The Cookie Diet
Janet St. James reports
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PLANO - Ever heard of eating cookies and losing weight? While it sounds impossible, that apparently isn't the case for people following the "Cookie Diet."
"I didn't like being a fat old grandma," said Linda Gibson, who dropped 40 pounds eating cookies.
The pre-packed baked goods are the basis for Dr. Siegal's Cookie Diet, recently featured in People magazine.
Celebrity dieters Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson are among the reported half-million people who've lost weight on the diet.
Dr. Siegal said it's no gimmick. According to him, it's a secret mix of amino acids - the building blocks for protein - baked into each confection. It's a food he developed himself after struggling to help his own patients lose weight.
"I came up with a formula," he said. "[It's] a mixture of proteins that was truly hunger suppressing, and [I] decided to now unleash it on my patients and it worked."
People are supposed to eat six cookies a day and a low-cal, high-protein meal at night. From chocolate to coconut, there are many flavors. Each box is meant to last a week and costs about $60.
But, they aren't exactly tasty treats, according to those who've tried them (and the doctor himself).
"Frankly, I don't want them to be because then we get into the situation you were talking about where people eat more of them than they're supposed to," Dr. Siegal said,
Critics say the Cookie Diet allows only 1,000 calories a day, too few to be healthy. And, according to them, the diet doesn't include enough fresh fruits or vegetables.
"My biggest concern is what are you going to do when you're done with the cookie diet?" said Lona Sandon, a UT Southwestern dietician. "How are you going to incorporate real food back into your life without gaining the weight back?"
Dr. Siegal admits that can be an issue as his method isn't meant to be long-term.
"No diet guarantees you will keep the weight off," Dr. Siegal said. "You have to do the right thing after you get the weight off."
"I've tried every diet, bought the food, cooked the food, drank the drink," Gibson said. "And [with] this, I honestly am not hungry."
Now 40 pounds lighter and still losing, Gibson said she now has more energy than ever for her playtime with her grandchildren.
