Weight Loss for Busy People Best Fitness Blog
Our Hamptons Diet Review investigates a low carb diet used by the well heeled folks of the Hamptons that’s now been rolled out to the rest of us – has it travelled well?
If you’re not a US resident, the Hamptons is where the rich and famous of New York get away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
The diet was developed by Dr Fred Pescatore MD for his patients in the Hamptons. The book was published in 2004 and was followed by a website.
Apparently it worked for them, will it do the same for you?
Hamptons Diet Review – How Does it Work…?
Essentially, this is a low carb, moderate fat diet…but with a few unique aspects revolving around macademia nut oil.
Now Dr Pescatore was the medical director of the Atkins Diet Centre, so you have an idea of what to expect!
There’s still a generous amount of fat allowed on this diet, but the emphasis has switched to monounsaturated oils.
As with the Atkins, a key principle of the diet is that moderate fat diets result in greater weight loss than low fat ones.
However, the Hampton’s Diet stresses the consumption of healthful monos, which are better for weight loss, apparently.
They also help to counter the flak that the Atkins has had for not limiting saturated fat intake!
Anyway, Dr Pescatore quotes some research in his book that he claims proves that macademia nut oil is the best mono for weight loss.
Now, given this emphasis on eating monos as well as foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids like salmon, there are parallels to be drawn with the Mediterranean Diet.
However, this is a low carb diet in the mould of the Atkins, so fruits, veg and grains are limited due to their carb content.
There’s also little evidence of portion control in the book. Basically, you make the right food choices and due to the protein and fat content you’re unlikely to overeat.
There’s some merit in this approach as it gets you away from weighing, measuring and counting calories.
Protein is also very satiating, so a diet high in protein is likely to fill you up, and keep you full for longer.
As such, you can eat as much lean protein and healthy fats as you like.
One drawback for us with this approach is that there are 120 calories in a tablespoon of oil, irrespective of how healthy it is.
A generous sprinkling of oily dressing over a salad can result in hundreds of extra calories!
As far as the carbs go, you decide how much weight you want to lose and set your carb intake accordingly.
For instance, if you need to lose less than 10lbs then eat 40-60g a day.
If you’ve more than 10lbs to lose then limit yourself to a miserly 30g a day!
The book is packed full of some wonderful looking recipes, but you have to wonder how much it would cost to live on this diet.
All that protein, the expensive oils and the supplements that are recommended will add up to a hefty weekly grocery bill!
This is a diet aimed at the rich inhabitants of the Hamptons. Recipes that wouldn’t look out of place in a fine dining establishment should be expected then, we guess!
One of the things that confuses us somewhat with this diet, though, is that while Dr Pescatore waxes lyrical about the health and weight loss benefits of monounsaturates, he still has plenty of recipes packed full of butter, cream and other saturated fat laden ingredients.
Doesn’t make a lot of sense to us.
Hamptons Diet Review – Does it Work…?
If you’re a die hard low carber, then you’ve probably made your mind up on this one already.
For the rest of us, though, we have our doubts.
We’ve no problem with low carb diets per se, but this one seems a little confused.
There’s also the issue of cost. We doubt that your average family is going to be able to afford to eat like this for long.
The meals also require a fair bit of culinary skill and time to prepare, which may make it difficult for people with a job , family and busy lives generally to stick with.
It’s a low carb diet, so the carbs are, well…low – very low. Eating just 30g a day will be a challenge!
Our Hamptons Diet review also through up concerns about the fruit and veg you’d need to cut out to get down to that level. Despite the supplements recommended to counteract the loss of vitamins and minerals in the diet.
Dr Pescatore also claims that you can expect to lose 3-4lbs a week on the diet. We doubt that, certainly not once you get past the first week or two.
But if true, then it’s too much weight to lose too quickly. It’s not safe or healthy and there are problems with rapid weight loss like this.
As far as the good doctor’s magic ingredient – “macademia nut oil” – is concerned, our Hamptons Diet review found precious little robust evidence to substantiate the claims made for its fat loss properties.
Hamptons Diet Review – The Bottom Line…
This is an expensive, low carb, moderate fat, high protein diet.
Sure we found some positives in our Hamptons Diet review. Such as the recommendation to eat more healthy monounsaturated fats and lean proteins and the recipes do look great.
On the downside, the carbs are very low as is the consumption of fruit and veg.
Even once you’ve lost the weight, the maintenance diet is well below 100g of carbs a day.
Macademia oil is also expensive and from a weight loss perspective seems unproven as a fat burner.
There are comparisons with the Mediterranean Diet, which is a better choice for us if you’re looking for a diet rich in healthy oils, fish and lean meat.
It’s also much more generous with the fruit, veg and wholegrain carbs.
eDiets has a good version called the New Mediterranean Diet, an online program with personalized meal plans and 24/7 support…Wine and dine your waistline. eDiets.com 
Our Hamptons Diet review verdict? Too rich for our blood – pass!
