It worked for me 20 years ago and I am trying it again.

I cheated a lot last time, but on the eating side not on the exercise. As my normal calorie intake is about 3000 a day, cutting down to 1000-1500 odd has a big effect.

Last time I lost 35lb in about 9 months. People I didn't know well at work would come up to me and ask me if I was dying of cancer.

I kept the weight off for 5 years after this, so I seemed to shift my metabolism into a different gear.

I started the diet Saturday after i came across the book have tried loads and failed because they were too fussy. Found this one easy 5 days in and i've lost 3 1/2 pound can't believe it. Only wanted to lose a stone so maybe I can do this in the three weeks. Hope so as off on my hols in 6 weeks, as for the comments on being hungry I've been fine used my safe fruit a few times my downfall is finding time to exercise managed 1/2 hour on the wii last night i'm sure it must count. Good luck to everyone keep positive keep me posted on how your getting on.

A couple years ago I found the Rotation Diet book and tried it. It is the ONLY diet I have ever been successful with. Any diet leaves me feeling hungry and deprived but this one is for a limited time that I can handle and it does make that scale number move down! Two and a half weeks ago I was ready to tackle some weight that had crept back on. I do find that 600 calories is too low so I am using 600/900/1600. For exercise I am gardening (digging, hauling, transplanting, etc.) a couple of hours a day. I am 6 pounds lighter now. (The 21 pounds in 21 days is probably only possible if you are a man with a lot to lose; I lost 10 pounds the first time I used it which is pretty good for an over 50, not too out of shape woman).

Weighed in this morning 2 pounds lighter! That's a total of 8 pounds in 2 and 1/2 weeks. I am in the third week of the rotation diet and have finished the 3 900 calorie days so it's all easier from here on out! I agree with the other comments about reading the whole book which is based on actual science and testing and is full of good information about exercise, water weight, maintenance, etc.
How are lynn 40, aseret, sharoo, purple serena and twizell doing? Hope you are all experiencing continued success.

Well, perhaps the rest of you were unable to continue the 3 weeks, or so successful there was no need to report back. I am in the transition week after the 3 week diet, where you start at the calorie level of the second week and use that for three days. You can stay at that level for the whole fourth week and lose a bit more which is what I hope to do since I haven't dropped any pounds since the last post. I'm very hungry at night and tempted to call it good and move on up - which you do in 300 calorie a day increments, staying at each new level at least 3 days to avoid regaining water or fat. The diet also includes exercise, starting with 15 minutes a day the first week, and increasing to 45 minutes a day by the 3rd week which you are supposed to continue on infinitum. That and substituting fruit for most junk food snacks is supposed to keep you from gaining back the weight. After maintaining your new weight for a week or a month or whatever length you choose, you can do the 3 week cycle again if you have more to lose. (By the way, the book calls for women to use 600/900/1200 calorie levels but men use 1200/1500/1800 - I've gone in between with 900/1200/1600.)

The 4th week I did 1600 calories for 4 days, 1800 for three and finished the diet 10 pounds lighter that when I began. So long!

I started the rotation diet on January 6 th this year.....to be honest, i didn't follow the recipes and made up my own variations, but still adhering to the calorie allowances.....i have to say i found it relatively easy to follow, because there is real structure to the diet, you don't get bored, and "fall off the wagon".I have to say the 600 calorie days are rather low and tough going, but you console yourself that it's only 3 days and you can see the results so quickly.
I had a huge chunk of weight to lose...i started the diet at 16 stone, and lost around 16 lbs in a month on the first rotation,8 lbs on the second... 8 months on, and im tipping the scales at 10 stone 7 lbs , which is perfect for my 5 ft 7 inch frame(i'm female).
I would like to get down to 10 stone, so i'm planning to do the rotation one more time.My tips would be to drink lots of water, don't exercise on the low calorie days, ie the 600/900 days, your energy levels will tend to be rather low, and keep the faith.Despite what people may say, this diet DOES work.....it's the only diet that has worked for me in 15 years of trying to lose weight.....i feel like a new woman, and can't get over the compliments i've received.
Seeing as it is quite a radical diet, i would first check with your gp first, but if you feel you can cope with the low calorie aspect of some of the structure, i'd say go for it...it does work.

I'd like some updates down the road from people losing using this method. I am wondering about long-term viability in terms of keeping the weight off.

Dear MGR - I am sure that if one continued to exercise and eat sensibly after losing weight with the rotation diet one would keep it off. However, that is not my usual mode. I did gain back 2 pounds but was satisfied with that level, consider it my goal weight and stayed there quite a while. I always seem to move in 2 pound increments so I would jump 2 and then cut back on eating to get back to my goal weight. If you neglect your weight long enough to gain back 8 pounds or more you would just need to do another diet cycle.

I must confess that I overindulged in zuchini cake and ended up 4 pounds over my goal so I have been trying to keep at about 1800 calories for three weeks. I am 2 weeks into that effort and was back at goal weight today even though I exceeded the 1800 several times.

I don't feel that the diet slowed my metabolism or affected me adversely in any way.