“What if you could lose three to eight pounds in a single day?

What if that nearly instant weight loss made you feel lighter, freer, cleaner and more energized?� – asks Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, author of The Fast Track, One-Day Detox Diet and The Fat Flush Plan.

She continues, “What if that one day of weight loss could help jump-start a long-term weight loss plan?� Oy Vey! I like “what ifs�. Shall we play this game?

What if you will hear tomorrow – that for the past two weeks – Britney Spears has been debating Scarlett Johansson over the validity of the “Long-term dietary restriction in older-aged rhesus monkeys: Effects on insulin resistance” paper (a real study by the way) – which was published in 1995?

Would you believe that? No? I thought so, but that was easy. What if the “instant weight loss�, “detox� and “lose eight pounds in a one day� claims – are all bogus? Would you believe that? I hope so, because they are.

But what do I know, right? Unlike Ms. Ann Louise Gittleman, I do not have PhD. So, for those who choose to believe in her claims, here are the recipes you have been asking for.

Gingery Limeade “detox� recipe from The Fast Track, One-Day Detox Diet.

Juice of 3 to 4 limes
2 Tbsp finely grated fresh ginger
1/4 tsp liquid stevia, or to taste

Combine 4 cups pure water with all ingredients in a tall pitcher. Mix or whisk well. Cover and chill before serving. Serves 4.

Per Serving: 10 Calories, 2 g Carbohydrates, 1 mg Sodium

Cranberry Water “detox� recipe from The Fat Flush Plan.

Daily Intake: 8 glasses per day. Purpose: The cranberry juice-water mixture eliminates water retention, cleanses accumulated wastes from the lymphatic system, and also helps to clean up cellulite.

How to: To prepare cranberry water, purchase Knudsen’s, Trader Joe’s, or Mountain Sun’s Unsweetened Cranberry Juice. Then get two empty 32-ounce bottles. Fill each 32-ounce water bottle with 4 ounces of unsweetened cranberry juice and 28 ounces of water.

Buy only unsweetened cranberry juice – not the no-sugar-added kind. Such brands could contain corn syrup or aspartame.