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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.

Here is the 7 day cabbage soup meal plan:

Day 1: Fruit; any fruit except banana, protein shake, fat burner drink, lemon water or herbal water and of course, cabbage soup Day 2: Vegetables; vegetables, cabbage soup, protein shake, fat burner drink, lemon water or vegetable juice, baked potato Day3: Fruit and Vegetables; fruit, cabbage soup, vegetables, protein shake, fat burner drink, lemon water or vegetable juice. Day 4: Bananas; cabbage soup, low fat dairy product, banana, protein shake, water with lemon or herbal flavoring. Day 5: Fish and Tomatoes; cabbage soup, poultry or fish with tomatoes, protein shake, fat burner drink, water with lemon or herbal flavoring. Day 6: Poultry; chicken or fish, cabbage soup, vegetables, protein shake, fat burner drink, lemon water or vegetable juices. Day 7: Rice: mushroom risotto, cabbage soup, vegetables, fat burner drink, protein shake, lemon water 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.

The cabbage soup diet is a little misleading in that there is no scientific evidence to suggest that cabbage burns any more fat than any other type of vegetable. The reality is that people lose weight because of the excessively low calorie intake which is between 800-1,000. The diet would probably produce the same results with many other varieties of vegetable soup.

Pros

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

2. Inexpensive; the required ingredients for this diet plan are very inexpensive to buy.

3. Simple; you don’t have to exercise or change anything else, just eat what’s listed on the diet plan for only 7 days.

4. Eating more fruits and vegetables, which is always a good idea.

Cons

1. Taking in just 800-1,000 calories a day is not considered healthy unless supervised by your doctor. There is also very little protein in the program which could lead to mal-nutrition. Most doctors recommend you take in at least 1200 calories daily.

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. Causes gas.

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. This diet is for adult, it is not suitable for children and adolescents.

2. Do not stay on the cabbage soup diet for more than 7 days.

3. Talk to your doctor about any health concerns.

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. Drink at least 5 glass of water per day.

6. Try different variety of spices and seasoning to minimize boredom from eating cabbage soup continuously.

7. No matter how bored you get with the soup, don’t skip meals. You aren’t taking in very many calories as it is, you can’t afford to lower your caloric intake any more.

8. Try to keep stay at home, you will probably too weak from the low calorie foods and to gassy from mass quantities of cabbage. If you are away from home, carry your cabbage soup with you.

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. Stock up. Make sure you have everything on hand for your diet before you start.

13. Consume protein shake to avoid lack of protein.

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!