About the Program
Does the idea of eating cookies without the guilt sound good to you? The Cookie Diet by Dr. Siegal has helped over one-half million people lose weight over the last 30 years. Dr. Siegal formulated a special combination of amino acids, protein, and fiber to create delicious cookies that help you lose weight and curb those midday cravings.
Each day you consume six of Dr. Siegal’s cookies and then one actual meal for dinner. You end up consuming roughly 1,000 calories for the day (including your cookies). If you prefer, you may incorporate the cookies into another diet, substituting the cookies for snacks or even meals.
Dr. Siegal says you can lose as much as 15 pounds in a 30-day period by eating his cookies, soups, and shakes. His products are available online, in shopping malls (kiosks), in physicians’ offices, and in drug stores.
Foods You Can Eat
You eat his cookies six times per day plus one meal. Recommended dinner fare is six ounces of lean protein (your choice) and 1 cup of fresh vegetables, not to exceed 500 calories total. You may drink coffee and tea (nothing added) and 8 glasses of water each day.
Exercise
Eating a mere 1,000 calories per day will automatically allow you to lose weight without exercising. However, in order to maintain a healthy weight, Dr. Siegal encourages you to exercise in some way.
Cost
$59.95 – one week of cookies
$59.95 – one week of meal replacement shakes
$12.00 – 30 day supply nutritional supplement
Dr. Siegal’s Cookie Diet® book – $24.95
Prices subject to change.
Pros
– Structured eating plan
– Easy to follow – no menu plans required
– Eating cookies on a diet could help with a positive mental attitude toward losing weight
– Supposed to help curb appetite and prevent binges by satisfying hunger
– Cookies, shakes, and soups all contain high amounts of protein, fiber, and specially chosen amino acids
– No drugs in the products
– Products are easy to find and purchase
– Excellent success had by many on this diet
– Book includes meal ideas and recipes
– Five cookie flavors: blueberry, oatmeal raisin, chocolate, banana, and coconut
Cons
– Can get boring for those who really love to eat
– Cost prohibitive (approximately $240/month just for his products)
– Calorie count is extremely low
– Some people find they have less energy on the diet
– Could end up feeling very hungry
– Sustainable weight loss is questionable once real food is reintroduced
– More of a quick solution rather than a permanent lifestyle of eating
– Exercise is encouraged, but no specifics are provided
Summary
Dr. Siegal’s Cookie Diet seems a bit extreme for some people given the dietary restrictions. However, there are thousands of people who testify to their successful weight loss while on this diet, so it does work. It’s possible that this diet would be good for jump starting your weight loss, but for permanent weight loss and management, it would be wise to learn how to eat real food for at least three meals a day and increase exercise as well. Due to the restricted calorie recommendations of the Cookie Diet, it would be wise to consult your physician first.
