What is the 17 Day Diet and Does It Work?

The 17 Day Diet is a doctor-devised wieght loss plan introduced by Dr. Mike Monroe in the early part of 2011.

The diet consists of four 17 day cycles, so although in theory you will need to wait 68 days before completing the diet, you can expect to see visable results much sooner. Dr. Monroe claims most dieters lose around 10 to 12 pounds during the first 17 day cycle, which is of course what we all want when we start a diet - fast weight loss!

Why a 17 Days Diet?

According to Dr. Mike, because the foods you eat during each 17 Day Diet phase vary, you keep your body guessing, which helps to raise your metabolism. It also prevents a weight loss plateau which is often experienced on other diets. In addition, you are less likely to feel deprived, as you know you only have to follow each cycle for the relaively short period of 17 days.

17 Days Diet Foods

You will most likely be thrilled to discover that the 17 Day Diet does not mandate that you eat only salad and low calorie vegetables.

The following provides an idea of which foods are permitted on each stage of the diet.

17 Day Diet Phase 1 -Days 1 to 17 - "Accelerate"

The first phase of the diet is named "Accelerate" and focuses on high protein foods. This may sound like the Atkins diet, but rather than eating piles of greasy bacon and fried eggs, the 17 day weight loss plan recommends lean proteins such as skinless chicken breast and boiled eggs. According to Dr. Mike, lean proteins will encourage your body to enter "fat burning mode." 

Phase one also includes eating plenty of low-calorie vegetables, probiotic yogurt and healthy monounsarated and polyunsaturated fats that are found in fish, olives and flax oil. Unlike the Atkins diet, you are also permitted two pieces of low-sugar fruit a day. Low-sugar fruits include blackberries, grapefruit and apples. Like the Atkin's diet, starchy foods like rice and potatoes should be avoided during this stage.

During the first phase of the 17 day diet alcohol is to be completely avoided, and you are encouraged to drink large amounts of green tea.

17 Day Diet Phase 2 - Days 18 to 34 - "Activate"

The second 17 day diet phase is "Activate." During the activate phase every other day you are only permitted to eat the foods described in phase 1, but on the alternate days you may also eat shellfish and lean red meat. On these alternate days you can also eat some starchy foods such as brown rice, barley and oat bran. Legumes like lentils, garbanzos and kidney beans, can be eaten on the alternate days, plus a serving of potato.

On the nine activate days, you care still limited to two servings of fruit and must eat two probiotic foods or suplements each day. Alcoholic beverages are still forbidden on phase 2 of the diet, but plenty of water and green tea is encouraged.

17 Day Diet Phase 3 - Days 35 to 51 -"Achieve"

The third 17 day phase of the diet is named "Achieve" and focuses less on protein. During phase 3, you can add more protein

You can also eat some natural starches during this phase such as rye, pumperknickel or multigrain bread. You can additionally have a high-fiber cereal for breakfast such as All Bran, and whole wheat or gluten-free pasta for lunch or dinner.

Furthermore, some fats can be added here, although serving sizes are limited.

One alcoholic beverage can also be taken each day on the third phase; Dr. Monroe recommends red wine over other alcoholic drinks.

17 Day Diet Phase 4 -Day 52 Onwards - "Arrive"

The final phase of the diet is named "Arrive" and is basically a maintenance phase. Technically, this is not a 17 day phase, but rather something you should stick with for the rest of your life if you want to keep the weight you have lost off.

During this phase you should eat foods from any of the other phases from Monday to Friday and eat some of your favorite foods at the weekend, within reason. There should be no binges, and your favorite (fattening) foods should only be added to three of the weekend's meals, maximum.

17 Day Diet Exercise

It's no secret that most of us don't really like exercising, and even less when we are overweight. Dr. Monroe recommends that during the diet you do some physical exercise but you need only do it for 17 minutes twice a day. He suggests taking a 17 minute walk round the neighborhood or another 17 minute exercise that won't make you feel over-stressed. Options include cycling, swimming or playing volleyball or another game with the kids.

During the third phase of the 17 day diet, after you have lost some weight, Dr. Monroe recommends upping your exercise routine to include at least 2.5 hours of aerobic exercise a week.

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