A review of the Martha's Vineyard Diet

by Martha Edwards (Subscribe to Martha Edwards's posts)
Jul 11th 2007 6:44PM

Categories: Diet & Weight Loss, Reviews & Products

Brian's post from a few days ago on the Martha's Vineyard Diet and the promise that you can lose 21 Pounds in 21 Days has been one of ur more popular pages, and rightly so -- who wouldn't be curious at the idea of losing 21 pounds in 3 weeks? As for whether it's legit, well, that's another story.

AOL's fitness team has put together a review of the Martha's Vineyard Diet. In a nutshell, here's what they have to say about it:

It's not healthy -- the diet doesn't include adequate amounts of protein and fat
The book makes many false claims -- including the claim that you can build muscle on the diet, which, without protein or resistance training, isn't possible. And anyway, who would have the energy to go to the gym on this type of eating plan?
The author also makes outrageous and frankly bizarre claims that have nutritionists and doctors confused. An example? She suggests jumping on a trampoline to relieve pressure to your lymphatic system
The 'science' behind the diet is unsubstantiated
My favourite part of the review: "Take the Cabbage Soup Diet, substitute cabbage with a variety of other veggies and fruits, then throw in an uncomfortable enema and you have the Martha's Vineyard Diet"

Hmph. That's definitely some food (or juice) for thought. Do you agree? Disagree?

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Comments (4)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Miss Sky 7-26-2007 @ 12:59PM

I believe that if you use the chi machine and rebounder (mini trampoline) it does make a substancial difference in your ability to loosen
you internal organs that are clogged with fecal matter. Read the book and make your own decision.
You will learn a lot about anatomy that you never knew before.

Michele Ross 8-05-2007 @ 10:45PM

Well, I don't care what anyone says! I tried it and will do it again. The 21 Pounds in 21 Days worked for me! I lost 15 pounds in the first week! It takes dedication, but I must say, I felt so much better after! The products are expensive, but I found a web site that has good prices, the cheapest anywhere!

http://www.marthasvineyarddietcenter.com

Try the detox for yourself!!
Michele

David M. Goldstein 9-23-2007 @ 12:17PM

I did lose 22 pounds in 21 days. Since I stopped, I did continue to lose 8 pounds and have stabilized.

My blood pressure was 'wacky' after the diet, very low, but is back to normal now.

My vision was affected. After the diet, my glasses prescription changed radically. Three weeks later, it returned to almost what it was before, predictably worse than 4 years ago which is the time of my last prescription.

I am 63-years-old. I follow a vegetarian diet, which seems to agree with me.

I did realize on the diet that I was eating too much before, for nonnutritional reasons. I did go off of caffeinated drinks (coffee, soda) which is probably a good thing.

This is an extreme diet. It is very difficult to follow.
It did give me a 'jump start' on a more healty way of eating. It did help me realize some things about my eating.

While it is an extreme diet, it is not as extreme as surgery.

Also, fasting is a common practice in many cultures of the world, I believe.

David M. Goldstein

Marie 10-07-2007 @ 12:56PM

I am on my 5th day and plan to detox for another 2, followed by the 4 day transition back to eating.

So far, I have lost 5 pounds, I have managed to exercise 3 times (cardio once, weight training twice), which is my usual regimen.

I feel great and full of energy although I do require my full 8 hours of sleep at night.

Beyond the energy benefits, I find that I have disconnected from my emotional attachment to food. I have also discovered how liquids help keep hunger at bay. This is a great experience.

I disagree with a number of things in the book, such as colonics and enemas. The benefits of these mechanical interventions in one's body have no possible physiological benefits by virtue of how our body operates. Would welcome anyone with a fact-based counter argument to opine on the topic. I opted to leave those elements out of the diet.

Marie