The Martini Diet: Lose Weight, Eat Great Food, Drink

Indulge, be fabulous, and squeeze food portions into a martini glass! If you love trashy romance novels, you will love this diet. Amongst all the fun, the focus of The Martini Diet is portion control, exercise? and self-absorption. You are advised to become a "food snob," to stick to a strict regimen of three meals a day, and of course, drink Martinis.

The philosophy here is to "eat wonderful food, take modest portions, and skip the snacking between meals," in order to lose weight and feel luscious. Jennifer Sanders is the author of self-help books including Wear More Cashmere and she created this plan to assist in her own weight loss. Sanders admits to idolizing Julia Child, French cuisine, and the belief that a little bit of everything, no matter what the calorie count, can keep cravings at bay and control weight. Small portions of high-calorie foods, alcohol, and "elegant" forms of exercise are the foundation of The Martini Diet.

What makes The Martini Diet a different way to lose weight?

Sanders' writing screams "girl power!" This is a quick read that will make readers gasp and chuckle. But underneath the fun, it's basically a portion-control plan.

What is The Martini Diet?

"Indulgence with balanced restraint" is the Martini Diet credo. You are encouraged to "feel superior" towards junk and processed foods in order avoid them. As Sanders says, "the higher your nose is in the air (about food), the smaller your butt will be." This is cute, but is it effective? In some cases, yes. Processed foods and snack foods are not allowed. In fact, one of three major rules is no snacking whatsoever. Here are the rules:

• Rule #1: Eat Only the Very Best. It's okay to eat virtually anything as long as it is made from "real" and high-quality ingredients (butter, cream, meat, and other fats are encouraged). Eat slowly and properly; never eat in the car or standing up. Enjoy any food you like, just make sure you know what is in the food. It doesn't matter how many fat grams or calories are in it, as long as you abide by all three rules.
• Rule #2: Eat Somewhat Less of the Very Best. This is where the dieting comes in, and it's all about portion control. Each component of a meal must fit into a 3-ounce martini glass. If dinner is roast beef, mashed potatoes, and a vegetable, each portion should just reach the top of the glass-no overflow. When dining out, eat only a third of what you're served and take the rest to go. If you can't restrict yourself to a small portion of a particular food, then avoid it completely. As for desserts, have a bite and push the rest away.

• Rule #3: Eat the Very Best Only at Mealtimes. No snacking, ever, because it is "not elegant and tacky." Snacking leads to more snacking, overeating, and over-consumption of calories (unfortunately so does starving yourself with only three small meals a day). Dieters are constantly reminded to never "over-indulge."

Rest assured, alcohol is allowed on the Martini Diet-but not as much as you might think. Sanders recommends a glass of wine with the evening meal or one martini on occasion (more than that with so little food might get you into trouble). Men are allowed more alcohol than women. Fruity mixed drinks are labeled "childish" and are not allowed on this diet because of the excess calories that fruit juices provide. You are also cautioned to stop and get help if you find you are drinking too many martinis.

Other tips for avoiding overeating include shopping for clothes instead of eating; eating breath strips, gum, and black coffee in place of food; or bingeing on favorite foods (just once) so that you won't want to eat them ever again (not recommended!). These are not good tactics for healthy and effective weight loss.

Recipes provided look tasty but are loaded with saturated fat and calories. Dishes such as "Global Village Fried Chicken" and "Coco Cola Cake" may be great for a splurge, but not for a diet. The recipes yield four servings but Sanders recommends that while on the diet, they should serve six.

What are the weight loss expectations?

Sanders says the plan will not provide immediate or rapid weight loss-this is a lifestyle change. The idea is that you should feel less sluggish and healthier after a few days. On average, you can expect to lose about a pound a week, but the small portion sizes recommended might provide increased weight loss for someone who is significantly overweight.

Is exercise promotedin the Martini Diet Plan?

The Martini Diet says that you cannot expect to indulge in the rich foods allowed on the plan without also participating in a serious exercise regimen. You are encouraged to seek "elegant and graceful" exercise methods such as horseback riding, swimming, ice-skating, ballroom dancing, ballet, and fencing. Sex ("exercising for two") is also highly recommended.

Are supplements recommended?

No supplements are mentioned.