Suzanne Somers’ Diet Program Review
Actress Suzanne Somers created quite a stir in the dieting community with her revolutionary meal plan, also known as Somersizing. The diet is less restrictive than most, yet employs the popular concept of combining foods low in carbohydrates with those high in protein.
Dieters must avoid certain foods following the Suzanne Somers Diet. Most of the banned foods consist of junk food, but some healthy foods are banned as well.
The major thrust of the program involves food combining. Fruits must be eaten alone, while vegetables are combined with fats and proteins. Instead of eating three main meals a day, dieters are encouraged to eat a number of smaller meals throughout the day.
This kind of eating schedule helps maintain the body’s metabolic rate and blood sugar levels. It can also help to reduce the sensation of hunger. Portions don’t matter under the Somers program—you can eat as much as you want, provided you’re eating the right foods in the right combinations.
The diet consists of two phases: level one, in which you initially lose weight, and level two, in which you attempt to maintain your weight loss.
The Suzanne Somers Diet does not specifically mention exercise. However, given the number of calories you are permitted to consume, you can probably engage in some form of aerobic activity. You will certainly have the energy for it. And let’s be honest… any good program should have you combining exercise with a good eating program.
While following the Suzanne Somers Diet, you will need to drink natural beverages such as water and decaffeinated tea and coffee. Soft drinks are on the list of beverages to avoid. The major benefit of the Suzanne Somers Diet is that it restricts your sugar and white flour intake, helping to improve your overall health.
In addition, you may appreciate the unlimited portion sizes and the fact that you can eat many meals a day. Also, the diet offers a number of different menu and recipe options.
However, the Suzanne Somers Diet does have its drawbacks. It can be hard to follow, since you must be careful about maintaining appropriate food combinations. In addition, the diet is low in fiber and does not have solid scientific evidence backing it.
Critics of the program say that it is not so much a weight loss guide as a collection of interesting recipes. Also, even at level two, you can only consume 1200 calories a day which, according to the USDA guidelines, borders on a starvation diet.
Supporters of the Suzanne Somers Diet note that the meal plan does a service to dieters by eliminating junk food. The emphasis in the diet program is on the quality of food eaten, not on its quantity. As a result, a number of dieticians credit Somers with helping people to make better food choices. Some dieters also say the plan’s allowance for carbohydrates makes it easier to follow than Atkins and other carb-restricting diet plans.
Yet, the diet restricts consumption of a number of healthy foods, which is not actually required for weight loss. Also, critics continue to question the wisdom of food combining as a weight loss strategy. As I indicated earlier, there is no scientific evidence to validate, this strategy, and success on the Somers diet could well be attributed to other factors — like caloric restriction, of course.
Still, the Internet is filled with testimonials from people who say that they have lost a significant amount of weight by Somersizing.
January 16, 2009
Where did you get the 1200 calorie limit? When you Somersize you can eat all you want of the correct foods! It’s a fantastic plan that is a lifestyle change and you will be amazed at how good the food tastes. After 3 days, anything you eat tastes better! As for scienticfic eveidence to validate, look at the plan! Every food group is addressed just not all together. I would have thought you’d have investigated the plan a little more before making discouraging comments! I don’t know why, but it works. Kudos and much thanks to Suzanne!!!
March 2, 2009
I am just going back on this program. My husband and I did this once before. I lost 6 lbs in the first week and my husband fixed his degestion problems eating this way. He however is a sugar junkie and could not stick with it so I gave up as well. I am doing it alone this time. I am doing it for ME. There are no calorie restrictions on this program. I have read all the books, watched all the videos, and I am POSITIVE about there being no calorie restrictions. I am very confident this will work again and am looking forward to doing it again. 🙂
March 10, 2009
I lost 50 lbs on this diet 4 years ago. I just started again 6 weeks ago and have already lost 14 lbs. If you can stick with it you can do it too! I’ve tried several different diets over the years, this is the only one I had lasting results with.
March 23, 2009
I have a friend that was 180 lbs. and lost an unbelieveable amount of weight. He weighed 114 six months after he started this new way of eating and or life. He said it was so easy he just went overboard and before he knew it, he was underweight. So he started eating like he used to and now weighs a healthy 140 lbs. I’ve heardit is easy to keep off. I am going to be starting this “diet” in a couple of days and couldn’t be more excited about it. I know it will work because I have seen a friends results first hand.
April 27, 2009
This diet works. A few years ago I was on it and lost over 50 pounds in 4 to 5 months. It was easy. I have over the last year put on some weight due to myself. I started eating the wrong things. I know this works for myself and I have seen it work for others. Try it!
June 1, 2009
I want to tell you that this diet works.
In the first month I lost 8lbs and then every month I started losing about 10lbs a month. I went from 210 lbs. to 159 lbs. in about 6 months. I went to the doctor to get everything checked and he told me to keep up the good work I was just so excited. I started to tell a lot of people to get on the Atkins diet.
June 29, 2009
This works if you really want it to. I have a medical background & it makes a lot of sense.
I lost 40 lbs in 4 months and have never put it back. It has been quite a few years since I took off my weight & it is still off. I am still recommending it to anyone I know that is looking to lose weight.
I tried Weight watchers, Atkins, Slim-fast, Southbeach over the years and this is still the only diet that makes any sense to me. As with anything else if you want a healthy body you need to feed it right and exercise . I went from 170lbs. -125lbs. & have been there for 5 years go ahead and give it a try!
March 16, 2010
This WORKS! I highly recommend it!!! 3 times I started it and lost 15 lbs in 21 days each time! The recipes are fantastic!!!…it’s sometimes hard to locate some of the ingredients and it also can be very time-consuming to make, but the recipes are all worth it! After just 3 weeks, my colesterol levels and health improved to excellent! Also, your energy level goes up. This is the only way to lose weight & improve your health with great food!
June 12, 2010
I just luv S.S. watch her on shopping networks but have one ? I thought her diet was a way of life change? what is the point in going on it if your going to gain weight back and end up going back to your old ways? People need to realize they need to do a way of life or they will always go up and down!
December 31, 2010
I lost an average of 5 lbs per week, and I absolutely believe in her work!! I did combine walking 2.5 to 3 miles per day. At the end of 9 weeks, I had lost 50lbs…I ate heartily, I didn’t count calories at all… I would recommend this program to anyone who has any hormonal imbalance, insulin resistance, everyone that the food pyramid allows you to gain weight…!!!
February 13, 2011
I don’t need to loose weight at this time, however I’m in my mid-forties and hitting peri-menopause. I am using this eating plan to get my hormones back on track naturally first, before I look at natural replacement options. Regardless, everyone benefits from cutting out the processed sugars and white flours that our greedy food industry is killing America with. The sugars and chemicals consumed in this country have even some people in their 20’s with hormone imbalances, a huge host of diseases both physical and mental, and a health care system that is hopelessly crumbling apart.
May 28, 2011
Yes I agree with the positive comments here. This is the easiest “diet” I have ever been on and the least restrictive. I lost 20 lbs quite easily and didn’t feel deprived. The only thing I missed was beer, lol. Time to get back on it and then just not go hog wild later eating and drinking everything in sight. It’s the best plan I’ve seen for weight loss and quite healthy as well.
October 19, 2011
I agree with all the supportive posts. I went on this eating plan and lost 25 lbs that I’ve kept off for over a year. I am now ready to get back to phase 1 to loose more weight. The post that said 1200 calories was wrong! Also my triglycerides went down and I feel healthier and have more energy. It’s a great living style rather than diet. And the food combining comes naturally once you’ve done it for a few weeks.
December 13, 2011
My husband and I went on this eating plan about 12 years ago and had great results with weight loss. Three months ago I decided to give it another try because I have type 2 diabetes and all the recommended diets were very difficult to manage and I couldn’t keep my blood sugar under control. After 3 months on the program my A1C test went from 12.2 to 6.2, my cholesteral level was 275 and now is 96, LDL was 183 and now is 43 and my triglyceride level was 309 and is now 130. How can you possibly argue with these results?