Is It Really Worth It?
Written: Oct 10 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: can drop 10-15 lbs. in a week
Cons: caused stomach cramps , messes up your system
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| sheann26's Full Review: Cabbage Soup Diet |
I guess we don't always learn our lesson the first time we do something. In fact, it took me three times to learn my lesson about the Cabbage Soup Diet. I tried this diet on a few different occasions.
My first stab at this diet was about 5 years ago. I was working as a data-entry clerk for a medical insurance company. The job consisted of sitting at a desk in front of a computer for eight hours. There were eight of us in the room. Of course, we would all bring stuff to eat, because the job could get a little monotonous. I slowly watched the scale climb up a little everyday. At first, I did not think much about it. I knew I was eating more than usual, but figured that I could take it off with some walking in the evening.
One day I realized that I better do something quick, because the weight was not coming off. I did not get around to walking as much as I should have been and we were continuing to eat all day. I started realizing this when I could not get into some of my clothes. I started hunting around for a diet that would take the weight off quick, but was easy to follow and was fairly lenient.
I was given a copy of the Cabbage Soup Diet by a friend. I read over it and it sounded easy enough. You could eat as much as you wanted, but only of certain things. I loved soup, fruits and vegetables, so this sounded like the "perfect" diet for me.
The diet is to be followed for 7 days and you are supposed to lose between 10-15 pounds. Does it really work? Yes, it does work. I lost a little over 10 pounds and I only ended up following it for 5 days. You lose 3 pounds in the first day alone. You are allowed to eat only the soup and fruits. They suggest that you eat watermelon and cantelope for the best results. Since, they consist of mostly water, you do lose the weight. However, I now realize that the first 3 lbs. is water that is lost. At the time it sounded great. Wow! 3 pounds in one day.
Let me tell you a little about the way the diet works. You are to eat the cabbage soup everyday for 7 days. It is a tomato base and you add several ingredients to it. Of course, cabbage is the main ingredient. It also calls for several onions, V-8, tomato juice, fresh or canned tomatoes(like I said a tomato base), celery, 1 pkg. Lipton soup mix and bell pepper. You then add any kinds of spices. I added bouillion, chili powder, garlic powder and cilantro. I found another recipe that called for green beans and carrots. I tried it this way and it was good with the "extra" vegetables added in.
If you make it according to the recipe you will need a very large pot, because it makes a lot of soup. I found myself having to put it into 2 very large Tupperware bowls. I had enough soup to last 4 people for a week. You are allowed to eat as much of the soup as you want, so you just might eat the whole thing, but I seriously doubt it. Also, the soup becomes very "old" after eating it for 7 days. I found myself hating it after about 3 days. It is good, but enough is enough.
Besides eating the soup everyday you are allowed other things each day.
DAY ONE: Soup and Fruit only
DAY TWO: Soup and Vegetables only. You can have a baked potato with butter in the evening.
DAY THREE: Soup, Fruit, and Vegetables. No baked potato.
DAY FOUR: Soup, You can have up to 3 bananas and as many glasses of skim milk as you want.
DAY FIVE: Soup, Beef and Tomatoes. You can have 10-20 ounces of beef along with tomatoes. By this day you are definitely craving the meat!
DAY SIX: Soup, Whole-Grain Rice and a small steak.
DAY SEVEN: You are supposed to just watch what you eat on this day.
I have seen several variations of the diet, so the above may not follow exactly what you may have seen. One variation that I have is a different soup recipe. I have found this one to be better. Here it is: 1 large head cabbage, 3 fresh tomatoes, 1 pkg. Lipton Onion soup mix, 1 bunch green onions and bell pepper. I liked it better, because it was not tomato-based. The acid from all the tomatoes tends to get to you after a while. I love tomatoes, but it was a little much to eat everyday.
The first time that I tried the diet I lasted thru the fifth day. I started off doing the sixth day, but that evening I ended up going out to eat. This was a big mistake, because your body is not used to having much fat. I ate a "normal" dinner and paid for it that night. With the diet you eat so many fruits and vegetables and not much of anything else. You take in so much fiber that it does cause severe cramping. That is one of the main things that I do not like about this diet. I have heard of many people who have learned this the "hard way".
The first time that you eat something with fat you can definitely tell. I guess your system gets cleansed of all the fat and impurities, which is good, but it is a little too much for the body to handle. I have to wonder if it rids your body of vitamins and minerals. Sure, eating fruits and vegetables is wonderful, but I think that you need to have a little something extra. This diet does try to throw in some protein. Like the baked potato on the second day and the beef, but the cabbage seems to counteract it.
I did not feel like I had a lot of energy and I did have severe stomach cramps. Like, I said, I did lose the weight and was able to get back into my clothes, but I had to wonder if it was worth it. I guess that is why it took three times to realize the answer and that is NO! After being on this diet it takes about a week or so to get your system regulated.
I know some people eat only fruits and vegetables, so I don't really know what it is about this diet that messes you up so bad. I guess it is the combination of foods and all of the cabbage.
I really don't recommend this diet to anyone, but I guess if you need to drop a quick 10-15 pounds then you might check this out. However, be prepared to suffer the consequences. It will definitely get you back into that dress or pair of jeans, but might not really be worth it.
I have known several people who have done this diet. They have all lost the weight, but did suffer the same problems that I did. The diet can be done for a week and then skip a week. You can then go back on it. A lady at work did this for a month. She did lose all that she wanted to lose. I am not sure, but maybe your body would get used to it after doing it a few times in a month, but I am not willing to experiment.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
sheann26
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Location: San Antonio, TX
Reviews written: 255
Trusted by: 70 members
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