One Day Diet: Scams and Science

I don't think that's a very sustainable program. Come on, how long can one realistically eat only every other day? Especially athletes! If I were to only eat fruits and veggies every other day, I'd probably feel like crap and run like crap. And I agree with you Jim...we don't need to be promoting meal skipping or fasting as a good way to lose weight. People could EASILY go overboard: "Hey, I lost 2 lbs last week by eating every other day...what would happen if I ONLY ate fruits and vegetables every day? I'd lose even MORE weight!" Yeah, and your hair, and your bone density, and your brainpower. People should learn to just eat a lot of fruits and veggies every day and cut back on the processed stuff and eat plenty of lean protein and complex carbohydrates.

Jim and Spectra: The every-other-day method of weight loss is exactly what The Enjoyable Diet (TM) is. Although the alternate days are DECIDEDLY NOT a fast with this diet, one does eat a lower number of calories every other day. The calorie allowances for the two days are customized to the dieter's metabolism.

Spectra, as an athlete, you will be particularly interested in the similarities between Interval Training and this method of dieting.

You can read about exactly what happens to you on this diet in Parts 3 and 5 of "About the Diet" on my site, www.enjoyablediet.com/ And http://stopgaining.blogsource.com shows how to use the system to prevent weight gain, stop overeating and, generally, change one's eating habits.

Even a bad/fad diet will work for at least one person. Doing a semi fast every other day would have led me to put on all the weight I lost back on. I would have ended up binging.

VH

Thanks for the info about the one-day diet. I have no knowledge of this company nor any relationship with them.

I share the concerns listed about alternate-day fasting over the long-term. The QOD diet is configured as a relatively short-term weight-loss diet, and not a lifestyle diet. The idea is to use it to help lose weight and then to transition into a more stable, long-term way of eating. The periods of low food intake are designed to help break carb cravings, scheduled eating, etc., and also to maintain metabolic rate and to regularly deplete glycogen stores. Ideally, you want to get to a point of self-knowledge where you can identify specific hungers for various foods, and eat those foods when you are hungry for them. Maybe a less severe alternate-day caloric restriction (say to about 1000 cal/day) may work long-term. This concept was first advocated by Thomas Sharkey in 1968 in "The Eating Man's Diet".

I was, and continue to be, concerned about the potential of alternate day eating (or of any cyclic diet) to worsen or unmask eating disorders (binging), and we talk about this extensively in the book. Having said this, not everyone is susceptible to binging, and so a QOD eating pattern is OK for some people and definitely can be helpful in losing weight. The main concept is, that if you maintain mineral (sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium) intake and protein intake, you can eat very few calories for one day and still feel fine. However, if you do find yourself binge eating, you should stop following this diet right away. So the point is well-taken.

We did try to ensure that the manner of alternate day fasting presented in the QOD diet would be as safe as possible, in terms of maintaining critical levels of key nutrients.

By the way, there are some people following QOD fasts for years, now, in the hopes of prolonging their lives or achieveing other health benefits, based on some very interesting work in animal studies (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fasting/). I believe this is premature at this stage of incomplete knowledge. One has to be especially careful of osteoporosis, which can be due to failure take in daily amounts of calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D, and protein deficiency, with loss of muscle protein and a resulting fall in metabolic rate. Also, protein deficiency per se may be associated with osteoporosis over the long-haul and osteoporosis is a major problem in anorectics.

Some comments:
"Young women (in particular) do not need their meal-skipping habits validated."

- true, and anorectic behavior is also found in men.

"Also if you have any kind of blood glucose sensitivity severe energy depletion on the off days can play havoc with energy levels (not to mention the irritability)."

Not sure there is any evidence for this. We were not designed to be eating 3 meals a day (just think of our primitive past) - the body adapts quite well to using alternative fuels. On the first day of fasting, our body used stored glycogen, and then begins to use either protein or fat to keep up the blood sugar level.

In the QOD diet, even during the OFF day, one should not get ketotic, as the recommended carb intake is more than 50 g/day.

By the way, I'd appreciate it if you could spell my name correctly! Keep up the good work!

All the best,

John Daugirdas

Humble apologies on the mispell - all fixed now.

Re John Daugirdas' post: "Maybe a less severe alternate-day caloric restriction...may work long-term." It does, indeed. You can use this system with a less severe low-calorie day in complete safety and comfort, for as long as necessary. All you need are the correct calorie allowances for the two days.

The longer you use the system, the easier it gets. After you become habituated to it in 21 days, it doesn't feel like a diet at all. And when you reach your goal, you simply drop the low-calorie day. The habituation is what ensures that you don't binge--neither after the first 21 days, nor at the end of the diet.

I lost 110 lbs just by cutting back what I was eating and exercising everyday...

People fail in their diets because they try all these fancy lose weight quick schemes that never work like they expect them too and always end up leaving them with more weight than they started...

If you want to lose weight just do it the old fashion way...cut out junk food (including all fast food), drastically lower your soda intake and drink a lot of water. When I lost weight I drank water everytime I felt hungry and it helped stop me from getting that snack and at the same time helped my body burn more calories...

Diet and exercise are really all you need to lose weight...good luck to all others that are trying to lose weight!!!

everybody keeps talking about how bad this diet is i have called in myself and it seems to me that they have pushed this "Study" more than the diet... could what they are doing and saying really be true... or have you all called in and realized you had to put money up and got angry with that situation ?

I started the One-Day Diet on April 1 and have lost 6 lb. However, I feel like I am starving every other day and do kinda binge every other day. I was wondering if anyone knew about the Sun Crystal capsules that go along with the diet- you are to take up to 6 capsules a day and every 2 capsules contain over 300 mg of caffeine in the form of herbs + straight caffeine. Is this safe? I sure get a buzz and lots of "energy" when I take them-but wonder if it is safe-am I getting addicted? Any input would be great. Has anyone got their $1000 yet??

Carol - I have been doing the one day diet since march 23rd. I have lost 16lb. I did go to my Dr. first & she seemed to think it would be okay. I usually only take 3-4 of the sun crystals a day. I did not do everything to get the $. Just getting rid of the extra weight is great!!

Congratulations, Kinda, on losing 16 lb already! Just wondering-when you said "I did not do everything to get the $"-Does that mean you didn't officially enroll in the Life/Diet Study or you did and are not following the plan exactly? I was just wondering how you or other people feel when all they eat are the 10 wafers and fruit every other day. Is that how you lost the weight? I figured the protein intake is extremely low (about 25 GM/day) and am curious from a health viewpoint if the body can handle that. When I signed up, I was not aware of the protein content or that the Sun Crystals are so high in caffeine. 300mg of caffeine is moderately high- and you are probably getting 600mg or more a day. I know it gives you energy, but are you worried about side effects?

Another thing I'm extremely concerned about are the 118 complaints to the BBB. Does anyone know what the complaints were about? Once you are in the study, can you get out???

I followed the 1 day diet for the 3 months and then added another month. I went from 146# to 126 and then the next month another 5. I did put the last 5 back on because I love Ice cream but as soon as I put on a few pounds it's right back to the diet. I did take my check to the bank. I went from a 12-14 to a ~5 in size. I chatted with another person that was also doing the diet and the support helped a lot. We posted on sparkspeople and I joined Jazzersice and also started walking. I was never starving because every night I had to eat a plate of hot veggies. I ate butternut squash mashed with soy cheese. From the people I talked to 5# a month is very normal. If I compared 5# loss a month to yo-yo no loss I will take the 5 pounds.
One thing big that I did learn about food through this diet is that it taste good. When you take all the junk off of it and all you have left is the food, just the squash no BS no butter it has taste. Most people shove in food so fast they never taste anything and then they are to full to move. I now eat slower and enjoy every bite.

Carol

I did not enroll - too much for me... I work full time, am a BASEBALL mom (2 boys). I feel that we live at the ballpark at this time of year. The study required dr. visits before, on day 8 & day 15, after the 2nd month & after the 3rd month.. I do not have time for this.. I feel that just loosing the weight is great. (nor did i want to pay for dr visits.) As far as eating goes, when I went to the Dr., she cautioned me against the binge eating on my eating days. I have stayed away from the fast food for lunch and started having the low cal & low fat lunches. I never ate breakfast before, but now try to at least have a yogurt, and for dinner, we usually end up eating out - pizza or mexican are the family favorites .. I usually end up with a salad, or only eat half of my meal. On my diet days, I only have the wafers & sun crystals. I still have energy & only a couple of times caught myself being crabby & snappy. LOL. As for the caffine, I usually am sensative to it, but the sun crystals do not seem to have the same effect -

I do not know about the BBB complaints - obviously, I like the diet.

I have been on the One Day Diet "study" for just over two months now. Calling it a study is a misnomer, but if you read the materials they send with the first shipment, it appears that they're using participants to put together their product DVD. I figure that way they only have to pay the people that successfully complete their program. And from all the requirements and fine print in the materials, it would seem they've left plenty of loopholes for themselves to get out of paying people. I'm still skeptical as to whether I'll actually get paid, but as for the Better Busines Bureau complaints, I'm not seeing them. The reference above refers to a Wisconsin company, but the company I'm dealing with is Products for Life (or Real Life Weight Loss Study) in Reno, NV. And their BBB report is clean -- few complaints, all resolved.

As for the diet itself, I have lost about 17 pounds so far and at least 2 pants sizes. I am growing really weary of the wafers, but I can't complain about the results. I am generally eating 8-10 wafers every other day and 2 of the Sun Crystals (herbal speed, as I've come to call them) every day. I am very sensitive to caffeine, but I haven't had any problems with the Sun Crystals. They do seem to help keep up energy and stave off cravings. I eat regularly on food days, trying to keep it sensible but certainly not abnormally large or small meals. I can see how people could binge on food days (though you get full faster than before), but to do so would just be doing it wrong. Nowhere does it say that binging is an acceptable part of the diet.

I think the hardest part of the day for me is the evening, because I've generally eaten my last wafer at 5 or 6:00, and I get really hungry about 9 or 10:00. So I have actually cheated on several wafer days -- a small snack of raisins or chips & salsa, but obviously it hasn't stunted my results. I think my biggest complaint has been irritability, especially when hormones are at play. I simply don't cope as well while on this diet. Also, it becomes a major social issue to be on wafer days. Everyone I know is aware that I'm on this diet, because you can't very well skip all the food at a party, while popping weird food tablets, and not get asked why.

Bottom line: I have lost 17 lbs. in 2 months. I feel healthy, though at times irritable. I will continue the diet for one more month, but I wouldn't have the drive to do so if it weren't for the possibility of the $1,000 payoff. I've had three friends purchase the diet - not sign up for the study - and two of them quit after the first day.

I just signed up for the weight loss study... They didn't give me much information over the phone and after reading several pages of folks complaining about it, I'm hoping I made the right decision.

I just signed up for the study too... I sure hope I didn't make the wrong decision. Of course I didn't do any research on this until after I gave my credit card information. It would be nice to get the $1000, but if I could lose the weight, it would be worth giving up the money.

Just heard a commercial on the radio. Signed up was "Accepted" and called them. My only beef is that they expect you to fork over the cash without any information. Told the lady that I wouldn't pay unless there was a cash back option. Essentially, I told her I wanted my Dr. to look over the ingredients and verify that they weren't harmful. She tried to read the ingredients over the phone I told her it wasn't good enough.

She did say that "With a Dr's note" I could get my money back if he disapproved. Hmmmm, can anybody guess how good a verbal contract is, then even a verbal agreement made with a telemarketer vs the actual company.

I'm not the one to spend money foolishly so I'm extremely leary about completeing the sign up. Also I was dismayed that after signing up there you weren't mailed any information ( i.e. company info, "study" requirements, moneyback guarantees ... etc ). In my opinion not a very reputable method of doing business. I can accept that they need to have some form of commitment process ( hence the $150 and another $150 ) but to not provide me with a written agreement... well can you say "HUCKSTER".

Now I'm not actually claiming that they are not reputable, but the telemarketer sure did dance around the issue when I asked for company info, study info, ingredient info.

Most likely, I won't complete the process. If the company is legit. My loss. If others lose weight, congratulations. If others attempt fail and don't get their money back or the $1000.00 fee. Well I feel for you. Me if the company won't be upfront about information they don't get my money.

I just completed the application on the phone. I am really leary about this, but I am hopeful that I can get over my plateau. I lost about 100 pounds just watching and exercising, but I have since gained about 20 back (80 pounds off isn't bad). I still have about 50 pounds to lose and I hope this diet can at least spark that motivation. I go to the gym everyday and do intense cardio for 30-60 minutes. Do you think that I will still be able to do this? I hope so.

Thanks for all of your blogs, it made me feel a little better about my purchase :)

Hi. I just signed up yesterday and now I am reading that this MAY be a scam. Anyone out there who can shed some light on this for me? Anyone get paid the $1,000.00 after finishing the program?

THANKS!!

Hi

I purchased the diet also. My credit card was over charged now Im fighting to get my money back. Once that happened I canceled the auto ship. I was also sold a free trial for Explore and Value Plus. I had no knowledge of this. My credit card was debited for this also. I was able to contact the companies listed above and they did credit my credit/debit card. They said that the company that sold the one day diet is known to do this often. I am now being forced to cancel my credit/debit card and have another one re issued before they throw more charges on it without me knowing.

I hope this doesnt happen to anyone else because trying to get a hold of the customer service dept. is like trying to contact God.

I heard the advertisement on the radio and signed up the end of March. i've lost 10 pounds the first month. but i did feel hungry a lot on my fruit days. then not as hungry on the other day. so i ate light. i didn't mind the choclolate wafers but i broke out in a bad rash on my chest and arms from the sun crystals. i am sensative to anything with a lot of chemicals. and my doctor told me not to take them.
i don't know if this is a scam or not but i am thinking it may be after reading all of this information.
i haven't seen that anyone was paid.
It was very hard to contact anyone by phone when i had any further questions about the study. It would just give you a website. So if any one has any further information that would be helpful. i would appereciate that.
i may cancell my debit card and get a new one issued before they charge me anything more.
thanks

This is really long BUT it may quell some fears of the beginners and those thinking about beginning and it will also help those already on the diet who are having doubts. So go ahead and just read.

I started the diet March 21 and have lost 15 lbs. and a little over 8 pant sizes. I was a 19 (20) and now I'm fitting into size 11(12) and size 9(10). I'm certainly excited about that! I mean, sure, the weight is nice, but I'm looking at the pant sizes and going "whoopie!" The trick is not necessarily to do everything they tell you at first. You can't just go from eating 6,000 calories a day to eating less than 1,000 every other day. Work yourself down if you have to. I have followed the diet and it works for me. What my best friend did was integrate the diet into her life. She usually don't eat breakfast or lunch anyway because she is always on the go. So everyday she eats the fruit and tablets for the first two meals of the day. That way, she don't feel compelled to snack during the day like she normally would and when she does feel compelled, she's eating fruit instead. And then she just make sure she eats something sensible and not full of trans fats for dinner. So it can really work both ways.

The tricks you have to follow to be really successful are these:

DO NOT think of this as a diet. Because that isn't what it really is. If you read the labels carefully you'll find that they are really just pumping you chock full of EVERY vitamin you could possibly ever need EVERY DAY. What these vitamins do is naturally change your body chemistry and HELP you burn the fat. That caffeine is a little much at 6 capsules a day. I usually take around 3 or 4.

DO drink 8 full glasses of water EVERY DAY. You might be surprised to find out that water, combined with all of the vitamins they are giving you, can actually make the process wort more quickly and also make the effects last much longer. Also, the more water you drink, the less you will crave other things that make you gain weight, such as carbonated drinks, alcohol, and foods heavy in trans fat, like ice cream. When your body is NOT fully hydrated you crave those items, ESPECIALLY trans fats because they make you feel hydrated (they are actually dehydrating you more and they do a lot of other really bad things).

DO NOT drink caffeine. On the subject of the caffeine again...in the pills it is in anhydrous form...that's not necessarily bad for you although it can really send you flying high sometimes especially if your body is already feeling great. In sodas and colas, caffeine has been rooted down and the natural elements have been removed from it, leaving you with a dangerous, addictive chemical. And the fact that it is paired with carbonation and other additives with properties similar to that of poisons, the effects can be detrimental to your health. When I started this study, I was a six pack a day Coca-cola drinker. The first three days were really difficult because I was addicted to caffeine. But after that, it was smooth sailing because of the natural caffeine in the pills and the high amounts of water I was drinking. I haven't had a craving for caffeine since those first three days and I am positive that if I keep myself hydrated I will NEVER drink caffeinated drinks again. At the same time I only rarely drink carbonation now and that is only Sprite and usually mixed with Pomegranate or Cranberry juice. Honestly, since I started the study, I haven't wanted things like that very much. I have started to very much prefer juice.

DO walk at least one hour a day. The study says to do it and it is imperative that you do. Even if you do other types of exercise you MUST walk EVERY DAY. This is a cardio vascular acitvity and it is important not only to your health but also to the study. The natural energy you gain from the Sun Crystals is a two part process...first, you MUST eat after you take them and then you MUST move your body. People get sick off of diet pills and have heart trouble because they don't follow instructions. This is one instruction you MUST follow. If you hate walking and just won't do it you need to get off this study because you are only setting yourself up for failure. Case and point.

DO NOT take the Sun Crystals after 7pm. I would actually recommend not taking them after 6pm. I know that puts people in a time crunch, but the problem is that your body will continue working on the Sun Crystals for at least 3 or 4 hours after you take them. I have actually paid enough attention to figure out how long it takes the effects to wear off. It is NOT a good idea to go to sleep and leave your body trying so hard to be active on such things. Your body needs to rest at night and work its normal functions.

DO NOT eat after 6pm. No Snacking. No meals. No milk before bedtime. If you seriously need something after 6pm, you should eat a piece of fruit. Even on non-diet days. Eating late at night, or long after you take your last Sun Crystals is a bad idea because you won't take the time and energy to burn the calories. And then you go to sleep with new food in your stomach leaving your body the EXTRA task of breaking down all that food you just ate BEFORE it can start its normal functions of rejuvenation. If you pay enough attention you will find that when you eat before you go to bed or after 6ish at night you wake up the next morning feeling rather sluggish or in some other way off. That's because your body didn't have the time to finish all its regular functions because you had to be gluttonous.

I also had a long wait for customer service today but it was worth it in the end because I found out that all of my pictures and information had been approved and I was on the way to a better me.

I could definitely use the $1,000. Don't get me wrong. I think EVERYONE could use an extra $1,000. But what I'm more interested in is the wonderful things that are happening to my body. I haven't been this skinny since the 6th grade. Men are looking TWICE at me. I have had more passes made at me in the last two weeks than I have ever had made at me in my entire life. I've had more offers for dates than I could have ever hoped for. And I feel great. I wake up in the morning and I feel rested...for the FIRST time in my entire life. I just ran a mile yesterday and I woke up this morning and wanted to do it again. I put on a pair of shorts I had always kept as a reminder of how much I wanted to lose weight (shorts from 6th grade)...and they FIT. I have more confidence. I look better. Even my SKIN looks better. I can what a NORMAL person eats and be full.

I just got a new boyfriend and he didn't know me a month and a half ago. The other day I knocked over a stack of pictures and he picked them and started going through them...the third one down was one of the pictures I took at the beginning of the study. He looked at it and he said, "Who's that?" When I told him it was me he couldn't even believe it. He honestly thought I was joking. I started bawling...because I think that was the best compliment I have EVER gotten in my entire life. It made me feel so proud of myself and so beautiful.

So, while a $1000 would be really nice, I think that what I been receiving in life because of this study is so much more valuable. In a month and a half I've gone from being the fat, ugly girl that nobody wants to date to the beautiful, curvy girl that EVERY guy wants to date. And maybe people won't agree with me. But that's validation that just can't be bought off by a $1000.

And if they asked me to be in their promotional videos, even without the $1000, how could I possibly say no? They've completely changed my life in less time than the duration of the study. And I'm looking forward to things getting so much better than they already are.

I've tried everything to lose weight and NOTHING ever worked. I'd love to be able to tell people that I finally found something that did. And it was easy. And it was workable. This is a study, NOT a miracle. But at least we're helping people.

I have not noticed any undue charges on my credit card at all, although I will be sure to check that out a little closer now that I know others have been having issues.

Hey Grad---
Do you work for the company? It sounds like you may know just a little too much about how the "study" works. If you don't then how can you justify giving these "tips" to the other people who have entered the study. You should not be telling them what NOT to do. It may cause them to lose their chance at $1000. (if thats even true)
Now don't misunderstand, I'm not trying to discredit you.
If you truly have had as much success at this diet then I will give you credit for working hard. I just hope your comments and suggestions are honest. The people who have spent their hard earned money, and time deserve that if not $1000.

I read in another blog(Fasting Every Other Day: New Diet Plan?) that they only take the first 1,000 completers to give $1,000 to. Is this true?

Unsure is right. Although I do need to lose weight, the big motivator is this money and if I do not get it then I may reconsider doing it. Anyone else hear this?

Grad, do you work for the company? I am happy for your accomplishments, but I felt the same way that Unsure felt in that you knew a bit too much. At any rate, thanks for the info :) Maybe you can tell me about this "first 1000 completers" business :)

Yes, in their fine print, they DO state something about paying the first 1,000 people to successfully complete the program. After the first 1,000 it is "at their discretion" whether they decide to pay. Sounds to me like an easy way for them to get out of paying. I'm still hopeful, but definitely skeptical. But I also think that there's quite a bit of room in the 1,000. With all of the rules and requirements they put forward, I imagine a lot of people don't "successfully" complete the program. So if you're in the study, make sure you complete every single little detail they ask for! It certainly helps with the motivation factor if you know you could be getting $1,000 plus reimbursement of the diet cost.

But also, my attitude from the beginning of this has been that even if I don't end up seeing a penny of the $1,000 or the cost of the diet, I'll still end up losing weight. The total cost of the three months has been $254, and while I'd rather not have paid anything, I think that's an acceptable price to pay for a successful (though annoying) diet. The worst case scenario for me is that I've ended up paying to lose weight. Not so bad. I'm down 17 lbs with nearly a month still to go. I've gone from a size 16 to a baggy 12! Regardless of whether these guys are really on the up-and-up, I am ecstatic about my progress. =)

One more note: they did try to sell me other products when I signed up, but I declined and have never been charged anything extra. So that's not happening to everyone. And I've called customer service twice, and got through the first time in 12 minutes and the second time in about 7. They never responded to my two e-mails, but the phone service was very helpful.

What are some other things that you have to do in the "fine print" to get the $1000?

The lady on the order line tonight told me that over 900 people had already been paid the $1,000, so that "first 1,000 participants" rule could definitely be an "out" for them.

This has been great reading everyone's comments! I did ask a customer service person about the 1,000 people and she said they wouldn't accept you if they were over that amount-so if they are honest, if you have been accepted, you are under the 1,000.

Simonne, sorry to hear about your rash and bad reaction. However, I'm wondering if you are talking about the same product and the same study. They only offer vanilla wafers on the Products for Life Diet Study. They are called "Summertime OneDayDiet Food-Tabs Prolaten(sp?)Shape-Lettes" and the address is 25 Wisconsin Ave. Oshkosh, WI 54901. However, all the registration material plus pictures had to be sent to Reno, Nevada. The box sent UPS came from Great Lakes Fulfillment Services in Lewiston, Maine. The "Amazing OneDayDiet Sun Crystals Capsules" said they were distributed from the same address in Maine with a diet support number of 1-800-344-1805.

I'm wondering if people east of the Rockies sent their registration stuff to the Maine address, not the Nevada address?? And what about Wisconsin?? Would appreciate any input on the confusion of who they are and where exactly they operate from. They seem pretty secretive to me.

BTW, The Food-Tabs contain "Fructose, Prolatein (anyone else notice a misspelling here?????) which is a special blend of Canola Oil and Calcium caseinate,Nonfat Milk Solids, Glucomanon (konjac root), Corn Syrup Solids, Sodium Caseinate, French Vanilla, Mono and Diglycerides, Dipotassium Phosphates, Silica, Natural Flavors, plus vitamins...... Any nutritionists out there who can say if Fructose, Canola Oil, Calcium and Nonfat Milk Solids as the first three ingredients are particularly healthy?

Wow, this is a pretty amazing line of commentary. I bought the One Day Diet and joined the study about a week ago and am still waiting for my product. The only thing that made me do a double take was all the "extras" they throw in there. You know, those memberships that you don't actually sign up for but have to cancel to not be charged (really hate those but was willing to deal with it if this product helps me lose 20 pounds)

Bottom line...every single person here is looking for something that they can stick to to lose weight because let's face it, we have tried everything. How many of us have burned $$$ on the pre-made meals or meetings at the mall? ALL OF US. The $300.00 ove three months isn't that bad. I think I'll save that much in the food I'm NOT buying.

The mystery of the $1,000 is merely a hope that we will actually STICK to this diet. When people say "deit's don't work" what they mean is, "I couldn't stick to it." This diet can work...you just have to follow the rules. Is this a scam? I seriously doubt it. This is merely a company making money using thier unique marketing ploy. It happens everywhere and we need to be honest with ourselves about it.

Bottom line - it's math. You burn more than you take in and you will lose weight. If we could all do it on our own, then companies liek this wouldn't be needed.

Great information from everybody! I was skeptical at first to try the diet as well, since I really didn't have the money to pay the $150 up front and the $75 a month for the following 2 months. I ordered my items on the 12th of April and received my items on the 21st. The customer service lady did sign me up for the two offers others have talked about in previous posts, but they were trial offers and could have been cancelled before ending without being charged. I have not been charged for antyhing that I was not aware of. Well I started the One Day Diet on April 27th and have since lost 4.5 lbs. I have also lost 1/2 inch off my waist. This coming Thursday will be my 2nd weigh in.

The lifestyle change is easy to follow for me because I have good willpower from doing weight watchers in the past. I got sick of counting points and that's why I failed at WW. The sun crystals do not affect me at all and I only take them on food days since I feel I do not need them on diet days. I do feel a little hungry on diet days, but I just drink some water and it fills me up. I have not had the time to do any exercises other than daily activities, and I have eaten basically anything I wanted on food days. But like others have mentioned, I don't feel like eating as much "junk" food nor can I eat as much. I feel my stomach has shrunk in the little time that I have been doing this study. Honestly, I feel this diet is comparable to others in price, considering Nutri-system, Jenny Craig, and others highly talked about cost around $200+ a month.

Now a lot of you stated that you felt Grad knew just a little too much about the diet. Well for those of you who have not signed up for the diet study, the registration form and packets they send to you with the products tell you exactly what Grad tells you in the post. They advise that you walk at least 30 mins a day, drink 8 glasses of water, eat what you used to eat on food days (but sensibly), and they also advise you not to take the sun crystals after 7 pm. All of this information comes along with the packet. I feel it is just common sense not to eat past a certain time at night so as to give your body enough time before eating and bed time to digest everything.

I have found other posts on this website from others who have completed the diet study and have received their $1000 payment along with their deposits.

I also joined this "study" and brought the info to my doctor. SHe said this is not a good diet. the pills have to much caffe4ine and to much B6 which can cause nerve damage in doses that are to high. I am now trying to send back the meds and get a refund but the company so far is not responsive. Taiday I am even having trouble getting an email to them. My last one was returned. If you are thinking of doing this. JUST SAY NO!

I called the 1 800 # yesterday to ask questions. I wanted to check the BBB before I committed to participating in the study. I checked online every where to find out info on Products for life. It was all too fishy. I did find a website called "Original One Day Diet" they had the same pills for $94 a month combo deal, plus a book and free support (I think phone or email). I have debated doing that instead. I am impressed with the weight losses I've read about and wished it were me.

I will continue to check out this site but will refrain from participating in the study.

Utah

I signed up and yes, I was skeptical (so was my husband) but after trying everything else and spending countless dollars of everything from equipment to meals, I figured, ahh, what is one more diet, maybe this will work. I just weighed in on Friday, May 5th (31 days) on the program and I am very pleased with my results. I have lost 27 pounds. Yeah, I know that sounds like a lot for one month, and I know what alot of it is "water weight" but it is 27 pounds that I will not let myself gain back. My family has noticed, my co-workers have noticed, but most importantly, I feel better about how I look and feel. Not every diet is for everyone but with the success I am having, I have two more months to go and I have a goal of 50 pounds by the end of my 90 days. Its not going to put me where I want to be but I am going to be a lot closer. & I will keep going until I hit my ultimate goal. I honestly did not find the first two weeks that bad and yes I did go to bed earlier on my "diet days". I think the key is to be honest with yourself and if you want to make it work - it will work for you. On the diet days, eat your fruit, and drink your water (dont forget your food tabs and sun crystals of course, and yes, they are like herbal speed as one of the other bloggers stated) and on your food days, dont over do it. Eat until your satisfied not til you're full. (Upset tummy ;-)) Dont forget the exercise - it's a great time to bond with my kids and it keeps them involved and hopefully in the future, they wont have to challenge this hump because it will have become routine. I cant say enough about it right now. Granted, I have less than two months left to see if I get the check, but time will tell, and if nothing else, I'm starting to find the person inside of my that I have missed for a long time. Because of my success I have gotten other people to try the diet. So far, everyone seems to be doing fine. We have developed our own "support group". We check in on each other and if someone wants to cheat, we help each other out. It kinda funny actually, I've never had anyone look up to me for such an accomplishment. And now more than ever, I dont want to fail simply because its feels really good and failure is no longer an option. See ya in a couple months and 50 pounds lighter!!

I was accepted to the study, but decided that I wasn't willing to commit to the 6 drs visits for weigh-ins (some of which had to be in a.m. before eating) and also the thought of handing over before/after pictures, (they become the property of the study) and not knowing how they might be used to promote the product. (too ambiguous to me). On the up side, though, I did decide to stick to the diet and it's working out well so far. I lost 7 lbs. the first week, 2nd wk, no loss (maybe due to the fact that I had to skip one of the diet days. I'm starting my 3rd wk. I plan to stick with it until I acheive my goal. The diet days are a little hard to stick to, but I always look forward to the food day and it gets me through. I think it's a reasonable money investment if I get the results I'm looking for. I'd be curious to know if anyone out there has actually completed the study successfully and received the $1,000. Looking forward to hearing from you .

I checked into this diet and decided NOT to join! I lost 90# 1 and ahalf years ago just eliminating ALL sugar from my diet. PLUS nothing white (rice, potatoes, breads, etc.) If I got hungry for a potatoe I ate a real Sweet Potatoe with real butter! I boosted my proteins and just went lean, green and fresh! What a difference! All natural -- I need to loose another 30# and I feel great! I'm 55 yrs. old and had a total knee transplant, so I do a lot of walking during the week. If this Grandma can do it Naturally -- YOU CAN TOO! Good luck everyone -- and I'm going to try harder to stay on this lifestyle change! It's hard at first because sugar is very toxic and causes a lot of problems, but once out of the system your energy soars and you can actually taste the real food! ThanX! I forgot how much I needed to just get back to the ole' fashioned natural eating and walking! a really cute Grandma of 5 from Utah

I was wondering if anyone out there works night shift and has tried to lose weight--using this One Day Diet or
any other. I am almost 60 and work full time night shift. I'd say 80% of us where I work are overweight. I hear improper sleep is a real good way to put on weight. Seems like the weight is easy to put on---and so hard to take off. Any suggestions?

Hey Graveyarder, I have always prefered to work graveyards. More money and less people are a nice combination. Now I don't know what you do, but I sit in a chair for ten hours four times a week and for the first time in along time I am losing weight. Since starting this job I have lost over twenty-five pounds in two months. That is a real first for me. Generally I tend to not go up or down but with this job I find that if I eat at the begining of my shift I am not hungry throughout. I also ensure that I do not eat when I get home I just go straight to bed. But more importantly I take every opportunity to be active. I had to walk home the other day becasue of the bus not coming for an hour. And it was actually very refreshing. I also take liquid lunches to work. I bring in two cans of the complete meal replacement stuff and thats it. No candy, no pop and I've also eliminated the salty stuff to. I've tried numerous diets and none of then seem to work or be stuck to. But I can tell you that working nights really does shift your body into another state. REMEMBER! the real trick is getting your body to think that night is day and day is night, don't try to stay up after work go home get into bed. When you get up have a nice breakfast and pack a light lunch. But mostly try to avoid all the food you should avoid anyway. I commend you fellow night owl and wish you luck.

Hi all-

I accually work for one of the telesales markets that accually sells the "study." I have definatly heard EVERY view that has been expressed on this comment chain. The "ODD" is what I would concider to be an average diet in the sense that it works for some people, and it doesn't work for others. Unfortunatly, I do not know much beyond the order process, as that is all that I know. I have had people call back into the order line to thank their rep for setting them up (because they have lost a good chunk of their "goal weight") but I really don't know anything about the factuality of the thousand dollars.

Here is all the information that I have about the "study":

1. This study is to "gather data for a national television advertising campaign.

2. The diet funtions on two items: the Konjac Root Wafers and the Sun (caffine) Crystals

3. You are REQUIRED to make 6 visits to a doctor of your choice within the 90-days.

4. Payments will be made as follows: Day 1: $150- You recieve 3-month supply of multi-vitamin, 1-month supply of wafers and crystals, and a weight-loss inspirational and motivational cd. 30-days later: $75 Another 1 month supply in wafers and crystals. 60-days after day 1: $75 see also: 30-days.

5. The wafers are available in both vanilla and chocolate, and the flavor may be changed at any point by calling customer service or "the study support line"

6. The order center CAN NOT send out information about the product OR the study, so don't ask. Anything you need to know you can find online or by asking another person in this thread.

I think I touched on some of the major things. Please feel free to ask any other questions and I will try my best to answer them!

I just recently joined the study as well. My first diet day started today. I know everyone is a little leary of this, as am I, but somehow I beleive that this truly is NOT a scam as long as you follow all the rules and regulations to a T. I think thats the "catch" if anything. You have to make sure you do exactly as they say or you will be disqualified. I'm excited about trying this and losing the weight. And at the end of the study, I will definitely let everyone know how it went and let everyone know the mystery about the $1000.00. :)

Hi everyone! Ok, I heard about this on the radio one day and decided to call in and "enroll" in the study. Got my pills/wafers last Friday, and went to my doctor just yesterday. He said that he didn't see any reason for not trying the diet, and that the food wafers have enough nutrients in them. He recommended against the Sun Crystals, saying that even though they are ephedra-free, they have other ingredients in them that act like ephedra and aren't the best for you. In any case, he's supporting me. He also said that if this helps me lose weight, in theory, you could just eat fruit every other day, WITHOUT the food wafers, and it would probably have the same effect. It's just based on calorie reduction. So maybe I'll try this for 3 months, and if I don't want to keep paying for the wafers, I may try it on my own. It makes sense to me. I also noticed on the Study Questions that it said you only had to see the actual doctor on your first and last visits...but could weigh in with an RN. So that's what I'm going to do. This avoids making a co-pay each time I have to go.

In any case, I'm going into this not trying to make the $1000 (though who wouldn't want that!), but more so for the weight loss. I've struggled with it for so long because I have a hard time sticking to a diet. If I can just make it one day at a time, I think it will work for me. I'm also going to follow the "Rules and Regulations" EXACTLY and not give them a chance to cheat me out of the money if possible. I've spent hundreds of dollars on weight loss products in the past, so I guess I'm willing to try it one more time!

Hope it works for everyone else. Let us know how it's going for you!! Here's to being skinny!! :o)