21 pounds in 21 days?

by Brian White (Subscribe to Brian White's posts)
Jul 4th 2007 5:30PM

I have to laugh at most of the diet commercials these days: lose 30 pounds in a few months! Take a pill and lose weight while eating your favorite (junk) foods! Strap this thing on your tummy and lose weight. Such utter hogwash.

So, when I see a diet purporting that you can lose 21 pounds in 21 days, I am immediately skeptical. In general, weight loss done the healthy way will take time. That means starting weight loss activity in the spring for the summer. Starting now is just going to set most people up for failure since immediate gratification is the name of the game in the U.S. culture these days.

I've not really delved into the science of the Martha's Vineyard Detox Diet, but any "detox diet" -- if radical enough -- will drop pounds very fast. Is it the most healthy way? That is up for debate in my corner. If it has worked for you, please tell me about it. What were the pitfalls?

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Comments (26)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Kristen 2-18-2008 @ 2:29PM

"10-07-2007 @ 9:06AM
Vera said...
I have lost 35lbs. in 3 1/2 months on the Atkins diet and I have been exercising 40 min. 4 days a week. I want to lose another 70 lbs. I just want to know how realistic is it to stick to this diet. Can you actually be satisfied and how do you not cheat??"

Okay so here is the deal Carb reducing diets (i.e. Atkins) are not good for the body, your body requires carbs to function... it's just that most people don't eat the good ones, Whole wheat breads and pasta and brown rice. I want to punch Atkins in the mouth for letting people think it's healthy to starve your body of essential carbs
Once you get over the first week of the Martha's Vineyard diet your body should be adjusted to where you don't crave the things you used to crave the only question is DO YOU have the will power to make it through one week This is a wonderful detox program and the weight loss is a HUGE perk

gina 3-21-2009 @ 5:46PM

Also, Atkins (or any no carb type diet) can lead to kidney/liver disease and in severe cases pancreatic break down causing diabetes (type-1/adult on set)

Lisa 2-21-2008 @ 3:06AM

I just picked up the book but haven't "officially" started yet - but am thinking I will not lose much because this "diet" is my typical eating style that I've followed my entire life. Eating any other way seems foreign to me. Yes, my body craves vegetables and fresh juices, and is repulsed by the thought of hamburgers and pancakes!!

I know it's horrible to say but I do not take vitamins and I do not exercise and have never been to a gym, and I am 5'8', size 8. (I am 30 and the mother of a 6 and 3 year old, also) I have no health issues. How and what I eat has everything to do with how I look & feel, I'm sure. (P.S. when he talks about hair, skin, and nails growing strong, healthy, thick, shiny, etc. yes that's all true for me.)

The book contains so much great (and true!) information, the specific benefits of each plant and herb, including uncommonly known facts on parasites, candida, etc.

The "detox" is cleansing our bodies from the typical American diet. Those that eat a typical American diet will surely shed the pounds. I'd like to drop a few pounds but doubt that I will. (If you read his excerpts about his grandmother, this IS my mother, to a "T" - she even raises her own chickens and has a huge garden)

That being said, I think this is fantastic book to pore over, and get excited about feeding our bodies the right kind of food to sustain ourselves.

People that are excited about this book will also be interested in "Nutritional Healing" by Phyllis & James Balch.

Lynne 6-30-2008 @ 10:18PM

I did this diet and lost 24 pounds in 21 days. It really is a detox, the weight loss is just a bonus. I bought my products at www.detoxdietcenter.net They saved me $30 and my order shipped the same day so I got it in 2 days! They are so helpful too. They were there to answer all my questions. I couldn't have done it without the great people at www.detoxdietcenter.net

Lynne 6-30-2008 @ 10:22PM

I guess I did the link wrong. http://www.detoxdietcenter.net will save you money and help you on your detox!!

eckre 7-05-2007 @ 11:42AM

I did it 20 lb in 3 weeks. just eat 100% alkalizing veggies, you don't need anyone's product$. read the PH miracle.

Kurt 7-08-2007 @ 1:18AM

I agree that you don't HAVE to buy someone products to lose weight. But everyone has different circumstances, sometimes the regiments and structure provided by diets is what people really need to lose weight. I've been on this diet and have had pretty good results. I have a blog with my progress detox diet marthas vineyard

Kurt 7-08-2007 @ 1:20AM

Oops, I guess you can't edit comments, here's the blog I meant to link to: http://www.marthasvineyarddetoxdiet.net

paxistheway 7-09-2007 @ 12:09PM

Blog? In the interest of truth and accuracy, it must be stated that said "blog" is an advertisement for Roni DeLuz's Martha's Vineyard Detox. That isn't to say that the information or the protocol or the book aren't valuable; I don't know one way or the other. But people should know that the "blog" isn't something a happy user slapped together -- it is a commercial message presented under the auspices of the book's publishers.

Brian 7-09-2007 @ 12:18PM

Umm, no. This is no commercial endorsement whatsoever. Just presenting my take on this diet methodology. Not sure if you read the post. Did you?

Kim Nicholson 7-09-2007 @ 1:28PM

I would like to say that in your introduction you mentioned that you laugh when, (among other things) you can lose "30lbs. in a few months." I'm sure you were being a little cavalier because 30lbs over 3 -4 months is a very acceptable and healthy 2lbs a week on average. Anything less or 'slower' would probably be very discouraging. I personally have lost 65lbs in 3 months and have kept it off for 11 years during which I went through 2 pregnancies. I was miserable and I simply ate a lot less and exercised a lot more. There's no magic pill or formula. I stuck to it and I was very consistant. I did not feel week tired or cranky. Infact I felt (and still do) amazing. I had energy. I was in a great mood and the weight just fell off. It can be done...and it can be done fast and healthy. We need to stop telling people it will take years. It seems like an unatainable goal and keeps the diet industry booming. Just eat less and exercise more...you can do it...you just have to do it and do it everyday until you feel great about how you feel and how you look! It doesn't have to take forever.

Jenn 7-09-2007 @ 6:17PM

Brian, I don't think that paxistheway was talking about u. I think that they were referencing the comment above from Kurt.

Janice 7-23-2007 @ 12:15PM

I'm doing this detox. Please remember that the weight loss is the side effect of detoxing your system. The true goal should be clearing your systems of toxins. The weight loss is a bonus! The book goes through how to detox every organ and your skin. It is stressed through out the book that the goal is not weight loss, it is a side effect. Anything that can get you to learn to eat healthier and appreciate veggies is a good thing!
I'm using this program to do just that. I am kick starting my weight loss by flooding my body with high quality nutrients and retraining my taste buds to enjoy, even crave veggies. Also, I'm breaking the habit of drinking diet sodas and eating junk food. In addition I expect that my stomach should shrinks some so that I can practice better portion control. I have been doing the detox for 14 days and have lost 22 pounds. I have a plan to loose in total 110.
I am blogging everything if you would like to check it out. www.chickycola.blogspot.com

Hope this clears up questions that people might be having.
Janice

ERika 7-30-2007 @ 7:40PM

My Doctor put me on a 30 day juice fast (which is what this is) and I lost fifty pounds. I have successfully kep off my weight for two months so far. The fast is not about weight loss, it is about detoxification (which someone has already said), weight loss is a positive side effect. I was diagnosed with type two diabetes before I did this and droppikng the pounds has reversed that. I used to have high blood pressure, arthritis in my feet, and I was just getting too fat!! My blood pressure is down (no more meds) and my feet seldom hurt. I exercise for 50 min a day (something I never did before) and I feel great!!! I am so glad someone turned me on to this. There is a lot of info on the web about juice fasting...it is not dangerous.

diego 3-21-2008 @ 11:21PM

please,how?

Michele Ross 8-05-2007 @ 10:35PM

I love the Martha's Vineyard Diet!!! The detox is amazing! I got the products at marthasvineyarddietcenter.com
Their prices were great, better than the author's. I lost 15 pounds in the first week!
Michele

Michele Ross 8-05-2007 @ 10:36PM

I guess I should say that agian...
www.marthasvineyarddietcenter.com

Sue 10-01-2007 @ 12:35PM

I would just like to comment that I am currently reading the book and intend to go through with the fast. The author stresses the importance of detoxification and changing ones overall eating habits in the long run.
the purpose of the book is not a promotion of quick fix weight loss. From my perspective, the book is not well named, and I think this more likely a result of the publishers wishes for a best-selling title rather than the authors wishes. It would seem to me that her choice for the title is the sub-title- The Martha's Vineyard Diet Detox.
But if I lose 10 or 15 lbs while on it, I'll be thrilled!

Kimberly Offhaus 9-22-2007 @ 7:29PM

I did this diet and I have to say - I did lose the weight - 19 pounds actually in 21 days and I am a completely different person - I feel better, I look better - I'm much more positive and I really value my life more
I don't think this is an unhealthy way of eating - and this book was a life saver for me! - Do the diet if you need to - most people in America sadly are overweight - because we all eat the wrong things - this book is an educational way of learning how to eat as a lifestyle not just a diet - I think the secret to this diet is partly the large amount of water you need to drink while on it in order to flush out all that fat you've collected over the years. About a gallon a day. Also I think another reason why it is so highly effective in allowing you to shed that whole pound of fat per day is because of the diet being totally calorie dense liquid food - that way not only do you get a huge kick of nutrients after you eat to increase your metabolism, your digestive system doesn't have to work nearly as hard as before when you overate and simply had solid food because now you are juicing and making a puree of all the veggies. Boom - you have instant energy after you eat (taking a digestive enzyme pill as well) and that energy is used to burn fat and keep your metabolism up - The author of the book was a nurse and is now a naturopathic doctor with a facility in Martha's Vineyard - read the book - then make a judgement

Anita Auerback 10-01-2007 @ 2:27PM

I am 46 and have always been a little on the heavy side (needing to lose about 5 to 10lbs), but over the last few years, the weight really started to creep up to the point where I had to face the sad reality that I had about 25 lbs to lose. When I went for my annual physical at the end of August, the part I dreaded most was getting on that scale! As much as I tried to justify that I carried my extra weight primarily in my hips, my doctor just looked at me and smiled and point out that weight is weight. As luck would have it, the same day of my physical, I attended a function and ran into a friend who had just returned from Martha's Vineyard, having completed the 3 week detox. He looked fantastic, lean (he lost 21 lbs) and about 10 years younger. His wife joined him for the last week and lost 7 lbs during that time. I was inspired by their results and resolved that I was going to get the book and follow the plan. The challenge was finding a 3-week block of time when I could free up my calendar and really focus on the program. Well, I started it September 23 and am now on Day 9, almost down 8 lbs! More importantly, I feel I will be able to complete the entire 3 week program and adopt healthier eating habits to maintain afterwards. While I agree that for many people a gradual weight loss is the way to go, but I know that I need quick results to stay motivated, so this was the right thing for me. Besides, I'm a self-proclaimed junk food addict, so the health benefits of doing a detox were also appealing. One word of caution - the first few days are really tough, but stick with it and you will do fine.

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