Weight Loss & Diet Plans

Lose 21 Pounds in 21 Days: The Martha's Vineyard Diet Detox

What the Experts Say

Yes, you can lose weight rapidly with Lose 21 Pounds in 21 Days: The Martha's Vineyard Diet Detox. But experts say this is more likely a result of severe caloric restriction, rather than detoxification.

Peeke warns that this kind of 21-day detox can actually make you fatter in the end.

"You might lose weight because you are taking in so few calories, but most of the lost weight will be fluids and muscle," she says. "In the absence of adequate protein, your body has to get protein from some source, so it burns up its own muscle mass. And at the end of the fast, the dieter will weigh less -- but their body composition will be higher in fat and lower in muscle."

The principle of detoxification raises a red flag, says Michelle May, MD, author of Am I Hungry.

"The suggestion that we are filled with toxins creates fear that drives book and product sales," she says. "But in truth, our bodies naturally rid themselves of undesirable substances without any human intervention whatsoever."

Says Holly Wyatt, MD, an obesity expert with the University of Colorado: "If anything is important to weight loss, it is getting plenty of liquids and staying well hydrated so the liver and kidneys can function optimally, do their jobs, and rid the body of any toxins."

The detox diet is deficient in protein, fiber, essential fatty acids, fat-soluble vitamins, and certain minerals, experts say.

"The only positive thing to say about this plan is that it encourages plenty of fruits and vegetables, which most people don't get enough of in their diets," says Jamieson-Petonic.

Experts agree there is no credible science to substantiate the claims this plan is built upon, such as the need for detoxification, lymphatic draining, liquid nutrition, and frequent bowel cleansing. There are no studies available to document that dieters will lose 21 pounds in 21 days. Instead, this claim is based on testimonials from the author's clinic and her co-author's personal experience.

Unless you have a problem associated with your lymph system, this system does not need any help. "If you are concerned about your lymph system, the best thing you can do is get plenty of exercise and drink lots of water -- but you don't need to jump on trampolines or get lymphatic massages," says Peeke.

Another problem is that the Lose 21 Pounds in 21 Days plan is likely to leave you hungry. "When you drink most of your calories, you usually don't get the same satiety value as eating solid foods. So dieters may feel very hungry on this plan," says Jamieson.

And what happens when the 21-day period is over? "When using enemas and fasting techniques, the fluids you lose come back almost immediately when you reintroduce food and stop the unusual behavior," says Wyatt.

Wyatt cautions that this plan could leave dieters feeling dizzy, dehydrated, and light-headed. This, she says, is the result of an inadequate diet -- not as a result of feeling sick as your body dumps toxic residues as the author explains.