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Celebrities are touting the maple syrup diet, which is a type of detox diet that is also known as the Master Cleanse diet, or the lemonade diet. Essentially, you drink a mixture of water, maple syrup, lemon juice and cayenne pepper (a very small amount) for about 10 days. Without getting into the sticky issue of whether or not you are really cleansing your body, if you even need to, the diet is a way to drop a few pounds quickly, for better or worse. It works because you take in relatively few calories and a lot of liquids.
All in all, it seems to result in a relatively quick weight loss of a few pounds, but certainly neither a long term solution nor a substitute for a more traditionally healthy diet. It is great for the sales of maple syrup, though, since some stores are reporting that their sales have more than doubled in the past few months.
One woman's account of her time on the diet can be read here if you're interested in getting the daily details of the "cleanse."
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8-17-2006 @2:48PM Rhea said... This sounds positively delicious. But you're right. You lose weight only because you are not eating!
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8-17-2006 @3:15PM Lauren said... A co-worker of mine does this twice a year and is close to perfect health. I've been thinking about doing it for a while, but for detox purposes, not weight loss. (Although, that would be a nice bonus.) :)
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8-17-2006 @3:46PM NICK NICHOLSON said... WEIGHT LOSS CAN BE COMPUTED MATHMETICALY.. CALORIES IN AND CALORIES OUT... IF YOU BURN 2500 CALORIES A DAY AND ONLY EAT 2000 CALORIES A DAY YOUN WILL LOSE WEIGHT... THE OTHER WAY YOU GAIN.. SIMPLE....I HAVE BEEN TRYING AND LOOSING WEIGHT FOR THE PAST LIFETIME IT SEEMS.. AND I AM LOOSING A LITTLE EACH MONTH..I WATCH THE CALORIE LABELS ON THE FOOD CANS BOTTLES ETC.. WHEN I GO THRU THE STORE.. IT IS WORKING AND RATHER PAINLESS ALSO.. BUT NOT A BUNCH AT ONE TIME..
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8-17-2006 @3:51PM Spitzmaus said... The mind boggles. The only viable "diet" is one that provides long-term, consistent benefits. The billion dollar weight loss industry depends upon the failure rate of the products it touts; dieters get discouraged when the pounds return, and thus they move on to the next over-hyped fix.
People, throw off the chains of gullibility! Unless a medical condition necessitates certain restrictions, eat a well-balanced variety of foods (the less processed, the better), allow yourself the occasional treat, reduce portion size, make intelligent choices, and yes, consider a bit of exercise (walking works wonders). It's a plan you can follow for a lifetime.
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8-17-2006 @4:02PM Barbara said... Did you look at the pictures of the woman who did the cleanse? She was complaining about needing liposuction.
Like uh, WHERE? There is nothing wrong with her body or her appearance.
People are weird.
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8-17-2006 @5:03PM ultradave said... Hmmm. You know, if you feel the need so bad to lose weight as to force yourself to drink nothing but maple syrup and water for 10 days...i think a better use of your time might be to go speak with a psychologist. people that do this kind of stuff need help. this is sad, pathetic, and dangerous behavior. as someone else noted, you want to lose weight, then consult with a doctor and start a balanced regimen of diet and exercise.
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8-17-2006 @6:27PM calamari said... Barbara, I had the exact same reaction to that woman's photos! Her body is NORMAL, and she's starving herself and going on about lipo. Ack.
The time for a normal, healthy person to subsist on liquids is when you just have one of those days when food doesn't sound good. That's the innards saying they want a rest.
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8-19-2006 @6:30AM PEPPA said... COMMON SENSE !!! WHERE HAS IT GONE ??? THE SAYING " EVERYTHING IN MODERATION " IS THE BEST DIET THERE IS !!!
VANITY >>> IS'NT THAT ONE OF THE SEVEN SINS ?? LOL
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8-19-2006 @6:58AM Jim said... Dieting is nothing more than discipline. It's required in every aspect of life. One need not be an ascetic, but if you over indulge, you will pay the price. The only long term solution is discipline. Don't eat so much. Don't eat so much junk food and don't remain sedentary. Without discipline we are animals. Act as if you have a higher brain function.
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8-19-2006 @6:58AM Ryan said... I hate to even think what of 10-13 days of lots and lots of lemonade will do to your teeth. Lemons and lemonade just strip the enamel off -- it's worse than colas. Reading her journal, I kept thinking "wow, this is a woman who desperately needs something like volunteer work to get her mind off obsessing about herself and back to something meaningful." I am embarrassed for her whole 'effort'.
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8-19-2006 @7:09AM Will Power said... It's call will power people! You have to have the will to exercise and stop eating all that pizza! It doesn't even take that much exercise. Walk a couple of miles every other day. You can surely afford about 30 minutes to walk a few days a week. As for eating, try drinking more water, substituting the fatty stuff you eat for non-fat, like that creamer and mayo you eat all the time. A little less in the portions you eat will do wonders. Will power!
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8-19-2006 @7:14AM S.A. said... When you have the (over)weight problem many of us do -- due to a combination of genetics, early environment, stress, etc. -- and when you've tried many solutions, then feel free to criticize *your own* efforts to get healthy. The basic point of eating moderately and well, getting exercise and overall living a healthy lifestyle is well taken. However, people don't change their behavior because it's implied they're stupid or lazy or whatever other labels folks here (or elsewhere) try to apply. They change through information and support. It's no wonder no one in this dialogue so far has 'fessed up to being fat. With a support group like this, it makes me want to run for my Twinkies.
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8-19-2006 @7:20AM Larry said... The diet is not necessary and is no better than just doing a fast once in a while with certaain fruit juices. As far as losing weight, it isn't just about calories, it is what you eat. I have seen many people starve themselves and only eat a little toast in the morning and some juice or a bagle and barely aet the rest of the day and then later they are wondering why they didn't lose any significant weight. I like the old saying, "you are what you eat." If you eat like a cow you will get fat like one. Grain is what makes a cow fat, not animal fat. A lean piece of beef is not only good for you, it will help you lose weight, unlike fish. That is why doctors use a ketonic diet on severly obese people. If your body has no intake of fat, it will not allow any to go out. It would rather burn muscle tissue instead. (anarobic) As someone said earlier, a balanced diet is the way to go, but take it easy on the grains and starchy foods and eat lean beef. (organic raised beef preferred) Starch is a big culprit of weight gain. Your body takes it and makes fat from the sugar. Corn, carrots, broccoli and beets are just a few veggies with alot of starch. If you are obese and can't lose the pounds you may need a doctor put you on a ketonic diet to give your body a kick start to lose weight. If you aren't, just balance the diet and lose most of the starches. You will be more healthy and feel and look younger and better.
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8-19-2006 @7:23AM Will Power said... S.A., you will feel so much better if you exercise. I like twinkies as much as the next person, but you just have to say no and RUN, don't walk, away from the twinkie. I'm telling you, I have a highly stressful life, but exercise makes me feel much better, and keeps the weight off, especially when I have a moment of weakness and go to food to "relieve stress". All it does is make me feel worse when I've put on a few pounds in my moment of weakness. I think the worst part of starting to exercise is just that, getting started. After a few times of forcing yourself to exercise, you realize, that wasn't so bad, and hey, I CAN do this, and I'm feeling better too.
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8-19-2006 @7:26AM Kathy said... Well I admit I am fat. And I have no excuse. I love to eat and hate to exercise. But I would never try anything like this because I know as soon as I stopped it and started eating again the weight will come back. I'm not even college-educated and I can figure that out........... I know exactly what to do to lose weight. I believe we all do. It's actually implementing it that is hard.
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8-19-2006 @8:02AM lorraine trobiano said... I have tried countless QUICK WEIGHT LOSS diets to no avail .I became bored with them within 3 days. I had back surgery in July and must stay home for 8 weeks. It is now the 4th week and I have lost weight(12 LBS.) simply because I have the time to THINK about what I am going to eat and prepare healthy low fat meals ..instead of reaching for that quick bagel and cream cheese at the office or a handful of pretzels, etc.. I even started walking a few blocks each day and It is really all about Moderation. I was so nervous that staying home (both my daughters are fitness instructors and I cant even go to the gym now)I'd GAIN weigth but its quite the opposite. I love to cook and use different herbs and spices and that helps a lot.. I have not had pastas or breads because I can take the time and focus on what I am cooking and putting into my body. Its all about disipline :) Lucky for me I have a huge vegetable garden so a fresh salad is at my fingertips.
I can even enjoy a coctail wiht my dinner and still see results. Sooo, just try to scale down your meals and you can still afford a small dessert now and then:)
Bon Appetite`!!
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8-19-2006 @8:07AM M B Carpenter said... Maple Syrup the answer?? Hardly. All the words have been said, willpower and discipline, to get your leg into your exercise pants / shoes. The benefits of regular exercise are many. The benefits of weight being normal also are documented for long term health. While your watching the food you intake you might as well make it health healthy, (not that hard).
Maple Syrup is not a magic bullet, rest assured.
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8-19-2006 @8:14AM Barb said... OK, now everyone who has any common sense knows calories in calories out is the equation. It doesn't matter what they are...only how many of them you eat and use. The reason people lose on low carbs is that they end up eating more bulk type foods and fill up quicker. When they go back on thier regular diets they gain since the carbs equal more cals. It doesn't matter what you eat....but how many cals. Example, a big mac meal is my entire days cals plus....but will it keep me full all day? I think not. 3 pieces of pizza will put me over the top also, but I can eat that in one sitting. It's called choices.
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8-19-2006 @8:19AM sarah said... Shout out to Jim: Lose the arrogance. I am so tired of people wearing their thin physique like a badge of honor...particularly when you might be eating more and worse than SOME of the people who are heavier. I myself am thin and healthy and exercise...blah blah blah. BUT. I am female. I have had friends growing up who were heavier...yes GENETICALLY...that had severe issues with self-image and social interaction because of jacks saying "it's your fault". Tell me, why DON'T we all look like models, actresses? Um, well, genetics. Why are some taller/shorter, darker/lighter, smarter/more average? We accept genetics for that...how hard is it to extend the concept? I am so tired of seeing commercials saying "next time on our show, we'll fix obesity" only to find someone with emotional issues who needs to overcome using food as a comfort. There's another real world out there with more difficult solutions. Discipline? Tell that to my friend who was scolded by our dance teacher for her weight...when I had seen the girl do nothing but drink a liter of water and eat a salad and some berries during a day of 8 hours of dance classes....repeatedly. Take a look at her mother's build, and you start to understand.
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8-19-2006 @8:21AM Boontownboy said... Dear Readers, I have read the posted comments and to most of them I agree whole heartdly. I had a friend that was on the "lemonade" diet, he was moderatly over weight, I believe him to have lost 10 pounds total, not the major weight that he was hoping to drop, however, his complexion cleared of his acne, the stuff that he mentioned expelling from his body, leads me to believe that the detoxifaction factor is okay. As for the wish to loss weight.........come on people.....there isn't a pill or diet that is going to just peel it off...A MEDICALLY recommended weight loss plan discussed with your "SENSIBLE" Physican can only be the best way to go about losing weight. Good luck to all and the most important thing is to LOVE yourself.
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