The Fat Flush Plan made its debut in 1988 with the book Beyond Pritikin (Bantam). Author Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, a former nutritionist at the Pritikin Longevity Center, created the diet after seeing how poorly many of her clients did with the extremely low-fat Pritikin approach. Her approach focuses on eating the right fats rather than restricting fat, as well as eating the right carbs and proteins. A banner on the book’s cover boasts that the diet “melts fat from hips, waist, and thighs in two weeks.” It also claims to reshape and detoxify the body. Gittleman’s newest book, The Fast Track One-Day Detox Diet (Morgan Road Books, 2005), presents a much-compressed version of the program that calls for sipping a purifying “miracle juice” to peel away pounds.
There’s nothing wrong with advising people to exercise, get plenty of sleep, and record their daily progress. In fact, these are great overall health and weight-loss strategies. However, it’s hard to buy into the whole concept of “fat flushing.” Gittleman offers skimpy scientific support and makes some eating and exercise recommendations that sound not only flimsy but downright strange. In the exercise chapter, for example, Gittleman tells dieters to “bounce off fat” on a mini-trampoline to remove those nasty cellulite-like deposits on hips and thighs. If only it were that easy.
Basic principles:
The diet’s central focus is the liver, which Gittleman calls a “fat-burning” furnace. According to her, many people have tired, toxic livers. The first phase of the program claims to detoxify the organ and make it healthy. By phase two, dieters are slowly adding back “friendly carbs” like brown rice. In phase three, dairy foods are reintroduced. There are also more choices in the oil and fruit groups. Along with following the eating plan, you’re advised to get adequate sleep, keep a journal, and exercise.
How the diet works:
Dieters gradually increase their calorie intake, starting in phase one with 1,100 to 1,200 calories; then 1,200 to 1,500; and finally, in the maintenance phase, 1,500 or more per day. They also follow specific “fat flushing” rules: one protein item per meal, no vegetables and fruits together, no milk and meat together, no water with meals, and so on.
What you can eat:
All three phases include “powerful proteins” such as lean meat, eggs, and fish; “colorful, friendly carbs” such as fruits and vegetables; omega-3-rich fats such as flaxseed and evening primrose oil; spices such as ginger, cayenne, and cinnamon; and “The Long Life Cocktail”-a mixture of cranberry juice, psyllium seed or flaxseed, and H20. Menus are included.
Does the diet take and keep weight off?
Who knows? There are no clinical studies to support the diet’s effectiveness, just anecdotes.
Is the diet healthy? Hard to tell. This is another variation on low-carb dieting with some odd food-combining twists thrown in. Without long-term data, it’s difficult to give the regimen a thumbs-up.
What do the experts say?
The notion of the liver being a fat-burning furnace that is revved up by eating certain foods “deserves to be flushed,” says registered dietitian Jane Kirby, who reviewed the plan for her book Dieting for Dummies (Wiley, second edition, 2003). “There’s no science behind this claim. It’s just a low-calorie diet. Most people lose weight when calories are cut this low.”
Noted weight-loss researcher Judith S. Stern, ScD, RD, concurs: “The liver doesn’t need to be detoxified. Give me a break.” It’s muscle, not the liver, that burns fat. Stern, vice president of the American Obesity Association, says the book offers “pseudoscience.” It promises you everything,” adds Stern, “but that’s all it is-a fantasy.”
Who should consider the diet?
No one.
Bottom line:
Fat Flush is just another low-calorie, restricted-carb diet, albeit one based on logic a bit more convoluted than that of other plans out there. Sure, you’ll lose weight, but that’s because you’re eating fewer calories, not because your liver is burning fat.
Lead writer: Maureen Callahan, M.S., R.D.
Comments (8)
I just wanted to thank you.For stoping me from being a FOOL!(smile)
Patricia, the only fools are those who keep doing the same things and expecting different results, such as our society does when herded like sheep by “experts” who tow the party line and don’t ever try these alternate ideas themselves. We see how far most women have gotten with traditional methods and advice–obesity is at an epidemic high! It’s time we take responsibility for our own health and do what WORKS. Ann is not some ignorant idiot off the street, she is someone who has spent many years finding what works and what doesn’t. The science is there for those willing to actually LOOK at it. For those who dismiss natural health methods, get ready for a future filled with medications, pain and poor quality of life.
how can you get less fat
Wow, I was totally horrified by the Dr. who wrote this review on the Fat Flush Plan. Ann Louise Gittleman is very well known in her field of nutrition. She knows what she writes about and has written many wonderful, knowledgeble, helpful books. Nutrition, parisites, menopause, premenopause. To read her book get torn apart like this bothers me.
I have read and followed this book to the tee. Started 6 years ago after my son was born. Lost tons of weight, yes it was difficult but hey, I put it on didn’t I. But even better than the fact I lost weight was that she taught me how to eat right, what vitamins to take, what omega 3s are and how important they are. So when I became pregnant with my second child, I followed her plan for pregnant and nursing moms and gained the correct amount of weight, my baby was born with the worlds softest skin and I healed from my csection wonderfully because of the healthy foods and oils I was taking. Still to this day, because of her book my family takes their flax oils, primrose oils and such.
This is a wonderful, informative book for the person looking to improve their health.
You can always check out her website fatflush.com, and look at the forum, and read all the posts from people who love it.
I totally disagree with this article. This is a great plan. I’ve tried it, I have followed the phase 3 philosphy for years. I have researched the principles and the make sense to me. The comment of bouncing off fat is completely slanted. If you read Gittleman’s books (and I have read several) she does not say bounce on the tramp to bounce off fat, you are stimulating your lymph system. You have to try the plan, believe and make it work. You may not agree with every bit but personalize it to fit your needs. As a avid exerciser her idea about evercise is no where near enough for me. You don’t necessary use this plan as a weight loss plan (you will loose weight if you need to) but its a plan to get and stay healthy. Clean out your colon, get a health liver and you’ll feel great. Go back to the flush stage anytime you feel sluggish. Try it…get healthy
HOW WE CAN INCREASE OUR WEIGHT PLZ ADVICE ME FOR THIS
I am new to and using this plan – In my first two weeks have lost 15 lbs and feel fantastic. I use to have to take an anxiety tablet daily, Suddenly the need for it is gone. When I fell off the diet for one evening just recently and ate some high fat foods -the next day I was sick and had to stay close to the bathroom in the A.M. – and had really low energy. So there has to be something to this diet and what the author says or my body would not have reacted that way. The writer of this article is obviously bias against the plan – This way of eating is not anything that your family physician would call unhealthy – Its how we are supposed to eat.
This plan does work. My daughter and I have both had success with it. Do it for two weeks and see for yourself. It is hard but well worth it and makes you really think about the foods you are putting into your body. The cranberry juice alone will make you feel better- it is like a cleansing for the inside of your body. I drink it all the time.