Have you ever tried to lose weight? How long does it take to lose 10 pounds? 6 months? 1 year? It always takes so long to lose a few pounds. If you are told there’s a diet that can get you to lose 10 pounds through a 3-day diet without strenuous exercise, will you kickstart it right now?
Tens of thousands of people have made their own choice by jumping on the bandwagon of the military diet. Celebrities like Khloe Kardashian, who has shed over two stone due to this diet, are also promoting this regimen to followers based on their successful experience of losing weight. But hold on, what is this magic diet?
The military diet
People also call it the navy diet or the army diet. Some thought it was designed to help soldiers rapidly get a top shape. But actually, it has nothing to do with the diet of soldiers; it’s just that people need absolute discipline to stick with the diet.
This diet is split into 2 parts over a week: 3 days on and 4 days off. During the former 3 days, people are allowed to eat about 1,000 calories per day. From day 4 to day 7, they can eat healthily but should stay under 1,500 calories per day. The founders of the diet say people can repeat the diet until they reach the goal.
The meal plan
You can substitute the items with something else.
| Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 |
Breakfast | One cup of coffee/tea One slice of toast Half a grapefruit 2 tablespoons of peanut butter | One slice of toast One egg Half a banana | One small apple Five saltine crackers One slice of cheddar cheese |
Lunch | One cup of coffee/tea One slice of toast Half a cup of tuna | One cup of cottage cheese Five saltine crackers >One hard-boiled egg | One slice of toast One hard-boiled egg |
Dinner | One small apple Half a banana One cup of green beans One cup of vanilla ice cream >Three-oz of any kind of meat | Half a cup of carrots Half a cup of vanilla ice cream One cup of broccoli Half a banana Two hot dogs (without bun) | One cup of vanilla ice cream One cup of tuna Half a banana |
Nutritionists’ concerns
Despite the proponents’ claim that the diet is scientific and safe to follow, so far there have been no studies on the military diet. Moreover, many nutritionists are questioning the value of the military diet.
Nutritional therapist Marilia Chamon said this diet results in activation of our body’s survival mode, in which our body gets energy from burning the stored fat, but we are likely to develop nutrient deficiencies in the long term.
Nutritionist Zoe Bingley-PullinL said the restrictive diet makes our body go into panic mode as if a famine is occurring and lower the metabolic rate, which may result in weight loss resistance.
Nutritionist Clarissa Lenherr said the diet promotes all calories as equal. The figures only may make people treat food with different nutritional values all the same, which is not good for health.
Be mindful
The diet is not suited for all. As a quick way to drop pounds, this diet may help before an event. It may help you shed a few pounds, but most of them will be water weight.
There's no obvious difference between the military diet and other calorie-restricted diets. If you have been disciplined enough to stick with this military diet, why not try healthier methods? After all, there’s definitely no shortcut in your journey of weight loss.
