What You Should Know
Fit For Life is a book which takes a unique approach towards healthy eating written by Harvey and Marilyn Diamond and released in 1985. The premise of Fit For Life is that you can only lose weight and maintain a healthy body if you make long-term changes to your diet and that short-term dieting accomplishes nothing. Fit For Life became a best-seller and was followed up with Fit For Life II (1989), Fit For Life: A New Beginning (2001) and Living Without Pain: Fit For Life (2007). According to the Diamonds’ website and all books in the series have sold over 12 million copies altogether. The recommendations in the book were unusual and although wildly popular on the talk show circuit were generally panned by professionals. But in the past twenty years many of Fit For Life’s recommendations are being backed up by science and are in vogue.
Product Features
Fit For Life contained some unusual dietary recommendations including eating nothing but fruit before noon and not combining proteins with complex carbohydrates. In fact, food combining was a large part of the Fit For Life mantra; it isn’t always what we eat, it’s how we eat it. Fit For Life was also an early proponent of the raw food diet, postulating that we gain more nutrients from food that has not been cooked or processed. Fit For Life was also very militant in its view that hydrogenated fat was unhealthy. This philosophy has since proven as the medical industry now recommends natural oils and fats over hydrogenated oils. Anyone thinking of following the Fit For Life dietary lifestyle should check with their doctor or nutritionist to ensure that there is nothing in it that has since been scientifically proven to be harmful.
Advantages
- Promotes whole foods and healthy dietary lifestyle.
- Recommends exercise.
- Doesn’t require purchase of expensive pre-packaged foods.
Disadvantages
- Not developed by trained medical or dietary professionals.
- Some principles conflict with current belief about the causes of excess weight.
- Has the potential to lead readers to believe that any ailment can be cured with diet and this may prevent some from seeking medical treatment.
Conclusion
The Fit For Life phenomenon has died down significantly from its hey day in the mid-’80′s. However, the book still sells over 100,000 copies per year so many are still following its principles. There does not appear to be anything inherently unhealthy or dangerous about following the Fit For Life guidelines but we recommend that you consult your doctor or dietitian before starting.
For any questions that you want to ask Harvey, if you are on facebook, type in “harvey diamond loves you”, and it will take you to his page. He always answers any questions.
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I am thinking about going on Fit for life diet. I don’t have to lose any weight but am looking for help with digesting my food and would like help with my mental clarity. Has anyone have benefited from following this diet in these areas? Thank you for you responding to answering my request to my question.
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Has anyone had luck adhering to the fruit in the morning but also having coffee? I lost weight in the 80′s by following it strictly, but can’t muster the motivation to give up my coffee. Other than that I love the diet. Any thoughts?
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I wonder that too. I also wonder if I am losing weight due to the principles since I dry. It all day or if it is calorie reduction. Still fell good and do believe.
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Drink coffee on an empty stomach, wait about 45min. Then have fruit
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They dont talk about eating beans..what about beans and rice?
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Beans and rice is allowed see the chapter on food combining principle.
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To make a long story short,it works as advertised. In my younger years went from 180 to
135 lbs in a few short months. Felt great, had more energy, and felt good about myself.
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How does fit for life diet affect diabetics?
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HELLO I’M EDWIN I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE BOOK FIT FOR LIFE FORM MY BROTHER,ABOUT SEVEN WEEKS WHICH WOULD BE 11/01/2010 .AND I CAN TELL YOU IT REALLY HAS CHANGE MY LIFE.I COULD GO ON FOR A LONG TIME BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT IN THIS SHORT TIME IT’S NOT ONLY HELP ME WITH ENERGY BUT WITH MY{ MAYOR DEPRESSION}AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS.
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I’m looking for the Diamonds website. Who knows the adress?
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I first read Fit for Life in 1990 after putting on 80 lbs with my pregnancy and breast feeding. I started having extreme heart burn no matter what I ate. My chiropractor boyfriend gave me this book to read. I started immediately and lost about 70 lbs over 6 months. I immediately had more energy and needed less sleep. My mood improved and I was always happy and energetic. I even started running. Over, the years, I did not follow the diet so well but when things got out of control I started back on it. It always immediately works and I feel great. I am 46 and very healthy. No medications or concerns. I do mostly eat organic and not a lot of meat. Medical evidence or not, this has worked for me for 18 years.
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Can you drink water during the morning hours when you are eating only fruit? Not sure if this working – sorry for multiple questions that are the same.
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Can you drink water during the morning hours you are suppose to eat only fruit?
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Yes, you can drink water. This diet is great and I was very successful in losing weight when this diet came on the scene. It is expensive with purchasing all the fresh veggies and fruits but will add years to your life and will gain loads of energy.
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I tried the Fit For Life Cookie Diet because it was cheaper than Dr. Siegel’s Cookie Diet. I loved the latter, but the former was cheaper and thought I’d give it a try. The Dr. Siegel’s cookies are wonderful. And you really felt like you were eating a cookie. And they worked just as stated. On the other hand, the Fit for Life cookies were pretty bad. I felt like I was eating flavored mud. I guess if you took really small bites and just swallowed instead of chewing, it might be okay. But, what’s the fun in that? I’m going back to Dr. Siegel’s Cookie Diet.
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I bought, read, and followed “Fit For Life”, back in the 80′s. It is funny to read, good and healthy to follow, and is true. I not only lost weight, but I got healthy. My mother followed it and her acid reflux went away. Both of us has energy and felt great. I am going to get back to the basics once again. I have to find my book.
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Fit For Life is the way to love your life!! My doctor was amazed at the complete turnaround of my health! Cholesterol, Blood Pressure is now normal. Sleep Apnea is now gone. 60 pounds of extra weight is also gone. Doctor told me to just keep doing what I’m doing. I wish I could convince all my friends to follow the recommendations in this book. It has given me my life back!!
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