Have you noticed those new commercials from Taco Bell, promoting the “Drive Thru Diet”? You know, the ones with the beautiful, bikini-clad woman who claims to have lost weight by eating at Taco Bell? At first, I thought the promotion was a gag – along the lines of SNL’s commercial parodies. But sadly, I was wrong. It’s real.
Here’s the deal: this woman (her name is Christine Dougherty) claims to have lost more than 50 pounds over two years by eating the “Fresco” items on Taco Bell’s menu. Sounds a lot like Jared from Subway, does it not? Actually, it sounds like a lot of crap (insert Taco Bell joke here).
Of course, there’s always the fine print associated with a claim as staggering as Christine’s. For instance, take a look a this image from one of the spots:
1250 calories a day. Uh, that’s what your doctor (and other reputable weight-loss programs) would tell you is the bottom of the calorie range for weight loss in women. So, stay with me here, it’s a simple matter of calories in, calories out. Burn more than you eat, and you will lose weight. I haven’t seen the statement about Christine “incorporating Taco Bell’s healthy choices into a regimen of diet and exercise,” but I’d be willing to bet my bottom burrito that it’s somewhere on their website. You can’t lose weight any other way (except surgery)!
And the “Drive-Thru Diet” conveniently ignores other valuable nutrition information – fiber, vitamins, sodium – that one needs to determine of a diet is healthy or not. My guess is NOT.
Bottom line, as usual: To lose weight, you can eat anything you want, as long as you burn more than you consume. This is just a clever marketing ploy by Taco Bell, strategically placed at the beginning of the new year. People are always searching for the magic bullet, a plan which will erase years of treating their bodies like garbage disposals. I can say with complete certainty that eliminating Taco Bell food from your diet is a good way to start.
Life at Goal 
I’m not going to tell you that Taco Bell is good food. But if you find yourself in need of a quick bite, there may be better choices at Taco Bell than there are at other fast food restaurants.
My go-to item is the bean burrito fresco style.
The beans are actually real beans. A few chopped onions, a tablespoon of tomatoes, and a bit of cilantro. It’s a satisfying bite without anything too disgusting added to the mix.
[For the sake of full disclosure, Taco Bell used to be a client of mine, but that business relationship has been over for several years.]
taco bell “cleansing” weight loss. tadaa