Crash Diets
Crash Diets vs. Balanced Diet Plans
Anybody who would like to lose weight definitely wants results right away. However, when people need fast results, they often look for short-term diet plans. While crash diets can deliver the expected outcome within a short time frame, most of them are very nutritionally unbalanced.
There are some exceptions though, i.e. diets that offer ultra fast results while still being healthy. If you are interested in losing up to 7 pounds per week with a diet that is still balanced and if you are willing to put in the effort needed to succeed – click here.
There are hundreds of diets available today. Even if you start with a crash diet, the only sustainable solution to keep a healthy weight level is to follow a balanced weight loss program. And you can achieve your objectives without compromising your health. In order to do so, you need to run a proper research and it is strongly recommended to consult a doctor before going on any diet.
Here are a few of the more popular diets, but feel free to explore the more in-depth reviews available on the site:
Low-Calorie and Low-Carbohydrates Diets
Low-calorie and low-carbohydrate diets are diets that impose a very low calories and carbohydrates intake per day. These diets have very specific diet plans to be followed for a certain period of time. Usually they last for minimum three to seven days and should be strictly followed to reach the desired results. However, they can last up to a few months and some of them include several phases. Here are samples of low-calorie and low-carbohydrate diets:
17 Day Diet
The 17 Day Diet was created by Dr. Mike Moreno and the diet plan includes four phases. In the first phase, carbs are are taken out and the calorie intake is brought to the ca. 1,200 per day level. The menu is changed every 17 days, in order to prevent your body from getting adjusted. In this way the dieters avoid plateaus and maintain a consistent weight loss pace.
3 Day Diet
The 3 Day Diet originated in the Cleveland Clinic way back 1985. It is a diet that allows only 1,000 to 1,300 calorie consumption in a day. There is also a recommended amount and selection of food that you should follow in order to lose 10 pounds within three days.
Only foods with low-calorie, low carbohydrates, and high in omega 3 fatty acids should be consumed. Examples of allowed foods include green vegetables, fruits, and seafood. The dieter must also drink plenty of water while on this diet. After the 3rd and last day, you must rest for four to five days before engaging again into keeping this diet plan.
Atkins Diet
The Atkins Diet Plan was created by an American physician and cardiologist by the name of Dr. Robert Atkins. The primary reason of creating this diet was to treat Dr. Atkins own obesity problems. Later on, this diet became known to the public as a weight loss program when Dr. Atkins published his book called Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution in 1972. In the Atkins Diet, you must go through four phases.
- Phase 1 (Induction): only 20 grams of carbohydrates are allowed in the first two weeks.
- In Phase 2 (Ongoing Weight Loss), the carbohydrate consumption increases to 25 grams.
- Phase 3 (Pre-Maintenance) maintains your body’s desired weight.
- In Phase 4 (Lifetime Maintenance), your body has already adjusted to the new carbohydrate diet plan you went through a few weeks ago. The result? A sexier new you!
South Beach Diet
The South Beach Diet, on the other hand, has three phases:
- Phase 1 is the crucial part of this diet, since you are only allowed to eat standard portions of food for two weeks. Average weight lost in this stage ranges from 8 to 10 pounds.
- Phase 2 gives you the privilege t enjoy fruits, vegetables, and some other otherwise forbidden foods.
- Phase 3 is the maintenance stage of the South Beach Diet. By this time, you were able to control your appetite and had already developed good eating discipline.
Cambridge Diet
The Cambridge Diet is different from the previous diets discussed. This diet is based on packed food such as shake powders, bars, and soups. Calories are restricted to 400. The Cambridge Diet is essentially relying on meal replacements. These pre-packed foods target to prevent your cravings from coming over and over again while you lose some weight. However, the Cambridge Diet plan is distributed by authorized health specialists only.
Liquid Diets
Versus low-calorie and low carbohydrate diets, water-based diets are based largely on liquids for weight loss. Below are a few examples of liquid diets:
Cabbage Soup Diet
The Cabbage Soup Diet is a seven-day diet plan that is based on eating cabbage soup along with some fruits, vegetables, juices, and milk. Below is an overview of the daily plan:
- Day 1: Cabbage soup plus fruits (except for bananas)
- Day 2: Cabbage soup plus vegetables (add baked potato with butter for dinner)
- Day 3: Cabbage soup plus fruits and vegetables (except for bananas and potatoes)
- Day 4: Cabbage soup with skimmed milk and banana
- Day 5: Cabbage soup plus beef and six tomatoes (beef limited to 10 to 20 ounces)
- Day 6: Cabbage soup with beef and vegetables (without baked potatoes)
- Day 7: Cabbage soup with brown rice, fruit juices, and vegetables
Grapefruit Diet
The Grapefruit Diet, also known as Grapefruit Juice Diet and Hollywood Diet, is a weight loss program that runs for 12 days. On this diet, you will eat half a grapefruit or drink eight ounces of grapefruit juice before every meal. The grapefruit and its juice should be matched to foods that are rich in protein and fats in order to lose weight fast. Drinking of black coffee and tea is allowed.
Lemonade Diet
The Lemonade Diet, also known as the Master Cleanser Diet, helps your body get rid of toxins. This diet should be followed for 10 days and its main objective is to cleanse your body from all impurities. The digestive system relaxes while weight loss occurs, as you are not allowed to eat any solid food. Your basic source of energy comes from lemonade juice. The lemonade mixture consists of freshly squeezed lemonade, maple syrup, cayenne pepper, and purified water. If you plan to run through a detox and weight loss program regularly, you can keep the diet once per quarter.
A liquid diet is normally given to people who will undergo or underwent a gastrointestinal operation, because it allows the digestive system to rest without being dehydrated. Nobody can stay in this diet for very long as it restricts intake of solid foods. Since you cannot eat heavy foods, you are advised to avoid any activities that require a lot of energy. In such a diet you need plenty of water, a variety of fruits and vegetables for broth soups and juices, and a juicer or mixer.
Use Weight Loss Supplements Smartly
In order to boost weight loss results, you can also try diet pills. However, great care is needed in order to chose the right supplements for you. There are plenty of good choices that can support your success via for example curbing craving for sweets, naturally supporting a higher metabolic rate and so on. You should avoid though the ones that push your body to extreme. Weight loss supplements are just tools that should be used smartly in addition to good diet and regular exercising. Safety should always be a key concern.
An equally thorough research is needed before keeping any of the diets discussed. Crash diets can deliver fast results, but only a balanced diet is an effective solution for a sustainable healthy weight level. Don’t make your choice based on what is trendy or what works for others. The most important thing is to pick a diet plan that is suitable for you. It is strongly recommended to consult a doctor on your weight condition prior to undertaking any diet plans.
