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Home » Blog » The Cleveland Clinic Diet

The Cleveland Clinic Diet

Published: May 22, 2022 · Modified: Sep 6, 2022 by Lynda · This post may contain affiliate links.

This version of the so-called Cleveland Clinic Diet has been circulating for years. Is it right for you? Here I break down the diet so you can decide.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. In need of losing some weight, I resorted to an old copy of the Cleveland Clinic Diet. Now it is not really a diet from the Cleveland Clinic. It is one of those things that got circulated from person-to-person years ago and I still had a copy.

Plate with beets, green beans, hot dogs, and a side of ice cream and an apple.

Day One Dinner

I decided to look it up on the internet and, naturally, there is some criticism. Aren’t most diets scrutinized? Some say it is bad because of the calorie restrictions. (Isn’t carrying around excess weight bad, too?)

Since dieting is easier with a buddy, I recruited my (adult) daughter to do it with me. I guestimate that it cost around $55 for two people for three days. The plan is as follows:

Day One
Breakfast:  ½ grapefruit, 1 slice dry toast, and 2 Tablespoons peanut butter
Lunch:  ½ cup dry tuna, 1 slice dry toast, coffee or tea
Dinner:  2 slices any type of meat (3 oz.), 1 cup green beans, 1 cup red beets, 1 small apple, ½ cup vanilla ice cream

Bowl of grapefruit.

Day Two
Breakfast:  1 egg, 1 slice dry toast, ½ banana
Lunch:  1 cup cottage cheese, 5 saltine crackers
Dinner:  2 hot dogs (meat only), 1 cup broccoli, ½ cup carrots, ½ cup vanilla ice cream, 1 banana

Bowl of cottage cheese.

Day Three
Breakfast:  5 saltine crackers, 1 slice cheddar cheese, 1 small apple
Lunch:  1 boiled egg, 1 slice dry toast
Dinner:  1 cup dry tuna, 1 cup red beets, 1 cup cauliflower, 1 cup cantaloupe, ½ cup vanilla ice cream

Bowl of tuna fish.

My copy goes on to say:

Diet works on chemical breakdown and is proven. Do not vary or substitute any of the above foods; salt and pepper may be used but no other seasonings. This diet is to be used 3 days at a time.

In three days you will lose 10 lbs. After 3 days of dieting, you can eat your normal foods, do not overdo it. After your 4 days of normal eating, start back on your 3-day diet. You can lose up to 40 lbs. in a month if you stick to this diet. It is a safe diet.

DO NOT PICK IN BETWEEN MEALS

On day one I was H.U.N.G.R.Y! I lost between 1-2 pounds.
I admit that I did not quite stick to it on day two. I ate my banana and ice cream early. I was H.U.N.G.R.Y!
Day three: I think I made it through breakfast, but that was it.

The So-Called Cleveland Clinic Analyzed

I thought I would do a little analysis using MyFitnessPal.com to see how this diet really measured up – or down. Here is how the different day’s meal plan breaks down:

My Fitness Pal analysis of Day One of Cleveland Clinic Diet
So for day one, the calorie count is low. Most diets recommend a minimum of 1200 calories/day. The sodium content is too high.

Day Two analysis of The Cleveland Clinic Diet
Day two is still too low on the calorie count.

Day Three analysis of The Cleveland Clinic Diet
Once again, not enough calories

Overall I lost about 3.5 pounds following this version of the Cleveland Clinic Diet. Not too bad for starving for 2 days. Would I do it again? I think I would do one day just to mess with my metabolism.

My daughter was not a fan of the diet.

I cannot in good conscience recommend this to anyone. I think that perhaps one of the best diets that one can do is the No S Diet. Basically, it is no sweets, no snacks, and no seconds except on days that start with “S” or special occasions. How easy does that sound?

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  1. Cyndy says

    January 28, 2023 at 9:23 am

    I’m doing this diet, it’s called “3 day diet. I’m on day 3 and am weighed myself this morning and I’m down 5 lbs. My diet calls for white meat. The first day was difficult. I can manage as long as I can eat ice cream. I have to admit I ate 10 jelly beans with my 2 year old grandson when he stayed the night with me. Lol. Today is day 3 and my Daughter-in-laws baby shower. Fingers crossed I make it. I think I’ll wrap a togo plate for tomorrow.

    Reply
    • Lynda says

      January 29, 2023 at 8:25 pm

      Please come back and tell us how everything worked out. Congratulations on the new grandbaby!

      Reply
  2. Debbie Schipper says

    January 23, 2023 at 10:30 pm

    thank you so much for sharing this. I found this diet in my moms 1940 diary. I think it works just fine and I am one who needs to be told exactly what to eat so it works for me. I used it many years ago after my first, baby was born, and I lost about 30 pounds. I felt great and really never did much dieting since then now I am 69 and up to 155 pounds. I really would like to lose 15 pounds. Thanks so much for posting this for free. I really appreciate it.

    Reply
    • Lynda says

      January 24, 2023 at 9:13 am

      You’re welcome. I really should do it again.

      Reply
  3. Michael says

    June 21, 2022 at 7:02 am

    I tried this as well over 20 years ago and I did lose the weight but it all came back easily in a week lol. I have struggled over the years with different fads and diets but here recently about 6 months ago I stumble over a diet in found in Honduras. Its called the Honduras raw chicken food poison diet lol… Yep in a week and a half I lost 15 pounds and was scarred to eat anything for another week or two after that. It gave me the jump start I needed and since then lost another 25 pounds all within 6 months. Best part is I not starving or rarely even hungry. I eat either a fiber cereal or a couple eggs.. Throw in a banana or blue berries in the cereal or eat separately. Lunch time either a salad or I always buy a box of blue berries or black berries in my refrig for a nice filling lunch. If I’m on the road I just stop by a grocery store and buy a box of them and eat them on the run. Dinner time if I didn’t have a salad for lunch I usually have one for my dinner. It would be huge too lol.. Lettuce, scallions, bell peppers, celery, cherry tomatoes, few croutons, and Mexican mix cheese sparingly. Some times a can of tuna on top. change it up so its not boring. Low calorie dressing. Or I do a fish or chicken meal. Never any snacks unless it is alive lol… Fruit…. I have 20 more pounds to go until I’m at my ideal weight once again… This is not a diet but a life style. Do some walking if possible. Just keep moving daily somehow.. I feel better that I have in years, more energy, thinking is more organized, and my attitude is always positive… Oh yea, I’m 67 and getting married in about a two months to a beautiful lady that is 20 years younger. Anyone can do what I have done once you convince that grey matter that’s between your ears that you want to change your life. It’s not what diet you do but how you want to live. The diet will just happen then. Good luck folks.

    Reply
    • Lynda says

      June 21, 2022 at 7:33 am

      Thanks for sharing your story. Sorry you got food poisoning, but at least something positive did result. Yes, losing weight really is best from a true lifestyle change and it does begin in the mind.

      Reply
  4. Dana says

    February 27, 2022 at 6:50 pm

    My old typewriter copy was called the Mayo diet. It was just like this except no beets or cauliflower from what I can remember. It’s possible I hated those vegetables so I blanked them out. Lol. It’s also been called the Military diet. I only completed it one time and I did lose 7 pounds. I then continue with a low calorie diet. It’s a great jump start to get you motivated.

    Reply
  5. Kim says

    April 16, 2019 at 9:12 am

    I’ve gone on this many times to jump start. Lost a lot of weight with Weight Watchers, but recently gained some back. Using this to get me going again. Interestingly enough though, if you plug in these foods for WW points, it is actually WAY over in point values for the day.

    Reply
  6. Judy says

    November 08, 2018 at 10:44 pm

    I went on this diet back in the 90’s. I stuck with it and dropped 40 pounds. I managed to keep them off until 3 years ago. I think I am going back on it. I hate cottage cheese and black coffee. Might do the ice cream thing and save it to put in my coffee in the morning.

    Reply
  7. ST says

    August 23, 2018 at 9:01 pm

    if I understand correctly, this diet was originally designed for severely obese people who needed to lose weight quickly so that they could have surgery. Under those circumstances the doctors would monitor them and it would help them to get to a weight that would allow the doctors could perform surgery safely.

    Reply
  8. John says

    May 27, 2017 at 11:54 pm

    I did this diet awhile back and it worked. I lost 11 lbs. A tip for those who cant drink blk coffee. Let the ice cream melt in the fridge and use it for ur coffee.

    Reply
    • Lynda says

      May 28, 2017 at 7:22 am

      What a great tip! Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
  9. JD says

    May 04, 2017 at 4:57 pm

    So funny, I had the same typewritten copy back in the early 90s – only my version was called the OHSU Diet! Same instructions and everything. I used to do it in my 20s just for a little kick start but never lost more than 3 lbs at a time. I googled it and found your post because I wanted to find the menu to look it up on MFP – and was excited to see you already did the hard work :). I didn’t realize the calories were so low!

    Reply
    • Lynda says

      May 05, 2017 at 6:13 am

      That is an interesting part of the diet, isn’t it?

      Reply
  10. Phyllis Grever says

    March 06, 2017 at 10:23 pm

    I am on this diet and can tolerate all of the foods. I lost 7 lbs the first week. It is Monday again and I am on my second session. Weight loss goal is only 15 lbs to get me back on track. I am 86 years old and I’m hoping to lose that “belly fat”. It is the second week of Lent and that will surely help me since I am giving up all desserts except vanilla ice cream. .

    Reply
    • Lynda says

      March 07, 2017 at 2:47 pm

      Thanks for stopping by. I hope that you reach your goal (and enjoy the ice cream). 🙂

      Reply
      • Dana says

        February 27, 2022 at 6:45 pm

        I was hoping by the age of 86, I wouldn’t care anymore. 😆 What an inspiration. Good luck!

        Reply
  11. Carol says

    March 19, 2015 at 3:51 pm

    I did this and lost about 6 pounds. I hate cottage cheese and cauliflower, other than that it was easy. I did find picked beets and ate those instead of regular beets, and now I love picked beets…the day I had to have the cottage cheese I would put it on the cracker and then slug it down with water. But I really think exercise is the key to a good diet. Exercise and portions controls and then you can still have a dessert.

    Reply
    • Lynda says

      March 19, 2015 at 4:58 pm

      I agree. Exercise and portion control help tremendously. (Thanks for stopping by.)

      Reply
  12. Candice says

    March 16, 2015 at 2:38 pm

    I did this diet in 2001 the week before my prom…IT WORKED! I was very hungry though…and I ate lunch in the bathroom stall b/c I was too embarrassed to eat those crazy combinations in front of people! Lol….oh, the things we do when we’re young…

    Reply
    • Lynda says

      March 16, 2015 at 3:47 pm

      That’s so funny!

      Reply
  13. Lolo says

    May 27, 2013 at 1:49 am

    That does seem really low in calories.

    Reply
  14. Leilani says

    May 27, 2013 at 12:35 am

    I’ve never heard of the Cleveland Clinic diet before.

    Reply
  15. Rachel @ Following In My Shoes says

    May 26, 2013 at 11:13 pm

    This one is a new one for me!

    Reply
  16. Colleen says

    May 26, 2013 at 10:37 pm

    I remember this diet from 15 years ago. I called it the ice cream diet.

    Reply
    • Lynda says

      May 28, 2013 at 8:29 am

      Quite appropriate to call it that. That was my favorite part of the diet. 🙂

      Reply
  17. Ty @ Mama of 3 Munchkins says

    May 26, 2013 at 10:37 pm

    Beets are so gross, I couldn’t do it!

    Reply
    • John says

      December 14, 2021 at 9:42 pm

      I can’t stand beets alone either,but like them in a salad..

      Reply
      • Lynda says

        December 15, 2021 at 9:26 am

        They do seem to be a food that one has to get accustomed to.

        Reply
  18. Emily @FamilyNLifeLV says

    May 25, 2013 at 11:11 pm

    Hey you gave it a shot and lost some weight which is a win – not sure I could do any diet that promotes hot dogs…

    Reply
  19. HilLesha @To the Motherhood says

    May 25, 2013 at 8:33 pm

    I have never heard of this diet, but I like most, I don’t think I could do this diet.

    Reply
  20. nicole @nicky_olea says

    May 24, 2013 at 4:05 pm

    I think any “diet” is not good in the long term. Changing of lifestyle and habits and exercise is what works in the long term.

    Reply
  21. Shell Feis says

    May 24, 2013 at 3:17 am

    Yeah, that definitely doesn’t sound good. The No S Diet sounds promising though!

    Reply
  22. TerriAnn @ Cookies & Clogs says

    May 23, 2013 at 12:39 am

    Ooh, starvation diets are scary and, truthfully, that looks like a nasty meal 😛 Enjoy the food and just lose a little at a time after you come back 🙂

    Reply
  23. Kelly @ A Girl Worth Saving says

    May 23, 2013 at 12:05 am

    Thanks for sharing your honest opinion. That diet looks tough but The No S diet sounds interesting.

    Reply
  24. patti says

    May 22, 2013 at 10:33 pm

    I’m willing to try most any diet—-just can’t stick to one for very long.

    Reply
  25. Robin Gagnon {Mom Foodie} says

    May 22, 2013 at 9:05 pm

    Yuck! I wouldn’t eat anything on the plate… course that could make one lose weight 😛

    Reply
  26. Tammy says

    May 22, 2013 at 7:05 pm

    This would probably be a really good diet for me – since I’m tiny (only 4’9″ and for my height a healthy weight can be under 100 lbs), my calorie count isn’t the average 1200 calories a day, mine is more like 900 to lose weight at a healthy rate. Thanks for posting!

    Reply
  27. Jennifer says

    May 22, 2013 at 6:49 pm

    I’ve never done this diet. I don’t think I would last

    Reply
  28. Maryann says

    May 22, 2013 at 2:53 pm

    I have done this one before

    Reply
  29. Liz says

    May 22, 2013 at 2:25 pm

    There is no way I could do that diet. I can’t be restricted or limited to certain things or I will rebel and be worse off in the end!

    Reply
  30. Crystal @ Simply Being Mommy.com says

    May 22, 2013 at 12:27 pm

    I don’t think I could do that diet either. I hate beets.

    Reply
    • Lynda says

      May 22, 2013 at 3:28 pm

      So does my daughter. It was quite comical watching her eat them. You would have thought she was eating some type of exotic bug. 🙂

      Reply
  31. Katy says

    May 22, 2013 at 6:15 am

    I remember this blast from the past :). Starving for a couple of days, I’m sure, was worth the Disney food.

    Reply
    • Beulah says

      March 11, 2018 at 11:51 am

      Now that we can’t it viennas, what’s should we eat in that place.

      Reply
      • Lynda says

        March 11, 2018 at 12:04 pm

        I would look at some other type of meat that has about the same amount of calories.

        Reply

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My name is Lynda and I am a recovering sugar addict and travel junkie. I'm also a mom of two children & 2 dogs, wife of 1....and a messy cook taking life one bite at a time.

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