Yum, yum, yum: Cookie Diet at 100,000 members strong
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.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-22-2009 @ 7:36AM
Tammy said...
I tried the diet and it does work. Easy and cheaper than buying all the diet foods that don't taste good and getting discouraged. I stuck to it and lost my 15 lbs in one month. i have kept it off. It's always that last 10 pounds that are hardest to get it off. My waist size went down so I think I lost my BELLY FAT first. It made me feel good. Not Bloated - Just not hungry. I had no side effects. the Doctor must know since he has treated more than 500,000 diabetic patients. I researched it and asked my gyno dr. It is all food ingredients. - Protein without the fat calories. I would do it again but I don't plan to gain it back. Now I eat smaller portions. Just remember.. God did not create our fat bodies. WE DISTORTED THEM BY OVEREATING.....
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11-28-2009 @ 9:53PM
Alex said...
How does this Cookie Diet compare to the Smartforlife.com one. They seem to have more foods.
10-25-2009 @ 10:47AM
Dr. Sanford Siegal said...
"I would do it again but I don't plan to gain it back."
Hi Tammy. I stumbled across your comment this morning and it made me smile. Great attitude! I don't want you to have to go back on a diet either and you won't have to with your positive outlook. You've lost the weight and now it's simply a matter of eating sensibly and exercising. Congratulations!
Sanford Siegal, D.O., M.D.
CookieDiet.com
Miami, Florida
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10-26-2009 @ 2:43PM
Debbie said...
I started today. I think the cookies are really good and very convenient for someone like me who is out on the road alot.
I finished breast cancer treatment last week and looking forward to getting myself back to "normal" with diet and exercise. I'm very excited about his.
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10-28-2009 @ 12:10PM
Chrissy said...
I have tried dieting many times....within the last few years my method of dieting was mainly healthy food and exercise with slow steady results. I'd do well for awhile then go off and binge and give up the diet completely because I have a big problem with portion control.
I normally don't buy into fad diets and when I first heard about "the cookie diet" first thought was "Oh brother, give me a break". But I seen it on the Today show and it caught my attention. I google everything I could about it and what attracted me to it was it wasn't laced with drugs. I've had some experience in the past with the diet pills and I just don't like the way they make me feel so I stay away from them.
I decided to give the cookie diet a try for many reasons-
1. The cookie is not laced with drugs
2. Hoping to learn smaller portion control-and to eat when I'm hungry and not overdoing it, which always results in why I fail.
3. I liked the ease and simplicity of this plan.....I'm not good at writing everything down and counting everything I eat....I do it for awhile but it's too hard to keep up for me.
4. I liked the thought of imediate results....that gives me hope and motiovation.
I started the cookie diet on Oct. 23, 2009 weighing *gasp* 212 Today is my 6th day.....my weight is 203 (I know alot of that loss is water weight but I liked seeing those numbers). I bought the oatmeal raisin and the chocolate cookies. As far as the taste...I wasn't crazy about the taste of them on the first day (wasn't horrible just different). The oatmeal raisin have a slight oatmeal taste. The chocolate ones remind me of brown bread (the bread you eat with beans) they both have that soft consistency as well.
As of today day 6 ....I'm not bored with eating the cookies and to my surprise I'm finding them tasting good to me now. I'm not having any side effects or jittery feelings from them. I'm actually feeling full after eating them (sometimes I'll just have one but if still hungry I wait the 15 minutes and have a second and thats been working out well for me)....and they are small (being a quanity eater that is amasing to me that I'm feeling satisfied). I'm not having heavy mood swings (usually anger and anxiety)....like I've had in the past when I've tried to eat a reduced calorie diet, My family is grateful for that.
The only thing I'm doing different is the time of my meal ....it says to eat 6 cookies throughout the day then have the protein-vegtable meal at dinner. I eat 4 cookies throughout the day then about 3pm have my meal of protein-vegtable then have the other 2 cookies around 5 or 6pm (sometimes I only want one).
One thing I don't like about this diet is there is very little support out there in cyberland for it in groups/forums. I've yet to find a diet site that welcomes /supports people on the cookie diet. Alot of people have negative things to say about it. I would like to find a friendly place to chat / blog/ share tips / ask questions/ and generally just support one another. It's been a lonely week on this diet, so I hope to find a place that welcomes the cookie diet.
~Chrissy in NH
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11-07-2009 @ 9:16AM
Gail said...
Hi Chrissy,
I recently started the Siegal cookie diet also. I've lost 7lbs in the first week.
How are you making out currently?
I agree with you about the lack of cyber support. Some days you just want to get a little pep talk and maybe hear what others are having for their nightly meal.
My office partner was going to go on the cookie diet with me but she did not like the taste of the product. I dont mind the taste at all and I find the diet VERY easy to do. The easiest ever.
But expensive. If anyone out there wants me to email them a $10 off coupon just let me know. I justify the price of the product by looking at the simplicity trade off.