When winter winds down, there are many things to look forward to — warmer weather, blooming flowers, culinary delights and beaches. But, for many, that last item comes with a bit of hesitation.
This winter weight will be gone before you even get off that bikini. So when spring and summer are right around the corner, many people are looking for a quick fix.
This is why the Cabbage Soup Diet has stood the test of time and earned its “fad diet” reputation. This diet lasts for a week and is said to result in a weight loss of about 10 pounds (4.5 kg). A double digit loss is possible in the short term. Some people, perhaps because they are discouraged and unmotivated by the slow results of other diets, swear by the Instant Cabbage Soup Diet. After all, the participants reduced their calorie intake by at least 50 percent, which is about 800 to 1,000 calories a day. The diet is by no means a perfect lifestyle, but it does help to incorporate vegetables and fruits into one’s meal plans.
Of course, the cabbage soup diet has its drawbacks. First, it’s a bit bland and boring, making it hard to ignore the urges. It also cuts down on a good amount of nutrients along with those calories. The highly restrictive nature of the diet restricts entire food groups to certain days. And while it does produce rapid weight loss, most of it is water loss, not much beneficial fat loss. This means that dieters will likely gain a lot of weight once they return to their normal eating routines.
So, diets have their pros and cons, but you lose weight while staying warm during the last weeks of winter, right? Continue reading to learn more about the cabbage soup diet and its possible side effects.
Unlike many diet plans, which usually require a lot of exercise and expect a long-term commitment to achieve results, the Cabbage Soup Diet is short. Designed for one week, it is not intended to be a lifestyle change. It is not high enough in nutrients or calories to sustain healthy body functions for longer periods of time. After completing the week, you should spend some time on a normal diet before thinking about returning to the cabbage soup regimen.
No one person or organization claims credit for creating the Cabbage Soup Diet, so there is no specific standard for dieters to follow. Over the years, several variations of the diet have emerged. Although they are slightly different from each other, they are all quite similar.
For each of the seven days, you should eat at least two bowls of cabbage soup. And there are certain foods you can eat without limit every day, although you’re encouraged to try to satisfy your hunger by eating low-calorie soup whenever possible. Foods like bread, alcohol and soda are prohibited, although you can drink as much water as you like. Here is the basic schedule:
Day 1: You can eat all the soup you want, plus any fruit (except bananas).
Day 2: Soup, low-calorie vegetables and a baked potato with butter
Day 3: Soups, fruits and vegetables
Day 4: Soup, six to eight bananas and whole milk can be consumed.
Day five: Soup, six tomatoes and 15 to 20 ounces of beef, fish or chicken. Make sure to drink at least six glasses of water that day — if not more.
Day 6: Soup, beef and vegetables
Seventh day: Soup, brown rice, vegetables and fruit juice.
Remember, after seven days, it is important to return to your normal diet.
What could happen to you if you decide to try the cabbage soup diet? Check out the next page to find out.
A recipe for rescue
Is your idea of cabbage soup just some hot water and cabbage? There are many cabbage soup recipes on the web that are suitable for diet plans. One of the many varieties includes green onions, green peppers, tomatoes, carrots, mushrooms, celery, cabbage (of course) and the optional addition of bell peppers or V8 juice.
Cabbage Soup Diet Side Effects
The bottom line is that if the Cabbage Soup Diet really was the answer to your dieting prayers, you’d already know all about it, and everyone else would be following it — so You will find that there must be some errors. Like many foods and medications, the Cabbage Soup Diet can potentially cause less than ideal side effects for participants.
The most prevalent — not to mention embarrassing — side effect is the almost inevitable gas. When your body is eating lots of vegetables, plus a lot of cabbage, you’re sure to pass some less-than-pleasant odors. The diet is low in calories and high in fiber, which doesn’t always sit well with your stomach.
Some participants have said that the diet was challenging and successful in terms of weight loss, but it did not come without a cost. They claimed to experience migraines, discoloration around the eyes, low energy levels, mood swings and reduced levels of concentration and creativity. His co-workers agreed, reporting that his usually enthusiastic and helpful colleagues were more lazy than usual and sometimes a bit moody.
As we’ve touched on, the diet itself is not a well-rounded eating plan. Thus, following it for too long may intensify the side effects. It does not provide the body with enough nutrients to keep you healthy. Low calories alone can make anyone feel sluggish and lethargic. It’s always a good idea to consult a health care professional before trying something drastic like a cabbage soup diet.