and a 1/2 banana, 1/2 apple, 1/2 orange cut up. Then my milk. I just had a scone after my workout. I started this on Sunday. I should be receiving the book this week. I'm hungry, my arm is looking pretty tasty :).

For losing less than 20 lbs it's 1 T. olive or 1 T. sugar dissolved in any amount of water at least one hour after eating AND one hour before next meal.

I started on Mon (it's Fri.) I honestly plug my nose when I drink the oil. It's over quick and it's easy. I follow with ice water. I tried the sugar but didn't like the taste and never ended up finishing it, hence defeating the whole purpose.

I drink 1 T. twice a day, once mid a.m., once before bed. Don't forget, NOTHING but water during that two-hr time frame, brushing teeth, gum, etc. I was even afraid to use cherry lip balm for fear that I would get the taste when drinking the water! I hope it's not that particular.

I only had 5 lbs to lose, and have lost only 1 lb., but I'm not even upset because you don't feel like you've given up anything. I was a ravenous eater, trust me and I just can't believe how I am not hungry for extended periods of time. When dinner time comes, etc. you do have an appetite, but are fuller faster.

I'm sure part of it is the 2 two-hour windows of no eating, but I still notice a very drastic decrease in appetite.

Please try it. If you have more to lose I'm sure you'll see more dramatic loss of weight. It's not like you're suffering giving things up, you just don't want them.

I ate fairly healthily this week (semi low-carb) but also some off days with cake, lots of bread, etc.

I love this "diet." I hope it continues to work

Hope this helps some people in doubt. I saw some posts earlier about boredom, stress eaters -- well, that was me and it works for us, too!!

Give it a try. Can someone let me know if I'm being ridiculous about the cherry lip balm? He was a man testing the diet and I'm sure he never ran into this, but if you can't even brush your teeth, I wondered about this. For now I'm using a straw!

Good luck everybody

I got my book today. Chapter 1 is interesting. I am understanding how it works just a bit better. I don't think I am taking in enough oil or sugar because I was waay to hungry again today. The "set point" thing is very interesting. I think mine is high because I was such a huge fan of anything chocolate and HAD to have something sweet and chocolate after every meal. Seriously- after breakfast I would eat something sweet, after lunch, and same with dinner.

Thank you, Seth Roberts,
I have had food cravings for years and for the last 2 years drank at night and ate potatoe chips and ketchup and would eat dark chocolate half of a large bar at a time to the point of gaining 30lbs
Saw the book in a bookstore seemed too good to be true. This is the 4th day of Olive Oil two times a day, absolutely no cravings or feeling of a need to drink at night or eat and eat. Found chocolate in my secret place broke off one square and sucked it till it melted. Somehow using the olive oil method has slowed down my desire to chew quickly and not taste and quicly swallow. I have literaly been savoring every bite of food slowly. So good to be free of craving food. I know from what I have been reading that the weight will now slowly come off. I also work around baked goods and can have all the leftover GOODIES I want, which also has contributed to weight gain. I have no desire to eat any of the cookies etc. AMAZING
Thank you Seth

This has definitely decreased my appetite during the day, but when I do eat, I find I can eat pretty much. Does this mean I need more oil? I'm trying to stop and have definitely decreased my caloric intake, so I'm wondering why no weight loss after 1 wk. I lost a lb. but gained back after one day eating poorly. I thought you could eat normally on this "diet"

Still sticking with it, but seeking advice.

Thanks

To DebB- I think you need to give it some more time. In his book he says a pound or two a week is healthy. (correct me if that is wrong) You also may have put on that pound again, because of water weight. I know if I eat sweets, I will retain water. I kind of think my first 5 lbs will be mostly water.

I don't know about the lip balm. You still might associate the flavor with calories.

Well, after almost 1 week- I have lost 4 lbs. Some, I think are water weight. I did get the book this week. It was very helpful.

I have had some problems. The other day I did sugar water in the morning and got really dizzy. I took my blood pressure- normal. Tested my sugar (my dad is a diabetic) and it was 66- a half hour after I finished the sugar water. Oops. And I had sipped the water very slowly over a half hour period

I switched to the olive oil. It is easier for me to take a small amount in the am, and the rest before I go to bed.

Yes, I am still hungry. But the good thing, is I am not hungry for ice cream and chocolate chips. In fact crips carrots looked so refreshing today!

This really is a diet book in a way :). He encourages you to eat healthy, vary your flavors, and make wise choices. I find that this diet helps me to do that.

I can see how people would be skeptical. But for someone like me who is making poor food choices in the first place- if these 160-165 empty calories make me aware that I just can't eat Chocolate Fudge Pudding cake all day, then so much better for me!

And I also think that once you start eating those items- like Chocolate Fudge Pudding cake, then you want more and more! I had a super fast metabolism until I hit 42 yrs. I could eat anything! I am 5'5" and weighed 110 until I was 42. I couldn't put a pound on to save my life.

Yes, that was too thin. Then over the next couple of years I put on 5 more. Good. Then another 5 lbs. Still good. Then another 5 and by 50 I weighed 135. I just didn't feel good about those lumps and bumps and I have eaten horribly all my life!

My mother's idea of a snack was a baggie of marshmallows and chocolate chips. Fruit was evil. Now, I want a fruit salad at lunch :).

It is a weird concept, but at the very least, I am making better food choices.

I'm amazed at the negative comments I've read - of course most of those are from people who have not tried supplementing their diets with olive oil or sugar water.

And if someone thinks that counting calories, points, carbs or whatever is easier than taking oil, good for them.

Someone mentioned Roberts' plan was for lazy people. I respectfully disagree. If everyone could lose weight by just cutting calories (and exercise), we'd all be thin. Not only that, exercise isn't a miracle for weight loss..it's better to use exercise to improve one's health. And if one tries to cut calories, physiology will usually win.

I haven't known one person who has lost weight on some of the popular diet programs and kept it off. Weight Watchers is the one I'm thinking of. Diet mentality will get you nowhere.

Unfortunately, I have hypoglycemia which I found via a Glucose Tolerance Test. My blood sugar dropped to 46 at the three-hour mark. Above 70 is in the normal range. Therefore, my physiology makes it tough to know when to eat or how much. For instance, I can't eat cereal, even whole-grain cereal for breakfast. My blood sugar drops and I feel awful an hour later....and ravenous. If I eat protein alone, I feel like crap, too.

My points are several-fold: it isn't easy to lose fat (I have followed a clean diet and have done bodybuilding). In fact, it isn't always possible to lose fat. Another point is that moderation doesn't work. My last point is supplementing my diet with extra light virgin olive oil works. It really does. And I have lost the diet mentality. I crave healthy foods, too - such as yogurt, raw veggies, legumes, nuts, fruits, whoe grains, and lean proteins. I stopped craving sugar. My blood sugar is more stable now. The less I eat, the better I feel. I tried eating 6 meals a day and that played havoc with my blood sugar before the olive oil supplementation. I have more energy to exercise. I walk two hours a day.

Someone else said it wasn't a good idea to exchange meals for oil. Roberts never said to use oil in place of meals. Some people's appetites will reduce and they will eat less, possibly skipping meals. There is nothing in scientific literature that proves one should eat X amount of meals. The breakfast thing was based on one study done with impoverished children - they performed better in school if they partook of a good breakfast. No joke. They were already malnourished.

Last but not least, low-fat diets are not good for you. You already know that, don't you? Even the American Heart Association has a note on their website regarding low-fat/high-carbohydrate diets causing a dangerous rise in triglycerides. Now, Roberts is not promoting a high-fat diet. But olive oil is very good for you. I use the Extra Virgin with my meals and eat lots of nuts. I'm 48 and I look 35. :)

to DaeSue --

I know that 1 lb. a wk is normal, but how did you lose so much?? I feel like I've really cut down my snacking between meals and trying to eat healthy and have DEFINITELY increase my water intake (which this "diet" promotes) so I'm confused why the decrease in calories isn't equalling weight loss. After this weekend, I'm exactly where I was last Monday.

I see to eat better during the week so I'm still going to continue. Do you experience the same as me, no appetite until you eat and then you eat normal portions?

For now I'll just stay at 1T oil/2x a day. I'm not suffering at all, so that's the good part. Maybe just too much potato salad on Sun!!

Thanks for the help

DebB

I feel like you to an extent. Its working great at surpressing my appetite until I eat. Once I start eating I can eat "normal portions". Today it seemed like I didn't eat that much because I'm not snacking as much, but once I totaled my calorie intake it was well over 2000.

I'm a bit frustrated because I've been doing this for about two weeks now and while its surpressing my appetite, I haven't lost any weight and judging from my calorie intake today I'm probably eating the same amount of calories. Sigh..

Lena,

hang in there. Today I'm down 1/2 lb after eating Pizza Hut last night (which I would have never done before) I also have my period this week which may explain the weight gain, but usually I would be pigging out and I'm not at all.

My caloric intake is definitely less, but that's more frustrating. At least if you know you're taking in a lot of cals. that's the reason for no weight loss. It says you can eat whatever you want (within reason) sometimes I think it just takes time for your body to regulate itself.

Keep me posted on your progress. Do you have a lot to lose? I'm sticking with this thing. It's the ONLY thing to work and I've tried Hoodia, Glucomannan, everything to fill me up and it never worked. I am only 5 lbs overweight, but I still snacked all the time, even when I wasn't hungry, so this has helped me with that and I'm eternally grateful.

Next week when my hormones are normal, I'll weigh myself again and see if I've lost.

Just hang in there. I think in time it will kick in.

Good luck

I was going to comment on the "lazy people" comment but many of you have taken care of the idiot for me! Thanks!
As for all the people who are convinced they are not losing...get out your tape measure. While I was gaining weight the first week I was losing inches! Now I have lost 7 pounds from the top (gained) weight which has me down abut 3 lbs from my starting weight.
to the person who was eating cereal at breakfast I'd like to refer you to the Kevin Trudeau's book (sp?) about what they aren't telling us or something like that. In his short chapter on weight loss he said NEVER eat anything from a publicly traded company because there are things added to the food(!) which are not listed on the ingredients list which cause us to be addicted to that food and to gain weight!!!!
Milk is a dead food unless it is raw....spare all of us the comments about health of raw milk etc...just skip the dead food of milk. Double that if the company is publicly traed.
One comment which was cutting this plan had a link which showed the person to be a doctor selling his own weight loss program.
I don't know too many people who are SEROUS wabout wanting to lose weight who don't know heaathy food from unhealthy food ...according to the "experts"!
the news keeps telling us to avoid fat and red meat etc. but if you read the good health books and learn the science behind how our bodies work you will learn that fat is needed. If I eat only the vegitarian diet I never stop thinking about food and I'm never NOT hungry. It's terrible! The more fat and protein I eat the less I need or want to eat. Low calorie is very unhealthy.
So to the skeptics...keep doing it and keep trying. I also added unprocessed coconut oil to my diet more in the last two weeks and the 1/2 to 1 tsp of raw apple cider vinegar to my diet just before eating a meal! Things have been moving lower on the scale sinc ethen! :)

Hi,
I started this diet today and am a bit confused. If I take the oil and sugar water approach, when do I consume each required dosage? Do I drink the oil and then drink the sugar water immediately after? Or is it better to stagger the consumption of each item throughout the day? Today I had the oil (hopefully swallowing that will be less unnerving over time) before breakfast and now I have just had the sugar water before lunch. Any suggestions would be most welcome and thanks.

Hi. It's the guy who liked cheezies (see May 20th).

I thought I would just update my chart. I have not been updating it every day, but here are the stats:

May Weight
4 - 241.0
5 - 240.0
6 - 239.0
7 - 238.0
15 - 236.0
16 - 236.4
17 - 236.2
18 - 234.2
19 - 234.8
20 - 235.8
22 234.2
23 234.0
24 233.8
June
05 231.8

So after 1 month, ie. 4.5 weeks, I have lost almost 10 pounds, which matches Seth Robert's suggestion of losing 2 pounds per week.

I actually started to gain a bit of weight in that unreported week, but realized that I was not being strict with the one hour before and after consuming the olive oil. So I got back on track with that, and the weight started dropping again.

I just got a PR copy of this book (I'm in publishing and get stuff all the time) and JUST read it. Here's the low-down:

What to have in a day:
3 TBSP sugar dilluted in enough water that you taste nothing
2 TBSP extra light olive oil

When to have it:
Have mothing (except flavorless water) for an hour, then have all or part of the stuff above. Then have nothing for another hour except flavorless water.

You can have it all at once, or have half at one time and half at another. Basically, whenever you know you will not eat for the hour before and hour after.

Also, you can have ONLY one or the other, but the portions are different. You can buy the book, or just skim it in your local bookstore. Seriously, it took me a few hours to read the whole thing, so I'm glad I didn't pay for it. Maybe if it works you can buy the book just as a "thankyou" to the writer! LOL

"I actually started to gain a bit of weight in that unreported week, but realized that I was not being strict with the one hour before and after consuming the olive oil. So I got back on track with that, and the weight started dropping again."

Being strict really helps.

"Maybe if it works you can buy the book just as a "thank-you" to the writer!"

I've actually ordered the book four times from amazon.com and give each set of orders away to friends and family. A lot of them don't get it until they buy the book.

I don't check in too often here, but I'm glad I checked back.

Stephen
http://ethesis.blogspot.com/

Does it matter how much water you use with the sugar? Does it have to taste sweet?

I am trying this in a spirit of experimentation, along with eating right and exercising. I see that people are still returning to this site and commenting, so I will ask a question of the experienced ones.
I am using the smallest quantity of sugar the book suggests (1 T) in 2 c water, and still finding it very unpleasant. Did any of you find that it became less disgusting with time? I haven't been able to bring myself to try the oil.
I am concerned about the large amounts of sugar suggested, from a health standpoint (government guidelines suggest no more than 22 grams, less than 2 T, per day). But I notice that anyone who doesn't find that it "works" is told to use more. And you are supposed to do this forever. Were you folks really eating or drinking enough sugar to begin with that this amount of sugar is a reduction? And have any of you asked a doctor about this amount of sugar consumption?

i did the olive oil around 10, two tablespoons of extra light. i didnt really have an appetite during the day, not until the afternoon. Around 2pm I took two more tablespoons. In the evening i had an insatiable appetite. Help? Is this normal? I have only been on the diet for 3 days now.

hello?? is anyone out there?? still waiting for advise....

Beth,

My experience with the diet was similar to yours. I was not hungry at all during the morning and mid-day after a dose of ELOO. However, I did become insatiable at night also. Just keep the course and it will subside. I'm down 13 pounds in just over a month.

I heard about the diet on Dennis Prager's radio program about a month ago. I've purchased the book and been on the diet since then. I've lost ten pounds, and am very encouraged. I've been making adjustments here and there and finding out how to behave on this diet.

My appetite has definitely decreased dramatically, and I don't think about food all the time as in the past.

I don't think the oil is that bad. I chase it with water.

I've struggled with weight most of my life. This seems like an answer to my prayers.

For those of you who want quick directions, I'd say read the book! It's a quick read and you might learn something.
I've lost 4 pounds in 2 weeks and I feel healthy. I do the oil only due to my issues with insulin resistance. Plus the oil is easy to do anywhere. It takes a little planning and I don't do it every single day at any specific time. As one other blogger stated, it's more of a method, not a diet.
It is not a life time thing, at least not to me. One has to be responsible for what one puts in their mouth, I still exercise and eat properly. I take my supplements and educate myself on nutrition. This has just given me a boost.
As an added benefit to the ELOO, my nails and hair look healthier.

Actually, the idea is that you will keep taking in flavorless calories forever. Enough to keep your set point where you want it (if it doesn't stay put on its own once you've lost the weight).

But, once you've learned the water and oil trick, that makes drinking the oil painless, it suddenly seems like nothing (or, a lot of people just drink a sugar water "tea" -- it often takes very little to keep them on track).

I'm still losing weight. 63 pounds is nice, but I want to lose more.

I've a collection of useful links at:
http://ethesis.blogspot.com/2006/05/diet-index.html

Wish everyone well.

JUST A LITTLE HISTORY OF MY WEIGHT AND WHY I THINK I CANNOT SHAKE THOSE LAST 15 LBS...
I AM 22 YRS OLD, 5'3" AND MY WT IS ABOUT 130LBS I'M NOT OVERWEIGHT BUT I STILL WOULD LIKE TO DROP ABOUT 15LBS.

AT AGE 17 I REACHED MY HIGHEST WT AT 180LBS, SO I STARTED TO WORKOUT AND CUT MY CALORIES, AND MANAGED TO LOSE ABOUT 50 LBS--WOO HOO!!

AT AGE 20 OR SO I LOST ANOTHER 15 LBS PUTTING ME AT ABOUT 115LBS-THIS WAS DUE TO GALL STONES AND GALL BLADDER SURGERY.

THEN SOME HOW BETWEEN AGE 20 AND NOW I PACKED THOSE 15LBS BACK ON-

I AM WHAT THEY CALL A YO-YO DIETER (WHICH I KNOW IS BAD),
I FEEL HOPELESS NOW BECAUSE I THINK I HAVE (ON MY OWN) SLOWED MY METABOLISM WAY DOWN.

EVEN IF MY METABOLISM IS ABNORMALLY SLOW, WILL THIS DIET STILL WORK FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME???

IF ANYBODY HAS ANY INSIGHT ON THIS PLEASE LET ME KNOW, IN THE MEAN TIME I AM GOING TO TRY THIS DIET ANYWAYS AND REPORT BACK HERE WITH MY WEEKLY RESULTS.

Stephanie,
I was in a similar situation as you. I am 5'6 and currently 162 lbs. (started at 180lbs 3 weeks ago)

Around 10 years ago,I was on put on medication for a few years that made me anorexic. (it was a side effect) I went down to 105lbs. After getting off the medication, my metabolism was shot. I gained weight just by looking at food. I tried everything, weight watchers, Atkins, nothing worked. I tried to exercize, but ended up with surgery on my left foot, arthritis on my right leg and ankle and I crushed my shoulder.

Exercize is not really an option for me although I do walk a mile a day now. ( I pay for that too, but I need to exercize somehow)

So, I say give it a shot. I am eating less it seems, I have a ton more energy and I am losing weight.

Downside: I need to buy new clothes, have a lot more energy and grocery bill is a lot less.

It took me a week to notice a change in my eating. I found the sugar water did not work as well as the ELOO
(the ELOO is tough to take as I cant stand the texture, but it is the only thing that has worked for me since 1998.)

I have only been doing the SLD for three full days, but Here is what I do:

Choose a two-hour window in the morning, and again later in the day:
3 Tablespoons of sugar/fructose in a bottle of water. Drink this one hour after the last thing eaten (in my case, begin drinking water solution at 6:30am. It may take up to an hour to finish because I sip the water), one hour after finishing bottle, I have something to eat. By then its about time for my morning break.

Eat as usual for morning break and lunch.

Eat what you would normally have for dinner, this also includes snacks.
2 Tablespoons of ELOO may be taken in the "window" before dinner, OR the "window" after dinner (before bedtime). I have tried it both ways.

I am giving it an 8 week trial. If it works, great! If not, I guess I’m out a couple bucks for oil and fructose.

I have felt a little headachy the past few days, mainly because of the 2 "windows", and because of my increased coffee consumption. I am prone to migraines, too.

The good news is I have noticed a decrease in my appetite. I will weigh myself in another week to see if there are any results.
Good luck!

Oops! Guess I should have checked my post a *little more carefully*!

I meant to say, "...because of my DECREASED coffee consumption."

Sorry :)

THANKS!! JASMYN--IM EXCITED TO TRY THIS, I WILL KEEP EVERYONE POSTED.

What is ELOO.

Just Wonderin'

ELOO is Extra Light Olive Oil or Extra Light "Tasting" Olive Oil.

My question for the more experienced Shangri-la 'ers is this - does your stomach growl but you just don't have much of an appetite? This is what I've experienced three days on the program.

Can you suck sugar cubes instead of sugar water? How many?