More about our Very Low Calorie Diet

Based on the principles established by Dr. A.T.W. Simeons and later expanded upon by Dr. Daniel Blossom.

The diet, dietary restrictions and supplemental support below must be strictly followed. Without strict adherence, weight loss will be minimal at best — if you're not willing to follow the diet to the letter, it's best not to bother. The most tiresome patients are those who fail because they start counting calories and inventing ingenious variations that don't work. JUST FOLLOW THE DIET AND TAKE THE REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTS AND THE HUNGER WILL GENERALLY PASS AFTER THE FIRST WEEK AND THE WEIGHT LOSS WILL BEGIN.

• Formula CGF/CDF — 6 capsules twice a day with lunch and dinner
• Biodoph 7 — 1 capsule twice a day, in the AM and with dinner

For the first three days of supplementation, do not follow the diet — eat to capacity. After the first three days, begin the following diet.

Breakfast: tea or coffee in any quantity, without sugar or dairy. Stevia may be used to sweeten. Green tea is best, as it assists the weight loss.

Lunch: (1) 100 grams of veal, grass-fed organic beef, skinless organic or natural chicken breast, fresh wild-caught white fish (no farm-raised), lobster, crab or shrimp; bison is also acceptable (bison burgers average 100 grams per patty — Costco, Sprouts and Sunflower Market carry a wide variety). Remove all visible fat before cooking, weigh the protein raw, and boil or grill it without added oil or fat (a George Foreman grill works nicely). Salmon, eel, tuna, herring and dried or pickled fish are not allowed. (2) One vegetable: spinach, chard, chicory, beet greens, tomatoes, celery, fennel, onions, red radishes, cucumbers, asparagus or cabbage — no more than fits in the palm of your hand, though spinach salad can fill an average bowl. (3) One piece of plain Melba toast or a rice cake (sea salt seasoning is OK). (4) One small apple, orange or a handful of strawberries.

Dinner: same as lunch, but the protein and vegetable must differ from lunch. If the Melba toast and/or fruit were eaten at lunch, they're not allowed at dinner — only one serving of each per day. It is very important that all of these guidelines are followed.

• Use organic protein, vegetables and fruit whenever possible.
• The juice of one lemon a day is allowed for seasoning, as are salt, pepper, vinegar, garlic, basil and thyme (Costco's garlic sea salt works well). Butter, oil and salad dressing are not allowed.
• Green tea, regular tea, coffee and water are the only drinks allowed, in any quantity at any time. Drink at least two liters of liquid a day; besides water, green tea is best.
• For menstruating women, the best time to begin is immediately after their period.
• Except for prescription medicines, no over-the-counter medicines or supplements other than those required by the program are allowed.
• No cosmetics other than lipstick, eyebrow pencil and bath powder are allowed.
• Continue the diet for three days after stopping the supplements.
• After completing the program, no starches or sugars for the following three weeks — this helps prevent weight gain as you return to the intelligent use of starches and sugars.
• Weigh yourself each morning after emptying your bladder and completely disrobing.

Fluctuations in weight loss: you'll generally lose between ¾ and one pound a day. There may be no loss for two or three days followed by a sudden drop that restores the average — these swings are entirely due to water retention and elimination, which is normal and more marked in women. If weight loss plateaus for four to six days, have an “apple day”: six apples from lunchtime to lunchtime the next day, with no other food or liquid. In most cases weight loss resumes the following day.

Exercise: strenuous exercise is restricted. To send a gentle message to your body to preserve muscle, do 10 sit-ups and 10 push-ups each day.

Potential skin flushing: some participants (Dr. Bogash included) have had a niacin flush — a strong flushing of the face and trunk with a warm sensation, like a severe sunburn. It is temporary and should pass within about half an hour.

Other considerations: a gram scale is required to weigh the protein at every meal (you can weigh and freeze several portions ahead) — it must be 100 grams. If you use diuretics or prescription thyroid medication, weight loss may be slower than normal, but it will occur.