The Scarsdale diet is a seven to fourteen day diet scheme that promises rapid weight loss while being easy to follow. Designed by Dr. Herman Tarnower nearly three decades ago, the Scarsdale diet is one of the earliest low-carbohydrate and low-calorie diet. Once again, the diet’s “low”, not “no” as its critics claim. The diet limits your calorie intake to around 1000 calories causing significant weight loss (as much as a pound per day).

The Scrasdale diet follows a strict program which limits you to eating “carbs” or food with a low Glycemic Index. Glycemic Index or GI is the measurement of how long a certain food takes to break down. Foods with a high GI level (called bad “carbs”) spike your blood sugar level up and down causing you to feel hungry faster and eventually gain weight. Foods with low GI stabilize your blood sugar level and you will feel hungry slower.

Usually, “natural” or unprocessed foods have a low GI level while processed foods have a high GI level. Fruits, vegetables and lean animal meat are usually what a Scarsdale diet consists of. Significantly low GI level food like wholegrain bread, brown rice, whole wheat pasta and potatoes are also encouraged. The Scarsdale diet might sound a little restrictive but it’s not: you may be limited to consuming only these kinds of foods but you are not limited to the portion size.

Another great advantage to the Scarsdale diet is it doesn’t recommend exercise. Although it doesn’t go outright as to ban exercise, because of the low calorie intake of the diet plan, you don’t have to. However if you do insist on doing exercises, light workout will suffice.

The Scarsdale diet also does not require a supplement of diet pills. Appetite suppressants are not needed unlike in high protein diets because the low GI level of the Scarsdale diet ensures you aren’t going to get hunger pangs. Some dieters claim though that taking diet pills has optimized the effect of the Scarsdale diet. If you choose to take diet pills, please consult your doctor first.

After fourteen days, the Scarsdale diet is followed up by a “keep-trim” phase that lasts for another fourteen days. This phase does not have a meal guide and is less restrictive on what you can consume. Alternate the Scarsdale diet with the “keep-trim” phase in a cycle until you finally achieve your weight loss goal.