Wednesday December 13, 2000

The 48-hour Diet

Now the diet that promises you can lose those pounds after only a two-day wait. But can it really work in such a short amount of time? Mike Bryant finds out in today's Consumer Payoff.

Eat fat, don't eat fat. Eat carbs, avoid carbs. The grapefruit diet… blah blah blah. Our insatiable desire to lose weight feeds an endless number of diets but if you're really in a hurry to shed pounds check out a new diet promising results in only 48 hours.

Sound too good to be true? T.J. Hymen is a salesman, a regular guy whose weight has gotten the best of him lately. He says, "A lot has gone on in my life the past three years. From moving, career change, getting married… something has got to give and I think it's been my diet."

T.J. bravely agreed to go on the diet and see how much of his 204 pounds he could shed in just two days. He says, "It's always attractive to hear 'lose 10 pounds in 48 hours.' I'm kind of curious as to how this is going to work"

The label clearly states "lose up to 10 pounds in 2 days guaranteed!" Really? Just mix 4 ounces with water three times a day for 2 days. Don't even think about eating anything else. No caffeine. No tobacco.

We brought the orange concoction to nutritionist Dr. Michael Hirt to find out what's in this so-called miracle in a bottle. He says, "It's hard to believe anybody would fall for this. It's nothing more than glorified fruit juice."

Which does not mean it's healthy according to Dr. Hirt. He explains, "If you're somebody with any kind of medical condition, has a high blood pressure, heart disease, this diet can be very dangerous and is not recommended."

Even T.J., a healthy tennis player, didn't feel that great half way through. But he didn't give in. So how did T.J. fare after 48 hours and only 400 calories a day?

He says, "The 48 hour diet worked for me I started on Monday and after the first day I lost two and a half pounds. After the second day I lost another three and a half pounds-- so a total of six pounds. It definitely worked."

But come on, for the thirty dollars couldn't you buy a case of juice and not just one bottle?

Go into your backyard, pick three apples and two oranges, open up a can of pineapple juice, pour yourself a nice cold glass and eat nothing else for 48 hours. You'll lose the weight just like the Hollywood diet."

With money left over to treat yourself to something special when it's over. Dr. Hirt says make sure you talk with your doctor before going on any diet including the 48-hour one.

EXTRA's Diet Wars