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Tony Ferguson Weight Loss Diet v Paleo

I was really surprised to see this poster advertising the popular Tony Ferguson weight loss diet. It advertises that with the joining fee you get a free lifetime membership.

Tony-Ferguson-Paleo-Diet-min

Surely a weight loss program should “work” within a finite period? For a program to be working, I'd expect a successful dieter to lose at least 0.1 kg a week (the smallest interval most scales will measure). If a dieter is doing such a weight loss program for 50 years of their life, losing 0.1 kg a week – they'll have lost 260kg. Given that this seems rather ridiculous, I can only conclude that the lifetime membership is offered because dieters on this plan fail to achieve their weight loss goals – or put it all back on?

What is the Tony Ferguson Diet?

The diet appears to be a very low calorie diet, where dieters select from a range of heavily processed “meal replacement” products, such as shakes, soups and bars. These seem to replace one to two meals a day, with the remaining meal being a “proper” meal from a restricted list of allowable foods. The plan also recommends a lot of supplements of vitamins and minerals. These are vitamins and minerals that appear to be difficult to obtain when cutting out the natural food sources.

Good Ingredients?

These are the ingredients for one of the products, the Mixed Vegetable Soup. I'm not sure how something with 3% vegetables (which is mainly legumes anyway) is called “vegetable” soup, but still…

Milk solids, soy protein, thickeners (1442, 412), flavours, inslin, dried vegetables (3%) (corn, pea, red capsicum, tomato), yeast extract, salt, sunflower oil, onion powder, minerals (sodium phosphate, magnesium oxide, ferric pyrophosphate, zinc oxide, manganese sulphate, copper sulphate, chronium chloride, sodium molybate, potassium iodine, sodium selenite), anti-caking agent (551), colours (160a, 141, 100), garlic powder, vitamins (C, E, B3, B5, B2, B6, B1, A, folate, K, biotin, D, B12), parsley, flavour enhancer (635), spice & herb.

A Better Way?

Surely instead of being on a lifelong diet and not being able to eat real food, Paleo is a far better way to lose weight? Learning to eat properly – then eating that way for the rest of your life is a far more sustainable – and healthy approach.

Have you ever tried a weight loss plan like this? I'd love to hear your experiences and thoughts on these types of weight loss plans.

Why Paleo Offers a Sustainable Alternative to Meal Replacement Diets

When it comes to weight loss, the real challenge isn’t just losing weight — it’s keeping it off. That’s where the Paleo diet offers a powerful, long-term solution that diet programs like Tony Ferguson’s often struggle to provide. While replacing meals with powdered soups and bars might result in short-term weight loss, it does little to teach healthy eating habits or nourish the body in a way that supports long-term wellbeing.

The Paleo diet, by contrast, is based on eating real, whole foods that our bodies have evolved to thrive on: quality meat, fish, eggs, seasonal vegetables, natural fats, and fruit. It eliminates processed foods, sugar, grains, dairy (for strict Paleo), and industrial oils — all of which are common culprits in weight gain, inflammation, and metabolic dysfunction.

The Problem with Processed Diet Foods

Let’s take a closer look at a typical Tony Ferguson meal replacement. The ingredient list reads more like a chemistry lab than a kitchen pantry. Thickeners, anti-caking agents, flavour enhancers, colourants, soy protein, and synthetic vitamins may help create a low-calorie “meal,” but they do little to support your health or build a better relationship with food. Worse still, some of these additives may disrupt gut health, blood sugar regulation, or hormonal balance — undermining your weight loss efforts in the process.

Compare that to a breakfast of eggs with sautéed spinach and avocado, or a lunch of grilled salmon with roasted sweet potato and greens. Not only are these meals naturally nutrient-dense and satisfying, but they also teach you how to cook, shop, and eat mindfully — skills that serve you for a lifetime.

Does Paleo Work for Weight Loss?

Absolutely — and not just because it cuts calories by default. The Paleo diet helps regulate hunger hormones like ghrelin and leptin, stabilises blood sugar, and encourages fat burning through its focus on protein, healthy fats, and low-glycaemic carbohydrates.

Many people also report that they feel more energised, experience fewer cravings, and enjoy better sleep when they eat Paleo — all of which contribute to sustainable weight loss and better long-term health outcomes.

It’s not a quick fix. But unlike a processed meal replacement diet, it doesn’t need to be. Paleo teaches you how to eat in a way that supports your body’s natural balance — no shakes, bars, or artificial supplements required.

The Power of Nutritional Re-Education

One of the key differences between Paleo and commercial diet plans is the emphasis on education. Paleo is about understanding the why behind food choices, not just following a restrictive list. Once you understand how food affects your energy, digestion, skin, sleep, and mood, it becomes far easier to make good choices consistently — even without a meal plan or branded snack in hand.

The Tony Ferguson diet may offer “lifetime membership,” but what if you only needed to learn how to eat well once — and simply continued from there?

Choose Real Food Over Fake Solutions

If you're comparing Paleo vs meal replacement diets like Tony Ferguson's, consider what you're really looking for. Is it rapid weight loss with no long-term plan? Or are you seeking vibrant health, more energy, freedom from processed food, and a better relationship with your body?

Paleo isn't about perfection or following dogma — it's about building a way of eating that makes you feel good every day, while maintaining a healthy weight without being on a diet.

Have you tried both approaches? Did you transition from shakes and bars to real food? Share your story in the comments — I’d love to hear how Paleo worked for you.

It’s Dangerous to Quit Grains (Sponsored by Kelloggs)

I received an interesting comment pointing me to an article on the website of the Dietitians Association of Australia (update: this has since been removed), all about the Paleo Diet.  The four paragraph critique questions whether there is any merit to this way of eating.  It concludes that they do not support the diet, as

It excludes nutritious core foods such as breads and cereals, and dairy foods

They are also concerned that

The Paleo Diet encourages restrictive eating – an approach that is not sustainable in the long-term. And by banning certain nutritious foods, followers of the diet will be at a greater risk of falling short on important nutrients, such as calcium. Like many fad diets, the Paleo Diet, is no substitute for expert, individual dietary advice from an Accredited (SIC) Practising Dietitian.

There is a lot of evidence to suggest calcium balance, rather than calcium intake is of crucial importance – something that a paleo diet promotes.  Sadly they don’t mention the other nutrients they are concerned about.  This would interest me greatly, as when I have tracked my daily diet I have greatly exceeded all of the micro-nutrient RDA’s (except calcium) by eating in this way.

They say Australians should eat a diet with a wide variety of food from all food groups; that meets their health needs; that is sustainable in the long term and that fits in with their lifestyle.  This implies that they don’t consider a Paleo diet meets these criteria.  I know I'm not alone in finding Paleo is the best diet for my health; very sustainable and fits in easily into my lifestyle.  The fact that it is restrictive in not including processed foods and grains, certainly isn't what I’d call restrictive.  I don’t consider grains a proper “food group” and I think my diet is far more varied than those who eat from the food pyramid.

It's Dangerous to Quit Grains – Sponsored by Kellogg’s? Paleo Diet Perspective

Before I let the inaccuracies and complete lack of research and studies bother me further, I had a look at the partners of the Dietitians Association of Australia.  It might surprise you to see that their partners include Kelloggs, Nestle, Unilever, Dairy Australia and the Grains & Legumes Nutrition Council!

Just to be completely clear, that’s Kelloggs, who make “healthy” high-carb breakfast cereals.  Nestle who make drinks, snacks, breakfast foods and confectionery – which for the most part all share grains, sugars and other un-Paleo “foods” in their ingredients lists.  Unilever – whose products include margarine and diet meal replacement shakes.  I think we can guess which foods Dairy Australia and the Grains & Legumes Nutrition Council endorse.

Sadly I think the more popular Paleo becomes, the more we will read stories like this warning about the dangers of a Paleo diet.  There just isn't the same degree of money for the food industry in real, unprocessed foods like meat and vegetables.

How can we trust an organisation that has a financial relationship with these partners, to give us true, researched dietary advice?  I wonder what would happen to their partnerships if they were to take a different stance on grains?

What Happens When You Actually Quit Grains?

For all the alarmist headlines, very few critics of Paleo actually explore what happens when you stop eating grains. The reality? Most people experience significant health improvements. From reduced bloating and clearer skin to stable energy and improved blood sugar control, ditching grains is often the catalyst for transformation.

It’s important to remember that grains — particularly highly refined ones — are a modern staple, not an ancestral one. They dominate processed food products and are heavily subsidised, marketed and fortified. But the presence of fortification doesn't equal health. Adding synthetic nutrients to a product doesn’t make it nourishing — it makes it artificially compliant with government guidelines.

When people remove grains, they often increase their intake of nutrient-dense whole foods: vegetables, healthy fats, animal proteins and mineral-rich broths. These are the foods that humans have thrived on for millennia. Grains, by contrast, often displace these more beneficial options in a typical modern diet.

The Calcium Question — Again

One criticism that always rears its head is calcium. “But where will you get your calcium without dairy?” they ask. The assumption is that dairy is the only source of this vital mineral. That simply isn’t true. Leafy greens like kale, collards, and bok choy are excellent sources of calcium — and unlike dairy, they don’t come with added hormones or inflammatory proteins that affect sensitive individuals.

Moreover, it’s not just about calcium intake; it’s about calcium balance. A real food diet low in sugar and rich in magnesium, vitamin K2, vitamin D and phosphorus supports proper calcium regulation. Bone health depends on the synergy of nutrients — not simply consuming high-calcium foods. Ironically, grain-heavy diets may actually decrease calcium absorption due to the presence of phytates, which bind to minerals in the gut and inhibit uptake.

Sustainability and Variety — A Paleo Reality

It’s often said that Paleo is unsustainable. That it’s too restrictive. That it’s anti-social. But the reality is that Paleo can be tailored to fit a wide range of lifestyles, from busy families to competitive athletes to weekend foodies. With proper planning and a bit of creativity, Paleo is no more restrictive than any intentional way of eating — in fact, many people report feeling far less limited once they discover how varied their food choices can be without processed grains, seed oils, or refined sugar.

One of the beautiful things about Paleo is that it actually encourages variety. You’re not eating the same sandwich every day for lunch or reaching for another box of cereal because it's convenient. Instead, you’re trying new vegetables, experimenting with slow-cooked meats, and embracing seasonal, local produce. If anything, Paleo widens your food horizon, especially when you explore ethnic cuisines that use traditional cooking methods and whole ingredients.

Questioning the Conflict of Interest

Let’s address the elephant in the room: how can we rely on nutritional advice from organisations financially tied to ultra-processed food manufacturers? It’s not a conspiracy theory — it’s a matter of documented fact. When the same companies that manufacture sugary cereals and hydrogenated spreads are also the key sponsors of the bodies issuing dietary guidelines, how can we pretend this isn’t a conflict?

Imagine if a company selling cigarettes sponsored lung health research. You’d rightly question the findings. Yet in nutrition, this is business as usual. Public confidence in dietary recommendations is eroded every time “experts” dismiss ancestral diets in favour of branded products with nutrition labels designed by marketing departments, not by ancestral logic or biochemistry.

The Rise of Independent Nutrition

The good news? More people than ever are thinking critically about their food choices. They’re turning off the mainstream noise and doing their own research. They’re using apps to track their nutrient intake, not just calories. They’re connecting the dots between what they eat and how they feel. This is especially empowering when you realise that decades of eating by the pyramid have led to rising rates of obesity, metabolic dysfunction, autoimmune conditions, and lifestyle-related disease.

Paleo isn’t the only way to improve health, but it is a powerful reset that removes the most inflammatory elements of the modern diet and helps people reconnect with real food. It doesn't require supplements, meal replacements or a subscription. Just meat, seafood, vegetables, fruit, herbs, natural fats — and a willingness to let go of outdated food rules.

The Bottom Line

Quitting grains isn’t dangerous. It’s not extreme. And it’s certainly not irresponsible. What is dangerous is blindly following nutrition advice shaped by commercial interests that rely on keeping us hooked on addictive, low-nutrient foods.

If you’ve found better health by stepping away from the grain aisle, trust your experience. No headline or dietitian soundbite can override how your own body feels when it’s properly nourished. Keep asking questions. Keep reading ingredient labels. And most importantly, keep listening to your body — it knows more than you’ve been led to believe.

🥣 Have you been told Paleo is too restrictive or unhealthy? How do you respond when people question your grain-free lifestyle? I’d love to hear your experiences — drop a comment below.

Lighter Life, The Anti Paleo Diet?

There's been a lot in the UK press recently, about British actress Pauline Quirke.  Quirke has lost about 47kg (105 pounds) in just eight months.  This extreme very low calorie diet seems really popular in the UK, but thankfully it doesn't appear to have taken off in Australia and New Zealand.

She has done this by following the LighterLife program, which fascinates me.  The program is for people with high BMI's – and a lot of weight to lose.  It is a very low calorie diet, where about 500 calories is eaten a day.  You eat this in the form of shakes, soups or bars  which come in “food packs” provided by the company.  The idea is that by having under 50g of carbohydrates a day you'll go into Ketosis forcing the body to use bodily fat for fuel.  I'm completely on board with ketosis, but the idea of this diet sounds completely miserable to me.  You can easily become fat adjusted (and go into ketosis) on more calories than this, whilst eating normal Paleo foods and plenty of fat.  It seems dangerous to go from obese to such few calories overnight.  I also hate the idea of existing only on processed “nutritionally balanced” foods.

I've found the ingredients for lighter life  and am horrified, but not shocked by what they show.

Chicken Flavour Soup: Ingredients:  Skimmed milk powder, Maltodextrin, Soya protein isolate, Soya flour, Milk protein, Soya lecithin, Inulin, Flavouring, Hydrolysed wheat and maize protein, Potassium chloride, Calcium phosphate, Stabiliser (Xanthan gum), Magnesium oxide, Onion powder, Calcium carbonate, Parsley, Ascorbic acid, Pepper, Ferrous fumarate, Nicotinamide, Copper gluconate, Zinc oxide, Vitamin E acetate, Manganese sulphate, Calcium d pantothenate, Pyridoxine hydrochloride, Thiamin hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Vitamin A acetate, Sodium molybdate, Chromic chloride, Folic acid, Sodium selenite, Potassium iodate, d-biotin, Vitamin K, Vitamin D3, Vitamin B12

Fruit Flavour Meal bars: Ingredients:  Maltitol syrup, White coating (sugar, hydrogenated vegetable oil, skimmed milk powder, whey powder, emulsifier: soya lecithin, stabiliser: E492, flavouring), Milk protein, Soya protein isolate, Whey protein concentrate, Polydextrose, Whey powder, Potassium phosphate, Sunflower oil, Calcium carbonate, Magnesium oxide, Maltodextrin, Ascorbic acid, flavouring, Ferrous fumarate, Nicotinamide, Copper gluconate, Zinc oxide, Vitamin E acetate, Manganese sulphate, Calcium d pantothenate, Pyridoxine hydrochloride, Thiamin hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Vitamin A acetate, Chromic chloride, Sodium molybdate, Folic acid, Sodium selenite, Potassium iodate, d-biotin, Vitamin K, Vitamin D3, Vitamin B12

So no meat in the chicken soup (obviously, meat is bad, right?), skimmed milk powder (we don't do fat), lots of soy, sunflower oils, sugars, trans fats and grains-a-plenty.  I think the only thing I'd consider eating would be the parsley…  For these “foods” to be the only fuel you consume for several months is quite a scary thought.  I'd love to find out more what these ingredients do to the body, I'd imagine they are very inflammatory.

Obviously consuming such few calories, weight loss is inevitable.  But then what?  Once you get to a healthier weight, you still have no knowledge about eating healthy, so presumably you go back to your former eating habits – and back to square one.

I'd love to see some studies about extreme diets like this.

What do you think about diets like these?  Do you think the ends justify the means?  Would you willingly consume those ingredients?