Review: Fat Loss For Idiots Diet

As you may have guessed, the Fat Loss For Idiots diet gets it’s name from the fact that it’s drop dead simple to implement. No pouring through immense volumes of information, no listening to hours of MP3 files on your iPod on the subway or in the car on the way to work, and no studying of rigorous training regimens.

No, the 14-day Fat Loss for Idiots protocol (11 days of dieting and 3 “free” days, where you can eat whatever you want) is all done completely online; your membership gets you access to a diet generator and a simple handbook which lays out the rules of the diet…

I’ll admit I was surprised myself; it sounds just too darn simple to work. But when I tried it, I found that despite the simplistic approach of this diet, it followed some sound principles; those of carbohydrate restriction (although in a less traditional manner), calorie restriction, and nutrient cycling.

Restricting carbohydrates, of course, just plain works. Unless you’re very new to dieting, you’re probably familiar with the most famous of carbohydrate restricting diets – the Atkins diet.

For years, the “experts” warned such diets were dangerous, claiming diets low in carbohydrates and high in proteins and fats promoted heart disease and were less effective than “traditional” diets. Science, however, has proven them wrong; recent studies show there is no association between low carb diets and the risk of heart disease, and that low carbohydrate diets are actually more effective at improving metabolic syndrome than low fat diets.

Some “experts” also claimed consuming elevated levels of protein was also dangerous; they’ve been proven wrong as well.

A moment ago, I said that this diet restricts carbohydrates, but in a less traditional fashion. In fact, Fat Loss for Idiots does not claim to be a low carb diet, and even goes so far as to say low carb diets “don’t work.” Nevertheless, this diet  will definitely qualify as a low carbohydrate protocol for most people with a few exceptions…

1. On two out of the 11 day dieting protocol, you eat almost nothing but carbohydrates, with a minimal amount of protein and fats.

2. On several of the 11 days, one of your 4 daily meals will be comprised of nothing but carbohydrates (eg., fresh kiwi fruit and a bowl of red and green vegetables). 

There’s also some evidence that suggests cycling calories (eating fewer than you need one day, and more than you need the next) is just as effective and much easier to maintain than traditional dieting.

Having said that, let’s dig a little deeper into the mechanics of the diet…

First off – the rules.

Nothing revolutionary or particularly restrictive here. Here’s an example of a couple, in no particular order…

1. The beverages you consume should contain no more than 10 calories per glass / serving.

2. Two 30 minute sessions of walking are recommended for each day on the program. These can be combined into a single 45-minute session if time constraints require.

The authors of the Fat Loss for Idiots argue that low intensity cardiovascular activities (in this case walking) is the only effective way to exercise to lose weight. While walking certainly does work, and can be very enjoyable, this is untrue; evidence indicates that moderate intensity cardio is also effective for losing weight and protecting lean muscle mass (AJP – Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vol 261, Issue 2 E159-E167, Lipids Volume 35, Number 7 / July, 2000).

And they don’t mention resistance training and the benefits of building lean muscle mass at all.

3. Avoid sweets.

4. Eat the 4 generator-prepared meals every day, each separated by 2.5 hours.

See? All pretty straight forward stuff.

One thing you might find beneficial about this diet is that you do not count or measure calories.

At all.

Of course, you’re not supposed to stuff yourself or anything, but there really are no limits on portion control. The reason why this works is because you’re either eating low carbohydrate meals, which are rich in satiating fats and proteins, or you’re eating nutrient and fiber dense carbohydrates. In other words, you’re eating the sorts of foods that,for the most part, are difficult to over consume in any significant manner.

What do you eat?

Well, you get to select your food choices…

… and the online generator “spits” out a specific combination of these for each of your daily meals over the 11-day period, according to the metrics of the diet.

All you have to do now is follow the meal plan.

Bottom line on Fat Loss for Idiots?

In the end, it works not because of some magical use of Internet technology, but because it adheres to the basic rules of weight loss…

1) The restriction of simple carbohydrates and sweets.

2) Small protein and fat rich meals eaten every couple of hours.

3) Calorie reduction and regular (albeit very moderate) exercise.

Is it for you?

Well, that depends. If you’re the sort of person who wants to sit down with a book and do some serious reading before you start dieting, you are not going to get that here. After all, most diets come with a few hundred pages of discussion and supporting documentation.

If, on the other hand you want a program you can start right now – like within an hour – with a minimum of fuss, then the Fat Loss for Idiots diet is worth a look.

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