Trends: Lose Weight By Eating Cookies

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Charlene Asplund was diagnosed with diabetes in 2000. For years she has taken several medications to treat her condition.

Asplund says since the diabetes started, she just kept packing on the weight. But not anymore. In the past 9 months she has lost 65 pounds.

Asplund did it by eating cookies on the Smart for Life diet.

Dr. Anthony Capasso opened the Smart for Life location in Jacksonville Beach almost a year ago.

"In a given day most patients will eat six cookies throughout the day," says Dr. Capasso. "For dinner they will do 6 ounces of lean protein of chick or fish with two cups of vegetables."

The daily calorie intake on the doctor monitored program is only 800 calories. The average diet is about 1200 calories.

Dr. Capasso says everyone on the low calorie diet has regular check-ups with him. He tests their BMI (Body Mass Index), body composition, full blood work and thyroid checks. "We also do an EKG when they come it to make sure their heart is okay," says Dr. Capasso.

Registered Dietitian Jenna Braddock reviewed this cookie diet for First Coast News. She says the medical tests and doctor visits are an important component.

"It seems to be a very through evaulation and I think the fact that they do an EKG is really crucial," says Braddock.

But the diet plan only being 800 calories does raise some concerns for Braddock.

"A very low calorie diet does produce significantly more weight loss than a normal reduced calorie diet," says Braddock according to the American Dietic Association. "But a review of 25 studies showed that most people on a very low calorie diet re-gain some of that weight back."

Dr. Capasso says that there is a maintance plan offered through Smart for Life to help people keep the weight off.

Most patients are also given 3 to 5 vitamin supplements to make up for any missed nutrients.

There are a wide variety of cookie flavors. They aren't your grandma's homemade cookies but Asplund says she likes the taste of them. Not everyone agrees though. So Dr. Capasso allows people to taste the cookies before deciding to start the program.

Patients can also use Smart for Life shakes, soups or muffins instead of the cookies.

"The great news about this diet is we are able to take people off their diabetic medications," says Dr. Capasso. "This year I've taken 4 people off their diabetic medicines."

Asplund has reduced her diabetic medications from three down to just one.

"It's done wonders for me," says Asplund. "It's changed my whole life. Now alot of the people I work with say 'hey skinny' and it feels good."

Asplund still wants to lose another 25 pounds. But she has already gone from a size 20 to a size 10.

Braddock says Asplund is the type of person that a very low calorie diet is appropriate for. She says not everyone should lower their calorie intake so low.

"It's typically for people that are obese with many health problems," says Braddock. "Basically people who if they don't get the weight off now they will be in serious trouble."

The Smart for Life diet costs $98 a month after an initial start up fee the first month. The cost of the cookies is $7 a day for the doctor monitored program.

Dr. Capasso's Smart for Life office is location at 13th Avenue S. There is also a Smart for Life location in Jacksonville 10950 San Jose Boulevard.

Click here for information on the Smart for Life program.

Braddock also commented on two other diet trends: Hoodia supplements and the Nutri-system diet.

There are several different makers of the Hoodia supplements. Many times the creators claim it will boost your metabolism and supress your appetite.

The Nutri-System is a program in which the dieters are mailed all of the their meals and snacks, most of which arrive frozen. This diet is designed for the busy person or someone who is not good with portion control.

Click on the tabs to the right of this story to hear what Braddock had to say about these two popular diet plans.