Losin Fat

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.

An example of the 7 days meal plans:

Day 1: Fruit; any fruit (no banana's), cabbage soup, fat burner drink, healthy protein shake, and lemon water or herbal water. Day 2: Vegetable; vegetables,cabbage soup, healthy protein shake, fat burner drink, baked potato, lemon water or vegetable juice Day 3: Vegetables and Fruits; cabbage soup, fruit, vegetables, healthy protein shake, fat burner drink, lemon water or vegetable juices. Day 4: Bananas; banana, cabbage soup, dairy (low fat), healthy protein shake, lemon or herbal water. Day 5: Tomatoes and Fish: fish or chicken with tomatoes, cabbage soup, healthy protein shake, fat burner drink, lemon or herbal water. Day 6: Poultry; poultry or fish, cabbage soup, vegetables, healthy protein shake, fat burner drink, lemon water or vegetable juices. Day 7: Rice; mushroom risotto, cabbage soup, vegetables, healthy protein shake, fat burner drink, lemon water or vegetable juice

Some tips you need to remember: there is no limit to how much of the cabbage soup you can eat daily. On days 3,5,6,and 7 you can also eat as much chicken, fish, fruit, or vegetables as you want. The most common recipe for cabbage soup includes: cabbage, onions, peppers, carrots and tomatoes and whatever seasonings you prefer. While on the cabbage soup diet you cannot have any bread, alcohol or carbonated soft drinks.

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. Rapid weight loss; an average person will lose up to 15 pounds over the 7 day course of this diet.

2. Doesn't cost much; all the ingredients for this diet are easily found and inexpensive to buy.

3. Simple; no exercise or any other behavior changes are suggested, it's only the 7 days meal plan.

4. You will eat more fruits and vegetables.

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. Continuously eat cabbage soup throughout the entire week can be really boring, which can encourage the dieter to eat less than the already low calories per day.

3. High levels of sodium or MSG contained in the soup recipe could lead to long term health issues.

4. There is theory that the weight loss mainly comes from fluid or muscle mass, not fat loss, which will return once the dieter back to the normal eating behaviors.

5. Many dieters have reported feeling sick just by the smell of cabbage soup after going through the 7 day diet. And they are turned off by the blandness of the soup.

6. Possibly cause frequently fart.

7. Not easy to stick with the diet at a restaurant.

From the facts, it is obvious that this diet has many drawbacks and not recommended; many experts will suggest a traditional long term healthy diet. But it is also true that fast weight loss is really tempting and many will still try it. If you do plan to try this diet program, here are a few things to consider:

1. No kids or teenagers! This diet is for adults only.

2. This diet is only intended for 7 days. Don't stay on it for longer than that.

3. Consult your doctor if you have any health issues.

4. During the diet, keep remind yourself that the program only last for seven days and it will result on significant weight loss.

5. Stay hydrated. Drink at least 5 glasses of water every day.

6. To liven things up experiment with different seasonings.

7. Even if you dont like it, force yourself to eat plenty of soup. This diet is already low in calories and you dont want to starve yourself due to your dislike to cabbage soup.

8. You should probably stay home during your diet. Not only will you feel weak due to your low calorie intake, but you don't want to have a problem with gas while standing in the line at the grocery store!

9. Take some vitamin and mineral supplements to help you get all the nutrients you need.

10. Make a journal to keep track your weight loss from day 1.

11. Use a reminder to make sure you eat the right food of the day.

12. Keep steady supply of the ingredients, fruits, and vegetables in your refrigerator.

13. Consume protein shake to avoid lack of protein.

The bottom line is keeping yourself healthy and stay focused during the entire process, you will gain significant weight loss at the end of the program.