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What is the Fit for Life Diet?

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

The Fit for Life diet comes from a book named Fit for Life, which was written by a couple named Harvey and Marilyn Diamond. The diet is a plan for weight loss and general good health that is based on avoiding combinations of certain types of foods. Its creators claim a person can lose weight without reducing the number of calories that he or she eats or exercising, as long as he or she does not combine certain foods.

The authors assert that people have trouble losing weight because they combine dead foods with live ones. Dead foods, which the creators say are meats and starches, work to clog a person’s body. Living foods, which are fruits and vegetables that are eaten raw, are said to cleanse the body. The authors also discuss enzymes in one version of the book, calling some foods enzyme deficient. They also state that enzymes capable of digesting proteins interfere with those that digest carbohydrates and vice versa.

Fit for Life dieters are not supposed to drink water with their meals.
Fit for Life dieters are not supposed to drink water with their meals.

In order to follow the Fit for Life diet, a person would need to consume only fruit and fruit juice until lunch time, or noon, each day. The diet also recommends eating fruit by itself, no matter what time of the day a person chooses to eat it. Fruit, the diet creators assert, works to cleanse the body, but not if it is combined with other types of foods.

At lunch and dinnertime, a person can enjoy two types of foods: either vegetables and carbohydrates or vegetables and proteins. According to the diet’s creators, dieters should never combine protein-rich foods with carbohydrates.

The dieter is also supposed to avoid dairy foods at all times. Even water makes the list of things to avoid, at least some of the time, since dieters are not supposed to drink it with their meals.

Carbohydrates can be eaten on the Fit for Life diet, but should not be combined with protein.
Carbohydrates can be eaten on the Fit for Life diet, but should not be combined with protein.

Some people say they’ve lost weight on the Fit for Life diet, though some in the health field dismiss it as unlikely to work. Health experts do say that the diet’s inclusion of plenty of fruits and vegetables is a good thing. The exclusion of dairy products, however, which contain a good deal of calcium, may make it difficult for some dieters to get enough of this mineral.

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a TheHealthBoard writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a TheHealthBoard writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon146926

I first read the book and followed the diet in 1988. I lost 25 pounds in six weeks. I looked great and felt better than I ever had. I was 29 at the time and was a working mother of two small children. I had experienced a lot of fatigue from my diet and not enough sleep.

The result after six weeks on the eating system was more energy than I new what to do with and now aches and pains. After about 5 years I slacked off and returned to my old way of eating. I am now in my early 50's and I am going to go back to this way of eating and see if I can get rid of the lethargy, excess weight and chronic joint pain. We'll see what happens, however, I am sure it will be good!

anon137995

I would just like to say that this way of eating is very easy to do. My mom has been doing it for just over a year now and to date has lost 150lbs. She says she has lots of energy, is not hungry or feels like she's missing out on certain foods. I'm grateful for this diet for saving her life.

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    • Fit for Life dieters are not supposed to drink water with their meals.
      By: cdrcom
      Fit for Life dieters are not supposed to drink water with their meals.
    • Carbohydrates can be eaten on the Fit for Life diet, but should not be combined with protein.
      By: Elena Schweitzer
      Carbohydrates can be eaten on the Fit for Life diet, but should not be combined with protein.
    • In the Fit for Life diet, dairy should always be avoided.
      By: lidante
      In the Fit for Life diet, dairy should always be avoided.
    • Raw fruits and vegetables are said to cleanse the body.
      By: Photographee.eu
      Raw fruits and vegetables are said to cleanse the body.