Hi Johnny,
I sincerely hope you're not planning to use the "Hollywood Miracle
Diet". To address the easy part first, whether or not I would
recommend using it, I have to answer with a firm *NO*. Diets in which
you *stop eating* are not only dangerous, they're counterproductive
to weight loss goals.
You might lose a couple pounds after subsisting only on juice for a
couple days, but if you fast consistently your body goes into what's
called "famine mode" - your metabolism will slow and your body will
stop burning as many calories in an effort to conserve vital energy.
When you resume eating again, your body will panic, and store
everything as fat, in case "famine" is imminent again.
While this might be useful for a quick fix (i.e. you need to fit into
a tux for your wedding and you’ve put on a couple pounds since your
last fitting), this is just not healthy for prolonged use.
Now let's look at *why* this isn't good for you.
To get a good look at what is included in the "Hollywood Celebrity
Diet", I popped over to Drugstore.com to see if they had a complete
ingredient list available. Sure enough, they did. Look at what's in
the "special formula":
Purified Water, Juice Concentrates (Orange, Pineapple, White Grape,
Apple, Plum, and Lemon), Potassium Citrate (Potassium), d-Alpha
Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Vitamin A
Palmitate, Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin
B5), Beta Carotene, Bilberry Extract, Green Tea Extract, Ginkgo Biloba
Extract, Grape Seed Extract, Pyroxidine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6),
Riboflavin 5 Phosphate (Vitamin B2), Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin
B1), Biotin, Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)
Hollwood Celebrity Diet
http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=72223&catid=26730
What’s in there?
Nothing particularly special. Water, juice and some extra vitamins.
Nothing that you couldn’t replicate at home with some fruit juice
cocktail and a Centrum tablet. No calcium. No protein. No fiber.
No fats. Essentially no carbohydrates, which you need for energy!
This "diet" is missing some key ingredients necessary for proper
nutrition!
"We had a dietitian look at the ingredients, she says there is nothing
in here to help you lose weight.
She says that the diet is equal to fruit juice and a mulitvitamin --
$20 worth of fruit juice and a multivitamin."
Hollywood diet best left for the stars
http://www.wkyc.com/health/diet/011105hollywooddiet.asp
Will you lose weight with this "diet"? Yes, you will - mostly *water
weight and fecal matter*, which is a strictly temporary loss!
Consider:
Estimated weight loss for the Hollywood 48 Hour Diet:
Fat 1 pound +
Muscle 0 to 2 pounds
Fecal & waste matter 2 to 5 pounds +
Water 1 to 6 pounds +
Total Estimated Weight Loss 4 to 14 pounds +
Hollywood 48 Hour Miracle Diet: Lose up to 14 pounds - scam or
miracle?
http://www.rexdonald.com/constipation/hollywood-diet.htm
[ The maintainer of the page from which this chart is taken recommends
that the diet be used *no more* than once a month, if at all, solely
as a *cleansing diet*, not for weight loss. ]
Note that by using this starvation diet (let’s call it what it is),
you’re subjecting yourself to loss of muscle mass, and may in fact
lose more muscle mass than fat.
Does anyone besides the manufacturer of the product support the claims
of fast, easy weight loss?
WebMD doesn’t:
"I don't see any evidence that proves the Hollywood Diet works as
promised and that people are safe using it, nor have the results been
published in a respected journal. Have I seen these types of claims
before? Of course -- hundreds of times, and I suspect you have seen
them as well. Where are all those diet miracles now? How much of our
hard-earned money would you bet that the Hollywood Diet has the true
solution?
It is a sad fact that diet programs are very poorly regulated. People
who sell them can say just about anything they want, do not need to
provide good scientific evidence, and often run with the money before
agencies like the Federal Trade Commission can catch up to them.
Instead of being in jail, some of these people are driving around in
fancy cars.
Here is my advice: Products have the potential to cause harm and they
may not work. If they sound like miracles, be very skeptical until you
hear credible news to support the claim. Don't you think, for
instance, that if the Hollywood Diet does as it says, bulletins would
be on the evening news and in every newspaper?
Think of following a reasonable, balanced meal plan and being
physically active. It makes more sense than hoping for miracles."
The Juice on the Hollywood Diet: Will the Hollywood Diet help me lose
weight?
By Kelly D. Brownell, PhD
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/41/3220_344.htm
Neither does About Obesity, a site devoted to helping people lose
weight in a healthy manner:
"The Hollywood diet claims that drinking a specially formulated
combination of juices, vitamins and minerals will cleanse the body and
promote weight loss. Meant for short-term use, the Hollywood diet is
essentially a two day fast. Its results are, at best, temporary."
Debunking Fad Diets
http://www.about-obesity.com/html/the-truth-about-fad-diets.php3
Justin Leonard’s Fitness Infomercial Review offers comments from
people who’ve used this diet:
"Julie of New York, USA writes:
This product is not working! The worst $40 I ever spent in my life! I
did not cheat at all and stick onto 2 days hollywood juic diet. My mom
was so worried about me when I was on it, because I was so dizzy and
my heart was pounding so fast. My mom would follow me around with a
piece of bread stick so that I would stop. But I wanted to try and get
the result as I seen on TV. I did lose about 3-4 pounds, but I almost
faint and I thought I was going to get an heart attack. Dont waste
your money and save your LIFE!"
[…]
"Karla of California, USA writes:
This product is a joke! This is no more than a simple bottle of
juice, heavily overpriced only because of the label attached, paired
up with starvation - expensive and worthless! Sure, you'll probably
lose some weight, but it would just be water weight and muscle mass as
your body attempts to recover from having necessary calories withheld.
All the while, you'll be short on energy, even shaky, and just plain
hungry! The point of a diet should be to alter your eating to a
healthier plan, not to starve yourself - you'll only lose "good
weight" not fat, then re-gain more when you resume eating!"
[…]
"Karen of Texas, USA writes:
I did lose 4 pounds with the Hollywood Diet and that was with a little
cheating, but it gave me a tremendous headache. I tried it twice and
both times it did. The weight came back on as fast as I took in off in
the 48 hours, so really not worth the effort to starve yourself for
two days."
Justin Leonard’s Fitness Infomercial Review
http://www.fitnessinfomercialreview.com/hollywooddiet.htm
The Canadian Broadcasting Company investigated the Hollywood Diet, and
the nutritionists they spoke to had plenty to say:
"
Nutritionists Street Cents talked to said the diet is essentially a
juice fast. They say the amount of weight the companies say you can
lose in two days is unrealistic.
The ads for the diets claim you'll lose mostly fat.
Drinking the juice - which contains fruit juice and added vitamins,
minerals and extracts - will definitely make you lose water weight,
but not much fat.
The nutritionists also told Street Cents once you go back to your
regular three square meals a day, the water, and the weight, will
return. Some people may even gain weight."
They went on to explain the dangers of this diet:
"# safe weight loss is 1 to 2 pounds per week
# the average teenager requires between 1500 and 3000 kcal/day
# the juice diet provides 400 kcal/day - this is a significant fast,
similar to starving yourself
# people instinctively overeat when they come off a fast. Your body is
hungry to replace what was lost
# dieting for teenagers is not recommended in most cases because the
body is still developing
# experts told Street Cents that people who are prone to developing
eating disorders may be triggered into getting sick by fasting"
Street Cents - The Hollywood Diet
http://www.cbc.ca/streetcents/guide/2002/05/s05_01.html
"Why fasting isn't so great
Short-term fasts
Fasting for short periods of time can cause low blood sugar in some
people. Symptoms include fatigue, lethargy, mood swings and
irritability, light headedness/dizziness, decreased concentration and
focus (decreased performance in school and physical activities.)
Long-term fasts
Fasting for longer periods can slow your growth and development. You
can lose muscle tissue, increase your risk of infections (because your
immune system is depressed), lose sleep, and eventually lose brain
tissue."
Street Cents - The Hollywood Diet
http://www.cbc.ca/streetcents/guide/2002/05/s05_02.html
"Fad diets, such as the Cabbage Diet or the Hollywood Diet, use
semi-starvation methods to promote weight loss which, if you didn't
already know, is completely ridiculous. And it's bad for you too.
Diets that restrict one or more of the food groups should top your
list of diets to avoid since you'll be missing out on important
nutrients and your weight loss will be temporary. Why waste your
time?"
Top Ten Reasons to Quit Dieting Forever
http://exercise.about.com/cs/nutrition/tp/diets.htm
Consider also this excerpt from a complaint filed by the Federal Trade
Commission against TechnoBrands, the manufacturer of the Hollywood
Diet. The FTC alleges false claims of efficacy and false advertising:
"6. Through the means described in Paragraph 5, respondents have
represented, expressly or by implication, that:
A. Scientific evidence proves that consumers who use the
Hollywood Diet can lose an
average of 4% of their initial body weight in two days.
B. An endorser named Pete Johnson lost weight by using the
Hollywood Diet.
7. In truth and in fact:
A. Scientific evidence does not prove that consumers who use the
Hollywood Diet can
lose an average of 4% of their initial body weight in two
days.
B. The endorser referenced in Exhibit 1 as Pete Johnson does not
exist, and the events
related in his endorsement are fictional.
Therefore, the representations set forth in Paragraph 6 were, and are,
false or misleading.
8. Through the means described in Paragraph 5, respondents have
represented, expressly or by implication, that:
A. Consumers who use the Hollywood Diet can lose 10 lbs. in 48
hours.
B. Many celebrities, actors, actresses, and models – including some
that star in the
shows E.R. and Friends – have lost substantial weight by using
the Hollywood Diet.
C. Testimonials for the Hollywood Diet reflect the typical or
ordinary experience of
members of the public who use the product.
9. Through the means described in Paragraph 5, respondents have
represented, expressly or by implication, that they possessed and
relied upon a reasonable basis that substantiated the representations
set forth in Paragraph 8, at the time the representations were made.
10. In truth and in fact, respondents did not possess and rely upon a
reasonable basis that
substantiated the representations set forth in Paragraph 8, at the
time the representations were made. Therefore, the representation set
forth in Paragraph 9 was, and is, false or misleading."
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
In the Matter of TECHNOBRANDS, INC., a corporation, and CHARLES J.
ANTON,
individually and as an officer of TechnoBrands, Inc. DOCKET NO. C-4041
http://www.ftc.gov/os/2002/04/technobrandcmp.pdf
Is this diet safe to use occasionally? Maybe, if used as a cleansing
diet.
Is this diet safe to use every week? No.
Is this diet safe to use every other day? *Absolutely not!* No diet
that requires you to *not eat* is safe for you, and it’s doubly bad
for your health if it requires that you consistently starve yourself.
Bottom line: Be good to yourself and give this one a miss. It’s
dangerous and can hurt you. If you’re interested in losing weight,
consider consulting a registered dietician to help you work out a
healthy, well balanced diet and exercise program.
WebMD has a great way to get started on your own:
WebMD Weight Loss Clinic
https://diet.webmd.com/weekly/default.asp
If you have any questions about proper nutrition and weight loss,
please let me know - just ask for clarification. I’ll be glad to help
you find the information you need to make healthy weight loss
decisions.
--Missy
Search terms: [ "Hollywood Diet" ] |
Clarification of Answer by
missy-ga
on
21 Apr 2003 05:54 PDT
Hello Johnny,
Yes! Starving yourself may result in more hair loss - in addition to
low blood sugar, extreme fatigue and listlessness, irritability, loss
of muscle tone and muscle tissue, irritability and inability to
concentrate. If you fast completely for four days, you'll be lucky to
have enough energy to get out of bed, much less do anything else.
Hair growth and production is one of the first processes the body
turns off when confronted with starvation (defined as intake of 900
calories a day or less), in an effort to conserve energy necessary for
vital functions such as heart, brain and respiratory activity.
"Abnormal hair loss may be caused by many factors.
Metabolic disorders may be initiated by starvation, sudden weight loss
through dieting, iron deficiency caused by blood loss, diabetes,
thyroid disease, or other disorders."
Hair Loss - Cause
http://www.navis.gr/medico/medico23.htm
"Other causes of diffuse hair loss include the following:
* high fever
* blood loss
* low levels of iron in the diet (possibly)
* starvation, or drastic dieting
* dental treatment or a surgical operation
* certain medicines
* disorders of the thyroid gland
* severe and prolonged emotional stress (possibly)."
Causes of diffuse hair loss
http://www.pantene.com/haircare/hair_twh_106.htm
"Diffuse thinning can also result from metabolic imbalances or
disorders, such as large doses of vitamin A, certain medications
(including chemotherapy for cancer), diabetes, anemia or iron
deficiency through blood loss, rapid weight loss through unskillful
diets, and from malnutrition or starvation."
20 Tips for Healthier Hair
http://www.fasting.com/haircare.html
"Stress induced alopecia - due to:
* emotional stress
* starvation
* crash diets
* Malaria, Tuberculosis, Typhoid etc.
* after surgery
* in hepatic or renal failure
* Iron and Zinc deficiency"
Alopecia
http://www.skinstreet.net/alopecia.html
"Fasting or eating too little often results in a shortage of vitamin
C, vitamin E, Beta Carotene, and other antioxidants, leading to hair
loss. Food supplements are a must when dieting."
Hair Loss No More
http://www.talion.com/presskits/baldness.html
"Very low-calorie diets starve people. Physicians have tried several
means of starvation to get people to lose weight, from total fasting
to modified fasts with protein supplements to more nutritionally
balanced very-low-calorie diets. All of them eventually lead to the
well- documented and unpleasant side effects of starvation-including
fatigue, hair loss, cold intolerance, anemia, depression, loss of
muscle tissue, dehydration, irritability, weakness, bad breath,
gallstones, and cardiac arrhythmia's-and all have been responsible for
patient deaths. A Swedish study shows about 59 sudden unexplained
deaths per 100,000 people on very low-calorie diets, which is 40 times
the rate of sudden death in the general population. (Lars Sjostrom of
the University of Goteburg in Sweden, quoted by Frances Berg, "The
Health Risks of Weight Loss" (Hettinger, ND: Healthy Living Institute,
1993) p. 71 )"
On Fasting by Laura Fraser from LOSING IT (NY, 1997)
http://gastricbypass.netfirms.com/fraseronfasting.htm
Starving yourself is *not good for you*! Please don't do it, Johnny.
I'm very worried about you - you're going to make yourself very sick
and damage your body if you do this.
If you want to lose weight, you need to do so in a healthy manner, by
eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly. Crash diets and self
starvation will hurt you, not help.
--Missy
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