by Stefan Vincent
Losing 10 pounds a week can be very enticing for a lot of people. That could explain the popularity of many fad diets such as the cabbage soup diet. This diet has been around for over 2 decades and promises you can lose 10 pounds a week by following this strict meal plan for 7 days eating mostly cabbage soup.
This is the cabbage soup meal plan that would be followed for 7 days:
Day 1: Fruit; consist of cabbage soup, fruits (except banana), protein shake, fat burner drink, and water with lemon or herbal. Day 2: Vegetable; consist of cabbage soup, vegetables, protein shake, fat burner drink, baked potato, and water with lemon or vegetable juices. Day 3: Fruit and Vegetables; consist of cabbage soup, fruit, vegetables, protein shake, fat burner drink, and water with lemon or vegetable juices. Day 4: Bananas; consist of cabbage soup, banana, low fat dairy, protein shake, and water with lemon or herbal. Day 5: Fish and Tomatoes; consist of cabbage soup, fish or poultry with tomatoes, protein shake, fat burner drink, and water with lemon or herbal. Day 6: Poultry Day; consist of cabbage soup, poultry or fish, vegetables, protein shake, fat burner drink, water with lemon or vegetable juices. Day 7: Rice Day; consist of cabbage soup, vegetables, protein shake, fat burner drink, mushroom risotto, and water with lemon or vegetable juices.
Notes that there is no limit for the consumption of cabbage soup at any day, the dieter can eat as much as he wants. On day three, five, six, and seven, there are no limits for fruit, vegetables, fish, and poultry consumption. The recipes of the soup itself usually consist of cabbage, carrots, peppers, onions, and tomatoes with preferred seasonings. The program also forbid alcohol, bread, and carbonated beverages.
While it is named The Cabbage Soup Diet, there are no scientific studies that show cabbage properties to burn fat. The seven days meal plans indicate that this is another low calorie diet with 800-100 calories per day, the cabbage soup is just there to satisfy the dieter whenever he is hungry.
Pros
1. Fast weight loss; the dieter can expect to lose 10 to 15 pounds at the end of the program.
2. Inexpensive; the required ingredients for this diet plan are very inexpensive to buy.
3. Easy: all you have to do is follow a simple diet plan. No other life style changes are needed and it only lasts 7 days.
4. Eating more fruits and vegetables, which is always a good idea.
Cons
1. The diet is very low calorie and considered unhealthy. The cabbage soup itself contains very little protein and the dieter usually will suffer lack of proper nutrition. It is not recommended to consume less than 1200 calories per day unless it is advised by a doctor.
2. Eating this fairly bland soup almost exclusively for a week will get really boring which might make you want to skip meals and lowering your already dangerously low calorie intake.
3. Most cabbage soup recipes are high in sodium or monosodium glutamate.
4. Many believe that the majority of weight loss achieved with this diet plan isn’t fat loss but water weight loss which will be gained back as soon as the dieter returns to their normal eating habits.
5. Most cabbage soup recipes are very bland and dieters have reported feeling ill just by the smell of this bland soup after their 7 day diet is over.
6. Possibly cause frequently fart.
7. Not easy to stick with the diet at a restaurant.
As with everything the field of weight loss is constantly changing as new techniques are explored. Today most people know that starving themselves is not the way to achieve a permanent weight loss and healthy body. But we all know that the idea of a quick fix can be very appealing so if you think you have to give the cabbage soup diet a try, keep these things in mind:
1. No kids or teenagers! This diet is for adults only.
2. Do not stay on the cabbage soup diet for more than 7 days.
3. If any health problem occurs, consult your doctor immediately.
4. While on the diet keep yourself motivated by reminding yourself it’s only 7 days and you can lose up to 10 pounds.
5. Stay hydrated. Drink at least 5 glasses of water every day.
6. Try different variety of spices and seasoning to minimize boredom from eating cabbage soup continuously.
7. Don’t skip your meals, no matter how bored you might be getting with the soup you can’t risk lowering your calories any more than they already are.
8. Plan on staying home during your diet. The low calorie amount might make you feel weak, and you don’t want to have gas while out in public. If you absolutely have to go out, try to take some soup with you.
9. Take your vitamins (and minerals) you have to make sure your body is getting all the nutrients it needs to stay healthy.
10. Keep a journal so you can track your weight loss.
11. Keep track of what you’re supposed to be eating everyday, write it down on a chart if you have to.
12. Before you start your diet, make sure you have all the ingredients you need for the diet plan.
13. Drink your protein shakes. This is very important to provide your body with the protein it needs to stay strong.
Follow the plan carefully and stay motivated and you can lose up to 10 pounds in a week. That’s a great start for anyone!
About the Author:
Applying a fad diet for long period is not recommended. Use the guide from
Diets That Work to teach you in picking the best from a list of selected
weight loss program to maintain your gained weight loss and continue the process.