A short term diet plan is as tempting as a free bonus coupon. Among the various diet plans that have been invented for quick weight loss, the cabbage soup diet plan has proven to be most effective. This diet plan soon gained popularity and was given many names before it came to be known as the �Cabbage Soup Diet�. One does not necessarily have to stick to this diet plan for the long term and the cabbage soup diet plan is perfect for instant weight loss for important occasions like marriage, birthdays or anniversaries. The diet involves the consumption of cabbage soup over a weeks� time, which will help you reduce upto 10 pounds (4.5kg). The diet plan has several pros and cons and even though it has often been panned down by nutritionists and dieticians, many people opt for the diet. It definitely offers you a faster way to lose weight and another added advantage is that you can have as much as you want, without having to think too much about your waistline! Scroll down to know about the 7-day cabbage soup diet plan and follow it closely in order to get that perfect figure in just a week.
7 Day Cabbage Soup Diet
Day 1
The first day should comprise of only fruits and the cabbage soup. This day you can eat all the fruits except bananas and make sure you have adequate quantities of the soup. You can also choose from one of these drinks in between; unsweetened tea, cranberry juice and lots of water!
Day 2
The second day you can move on to vegetables. You can feast on a variety of fresh, raw or cooked veggies along with your soup. Mostly, incorporate green leafy vegetables in your diet and avoid foods that cause flatulence like beans, corn or peas. Two bowls of cabbage soup along with these vegetables should ideally do the trick!
Day 3
Day three should ideally incorporate a mixture of fruits and vegetables with the soup. You can eat any fruit or vegetable of your choice. Foods rich in carbohydrates such as fried items or potatoes are strict no-no�s.
Day 4
The fourth day should bring new elements into the diet along with the soup: bananas and skimmed milk. On this day the cabbage soup should be consumed with as many as 6-8 small bananas and 4-5 glasses of skimmed milk.
Day 5
Beef and tomatoes are the main elements of the diet on the fifth day accompanying the soup. You should consume anything up to ten to twenty ounces of beef and end the day with six fresh tomatoes. Along with these foods, have atleast two bowls of cabbage soup to keep you full.
Day 6
On the sixth day, you can have as much protein as you like (beef, fish, poultry), but make sure you do not miss out on the cabbage soup plan atleast twice in the day for it to work its magic. Don�t forget to replenish yourself with a lot of water throughout the day.
Day 7
The last day is a feast with a lot of varieties to be chosen from including brown rice, unsweetened fruit juices and vegetables. The soup should be eaten at least once on this day and you should gorge on all the food that you missed out on the previous days.
For a successful diet plan you should follow the diet as prescribed and not change any element in order to suit your palate or for your comfort. You should drink at least eight glasses of water each day and follow the diet for precisely 7 days to see the difference. It is healthy to add on to this diet plan with multi-vitamin tablets, in case you are missing out on any essential vitamins or minerals. You should consume plenty of this soup in order to see the difference and if it tastes too bland for your palate, you always have the option to spice things up with your favorite garnish!
Criticism
Even though this diet plan has been a huge success and been popularized in different forms, it has been criticized for its possible health effects. Experts have shown that most of the weight lost is water and not fat and therefore the diet is temporary. The calories in the diet are far lower than the ones required in a normal day to day diet. The soup being high in sodium content provides no protein and also causes weakness and nausea in some people. Flatulence has been a common side effect of the diet and after seven days many people can even smell the soup.
Apart from the cons, the diet plan is high in pros as well. If you would like to lose weight the healthy way, go through this article once again and familiarize yourself with all the points to decide what is best for you.