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Ok, first things first. This diet isn’t something you’ll want to do for the next four months. It’s meant to do for 3 days, then resume a healthy diet, limiting snacks for the rest of the week. And if you still need to lose a few more pounds you can repeat the cycle. But if you follow it strictly, it’s pretty common to lose ten pounds in one week.
You might know it as the “military diet” because it’s been used in the military to get soldiers in shape quickly.
Now, maybe you’re not a soldier, but your friend is getting married next week. Or beach season is starting and your workouts don’t seem to be doing the trick.
What’s nice about this diet is that there are no pills or anything you can’t get at your local grocery store. And the food is pretty normal, it’s just really portion controlled, around 1000-1200 calories each day.
I’ve tried it, and I lost about seven pounds in a week. I did cheat a little, by putting milk in my coffee every morning but I stuck pretty close to it otherwise.
Do you feel hungry on it? Well, yeah, the first day I felt hungry but it’s because we’re so used to eating something whenever we feel that first hunger pang. So, once I got through the first day, and let the diet take its course I could feel it working.
Your Three Days
Ok, so let’s get to it. Here are your breakfasts, lunches, and dinners for the next three days.
Day 1
This is the meal plan for day 1. It contains about 1,200 calories.
Breakfast:
- A slice of whole grain toast with 2 tablespoons of peanut butter.
- Half a grapefruit.
- A cup of coffee or tea (optional).
Lunch:
- A slice of whole grain toast.
- Half a cup of tuna.
- A cup of coffee or tea (optional).
Dinner:
- 3-oz (85 grams) serving of meat with a cup of green beans.
- A small apple.
- Half a banana.
- One cup vanilla ice cream. (Really!)
Day 2
These are the meals for day 2, totaling about 1,100 calories.
Breakfast:
- A slice of whole grain toast.
- One hard-boiled egg.
- Half a banana.
- A cup of coffee or tea (optional).
Lunch:
- One hard-boiled egg.
- A cup of cottage cheese.
- 5 saltine crackers.
- A cup of coffee or tea (optional).
Dinner:
- Two hot dogs, with no bun.
- Half a cup of carrots and half a cup of broccoli.
- Half a banana.
- Half a cup of vanilla ice cream.
Day 3
Here is the plan for day 3, which amounts to around 1,000 calories.
Breakfast:
- A 1-ounce slice of cheddar cheese.
- 5 saltine crackers.
- A small apple.
- A cup of coffee or tea (optional).
Lunch:
- A slice of whole grain toast.
- One egg, cooked however you like.
- A cup of coffee or tea (optional).
Dinner:
- A cup of tuna.
- Half a banana.
- 1 cup of vanilla ice cream.
Final Points
You can drink as much coffee or tea as you want, as long as you don’t add any calories from sugar or cream. And if you can manage 3 or 4 liters of water per day you’ll really boost your progress.
And when they say to resume your “normal” diet for the next four days, it’s assumed that you’ll try and stick to a healthy, portion-controlled diet with healthy snacks.
It’s pretty normal to lose ten pounds in one week of the military diet, but of course, your exact results will depend on your weight, metabolism and how disciplined you are.
So, some regular exercise and healthy eating may be the long term way to keep the weight off, but if you only have a week to get into your favorite outfit, give this diet a try. And let us know in the comments below how it worked for you!
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