This does have all the hallmarks of a fad diet. WebMD calls it "an extremely rigid approach to reverse disease and cause weight loss." The site warns ominously that the "diet is not recommended for anyone who has had a colon resection or impaired kidney function" and observes that even the "authors... note the diet is too low in calcium and vitamin D and suggest a once-daily multivitamin." The site also warns that given this is a very low calorie diet--it starts at about 800 calories a day--it'll lower your basal metabolism (making it even harder to lose weight) and you'll risk losing lean muscle mass. I noticed when I used this diet I was constantly cold and tired--probably due to that very effect.

So, why am I even keeping it on my shelves and rating it as high as three stars? Well, it does have some advantages, particularly psychological. For one, its very rigidity is a blessing beginning a diet--you don't have many choices to agonize over. That can be maddening at times, but at least the diet increases in variety over time. You start in Phase One able only to have rice, shredded wheat, and almost any fruit. All spices and salt and condiments are eliminated other than artificial sweeteners and fresh lemon juice. You graduate in Phase Two to being able to add tomato, onion and bell peppers, then in Phase Three you can add almost all vegetables, then Phase Four you add proteins: Poultry, Fish, Legumes.

What's good about this? Well, for one, your body gets used to very low fat food--you then try "normal" food, at least at first, it'll seem very greasy and unappealing to you. Second, and I think this might have been the most valuable part of the diet, this forces you to learn and love your fruits and veggies. When fruits are your only option, you get to know fruits and appreciate them--I even gave rhubarb a try. When you finally can have vegetables, it's like a taste of heaven. And again, you explore vegetables you might not have before, from Arugula to Zucchini. I even learned what is in season when. I think that if you do have a weight problem, and want to lose weight and keep it off, then certainly making friends with fruits and vegetables are a good thing.

Oh, and I did find this produced rapid weight loss--on average about 10 pounds a week, at least in the beginning when I was at a high weight. And if you're really obese, that can really help encourage you in the beginning when psychologically you need some quick payback for giving up your favorites foods that are your best friend and coping mechanism. But I never was able to stand this diet long enough to reach my goal weight, and only achieved that and stopped yo-yo-ing when I moved to healthier, more balanced and less extreme diets and exercised. But the experience in learning to love my fruits and veggies--and a quick start to a diet--did help. ( )