SubscribeThe 5 Bite Diet
Not four and not six.
Apparently five is the perfect number of bites to take at your next meal. Dr Alwin Lewis's book Why Weight Around recommends the five bite approach to weight loss.
- Drink as much of anything as you want as long as it doesn't contain calories.
- Take 5 bites of any food at lunch.
- Take 5 bites of anything at dinner.
- Take one multi-vitamin every day.
- Get a bit of protein a day "on average".
Dr Lewis says that after three days on this diet you will no longer be hungry: "that then resets what you body sees as full". Once you have reached your weight you can go back to "eating normally" (and therefore gain all the weight back and then some).
The truly sad thing is (in this ad/news bite) that Mr Lewis appears to be serious. Do not be fooled. This is not a good way to manage weight and get healthy.
I have no doubt whatsoever that anyone would lose substantial amounts of weight eating just five bites at a meal (Lewis sets an expectation of 13 pounds per week in his book).
How about we check back a year or 5 later before calling it successful?
The site for the diet has the audacity to say "no more fad diets" and lists so many clichés that maybe this is satire after all and I have been fooled.
I though we were over these weird gimmicks?
This is stupid, but he will sell millions of books, have millions of followers and then it will disappear for about 10 years and start all over again. He might even get a chance to make the rounds on the News shows. This crap ticks me off.
Reply..opps, he's already starting to make the rounds. Wow.
ReplyIt is easy to disregard what he is saying, but I have personally known five people who have lost weight that they have been trying to lose for years. What is so crazy about it? We think people getting gastric bypass surgery is "normal" but being disciplined to stop shoving unnecessary mounds of food in your mouth is "crazy"???? Sounds a bit backwards to me! The people who have done this and lost 50 + pounds have kept it off for a long period of time and feel incredibly energetic and healthy again! Don't knock what you haven't thoroughly investigated. Oh, and Your body is not denied the fuel it needs--it get its from all those fat stores (just like bears in hibernation)
ReplyWow. Just when you think we've seen all the dumbass ideas, here comes another.
ReplyThis sounds completely ridiculous! You could make any crazy rule like that and people would lose weight because they'd eat so little. How about:
- Eat anything you want, so long as you're standing on your head whilst eating...
ReplyI believe our Florida alligators take 5 bites a meal and they are quite fit :-)
ReplyThats hillarious! I guess its better then the anorexic eater diet or bullemia.
ReplyWell, maybe the five bites are all supposed to be the size of a quarterpounder... * whistles *
ReplyHow big are these bites?? If this ever became the "thing", imagine the increase in choking deaths! Really, it's truly sad that anyone would fall for this cr*p.
Reply*coughs* ha ha ha! Omgosh! Speaking of choking...i nearly choked on my apple by reading your comment. ^________________^ Funny!
Mouse &hearts
ReplyFive bites?!? Hmmm...I guess Dr. Lewis swallows a lot.
ReplyWow! Flippin' awesome! I can eat a whole cheeseburger in just 3 bites... I then can have 3 cheeseburgers per day plus a half brownie with the remaining bite, plus drinking gallons of diet coke... and still telling my friends I'm on a diet. F*cking A!
ReplyLMAO
ReplyCokes? Says NO Calories! LOL
ReplyCoke Zero has no calories! LOL
Replylol....your comment was awesome
ReplyI see this leading to much higher incidence of choking as people try and get their money's worth out of their five bites.
But in all seriousness, people want something simple, and this certainly delivers. It's much easier than trying to divine the amount of calories in a restaurant "salad".
Replyyes, because anorexia is now a legitimate diet.
ReplyThis says nothing about what kind of diet those who exercise heavily need.
Reply5 bites of _anything_ ?
I wonder how much lettuce I can stuff in my mouth.
ReplyWow, I didn't know anorexia is now considered a "diet". Without knowing what those bites are, this type of "plan" can be very dangerous. There is no way you will be enough protein, complex carbs, healthy fats and other essential nutrients and minerals on such a diet. Without enough protein in the diet, you will lose weight, but a lot of it will be muscle. I haven't read the book (nor do I plan to). All I know is that if I was only allowed 5 bites, it would definitely 1) not be enough food to keep me satisfied for longer than an hour 2) set me into starvation mode and totally mess up my metabolism.
ReplyThis is probably one of the most dangerous diet plans I've ever seen. Promoting anorexia (I'm sure the amount of calories in this diet can't exceed more than 500-600 per day...700 if you have a big mouth) is not only irresponsible, it will set people up for failure incredibly fast. I doubt anyone will be able to stay on this diet for more than about a week before being ready to eat their own arm (in five bites, of course). Starvation diets are never a good idea and no one should ever eat fewer than 900 calories a day, even those that are morbidly obese and are on physician-supervised diets. Does this guy seriously believe that taking a multi vitamin every day will take the place of actual food?? I hope this guy gets sued for causing someone to land in the hospital. It's only a matter of time, I'm sure.
ReplySpectra:
The only thing this guy is onto is the concept of small portion sizes, but his plan is promoting anorexic eating habit for sure. However, those small portions better be balanced macros of carbs/proteins/fat to be effective. But those of us in shape already know that.
ReplyHonesty, this has to be no.1 in the world's most stupid diet plan! I can hardly believe it :-/
I totally agree with Spectra, it is absolutely setting people up for food disorders, and also failure - who could stick with this for any length of time? It's incredibly sad!
ReplyI think some guys would just train themselves to shove an entire Whopper into their mouths in one bite.
This could actually be a very fun diet.
"The Cram Diet"
ReplyYeah, because if I didn't have the willpower to eat less, telling me to eat a magic number five bites of something will trigger my hidden reserves. Sorry, if I sit down to a giant plate of nachos with all the fixings, there's no way I'm only eating five bites of it. I'll just have a huge salad and a lean steak, thanks.
ReplyI had a look at the link. "It's not WHAT you eat, it's HOW MUCH you eat?" Oh please. How irrespondsible. When is a bite not a stuffed mouthfull like one sees on those decadent and disgusting 'food contests'?
I think no matter how easy access to food/health info is (internet, media, literature), there will still be idiots and fools who will fall for this kind of rubbish.
Let's hope when he makes the talk show circuit someone exposes him and makes an utter fool of him.
ReplyAre any of you morbidly obese? I've dieted all my life and yes I've tried every diet out there. Don't call me stupid if I actually try this one also. If you haven't walked in my shoes you have NO RIGHT to call me stupid. I know this diet sounds a little extreme but what the ha, I'll give it a try. Actually I've been on it two days now. The first day I thought I would starve to death but the second day is easier. And no, I take regular size bites not jumbo sized.
ReplyWe called the diet stupid.
And plenty of the people here have been where you are. They are not know because they gave up on fad diets and turned to eating healthfully and regular exercise.
May I suggest www.sparkpeople.com - there are other sites out, but that one is a good one that emphasizes healthy weight loss. To lose weight permanently, it will be slow and it will require "work" but it will be far better for your body in the long run. These fad diets are not.
ReplyI think that for some people that this is what they need to jump start. I was looking into it and what this is supposed to do is simulate the Gastric Bypass Surgery. I see nothing wrong with it - You know your body the best - and yes this is not for everyone, but if it works for you - I'm glad -
ReplyI think this makes a lot of sense.....Would you rather have major surgery to destroy a viable organ that includes scars, extreme infection risk, immobility for up to 1 month, and no option to reverse any of this if you change your mind later? What the he$$ do you people think Gastric Bypass forces the person to do? This diet idea is the exact same premise as post-bypass EXCEPT.....if you over-eat, you don't run the risk of blowing out staples, there's no risk of stomach perforation (this equals death folks) and .... it leaves the dieter in control without radical surgery to reduce intake. I APPLAUD an idea that saves young people from going under the knife to encourage behavior modification. I do feel that this diet should be physician supervised however. Good luck Angie.
ReplyWhat say you, Pamela to a sensible middle? There exists many non-restrictive/invasive ways to lose body fat and eat healthfully. I don't want to speak for spectra here, but I am almost positive you profoundly misconstrued her message.
ReplyO_____________o *confused* Who called you stupid? *looks around* A little defensive, are we...?
Mouse &hearts
ReplyAngie, nobody called YOU stupid, we called the DIET stupid. Btw don't assume none of us have been where you are.
ReplyI should write a book if this is all it takes...
ReplySo all I have to do to become a millionaire is write a book on the silliest idea that I have ever heard of in my life? Then, 10 million people who abhor hard work and long-term commitment will buy my book and make me a millionaire. Wow, I don't know about you guys, but this is refreshing. America is the land of opportunity!
ReplySo I was reading through some of the comments on this website and I don't really care either way, however it did catch my attention when I heard of it - What this diet is supposed to to is simulate the Gastric Bypass Surgery - And if you think about it - What is the difference between this and the Surgery? You have this expensive surgery spend weeks in recovery and then when you do eat you get sick..... At least this way you don't have to spend all that time in recovery. I don't think that this is meant for the average person, I believe that this is for the people that 1) don't have insurance to be able to have the procedure or 2) people that just can't take the time to have it. Both have to lose weight for health purposes.
ReplyThat's just it! you got it! It's a way to shrink your stomache without surgery. The key is not to eat whatever you want after and gain back the weight. What this diet does is teach you porportion control. Dr. Lewis has been my Dr. for over 10 years. I went to him and said that I didn't feel good and what did he reccommend for weight loss. He told me about this diet, and I couldn't believe it at first. This isn't a long term diet. This is a boost. I weighed 153 lbs when I first started. I returned to see him three months later, down to 130. I did the 5 bites for 2 weeks. After that, I slowly started eating normally, however, I didn't need a lot to fill me up. So, I was eating less at every meal. I got pregnant months after that and I am now restarting this diet to help me shed the extra weight. it's no joke. you will be hungry for the first 3-5 days. but if you can stick to it, this is the only thing that worked for me!
ReplyGeorge, you don't see anything wrong with starvation? Wow.
ReplyNo what I am saying is I don't see the difference between this and the surgery - Either way it is the same thing - But if you have the surgery it is OK? Why because then the dcotors and hospitals and such all get there cut? I don't think that it is ok for everyone - But for the people that have over 100 pounds to lose I don't see the difference between this and the Gastric Bypass Surgery. To each its own - - No one said that you had to do it....I think that it is a good alternative to the surgery.
ReplyGeorge--the difference between this and GB surgery is that people having the surgery physically cannot eat more than a few bites per meal. They are under the supervision of a nutritionist to be sure that the small amount of food that they CAN eat is high in protein and nutrients. They also probably eat more than a grand total of 10 bites of food per day, although in the early stages of the operation, it IS very difficult to keep food down. There's a huge difference between eating half a hard boiled egg because that's all you can eat and eating 5 bites of Krispy Kreme donuts and then stopping. The diet isn't very nutritionally balanced at all...I'm sure he says in the book to eat balanced stuff, but most people that will try it will probably take 5 bites of the same junk they've been eating all along.
Oh, and Angie--no one thinks you're stupid (except maybe the guy that wrote this book). It's people like this guy that prey on people like you who literally are at their wits' end and don't know what else to try. I hope that you don't fall for this guy's hoopla and maybe take Heather's advice and check out Sparkpeople or a more sensible plan like Weight Watchers or something. Trust me, I used to be obese too. I know what it's like to want to be thin more than anything and not know which way to go about it. I wish you luck!
ReplyWow....you didn't even say anything intelligible. ROCK ON George & Angie!!!!!!!!!
ReplyActually, Spectra was extremely sensible and raised EXCELLENT points. Rock on indeed.
ReplySo George....what Spectra is saying is that if you go through all the risk factors and side effects of having elective Gastric Bypass it is justifiable to eat 5-10 bites and it's ok that these post-surgery recipients have the potential for malnutrition because it's somehow better if there's also risk of vomiting, infection, septic shock, non-healing wounds, etc..... If you tr y to SIMULATE the positive effects of bypass while AVOIDING the risk factors, it's a stupid idea.
ReplyDid the author advise anyone trying the 5 bite method to avoid doctors and nutritionists or did he advise everyone to stick to donuts and fast food....I must have missed that .......
Sorry - my above reply is more appropriate on this sub-thread...
What say you, Pamela to a sensible middle? There exists many non-restrictive/invasive ways to lose body fat and eat healthfully. I don't want to speak for spectra here, but I am almost positive you profoundly misconstrued her message.
ReplyBottom line, ready Gary Taubes "Good Calories, Bad Calories", you'll know how fat gets created by insulin which is triggered by eating excess carbs. Cut out the excess carbs and you'll be on the way to a slim and sexy body!
ReplyGreat Advice!
ReplyMost of my lunches consist of salad. I can't imagine feeling full after 5 bites of lettuce:)
ReplyI wonder where he got the number 5.
I must be missing something. If people were able to have portion sizes under control, they would probably already be well on their way to losing weight. If you can't leave off with a reasonable portion size, how would you leave off with having only 5 bites of something?
Unless there is much more to this and I'm just missing it, this is silly, silly, and if you could follow it, you would just end up starving yourself. Plus, the minute you stopped eating this way, I expect the pounds would jump right back on, just like they usually seem to when I've seen someone try Bernstein or some other starvation plan.
ReplyThe difference between this and gastric bypass, as was stated earlier, is that with the surgery you literally are not able to eat more than a small amount or you will get sick. Most people don't have the willpower to eat such a small amount - if they did, they would not be overweight. That's why it doesn't work the same way to just say "Eat five bites at every meal." Maybe you could do it for a couple of days but eventually your body will be crying out for food and you will give in. I definitely couldn't do it and would not want to, even if I did need to lose weight.
ReplyImagine this scenario: You are given a duffel bag and put into a huge bank vault full of money and are instructed to take only 5000 dollars. You think you'd stop at that, or would you fill the duffel bag? Then imagine this scenario: You're put in the same vault with a ziploc baggie and told to take only 5000 dollars. I'm guessing it'd be a lot harder to try and take more. It's the same thing with food addiction. It's ridiculous to say to a person with food issues "Oh, just stop at 5 bites and it'll be just like surgery". There's a reason the surgery exists...It's still a last resort, but it should be reserved for people who really have no other option. I'm not saying it's better to have the surgery than to try this diet. People forget that after about 6 months, people with GB surgery can often eat a bit more than they did at the beginning of their operation...usually around 1600-1800 calories a day. Heck, some people even gain most of their weight BACK after having that surgery by eating a lot of liquid calories.
ReplyThis is the 1st time somebody identified that it may be OK to not eat 6 meals a day comprised of approx 300 cals per day, that include starch+protien+fat, etc...... Hello...... We.ve been an overweight world for 30+ years....... The USDA can't be 100% right either
ReplyAgain, do you think there may be a sensible solution in between?
ReplyThe only way I can see this as being somewhat legit is as a way to gauge your own hunger. A lot of people don't know what being full actually is, and ignore what their body tells them.
I'll be the optimist and claim this is a way of getting people to think about what they're eating :)
That said, yeah, it's absolute crap, haha.
ReplyHis site says my ideal weight is 97 lbs!!!! That gives me a BMI of 18.3!!!! He's crazy!!!
ReplyYeah, according to the site, my ideal weight is 105. I haven't weighed that little for 25 years, and when I did, I was a very scrawny little university student, and people were constantly after me to eat something!!!
ReplyI need to be 107 lb, apparently. So I need to lose 100% of my body fat, and then, lose almost 20 lb of lean body mass.
ReplyOf course, if you want to lose lean body mass, this might be the diet to do it! :o
Pamela069, wow... I think I'm going to cry because you're so cleaver lol. It was a simple question, I do agree. But I really wanted to know the answer, and I got it. Spectra great points.
ReplyOh, and the diet is still stupid. It promotes starvation and eating disordered behavior. I'm scared for people who are desperate to try this, it will slow downs ones metabolism and cause rapid weight gain when the program is abandoned, and it will be abandoned by anyone who doesn't develop a eating disorder.
Reply"thinner than you ever imagined possible"... they're right, I never imagined weighing 111 pounds, because I think that's how much my SKELETON weighs. No matter how you slice it, losing 15 lbs per week cannot be healthy!
ReplyNot only is it not healthy, how is it really possible? I had pneumonia last fall, and ate nothing, (or maybe 5 bites!!) and I lost 5 pounds a week for two weeks. Not because I wanted to, but because I just had no appetite and could not force myself to eat. I can't even see how 15 lbs in a week could be possible, unless you were enormous starting out.
ReplyMaybe the only good thing about this is that it promotes portion size awareness. Maybe. That said, this sounds like crap. His site calculator claims I should weigh 111 pounds. Um, yes. I have in the past and people were telling I looked anorexic at about that point. And what is up with claiming everyone should strive for an 18.5 BMI? I thought people varied, but maybe Dr. Lewis forgot that little tidbit.
I imagine anything about portion control in here could be had in much better form in another book. I vote it gets chucked into the dust heap.
ReplyI know, right?
ReplyAs I posted above, I need to be 107 lb, apparently. I have 125 lb LEAN BODY MASS - no fat included. :) So, all I need is a -16% body fat. He's right, thinner than I ever thought possible. Though, this is the type of diet that would eat away at your muscle if you just wanted to be as stick-skinny as possible!
HOW ABOUT DEFYING HIS PLAN A LITTLE. INSTEAD OF 5 BITES AND LOOSING 13LBS A WEEK WHICH IS VERY UNHEALTHY ANYWAY. TWEAK AND DO 10 MODERATED BITES, OR 15 SMALL BITES! THE CALORIC INTAKE WILL BE MUCH BETTER. YOU COULD STILL LOOSE AT LEAST HALF OF WHAT HE SUGGEST.
ReplyI'm doing this diet with a little variation. I eat 5 bites for breakfast, 5 for lunch and 5 for dinner. I'll be the first to admit that getting used to eating 5 bites and stopping was hard and I felt like I was starving the first couple weeks. Which my body probably thought that I was but it has gotten easier.
ReplyWhy don't you all read the damn book. This has nothing to do with starvation and everything to do with portion control. Five bites will not kill you and will not "cause" you to become anorexic or starve to death. If you're going to be anorexic you won't need the 5-bite diet to do so. And, isn't it curious how the more rantingly ignorant people are, the more they can't spell.
ReplyAMEN! I did read the book and you're right, it can be a very sound plan if you follow what he recommends and check with physician or nutritionist.
ReplyAlso.... There's a chart in the back of the book that charts the progress of 100 patients following the program. There are only 1 or 2 that lost 10-15 lbs /week, and only men lost at the accelerated rate. Most of the females dropped 2-5 lbs/week. There is actually quite a bit of advice as to how to formulate the "bites" to fit preferences, personalities, etc.... I don't think any published diet is 100% but there are some new and reasonable perspectives that may be beneficial to the dieter.
ReplyI don't think that formulating bites based on personality would make this a sensible diet. Also, you've played the "no diet is perfect" card. This does not exonerate a starvation-level of food intake. There are many ways of eating out there that are balanced, healthy and sustainable.
I am curious though - what "new and reasonable perspectives" are there in the book? I'm only asking out of curiosity, not to be contentious.
ReplyThought I'd give everybody a heads up. I've been on this diet for a week now. I've lost 7 pounds. It is hard but after four or five days your hunger lessens. I still get hunger in between meals but I try to do something to take my mind off of it. For me, counting bites gives me a tangible way of watching my portions. I know this diet isn't for everyone but so far it seems to be working for me. I consider this the way I would have to eat if I had the gastric bypass, which I was perparing to do this summer. I do however eat 5 bites for breakfast, lunch and dinner instead of just lunch and dinner.
ReplyAfter reading everything about why this is not recommended, and why it's not recommended people lose in excess of 1% of their body weight a week, you still think you should follow this diet?
Either Angie is a shill for this diet (likely) or she is a prime candidate for the Darwin Awards.
I lost a lot of weight when I had an eating disorder. Perhaps I should publish a book.
ReplyIf your anorexic you dont eat at all. HE IS TELLING YOU TO EAT!!! Read the book! This is just like the lap band or the gastric bypass surgery WITHOUT THE SURGERY! It is called SELF CONTROL! If you can not go thru his process than just stay fat! I am sick of people always shutting down everyones ideas on how to lose weight. If you knew anything about his process you would not be saying half the crap you are. "I'm going to eat 1000 cheeseburgers a day!" Oh please! you would eat that even if this diet were not around!
ReplyI think it takes more self control to develop a well-balanced regime of diet and exercise than to just barely eat anything. But by all means, continue with the elitism.
Oh, by the way, if anorexics didn't eat at all, there wouldn't be any anorexics. Common sense is indicated.
ReplyRight On Michele. Self control is what it's all about.
ReplyThis 5 bite diet helps me put an amount in my head that gives me aide in cutting portions. I know people think, Well why don't you just eat smaller portions without having to count bites. If I could have done that I would have already. Maybe after doing this awhile, I can mentally train myself into eating small portions but for now this is working. I've lost 9 pounds in a week and a half.
I defy you to find the doctor that says losing 9 pounds in a week and a half is either sensible or healthy. Mind you, they have to be a real doctor with a medical degree. Phd's in pop psych don't count.
By all means, find a device that helps you limit your portion size. I'm all over that. Just don't make yourself sick in the process.
ReplyWhy would you get sick? People who have had lapband or stomach stapling eat even less than the 5-bite. Don't knock till you try it.
ReplyActually, the WHO says any less than 1,200 calories a day, no matter the size of the person (aka how small or sedentary or morbidly obese) can only be done in an in-patient (hospital, clinic, or spa) setting. A doctor or dietitian will lose their licenses in most countries for recommending less than 1,200 calories a day to anyone to do at home.
Of course, maybe this "doctor" is not a doctor already but a "doctor" like Dr. Phil or Dr. Mercola are "doctors", if you know what I mean, and in this case he can say whatever he pleases.
And yes, I've been morbidly obese and when I was desperate for anything to work, I have to confess I tried something similar (with a shady dietitian). It added up to around 680 cals a day. I followed it to a T for 3 months and I lost around 4lb and a whole lot of hair. So not worth it. Then I dieted eating right and enough calories and I actually lost weight.
The reality is: if you are fat, your body is excellent at storing the calories you eat. You can't trick it by just eating very little. You gotta spend more (exercise) and change what you eat to keep it confused, or you won't lose any weight.
ReplyNo Jan, he really is an MD. An Internest, I think. I still, however, haven't quite figured out what he's trying to do with this diet other than sell books. He does say something about the healthiest BMI being under 19.0. When he tells you on his web site what weight you need to be for your height, he uses this number. It's not a very realistic goal for 99% of adults so , like I said, I can't figure out his point, if he has a worthwhile one. Just some observations of mine.
ReplyVery interesting about the healthiest BMI being under 19...most Americans struggle to keep theirs below the 30 mark. I know for me, I'm at my healthiest weight when my BMI is at around 19-20 and if I get under 19, I get underfat and am no longer at my healthiest. I still think this diet is really shady. Like Jan said, it's very hard to lose weight on a VLCD unless you are very severely obese and even then, most of the initial weight lost on any diet is water weight anyway.
ReplyHi Spectra!
I can't seem to find it on his site, but he had a "BMI" type calculator that figured out his suggested weight for you if your BMI was 18.5 I think. I plugged my height in it and the recommended weight seemed low to me also. I'm not sure why he picked 18.5 if I have that value correct. There may be some studies that say less overall disease at that "BMI," but I would imagine one's lifestyle would have to be close to perfect for overall nutrients and activity to stay at 18.5 and be healthy.
ReplyI personally look best when my BMI is 23, but that is a very elusive weight for me to be at. I'm there right now, but keep on losing weight. It always happens that way, if I go under 24, it keeps on dropping until I hit 21, then it stops.
18.5 is crazy talk. Like Heather said, I have more lean mass than that.
Reply