The Digest Diet: The Best Foods for Fast, Lasting Weight Loss

So far it works!!! I started 1/1/2013. I just finished up with Fast Release (days 1 -4) and dropped 5.5 pounds! The first four days allows two shakes, one snack and two cups of soup. Because one batch of soup (I chose the Hearty Mexican Chicken soup as suggested by fellow Amazon reviewers - Spicy!!) is enough for the first four days I stuck with it for the Fast Release duration. I also stuck to one snack type. The shakes are pretty large so I split the two allowable shakes per day into three servings (breakfast (full serving) and splitting the second shake between mid afternoon and 1 hour before bed). I also split the soup into two servings having a cup for lunch and a cup for dinner. I was completely satisfied during the first four days. I also wanted to share I exercise regularly 5 times a week so I am not following the suggested activities in the book. Also, I am nowhere near food sensitive. I will give anything a try. So if you are picky this WILL NOT be for you. On another note, this diet is EXPENSIVE!! At this point I spent what I would spend on about a month's worth of groceries for my husband and I. Keep in mind I'm only on day 6 and have done all shopping through day 10. Like most reviewers I did have to "search" for some of the ingredients in the recipes. I live in Los Angeles and still found myself going to three different stores. (Both the expense of the diet and having to search for ingredients explain four stars instead of five stars). I have to admit once you locate all of the ingredients preparing the food was fairly easy. On a positive note I have made 7 of the numerous recipes available in the book and haven't been disappointed. My husband who is not on the diet enjoyed them as well. To cut down on the cost as the book suggests I plan to eat a cup of soup at lunch for the duration of the diet. I already made two batches of soup (Lemony Lentil & Chard Soup & Spiced Winter Squash Soup with Asian Greens--both taste YUM!!!) Note these were included in the grocery bill I mentioned earlier. I froze them in 1 cup containers also as suggested. Look for my follow up review on Fade Away (days 5 -14). I plan to post my results.Updated review---I completed Fade Away (days 5 -14) and I took off another 3.5 pounds. This brings me to a total weight loss of 9 pounds in 2 weeks!!! I am not complaining. Today is 1/15/2013 and it's my first day of Finish Strong (days 15 -21). I am a little hesitant to go on this phase of the diet as it's more of a maintenance phase. I would like to take off at least 12 more pounds and fear if I go on to this phase I'll maintain. I'll see what happens; Liz does say that I can alternate between the two phases whatever that means... I would say do maintenance for 6 days and go back to Fade Away for 9 days and keep alternating... I think it would be best to stay on Fade Away and once I reach my goal move on to Finish Strong. Decisions! Decisions! Overall I am happy with my results and I did order the Readers Digest Cookbook because I was so pleased with the recipes offered in this book. This book has really given variety on how to prepare healthy meals/snacks and has given me a roadmap that I will use going forward.

I bought this book with the hope of losing 26 pounds in three weeks. I just finished my three weeks and have lost 10 pounds. It was not what I was hoping for, but it is better than nothing. I am planning to continue on this diet until I reach my target weight.The book is easy to follow, there is a lot of information, and the recipes are fairly straightforward. Also, I was never "starving" while on this diet. I was on this diet by myself, and most of the recipes are for four servings, so I had chicken four nights in a row, pork chops four nights in a row, peperoccini four nights in a row, etc. The first four days were the "easiest" since I ate the same thing (shakes and soup). I could not handle plain fat-free yogurt in the shakes, so I switched to fat free strawberry yogurt, and the shakes were much better. Finding some of the items for the remainder of the diet was a challenge, and some of the foods I knew I would not eat at all. One really nice thing about the book is the option of "substituting" items from the same section. Also, because my schedule was crazy, I would have my final snack in the evening after dinner. I always had yogurt, strawberries (for the carrots) and pistachios. This was my dessert for the past two weeks, and it is something I enjoyed and looked forward to while my family had their dessert. I also enjoyed the oatmeal cakes quite a bit for breakfast, and I would have them several mornings in a row. There are some really good foods included in this diet, it is really just a matter of finding what you like. Two negatives to this diet: 1. Because I was on this diet alone, I was making two meals for dinner. One was for me, and one was for the rest of the family. 2. There are LOTS of dishes generated with this diet, especially measuring spoons and cups.I wrote my original review after three weeks from starting the diet, and I am now three months past when I originally began this diet. I have lost a total of 24 pounds in three months after sticking to the eating concepts presented in this book. I began Phase 1 again ten days ago since my weight had stagnated, and I was beginning to fall back on my old eating habits. The weight that I had gained back from my snacking habits was lost, and my eating is back on track. This diet really does work if you are willing to follow the three phases of the diet and stick with the Finish Strong eating concept once your three weeks are up.

I really enjoyed the info and, of course, it all makes sense. My only complaint is the layout of the recipies and how difficult they are to put with the step you are on. The cookbook does a much better job of helping us "elementary" cooks. It would also have helped me better if both the Diet Book and the Cookbook had portion sizes with the meats and meals. The shakes....no problem.....the soups.....no problem......but.....other recipes do not state whether a cup or ounce is the portion amount.

I expected this book to give me more everyday type meal ideas. Some foods just not practical for me to purchase. Suggestions in book sensible but a little disappointed in what I thought should be in it.

i would recommend this book. Great food and reading... I had heard about this book from a fried and i wasnt dissapointed. Sp 2 thumbs up...

This book is well written with back up information to support each idea/suggestion. I am treating it more as a lifestyle book than something to aid in weight loss so, for that, it is a good book. Whether following the plan would help you lose weight, I can't say. Exercising an hour a day is going to do that even without following the plan.

I bought this book excited about the way the diet works. However, when I went to shop for the required foods they weren't readily available. Our stores don't carry fat free Ricotta cheese, light coconut milk, etc. I wish there were more "common" foods required so I wouldn't have to drive the city to the huge supermarkets to get the food.