Diet Peddles Seven-Day ''Vacation'' from Lifestyle Habits

When it comes to the obesity epidemic, we have gone way beyond necessity and entered the realm of desperation.

The Aspen Wellness Diet from the Aspen Wellness Group, a seven-day weight loss program that goes so far as to claim, ''Now YOU can lose up to 15 pounds in seven days.''

The diet is touted as a ''vacation from chronic food and lifestyle habits,'' and marketing material suggests people use it to ''jumpstart'' themselves toward permanent weight loss.

Twenty-one pre-packaged meals and 14 herbal teas provide the bulk of the dieter's sustenance at 650 to 750 calories per day.

Even though the company counters this remarkably unsafe energy load by suggesting the dieter supplement the food packets with additional fruit (one piece per day) and vegetables (no potatoes), this only bumps the number up to a weak 950 to 1,110 calories per day.

But wait, that's not all you get for your $89.95 (plus shipping and handling). The Aspen Diet also includes relaxation and motivational tapes as well as a ''getting started video'' and a booklet.

Couples can combine the cost for a special deal and they also offer a maintenance plan at a slightly lower cost, but only if you order the main package first. Not surprisingly, the company also offers a special ''Synergy'' multivitamin.

Available both online and at The Sharper Image, this diet virtually takes the Food Guide Pyramid and turns it into a misshapen figure eight.

It is discouraging that there is one more product on the market that has the potential to raise someone's hopes only to have them dashed when the water weight returns and normal eating patterns resume.

This appeared in ACE FitnessMatters, ACE's official magazine.
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