Skip to Content

Yum, yum, yum: Cookie Diet at 100,000 members strong

More
Text SizeAAA

Filed under: Food, Health

When Deborah Gore, of Bristow, VA, woke up Tuesday, she probably never expected her 15 minutes of fame were right around the corner. But, by becoming the 100,000th member to enroll in the Cookie Diet brigade, Gore unknowingly clicked her way into the latest diet craze's spotlight.

By earning that distinction, she received a congratulatory phone call from the Cookie Diet's founder, Dr. Sanford Seigal, who is sending her a three-month supply of the cookies and an autographed copy of his newest book, "Dr. Seigal's Cookie Diet Book."

Gore's not the only one sampling Seigal's secret recipe. Celebrities like Jennifer Hudson and Kelly Clarkson have reportedly tried the Cookie Diet. Additionally, thousands of men and women are singing the praises of these specially blended treats. And claiming the amino acid protein blend cookies have helped them whittle their once size 26 or 16 waists down to size 4s and even size zeros.


But all the attention on this latest diet craze begs the question: What's the deal? And why now since Seigal's been using these cookies to help his patients (and those of the 200 or so fellow physicians he supplied the cookies to) control their hunger and lose weight since 1975? In early 2007, the Cookie Diet went mainstream with Seigal selling them in mall kiosks. He took his cookies online in 2008.

No one is certain exactly why the cookies have suddenly caught one. Speculation is Seigal's promise of rapid weight loss is fueling the craze.

Here's how it works. Seigal says the number one diet killer is hunger. So, he created the Cookie Diet (which also includes shakes) to control hunger by eating six cookies with water during the day and a "reasonable dinner."

But experts caution the Cookie Diet's claims could be nothing more than a pile of crumbs because there's no medical evidence the diet works. Or that it effectively promotes long-term weight loss since it doesn't teach dieters how to eat healthy once they're cookie-free.

Some even argue that following this 1,000 calorie a day diet is unsafe claiming it can leave dieters open to nutritional deficiencies. The diet's Web site does stress followers should consult with their physician prior to starting the diet. And as a condition for membership, dieters must agree to consult their physician.

Despite the health risks, the Cookie Diet is red-hot. Last Friday Google reported more surfers searched for Cookie Diet info than news on the Balloon Boy.

Have you tried the Cookie Diet? Let us know your thoughts, success stories or concerns.

Subscribe to Walletpop

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Add your comments

Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.

When you enter your name and email address, you'll be sent a link to confirm your comment, and a password. To leave another comment, just use that password.

To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br /> tags.

Vote Now For the Readers' Choice Best in Food Awards
Nominations have been received and vetted for the best-of-breed in gourmet grocers, online gourmet ...
Zingerman's Bakehouse: Artisan Bread and Pastry from Ann Arbor
Zingerman's Bakehouse of Ann Arbor, Michigan, is nominated for a Luxist Award in the best bread ...

Jason Cochran
Jason Cochran Filed under: Bargains, Extracurriculars, Transportation, Travel, Celebs & Money

On board the new Oasis of the Seas: Is it worth the money?

So here I am, writing this from off the coast of Florida as part of the first two-day preview cruise of the magnificent Oasis of the Seas. Royal Caribbean has launched the largest cruise ship in the ...
Geoff Williams
Geoff Williams Filed under: Credit cards

Citigroup holds its customers hostage

Across the nation, Citibank credit card holders are receiving what pretty much amounts to a ransom note: We're going to raise your rates, says the letter, in so many words, but if you spend more ...
Bonnie McCarthy
Bonnie McCarthy Filed under: Budgets, Kids and Money, Saving Money, Technology

Family budgets: Make movie night safe again with family-friendly review sites

Around my house, we don't make the decision to pile into the car and head over to our local Cineplex as easily as we once did. It costs a lot of money these days to see talking animals, wild things ...
Madhusmita Bora
Madhusmita Bora Filed under: Transportation

Shop the friendly skies? The airlines are hoping you'll buy while in the sky

Along with sandwiches and soda, you may one day be able to buy tickets to Lion King and Animal Kingdom while cruising 35,000 feet above ground. A New York Times story reported that the airline ...

Headlines from WalletPop Partners