Shangri-La Diet

I've heard of crazy diets before: cabbage soup diet, honey lemonade diet, apple cider vinegar diet, etc.

I think the Shangri-La Diet, created by Seth Roberts, Ph. D, might top them all. Basically, one is to drink about 3 tablespoons of an odorless oil (like light olive oil) or sugar water and then one's appetite will decrease. However, from my understanding, you are supposed to hold your nose while you eat so you can't taste your food. (I tried holding my nose while eating cereal and it just seemed like nasty mush in my mouth.) This diet is about tricking your brain and stomach. The truth is, though, you can't really trick your body like that--at least not for long.

I was watching a review of the diet on TV earlier today and the diet success story person lost about 60 lbs. or so. However, he had been consuming 6,000 per day before starting the diet and then was down to eating 2,000 a day. Duh! If anyone ate 4,000 calories less per day, they would lose weight for sure. I don't even think I could eat 4,000 calories in a day anyways.

Yes, some fats like olive oil or the stuff with Omega-3 fatty acids are good for you. But anyone can consume these with a normal, regulated diet or even a supplement.

Here is a testimonial on Seth Robert's site that is supposed to be a positive account: "It's been two weeks since I started and oh-my-god . . . Within three days I was actually forgetting to eat." — Kathy Sierra, co-author of Head First Java". Uhhh... that's not cool; that's dangerous.

I can guarantee no doctor or nutritionist will say this diet is a good idea. I'm not even posting a link to the book or site because I think it is so stupid. Feel free to look it up if you need more convincing.