Scarsdale Diet: Another View

 

In the 1970s Dr. Herman Tarnower ran a clinic in the leafy New York suburb of Scarsdale, and from a program he developed for his overweight patients the blockbuster bestseller The Scarsdale Diet, one of the most famous diets ever was born. It became tabloid fodder - and the book scaled the charts - in 1980 when Tarnower was murdered by his long-time lover Jean Harris, the headmistress of a tony girls' private school.

The Scarsdale Diet claims that you can lose 20 pounds in two weeks on its low fat/low carb/high protein plan. It is very low calorie (about 1000 cals per day) and boasts an unusual nutrient ratio of 43% protein, 22.5% fat and 34.5% carbohydrate - this is Dr. Tarnower's "proprietary blend." But the central basis of Scarsdale is about eliminating most carbs, and limiting the consumption of others. Meals consist of lean proteins, fruits and vegetables, and the carbs consist mainly of whole grains. Carrots and celery are allowable snacks. Beverages allowed are water, coffee, tea, club and diet sodas - and as you would expect, alcohol is banned. The second week of the plan - which is called "keep trim" - is designed to be the model you will essentially follow for a lifetime of weight maintenance, and is only a mildly increased calorie version of the first week.

A sample menu:

• Breakfast
  1/2 grapefruit
  slice of wholemeal toast (no spreads or butter)
  coffee (no sugar or milk) Lunch
  Canned tuna
  salad with oil-free dressing
  coffee
  
• Dinner
  Roast lamb (with all visible fat removed)
  salad with lemon and vinegar dressing
  coffee
  Drinks
  Water, diet drinks, tea, soda water.

The Scarsdale Diet provides five 14-day menu plans, with the recommendation to follow the plan for two weeks, take a break, then get back on the plan and repeat. The idea is that this cyclical pattern will prevent your body from getting used to the regimen, and hitting a plateau. Bottom line: you will definitely lose weight by following Scarsdale according to its terms - it is severe calorie and carb restriction. It won't be comfortable. But can you stick with it - "keep trim" according to its terms for life? You can kickstart a weight loss program with Scarsdale, but we find it incredibly rigid and limiting, and thereby very difficult to accept as a long-term weight maintenance solution.