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Cabbage Soup Diet

The very definition of an ill-advised fad diet.


BACKGROUND

Look up the definition of fad diet and you’ll see a picture illustrating the Cabbage Soup Diet. It should not be followed as a long-term eating plan, as it is dangerously low in calories and could do more harm than good. It is possible to lose 10 pounds in a week when you stick to this uber-low calorie plan.

The Cabbage Soup Diet does offer fast weight loss, but it is completely lacking in nutrition, flavor and variety. You'll consume mostly soups of cabbage, onion, celery, carrots, tomatoes and mushrooms. Nutritionists argue that the pounds shed are more likely attributed to the dramatic and dangerous loss in calories and not the proposed fat-burning power found in the cabbage. This diet deprives your body of essential nutrients and has been correlated to difficulty concentrating, feeling light-headed and weak.


PRO
  • You will lose weight
CON
  • Unhealthy
  • Dangerously caloric intake
  • Primarily losing water weight
  • Will regain lost weight if don't stick to healthy eating and exercise following completion
  • Does not promote exercise; would be too weak to do so
DIET and NUTRITION

The one-week Cabbage Soup Diet relies on this simple plan:

  • Day One All-you-can-eat soup and fruit (no bananas). Consume plenty of water, cranberry juice and unsweetened tea.

  • Day Two Consume all the soup and vegetables you like (no beans, peas or corn). Have a buttered baked potato with dinner. No fruit today.

  • Day Three Eat all the soup, fruits and vegetables you like, nothing else.

  • Day Four Eat your soup, no more than eight bananas and all the skim milk you want.

  • Day Five Have at least one serving of soup today. You can also have 10-20 ounces of skinless chicken or beef and no more than six tomatoes. Drink plenty of water.

  • Day Six Eat plenty of vegetables and your servings of beef. Today is the day you can go a bit overboard with the meat (2 steaks if you like) - just make sure to add salad and vegetables. Stay away from the carbs - no fries, potatoes, etc.

  • Day Seven Have at least one serving of soup. Only eat brown rice, vegetables and unsweetened fruit juice.

EXERCISE

No recommendations are made. Given the severely low calories you'll be consuming, you likely won't have the strength for physical activity.

EXPENSE

Cost of the book, $13.99.

CONCLUSION

For rapid weight loss as a jump-start to a more healthy eating plan, the Cabbage Soup Diet could possibly be a solution. However, fasting or liquid diets like Cabbage Soup promising dramatic weight loss results in only a week are typically only helping you shed water weight. This weight will creep right back on once you stop the diet and continue with previous poor eating habits. Finishing the Cabbage Soup Diet and beginning a healthy eating and exercise regimen is the best advice anyone following this unhealthy approach can receive. Be sure to speak with your physician before beginning.

Common Misspellings

cabbge soup diet, cabbage soup deit, cabage soup diet, cabbagge soup, cabbagesoupdiet.com, cabbage diet, cabagge soup diet, soup diet


Related Diets: Juice Diet, Maple Syrup Diet, Grapefruit Solution, 21 Pounds in 21 Days, Martha's Vineyard Diet


Wikipedia

The Cabbage soup diet is a radical weight loss diet designed around heavy consumption of a low-calorie cabbage soup over the time of seven days. It is generally considered a fad diet, in that it is designed for short-term weight-loss and requires no long-term commitment. It has inspired several copy-cats based around similar principles.



  User Reviews (Page 1 of 13)

embracesme
Nov 17th, 2008
9:38 pm

Thumbs Up

i have done this diet before about 5 years ago and i lost 20bls in 2 weeks working out 2 times a day for


the 2 weeks good luck everybody i will be doing the diet Dec 1st


priya
Nov 12th, 2008
7:51 am

Thumbs Up

hi all `today is my first day . but this is my third trial . the first time i did it after my first delivery which was nine years back i did lost all my extra kilos. But the only drawbacks was the taste i hated it but stick to the diet seven days. The second time after second baby i was not so brave unfortunately the soup went down the drain after two days. well all of you wish me luck as i gathered all my courage to give it a try again as i need to to loose 8 lbs .


Lighterload
Nov 6th, 2008
3:00 pm

Thumbs Up

Hi I did the cabbage diet for a week and lost 8 pounds. It was the first time I ever did a diet in my life and I did feel terrible but stuck to it. I waited for about 4 days and did it again and must say while I hated eating veg all day that all the headaches and weakness did not occur second time round. I believe it is all the toxins coming out so the first time u do it u really feel terrible. Also I had loads of energy second time round but still I didn't bother to exercise. Today is my last day and I've lost 6 pounds. U will regain 2 pounds back from water but if u follow a more moderate but still healthy diet plan u shud be able to keep the rest off with some exercise. I wud defo recomend it as a quick start as it will give u the determination not to eat terribly wen u c the results. I did it for a wedding coming up and I basically had only 1 month to change my look. I have succeeded as my mother said to me "u got thin" she hadn't seen me in 2 weeks. Its grt for those people who get frustrated wen they kill themselves trying to lose weight and don't c the results on the scale. I'm a binger and so need this strict discipline to MAKE ME APPRECIATE wat I put in my mouth and believe me I will appreciate it tommorrow! It is worth every discomfort. Best of luck! If i cud it anyone can.


Mel
Nov 3rd, 2008
1:24 pm

Thumbs Up

Well, today is day 1! So I guess i can say so far so good, i like it! I had some fruit for breakfast and snacks. Had a couple bowls for lunch! I added variety to mine. I added 46 oz. low sodium v8 juice, low sodium 14 oz. beef broth, diced tomatoes with oregano, basil and garlic. 1 cube of beef bouillon..Oh and a packet of liptions beefy onion soup mix (got this recipe from a friend...she lost 8 pounds in a week!), SO, needless to say the soup is quite tasty. Although, I am starting to get a headache...low sugar probably...so Lord help me through the next few days! This is a challenge for me, BECAUSE I am allergic to fresh fruits and vegetables! BUT can eat pineapple..strange I know. After 7 days of this I will be doing the Braggs ACV to get down where I need to be. I am an avid weight-lifter and taebo hound. So I'm sure I"ll reach my goal of 135. I'm now at 165!!! Wish me luck!! I'll report in, in a few days to report how it is going!!


Hollie
Nov 2nd, 2008
1:41 pm

Thumbs Down

I can't stand it. I was trying to do the cabbage one week and the Three Day Cardiac diet the next. I need to lose a lot of weight and was trying to get some variety in there. Well, can't take the cabbage diet anymore. I will though go back to the 3 day diet. For any of you that can't stand the cabbage diet. I would definitely recommend the 3 day. And instead of 7 days, you'll lose ten pounds in three days!


Anne
Oct 30th, 2008
3:33 pm

Thumbs Up

I'm on the middle day 3 have lost 1lb so far


Kendra
Oct 29th, 2008
11:30 am

Thumbs Down

Only lost 2 pounds! My husband only lost 3 pounds and we stuck to the diet. I even exercised. I am very disappointed.


J in Ca
Oct 29th, 2008
12:06 am

Thumbs Down

I started this diet the weekend before last to lose weight for a trip to Vegas a few days ago. I followed it to the T. I had lost 10 lbs. by day 6 (there are 7 days). I suspect this was because I was tired of eating the same things everyday so a lot of the time I just didn't eat.



As evidenced by my experience, it does deliver on weight loss. BUT-- what's important to note is that I -did not- feel any lighter. I think it's true what they say, that you just lose water weight. My jeans and other clothes didn't fit any differently, and I didn't look or feel any thinner. I could suck in my tummy more, but I suspect that's because there was nothing in it. All in all I was not impressed, and was confused as to how I could have lost the 10 lbs and not felt different.



It has been three days since I ended the diet and I've already gained back 5 lbs. I haven't eaten particularly badly or unreasonably, just been doing what I normally do. Another pitfall of the diet (besides feeling tortured) is that after the 5th and 6th days of beef overload, I felt constipated for 3 days. Finally ate three probiotic yogurts in a row to take care of that.



Honestly, eating reasonable food in sensible portions and running a mile or two 3 days in a row has worked much better in the past. I felt a lot lighter, healthier, more energetic, and -Looked- a lot thinner than I did at the end of this diet.



I wouldn't recommend this diet. it's harder than it sounds, and it doesn't really pay off the way most people want it to. If you need to drop weight quickly, try a few days of lots of water, reasonable food/portions, and lots of running,


Anne
Oct 28th, 2008
2:50 pm

Thumbs Up

I am starting this diet today 152lbs will post results as I go along


Eilish Byrne
Oct 28th, 2008
10:00 am

Thumbs Up

I would like to try the cabbage diet


"B"
Oct 25th, 2008
3:59 pm

Thumbs Up

I love this diet. I did it a year ago before I got pregnant and lost about 20 pounds. I cycled 6 times but I got creative with the soup each time. One of the "con" arguments is that you will be too weak to exercise; baloney! I walked 2-3 miles several times a week. I never felt hungry as I ate healthy fruit and veggies as often as I liked! I am back on now since my baby has been born and all is going well. I am in week three and have lost 9 pounds so far.


Amy
Oct 17th, 2008
6:21 pm

Thumbs Up

I am on day 1 and so excited!!! I feel like this will be a good way to lose the poundage and then keep it off by eating healthy!I I also want to fit in my halloween costume!


Ken
Oct 16th, 2008
12:48 pm

Thumbs Up

I used this diet excellent for losing quick weight it is true you will regain weight fast if don't stick to healthy eating.



I gained weight again couple of time but finally third time I stick to excercise right after gaining my weight goal with this diet and do not have any issues for last 1 year


Fat Dave
Oct 16th, 2008
12:04 pm

Thumbs Down

I did this diet and only lost 4lb when I was 5 stone overweight. I lost a lot more on the atkins...


Veronica
Oct 10th, 2008
2:02 am

Thumbs Down

I had horrible bloating with this diet and my fingers swelled up to the size of sausages. I had bags under my eyes and my skin broke out. Thumbs down.



And I'm in really good shape and very healthy and skinny to begin with. I stay fit and trim by eating avacado, lettuce and tomato sandwiches on whole wheat toast, frozen blueberries and seaweed salad with vegetarian maki rolls. I drink lots of water, tea and good quality white wine and I splurge with the occasional beer and basket of onion rings.


Dee
Oct 7th, 2008
10:40 pm

Thumbs Up

I just had to say I love the new look on here! \\nKeep up the good work everyone! :)


Val
Oct 5th, 2008
11:16 am

Thumbs Up

The cabbage soup diet definitely works but it is not sustainable. Unless you love cabbage and even then it it is questionable how healthy it is for you.


shandi
Sep 26th, 2008
4:40 am

im on my 6th day ive lost 10 pounds i feel great and im not sick of the soup yet so im going to do it another week


lynne blair
Sep 18th, 2008
2:49 pm

Sept. 18th 2008. This is day four for me and I have not experienced any sickness or headaches. I am on this diet with a friend for support. she has suffered for the odd headache but apart from that she feels great and so do I. Found the first three days a bit of a struggle but we supported each other. Looking forward to tomorrow to have the beef and tomatoes. I am only having two bowls of soup a day. i hope this is enough. I am not going to be tempted to weigh myself until at least day 7 or 8. i want to see the dramatic result. I only have about 10lbs to lose so i know it is harder for me. My friend has 2 stone to lose so she will hopefully lose more.


lynne blair
Sep 18th, 2008
2:49 pm

Sept. 18th 2008. This is day four for me and I have not experienced any sickness or headaches. I am on this diet with a friend for support. she has suffered for the odd headache but apart from that she feels great and so do I. Found the first three days a bit of a struggle but we supported each other. Looking forward to tomorrow to have the beef and tomatoes. I am only having two bowls of soup a day. i hope this is enough. I am not going to be tempted to weigh myself until at least day 7 or 8. i want to see the dramatic result. I only have about 10lbs to lose so i know it is harder for me. My friend has 2 stone to lose so she will hopefully lose more.




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