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The Grapefruit Diet
Fruit diet is a quick fix that may drop pounds, but it's not healthy.
BACKGROUND
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For years, the Grapefruit Diet has remained among the most popular of quick-fix fad diets. While the Grapefruit Diet makes for a great magazine article, nutritionists say it does not offer a well-balanced plan that you could follow for any extended length of time because your body requires more nutrients and calories than this calls for.
It's true that people following the Grapefruit Diet drop significant pounds in about 14 days. This is more likely correlated to the significant loss of calories than it is any weight-burning power the grapefruit may hold. The Grapefruit Diet suggests a total daily calorie consumption of around 800 calories, and nutritionists hold a healthy diet would have at least 1,200.
PRO
- The grapefruit is a good source of beta-carotene
- Helps reduce cholesterol and promotes heart health
CON
- Not a long-term solution
- Not enough variation in nutrients
- Not enough calories
DIET and NUTRITION
A day on the Grapefruit Diet would look like this:
- Breakfast with half a grapefruit, two pieces of bacon and two eggs.
- Lunch with half a grapefruit, as much meat as you like and a salad with your favorite dressing.
- Dinner would include half a grapefruit, fish or meat, another salad with dressing or substitute buttered red or green vegetables. You can drink coffee or tea.
- Before bed you could have 8 ounces of skim milk.
EXERCISE
No guidance provided.
CONCLUSION
This is not a diet that could sustain a person for any length of time because of the unhealthy calorie intake. You will lose noticeable weight in a short amount of time, but as soon as you stop following the Grapefruit Diet the pounds will just as quickly return.
Common Misspellings
Grapfruit Diet, The Grapfruit diet, The Grapefruit deit, Grapefruit plan
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Related Diets: Vegetarian Diet, Cabbage Soup Diet, Grapefruit Solution
User Feedback
(Page 5 of 5, 98 total comments)Mike
14 #s in 12 days.. and I cheated. Threw a little vokda in the grapefruit juice at dinner... then more...and more...forgot to eat.
posted Mar 19th, 2008 7:14 amVERONICA
Doing the Grapfruit Deal. Feel Great & Feel Lighter.Lost Some easy Lbs already. & Yes I know most Physicians would have me committed b/c they would think I was a threat to myself. Hey I am Not Fasting to death & not doing any illegal drugs - JUST LET ME HAVE THAT GRAPEFRUIT!!!!!!!!!
posted Mar 7th, 2008 9:05 amVeronica
GRAPEFRUIT ROCKS. THE DIET IS GREAT. EVEN IF YOU CAN'T STICK TO THE DIET - JUST TRY CUTTING YOUR CALORIES AT EACH MEAL & DRINK 8 OZ OF PURE NO SUGAR GRAPEFRUIT JUICE OR JUST EAT A YELLOW GRAPFRUIT AFTER EACH CALORIE REDUCED MEAL & SEE WHAT HAPPENS. I AM TELLING YOU THERE IS SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT GRAPEFRUIT.I TAKE SOME OF MY MEDS WITH PURE GRAPEFRUIT JUICE & THE MED WORKS FASTER & BETTER THAN IF I TAKE IT W/ H20 OR SOME OTHER DRINK. GRAPEFRUITS & JUICES ABSOLUTELY ROCK!!!!!
posted Mar 4th, 2008 7:20 amBecky
I think that is a great point that it is not the weight loss benefits of Grapefruit that make this diet work but the lack of calories.
Rachel
Becky, Great catch - also its the fact that eating grapefruit is just so healthy for you! The grapefruit diet isn't the best out there but still a light and refreshing alternative.
carrie_bear
so true. eating 800 calories a day is going to make you lose wieght no matter what your eating.
MarlaL
Just finished week one and lost 12 pounds. Not so worried about it coming back- this was a great jumpstart for eating healthier and excercising.
Anonymous
lol, 38 pounds in 4 days, that would be awesome. anyways i think im gonna give it a try with or without that crazy weight loss.
Anonymous
anonymous, dude, sounds like you got a bad grapefruit.
Kelly
Last time I did this I lost more than 15 pounds, and only gained about 7 when I was off of it. Now it's that time of the year again! Plus, grapefruit is delicious!
paige
i cant wait to start the diet.. if it turns out it doesnt work what harm is done? .. i think it will be a great jump start i need to a life style change
sherry
I did this diet and lost weight and never felt so good in my life, I had so much energy. It doesnt cut calories, it's eating foods that burn fat.
Anonymous
I lost 38 pounds in 4 days on the diet.
Aimee
I've was on the grapefruit diet for 2 1/2 months and lost about 40-45 lbs i combined the diet with a daily 1 mile walk and the weight stayed off! diets work for different people it doesnt matter what it does for a group of people it matters about what it does to you and how it affects you and works for you!!!
Tina
the tip that you miss is that you can eat as much food as you want.. so yes the minimum ammount may not be enough calories.. but you can make it so it is :) google other sites that talk about the grapefruit diet.
Zane
If you are already watching your weight and what you eat and the Christmas season just made you put on a little more that you bargained. Then this is a great diet to follow! Just to kick of those first few kilos on your way back to your normal weight. And in this case you will not gain back all the weight, because after the grapefruit week is over, you will just continue on the normal eating plan you follow.
Trel B
People talk down upon the grapefruit diet but I was on it for three months and lost 45 pound...I quit until I got a steady schedule and a better job but now I am back on...lets roll
lish
If I can get over the taste it would be a great diet!!