Many diets claim rapid weight loss within a matter of weeks, but 3 days, has to be one of the quickest around. So how does this diet claim to cause up to 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms) of weight loss over such a short period of time? In this article we will take a good look at the diet, how it works, if it works and help you to decide if it is something you should consider.
But first, what kind of food, if any does one have to eat on this 3 day diet.
Surprisingly, the 3 day meal plans look reasonable in terms of food range. The idea behind the diet is that for the 3 days, participants follow the diet to the letter. This means, the exact amounts of foods specified, no more, no less.
The diet plan is as follows
| Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breakfast |
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|
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| Lunch |
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|
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| Dinner |
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|
|
| Food | Substitute |
|---|---|
| Grapefruit | Oranges |
| Cottage cheese | Tuna |
| Tuna | Cottage Cheese |
| Ice cream | Frozen Yoghurt |
| Broccoli | Cauliflower, green beans |
| Carrots | Beets |
| 5 crackers | Toast |
| Cauliflower | Broccoli, green beans |
When I spoke about having to follow the diet very specifically, eating no more, or no less, you may have asked yourself, WHY can't I eat less??
The reason behind this is a supposed metabolic reaction bought about by the types of foods which are combined together in each meal along with their specific serving sizes.
The diet plan should only be undertaken for 3 days at a time after which participants must retain to their normal eating habits for 4-5 days.
The reason behind this is to stop the body's metabolic rate from slowing down and maintaining the unique metabolic reaction bought about by the 3 day diet.
It is claimed that the diet will help participants to continue to lose weight at up to 10 pounds if the 3 day diet is adhered to along with the 4-5 days of regular unrestricted eating. Furthermore, it’s claimed that this diet will cleanse the system and give you more energy.
Does it work? Well, yes and no. Participants have reported some significant weight loss, particularly in the first 2 weeks of being on the 3 day diet regime.
The problem is, particularly because of the low carbohydrate and calorie content, much of the weight lost is more likely a result of water loss then fat burned.
Other flaws with the 3 day diet
Unfortunately it's not uncommon for dieters to be happy with a quick fix diet irrespective of the type of weight lost or the habits developed. However, it's important to remember, that after a diet with rapid weight loss, without better more consistent eating habits, a dieter is more likely to gain MORE weight after the diet. Particularly during the return to normal eating of the 3 day diet, the craving to binge will be all too powerful and bad habits are likely to return in full force.