Hi! I'm Melanie. A little birdie told me that possibly you aren't subscribed to this site. Are you nuts?
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With so many weight loss products and plans on the market, just keeping up to date can be a challenge.
The Tony Ferguson weightloss program has now taken up residence in my local pharmacy, where I recently observed a lady purchasing a mountain of shakes, soups and supplements.
This got my heckles up! I mean, if you were to spend $50 a week on healthy, whole foods, rather than this ‘non-food’ rubbish, imagine how much healthier, and slimmer you’d be!
So, what is the Tony Ferguson diet?
Basically it’s a meal replacement plan. Two meals are substituted each day for a shake or soup, which is 50% carbohydrate, 30% protein and 20% essential fats and nutrients.
Clients are also advised to take chromium supplements (to help suppress cravings), a multivitamin capsule, and a fibre supplement.
You pay $15 for membership which is fine, however the meal replacements are around $3.50 each. One month would cost $196; 6 months $1176, and one year $2352.
What do you think? Is this expensive? When you consider the cost of the other recommended supplements and necessary food items, it could work out a pretty expensive deal.
However, it does have a couple of bonus’ - trained staff work out achievable goals for each client - I do wonder if these are more focused on weight loss than anything else though, and there are weekly or fortnightly weigh-ins, which are good for keeping up motivation.
Inaccurate information
The website states,
“The Program aims to assist the body into a state of mild ketosis. Some literature argues that ketosis is dangerous and should be avoided, but this is a result of confusion between ketosis, the body’s own fat to fuel process and ketoacidosis, a variant of ketosis that occurs in untreated diabetics and can be fatal. This Program, when followed accurately, will not cause diabetic ketoacidosis.”
What? The belief that ketosis is dangerous is the result of confusion between ketosis and ketoacidosis? That is complete rubbish!
What is ketosis?
Ketosis is a potentially dangerous state that occurs in the body when the amount of dietary carbohydrates drops below a certain level. This forces the body to use its fat and protein stores as a source of energy.
When fat is broken down, excess fatty acids, or ketones, are released into the bloodstream, putting extra burden on the kidneys. When protein begins to be used in this manner, it releases nitrogen into the blood stream, placing further burden on the kidneys.
If ketosis continues for long periods of time, serious damage to the liver and kidneys may occur. Most low-carbohydrate diets recommend only short-term use, typically 14 days.
Do I think that the Tony Ferguson diet is a “fad?”
Yes, I do!
It contradicts what most trusted health professionals are saying; it relies on testimonials and anecdotes, rather than scientific evidence; it includes lists of “allowed” foods, it relies on meal substitutions, and it doesn’t encourage an increase in physical activity.
Upon visiting the website, I really couldn’t find what I was looking for, so I emailed them, specifically asking:
- What studies have Tony Ferguson carried out to support this method of weight loss?
- The Tony Ferguson leaflet states that this program is “incredibly successful.” How has it’s success been measured?
- Can you tell me/direct me to the scientific evidence behind this program? I am a firm believer that all nutritional advice should be evidence based.
This is the response I received:
“Thank you for your query regarding the scientific evidence behind the Tony Ferguson Weightloss Program (TFWP).
The Metabolism and Obesity Research Group at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital/Sydney University are in the process of developing a protocol to examine the efficacy of the TFWP in overweight/obese individuals with related co-morbidities, the results of the study will take at least eighteen months to surface.
Our success is measured by the number of happy healthy clients that have maintained their weight loss through our Maintenance Program, our retention rates, the PBS savings resulting from our clients losing weight and more importantly the thousands of testimonials emailed/faxed/written by our clients.
I have attached some information/papers for your perusal, and am looking forward to your feedback. Please let me know if you have any questions.”
Referenced studies:
- Weight management using a meal replacement strategy: meta and pooling analysis from six studies
- Metabolic and weight-loss effects of a long-term dietary intervention in obese patients: Four Year Results
- Higher Protein Intake Preserves Lean Mass and Satiety with Weight Loss in Pre-obese and Obese Women
(I would like to express my sincere thanks to Hilda Sanber for the above response.)
Final thoughts:
#1 Are the studies referenced objective? Unfortunately, this is a problem with much of today’s research, and you can basically find a study to support almost any theory.
However, of those studies referenced, the first was “supported in part by Slim Fast Foods” the second states, “Dr Heymsfield is a member of the Slim Fast Nutrition Institute,” and the final study was “funded through the National Pork Board.”
So, were thy objective? It’s hard to say, what do you think?
#2 No hard scientific evidence that the Tony Ferguson plan is “incredibly successful,” as stated on their leaflet. Surely this is misleading the general public? For now we’ll have to relay on the anecdotal testimonies!
The website tells us clients have lost weight on the plan. While I’m sure this is true - how long were they on the program for? What happened when they stopped taking the shakes? Did they regain, or maintain their weight?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m fully aware of the usefulness of meal replacement for some individuals, particularly the very obese. However, it should only be recommended under the supervision of a medical doctor.
#3 The plan is too restrictive by relying on shakes, soups and a list of “allowed” foods. This is not sustainable long-term, and if you opt for this plan as a quick fix, it certainly doesn’t teach you anything about healthy eating, portion control, or exercise etc.
While some may lose weight on the Tony Ferguson plan, I personally believe it’s not a good long-term weight loss solution.
What are your thoughts?
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{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
I know it doesn’t sound like it, but the post I put up today ( http://theartofzenliving.com/2008/04/the-journey-of-1000-miles/ )actually turns into a rant on my thoughts about weight loss.
I’ll hit the highlights:
1) Count something - carbs, calories, or fat.
2) Move more - walk, run, jump rope, whatever.
3) Do both 1 and 2 regularly and consistently.
I whole-heartedly agree with you that the overly complicated weight loss programs like Tony F’s don’t make good long term solutions. Most of the long term weight loss on a plan like this is in the wallet…
Daniel’s last blog post..The journey of 1000 miles.
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Hi Daniel,
Thanks for commenting. Yes, I agree with your highlights above, very true indeed!
Also, thanks for linking to your blog, you certainly have a task ahead of you to reach 1000 miles, well done so far, and I look forward to reading more in the future
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It’s true: once you get in the habit of shopping “healthy,” the quick fixes lose their appeal, like Diet Ho’s.
Rebecca’s last blog post..One for the Books
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Where is this program available? Is it only in Australia? I’ve never heard of it here in Canada… (i’d rather not hearing about it here in Canada :-))
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Hi Rebecca,
I’m glad to hear you say that! It’s good to know that there are plenty of people out there who really are successful following a “healthy” diet.
Hi Lisa,
The program originated in Australia, and I think it’s now available in the UK, and they’re trialling it in the US, so it won’t have made it’s way to you in Canada yet, fortunately!!
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I live in South Carolina and am currently on the meal plan through my local Kerr drugstore. After having my first child a year ago and trying to lose the extra 80 lbs I’ve put on since baby/high school I was desperate. I’ve been on the plan for 3 weeks and lost 8 pounds! The first 3 days were really hard on me because I felt hungry, but now I don’t even crave the bad foods I loved. I know this isn’t a permanent solution, but it’s caused me to look at nutrition guides for the first time in my 27 years of life and make healthy choices. The staff really motivate me and going in once a week to see my results brightens my day. Everyday I make a point to be active and my son and I usually go for a bike ride together for a least an hour, sometimes longer. I feel it can be a little expensive and I’m curious if slim fast is the same kind of program with cheaper meal replacement. Once I’m halfway to my goal weight I plan to join weight watchers to educate myself on my nutritional choices.
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Hi Bridget,
That’s great news that you’re focusing on nutrition and exercise again, well done! Weight watchers is definitely one of the better plans out there.
If you’ve any questions I’d be happy to help.
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Well my own doctor told me to go on meal replacements and I knew when she said it that it was the wrong approach. In my opinion what ever my failures in weight loss it was plain to see that the only way I would ever lose the weight is by eating healthy and excersicing. A life change, not some shakes that replace real food.
It was to change my mind set about how I thought about food and as you have written before about emotional eating (that’s me). I need to try to find a way to control this.
katly’s last blog post..Me about 8 weeks ago
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Hi Katly,
Thank you for visiting Dietriffic!
I found your comment very interesting indeed. Obviously in some cases meal replacements are acceptable, under the directions of a doctor, however well done on your part for seeing it as you do.
I’m so with you on the “life change” point, you’ve got it in one.
How do you find controlling emotional eating?
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Our clients know that they can’t just sit on their butts and do the meal replacement. They will lose weight just by sticking to the program but are encouraged to do exercise on a daily basis to increase the results of the program. In my opinion, Weight Watchers is not one of the better programs. TF will soon be sweeping the country
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Hi Michelle,
I’m glad you encourage your clients to exercise, that’s very important.
However, personally I can’t get past the fact that it’s a meal replacement programme. I do understand that these can be extremely beneficial for some patients. However, for the majority of the population they need to learn HOW to eat healthy, rather than simply replacing their meals with shakes.
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I found it very hard to stay on this program the first time I did it - it’s true that the restriction from full meals to meal replacements is certainly a change, and I myself found it difficult to adjust. However, I managed to lose more weight with my initial TF effort than spending $300 a fortnight on a personal trainer and nutritionist. From both of these, I bounced back up to 84kgs (what a surprise) and went in the complete opposite direction - not excercising, not eating well and generally hating myself. I KNEW what I had to eat, I just didn’t want to.
However, now I’m in a different mindset. Having tried it a second time, I found myself more at ease with the adjustment to a meal replacement. Rather than killing myself at the gym, I find I can do exercise and feel good about myself. The biggest difference this time, though, is the addition of a weekly session with a psycologist.
I think there is a place for the TF plan in peoples lives, just as proper diet and exercise should be also. I believe that TF is a means to an end, and they do assist in helping to educate people post-TF plan on how to maintain and live healthily.
What I believe all health plans should have is a psychological assessment on WHY they have gained weight. Emotional eating, abuse etc are all things which need to be dealth with by a professional, and unless the underlying problems are dealth with then the obesity rate will keep rising.
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Hi
I just wanted to say that I have tried the Tony Fergusons diet. I have been overweight for my entire life, and I have tried to lose weight in so many different ways. I began the Tony Fergusons diet and it has taught me so much about food, I now eat the right foods and I have so much energy. I think that the meal replacement sachets are great for a busy lifestyle. I am a teacher and sometimes I don’t have time to eat. I simply drink my sachet and I am never hungry. i don’t take anything else, other than the sachets. I find them tasty and filling. There are so many different flavours. I wasn’t eating correctly before I joined Tony fergusons, not only was I eating the wrong foods but I wasn’t eating breakfast, and often skipped lunch. Now I eat 3 times a day with many healthy snack in between. I have lost 25 kilograms, and I am happier and healthier than I have ever been before. Tony Fergusons is great, it has taught me so much about food and what I should and shouldn’t put into my body. Tony Fergusons is also a great program because it not only kick starts your weight loss, but there is a great deal of vareity in the program. It also actually teaches you how to wean yourself back into eating 3 meals a day. It is a fantastic place to start for someone who needs to be educated about food and healthy eating. It is also a great kick start.
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Oh, I also forgot to mention that I combined this diet with a healthy amount of exercise, 4 days a week at the gym, something that I had tried before with other diets, and had never worked, well this time I credit my weight loss completely to the education provided by Tony Fergusons and my consultant who is always more than happy to spend as much time as I need discussing why I have or haven’t met my goal for the week. Whether it be because I didn’t drink enough water or I didn’t exercise enough she is always willing to talk for as long as I need. In regards to the cost I would also have to say that I personally found it very economical compared to the amounts of money I was spending in the past on other food and there is not as much food wastage.
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Oh and I just thought I would mention, haha… you say that Tony Fergusons does not teach you about portion control, well my word it does, it most vertainly does. I think that clearly you acutally haven’t done enough research into the program and what it teaches. I am dissapointed that you would be so critical when you haven’t acutally done enough research into what the program teaches.
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Hi Kylie,
Thank you for taking the time to reply to my article.
I am very happy that you have been successful in losing weight, and are happier and healthier as a result.
However, as I have stated, I cannot endorse a program with blatant inaccuracies, no scientific evidence to support their claims, nor can I be in favour of meal replacements that are not prescribed by a medical doctor.
As for the portion control statement, I was led to believe that this is the case, however I will take into consideration your comments, it may be that some Tony Ferguson consultants are better than others.
I have researched this topic considerably, but I do appreciate comments from those that have already been on the plan - you have the inside information! I do not profess to know everything about the vast array of diet plans out there - this is a near impossible task!!
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Hi Felicity,
I think you make a very valid point about the need to look at the reason for weight gain in the first place. This is something most, if not all, diet plans fail to do.
As you said, it’s all about the mind set, sometimes you just aren’t ready to make dietary changes, and it’s wise to take a step back until you are ready.
Do you think more than one psychological assessment would be required for most people?
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Hi Melanie
Well the emotional eating has been a struggle for me since I have gone through a rollercoster of emotional things. I still fall off the wagon when bad things happen to me. This is something I am working very hard to change. It is not easy and I guess I have to heal my soul first before I can change this for the better. I am trying though. I am not as bad as I used to be.
Katly’s last blog post..Progress as at 7/7/2008
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I’m currently on Tony Ferguson diet plan and I don’t find it restrictive or simply a meal replacement plan. I hate those things, infact I’ve tried the Herbal life etc. and vowed I would never live a life on shakes - and I dont
I have an Espresso flavoured drink in the morning for my breakfast, I never ate breakkie before because Im simply not hungry in the morning. Having this yummy espresso drink on my way to work is great I get the coffee feeling and the nutrition of breakfast. I have fruit mid-morning, Lunch protein and vege/salads, mid afternoon a soup shake - no different from soup n a cup many of my colleagues have (just with extra nutrition), dinner vege/protein and a piece of fruit later on. I also have diet jelly if I fancy it. and if I feel like a snack I make the choice a wise one high in protein low in fat and refined carbs. I realise I have the extra protein meal because my bmi is over 40 - actually it was over 50 when I started and that will drop when I get under 40bmi. But for now, it’s fantastic, it is portion controlled they recommend approx. 120gm protein or the size of your palm, no matter what size your palm is and plenty of vege’s 3 cups minimum a day (the green/yellow/red ones). I believe the plan is totally healthy eating real foods and is very sustainable. It never says you should just drink sachets and that’s it. Oh yes, and there is a maintenance guide when you get to goal to assist in dropping the shakes.
The plan also recommends 20-30min daily exercise.
Ketosis works
As for the supplements - most people I know have a bathroom ’stashed’ with various supplements. I only take the extra fibre and chromium, for the first time in forever I’m ‘regular’ which definately helps.
I feel great. ps I’m loosing approx. 1kg a week which is, at over 140kg, not ultra fast i.e. in my opinion not a fad plan.
I guess like everything, opinions vary and this is just perfect for me.
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this is so true…great information
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Hi Jim,
It’s good to hear not everyone is a fan of Tony Ferguson!!
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Melanie,
TF clients are tought to eat healthy while on the program, the weight management book is one of the keys to program with food guides (which foods are good for you, which ones are bad for you & why) It’s not just a meal replacement, you eat real food (the healthy food) while on the program. Once you have reached your goal weight you then start on the maintence program…this is where the TF counselors sit with you to discuss what your favorite foods are, which ones are healthy, and incorporate these into your daily schedule. You can’t knock the program until you try it. As I’ve seen on TV, Weight Watchers doesn’t seem to teach you about foods, they always show you being able to eat your favorite fatty foods and still lose weight. Doesn’t seem like a good program to me.
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Hey Michelle,
I appreciate your comment.
I will look into the Tony Ferguson program again.
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Hi,
Just wanted to mention “the other side” of exercise.
Just for ONE MOMENT forget about weight. Weight.Weight.Weight.Weight. Argh!
How about eating to live well?
How about: good cardiovascular fitness? Healthy blood pressure? Reduced risk of chronic illness? Good circulation? Healthy bone density? The PROVEN research that shows exercise can help alleviate the pain of arthritis and fibromyalgia?
EXERCISE AND YOU WILL LIVE A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.
Do not support an “eating plan” or “food schedule” or anything else by a fancy name that does not support exercising for more than 30 mins a day. I know we are busy.. but seriously. Your heart was built to beat, and your body was built to MOVE!
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Hey Elizabeth,
Absolutely LOVED your comment!! Thank you so much…you have really pointed out the fallacy of the dieting world, it’s all about the weight loss…and no one seems to really care about improving quality of life.
It also bothers me that people only ever focus on the calorie content of food.
For me eating is a delicious pleasure in life. I don’t care about the calorie content. Now that’s not to say I don’t try to eat well! But, my focus is always on eating whole healthy foods that taste great. It’s not about eating diet food that tastes like cardboard!
Your comment has inspired me to write a post on this. Thank you!!
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