
The 17-day diet is a weight-loss plan that works in cycles, with different foods allowed during each cycle. The diet includes three meals per day, plus snacks. The first cycle is the most restrictive, with a focus on eliminating refined carbohydrates and sugars, and increasing protein intake. Zucchini is not allowed in the first cycle, but it is permitted in the third cycle, where a wider variety of carb sources are introduced. Some people have reported that eating zucchini hindered their weight loss in the first cycle.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Is zucchini allowed on the 17-day diet? | Zucchini is not allowed in Cycle 1 of the 17-day diet. It is allowed in Cycle 3. |
| Number of cycles in the 17-day diet | 4 |
| Is alcohol allowed in the 17-day diet? | Alcohol is not allowed in the first three cycles. In Cycle 4, one optional glass of alcohol per day is allowed. |
| Is the 17-day diet vegetarian- and vegan-friendly? | Yes, the 17-day diet has plenty of options for vegetarians and vegans. |
| Is the 17-day diet gluten-free-friendly? | Yes, the 17-day diet can be made gluten-free. |
| Is dairy allowed in the 17-day diet? | Dairy is allowed starting in Cycle 3. Probiotic milk is allowed in Cycle 1. |
| Is the 17-day diet expensive? | The supplements recommended by Dr. Mike Moreno in the breakthrough edition of the 17-day diet can be expensive. |
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What You'll Learn

Zucchini is allowed in Cycle 3
The 17-Day Diet is divided into four cycles, each with a unique list of food options. The diet does allow for whole grains and prioritizes low-carb vegetables, lean protein, and healthy fats. The first cycle, or "Accelerate", is the most restrictive and focuses on improving digestive health and reducing sugar, sweets, and refined carbs. During this cycle, you can eat unlimited amounts of protein and vegetables from the specified food list.
The second cycle, or "Activate", allows for a wider variety of foods, including higher-fat protein, whole grains, starchy vegetables, and legumes. The third cycle, or "Achieve", is the most liberal of the cycles, with the most amount of foods allowed before considering maintenance. This cycle aims to establish healthy eating habits and steady, manageable weight loss. Alternate-day fasting is no longer required, and dieters can eat a wider variety of carb sources, including breads, pastas, high-fiber cereals, and virtually any fresh fruit or vegetable.
Zucchini is not allowed until Cycle 3. This is a rule in the 17 Day Diet book created by Dr. Mike Moreno, and while the exact reasons for this are not known, it is speculated that zucchini may hinder weight loss in the earlier cycles. One source notes that when they ate zucchini in Cycle 1, their weight loss was negatively impacted, and only resumed when they removed zucchini from their diet.
The 17-Day Diet offers other potential benefits besides weight loss, such as being vegetarian- and vegan-friendly, gluten-free-friendly, and catering to various cuisines and lifestyles. It is high in fiber and provides tips on how to navigate difficult situations that typically affect people on a diet, such as eating out and surviving holidays.
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It's not allowed in Cycle 1
The 17-Day Diet is divided into four cycles, with different foods allowed during each cycle. The first cycle, or "Accelerate," is designed to promote rapid weight loss by improving digestive health and clearing sugar from the blood to boost fat burning. This cycle is the most restrictive phase of the diet and involves reducing carbohydrate intake, eliminating all sugar, sweets, and refined carbohydrates, and increasing protein consumption.
Zucchini is not allowed during Cycle 1 of the 17-Day Diet. While the diet includes a wide range of low-carb vegetables, zucchini is notably absent from the approved food list for this cycle. Some people have shared their experiences online, stating that consuming zucchini during Cycle 1 hindered their weight loss progress.
The 17-Day Diet book, created by Dr. Mike Moreno, specifically mentions that zucchini is not permitted until later cycles. In the book, zucchini falls under the Cultural Exceptions chapter, indicating that it is a substitution that can slow down weight loss during the initial cycle. Dr. Mike advises following the diet as written and introducing zucchini in the cycle where it is allowed.
It is important to note that the 17-Day Diet has specific guidelines and restrictions for each cycle. While some flexibility is allowed, deviating from the recommended food lists may impact the effectiveness of the diet and the rate of weight loss. Adhering to the specified foods for each cycle is crucial to achieving the desired results.
As such, it is recommended to refrain from including zucchini in your meals during Cycle 1 of the 17-Day Diet. Introducing zucchini in later cycles, when it is permitted, can be done while still maintaining a healthy eating pattern and working towards your weight loss goals.
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Dr. Mike Moreno created the diet
The 17 Day Diet is a weight-loss programme created by Dr. Mike Moreno, a family medicine practitioner in San Diego, California. The diet, first published in 2010, is meant to help people lose weight rapidly and build healthy eating habits. The key to this diet is constantly changing foods and calorie intake, which is claimed to boost metabolism and prevent boredom.
The diet is divided into four 17-day cycles: Accelerate, Activate, Achieve, and Arrive. The first three cycles last 17 days each, while the Arrive cycle is meant to be followed for life. Each cycle includes an unlimited amount of foods, so that followers of the diet are never left feeling hungry. As the diet progresses, it gradually eases up. By the end, followers can have the occasional drink, 100-calorie snack, or cheat meal.
The first cycle, Accelerate, involves increasing protein intake, improving digestive health, reducing sugar, sweets, and refined carbs, and clearing the body of toxins that affect metabolism. During this phase, people on the diet can eat unlimited protein and vegetable options from the specified Accelerate foods list. Carb-rich foods are banned during this cycle, but fruits are allowed until 2 pm.
The second cycle, Activate, involves alternate-day fasting. The diet is similar to the Activate days of the second cycle. In the third cycle, Achieve, people on the diet are allowed to eat a wider variety of carb sources, such as breads, pastas, high-fiber cereals, and virtually any fresh fruit or vegetable. They may also drink one optional glass of alcohol per day. However, the diet advises passing on the alcohol if one wants to lose more weight. Since more food is being eaten in this cycle, it is recommended to increase aerobic exercise to 45-60 minutes per day.
The fourth and final cycle, Arrive, allows people on the diet to eat their favourite meals three times per week. However, this can lead to overeating or binging on weekends, which may compromise weight loss.
The diet also includes an exercise component, which starts slowly with just 17 minutes a day of moderate activity like walking. It quickly increases to 40 to 60 minutes of aerobic activity on most days.
The 17 Day Diet is vegetarian- and vegan-friendly, gluten-free-friendly, and caters to many cuisines, including Mediterranean, Hispanic, Indian, and Asian. It is also high in fibre and provides tips on how to survive difficult situations that typically affect people on a diet, such as eating out and surviving holidays.
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The diet has four cycles
The 17 Day Diet, developed by Dr. Mike Moreno and first published in 2010, is a weight loss program that claims to help dieters lose 10-12 pounds in 17 days. The diet is divided into four cycles: Accelerate, Activate, Achieve, and Arrive. Each cycle introduces new nutritional strategies and food options, with the first three cycles lasting 17 days each and the final Arrive cycle intended to last forever.
The first cycle, Accelerate, focuses on increasing protein intake, improving digestion, reducing refined sugar intake, and "detoxing". Followers are allowed to eat unlimited protein and vegetable options from the specific Accelerate foods list, with most carb-rich foods being banned during this cycle. Fruits are allowed until 2 pm, after which it is claimed to be harder to burn carbs due to reduced activity levels.
The second cycle, Activate, or the "body confusion cycle", aims to prevent the body from experiencing a plateau by alternating high and low caloric days. During this cycle, dieters will start adding other lean proteins and starchy vegetables, grains, and legumes from an expanded food list.
The third cycle, Achieve, focuses on establishing healthy eating habits with steady, manageable weight loss. Alternate-day fasting is no longer required, and dieters are allowed to eat a wider variety of carb sources, including breads, pastas, high-fiber cereals, and fresh fruits or vegetables. Alcohol is also permitted, but only one glass per day, and it is recommended to increase aerobic exercise to 45-60 minutes per day.
The fourth and final cycle, Arrive, allows all of the food options from the previous cycles, with the additional freedom to eat three of your favorite meals from Friday dinner to Sunday dinner. This cycle can be challenging as it is easy to overeat or binge during the weekend, negating the weight loss achieved.
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Each cycle has different food options
The 17-Day Diet is divided into four cycles, each with a unique list of food options. The diet includes three meals per day, plus snacks, and different foods are allowed during each cycle. The first cycle is the most restrictive, but the eating plan starts to ease up during the second cycle.
Cycle 1, also known as the "Accelerate" phase, is designed to promote rapid weight loss by improving digestive health and clearing sugar from the blood to boost fat-burning and discourage fat storage. This cycle eliminates all sugar, sweets, and refined carbohydrates, replacing them mainly with low-carb vegetables, lean protein, and healthy fats. You can eat unlimited amounts of protein and vegetables from the specified food list. Most carb-rich foods are banned, but fruits are allowed, although you are not permitted to eat any fruit after 2 pm. You can also consume probiotic foods such as yoghurt, kefir, and tempeh.
Cycle 2, or the "Activate" phase, is designed to reset your metabolism by increasing and decreasing caloric consumption to stimulate fat burning and help prevent plateaus. During this cycle, you can eat everything allowed during Cycle 1, plus higher-fat protein, whole grains, starchy vegetables, and legumes.
Cycle 3, the "Achieve" phase, aims to establish healthy eating habits with steady, manageable weight loss. Alternate-day fasting is no longer required, and you can eat a wider variety of carb sources, such as breads, pastas, high-fiber cereals, and virtually any fresh fruit or vegetable. You may also drink one optional glass of alcohol per day. However, since you're eating more food than in previous cycles, it's recommended to increase aerobic exercise to 45-60 minutes per day.
Cycle 4, or the "Arrive" phase, is designed for the long term to help you maintain your goal weight. During this open-ended cycle, you eat only foods allowed in the first three cycles during the week, and then you can "splurge" on your favourite meals with alcohol between Friday dinner and Sunday dinner.
In terms of zucchini, it appears that this food is not allowed until Cycle 3. Some people have reported that eating zucchini hindered their weight loss during Cycle 1, and it is not included in the food list for that cycle. However, the reasons for this restriction are not entirely clear, and some people have reported eating zucchini during Cycle 1 with no issues.
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Frequently asked questions
No, zucchini is not allowed in the first cycle of the 17-day diet. It is, however, allowed in the third cycle.
The first cycle of the 17-day diet is the Accelerate cycle. It focuses on improving digestive health, boosting fat-burning, and discouraging fat storage. This cycle reduces carb intake and eliminates sugar, sweets, and refined carbs.
The third cycle is the Achieve cycle, which aims to establish healthy eating habits and steady weight loss. Alternate-day fasting is no longer required, and a wider variety of carb sources are allowed.











































