We’re sure you’ve heard the jokes about the cabbage soup diet. There are even urban legends about it, that it was created in hospitals, though none have claimed it. But the diet is real, and here’s how it works.
The basics are simple. You eat as much cabbage soup as you want for 7 days, and lose weight. Dieters have reported losing up to 10 pounds in a week, though such a result is likely mostly water weight. But, like all low calorie diets, this will work if you follow it strictly. And, you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars for pre-made meals. You make the soup yourself. Recipes vary, but usually include cabbage (of course), as well as other low calorie but flavorful vegetables like carrots, tomatoes, bell peppers and onions. Most also add boullion and tomato jusice for additional flavor.
But wait, you’re not just going to eat soup for 7 days, right? Right. Even though this is the cabbage soup diet, there are other foods added on each of the 7 days.
A sample meal plan follows (originally from WebMD).
Day 1
Food: Cabbage soup and all the fruit you want (no bananas)
Drink: Unsweetened tea, black coffee, cranberry juice, or waterDay 2
Food: Cabbage soup, all the low-calorie vegetables you want (no beans, peas, or corn), and a baked potato with butterDay 3
Food: Cabbage soup and a mixture of the above fruit and vegetablesDay 4
Food: Cabbage soup and up to eight bananas
Drink: Two glasses of skim milkDay 5
Food: Cabbage soup, up to 20 ounces of beef, chicken or fish, up to six fresh tomatoes
Drink: At least 6-8 glasses of waterDay 6
Food: Cabbage soup, up to 3 beef steaks, and unlimited vegetablesDay 7
Food: Cabbage soup and up to 2 cups of brown rice
Drink: Unsweetened fruit juices, and unlimited vegetables
You’ll notice that the food amounts increase toward the end of the week. That’s to help you readjust to eating again so you don’t get sick. This plan is 7 days, and should only be done for a week at a time. As with other quick weight loss diets, this is a good way to wean your body off of bad things you’re eating, to move yourself into healthier habits. Be careful about activities, especially in the first few days as many who use the cabbage soup diet report being light-headed.
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