FatLoss4Idiots (WeightLoss4Idiots)
WeightLoss4Idiots is a web-based diet program. The web-site was the 8th most popular diet web site visited on the Internet during early Jan 2005*.
NOTE: WeightLoss4Idiots changed their name to FatLoss4Idiots in May 2005.
It costs $US27 for 90 days access to the website. Inside the website are a series of weight loss rules (called the "10 Idiot Proof Rules of Weight Loss"). There is also a "diet generator" that will generate 11 days of meal plans.
Ambitious Weight Loss
WeightLoss 4 Idiots claims 9 pounds lost every 11 days. However this is extremely unlikely (and unsafe). This weight loss is often possible during an induction (typically a phase where you drop out starchy carbs). The weight lost is a mixture of water and fat (and possible muscle). This kind of weight loss would be very difficult to sustain, and would almost certainly be accompanied by a drop in metabolism.
Fat Loss 4 Idiots Meal Plan
Fat Loss 4 Idiots food is made up of lean proteins, fruit and vegetables, and the sources of fat come from whole foods (such as cottage cheese or eggs). There are some starchy carbohydrates (such as oats and pasta). The day is divided into 4 meals that should be eaten at a minimum of 2 1/2 hours apart. There is no calorie or carb counting, no limit on portion size - Weight Loss 4 Idiots says you "just eat short of being full". After the 11 day meal plan there is a 3 day "cheat" - where you get to eat whatever you want. Then you are back into the 11 day plan again.
The meal plan is created by selecting from a list of preferred foods. These are then used to generate your meal plan.
Vegetarians
Fat Loss 4 Idiots does have a vegetarian diet generator. Many of the meat products are substituted with Soy foods.
Sample Meal Plan
| Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 |
| Meal #1: Flavored Oatmeal Meal #2: Tuna Salad Meal #3: Sandwich (any type) Meal #4: Scrambled Eggs | Meal #1: Banana Milk Shake Meal #2: Chicken Meal #3: Scrambled Eggs [and] Mixed Vegetables Meal #4: Cottage Cheese | Meal #1: Chicken Meal #2: Fruit Salad Meal #3: Fish Filet Meal #4: Cottage Cheese |
Recipes
The recipes provided for each of these "meals" are spartan at best - in fact some of them a barely recipes at all.
Is It Worth It?
FatLossForIdiots is a budget diet. Nutritionally it is a reduced carb diet that cycles macro-nutrient ratios (to try and trick your metabolism). It recommends common-sense weight loss principles (brisk walking, plenty of water, etc), and contains only whole foods (no processed foods, high-sugar foods, or supplements).
It will most likely turn out to be a fad - but you may learn something about the basic principles of weight loss and lean proteins. Apart from that you are getting what you pay for. In the short term you may lose some weight but to claim 9 pounds lost every 11 days is false.
Some readers have responded to this article and claim they use the FatLoss4Idiots diet when they find that conventional calorie-reducing diets have stopped working:
"Whenever I find that weight isn't falling off of me based on reduced
calories, I just go back to fatloss4idiots. I dropped just about 4 lbs by day 4. I'm always
amazed at how this diet works for me." - K. Jones (via email)
Will Work For Some
One thing that is concerning about the Fat Loss For Idiots program is it's complete lack of accountability. There is no mention of any human being involved. It's just a web site - and the conditions state that you cannot email for support. You pay your money, you get access - that's it. However this will be attractive to some - you can pick up the diet in about 15 minutes - no complex books to read or science to decipher.
*according to hitwise - http://www.hitwise.com/info/news/hitwiseHS2004/dieting_010705.html
