"Cabbage soup diet didn't work for me - but here's how I lost 20 pounds in 20 days - without saying no to my favorite foods or exercising hard..."

- by Emily

Yes, it's true. I lost 20 pounds in 20 days:

- without dieting
- without saying "no" to my favorite foods (like chocolate cake)
- without joining a gym or exercising like crazy

In a minute, I will tell you exactly how I did it. But before that, allow me to tell you a bit about myself and how my life used to be not too long ago (you'll see that we probably have a lot in common).

So, until about 6 months ago, my life was a mess. I was about 45 pounds overweight. And, they may tell you that "fat people are cute" (most of my friends used to tell me the same) - but the reality was that:

- I was treated like a lower life form. I remember at least two people calling me "fat ass" while in the bus. Is that rude or what?

- I was unemployed and I couldn't find a job either - even though I knew I was smarter and more qualified than others. Yes, the "thin and sexy people" would always get the job. What does my weight have to do with how I perform in my work?

- Although I have a cute face and a reasonably nice personality, I couldn't find someone to have relationship with. My friends had set me up with a couple of "blind dates" but those went sour faster than you can say "chocolate cake." My last relationship had ended about 3 years ago - and I knew what the reason was when I saw my ex 1 month later with a super-sexy blond he met at the gym...

- I couldn't fit into my favorite jeans. I had to wear these extra large clothes - that actually made me look even fatter than I was...

- My self-esteem was at an all-time low. When everything in your life goes wrong, it's not hard to imagine why. There where days when I was almost afraid to look myself in the mirror. I didn't really want to have an "honest look" at myself. And, eve if I did, I didn't think that there was a way for me to change my life...

- Because of my depression, I was doing the last thing I should be doing: eating even more. I'm very much what you would call an "emotional eater." Whenever I would feel sad, I would eat a double serving of pasta or some chocolate cake ( I love chocolate cake). I admit I was goinga little over board with it as at some days I would eat 3 "normal servings" of chocolate cake in one sitting...

- Because of my eating habits, I was feeling sluggish and very low on energy all day long. I was getting tired very easily and didn't feel like "living" at all. I'd much rather sit on the couch and watch TV...

I had tried everything you can imagine but nothing worked (I even tried the cabbage soup diet but got no results).

One day, a relative of mine whom I hadn't seen for 6 years, didn't even recognize me when she saw me. She wasn't mean or anything but I could see it in her eyes that she felt pity for me - which was even worse...

I had already tried several (rather expensive) weight loss programs and weight loss drugs and I was never able to lose weight and maintain it. I would lose 10 pounds and 3 weeks later I would gain it all back with interest - plus, I was out my money and time...

But I'm not telling you all this to feel sorry about me. As you'll see, all this changed very soon. Keep reading to find out how I did it and how you can do it too...

One day, I saw an ad for a new weight loss product. I didn't think much of it, as ads for weight loss products are a dime a dozen. Most of those products are just overpriced and ineffective junk (do I sound bitter?). So I just forgot about the whole thing...

But a week later, I met a friend of mine whom I hadn't seen for over 3 months. She used to be overweight too - only this time she wasn't. In fact, she looked great! I asked her how she did it and she said she was usng this new weight loss product. And what do you know, it was the exact same product I had seen being advertised a week ago!

I thought to myself: "I have to get my hands on some of this stuff." And I did. There was a free trial available so I took advantage of it.. It arrived at my doorstep 2 days later.

Now, what I conveniently "forgot" to tell you is that I hate dieting or exercising. I mean, I'm not an Olympic athlete or something. What I have found is that, if I don't like my weight loss program, I won't stick to it...

In my opinion, self-discipline and willpower are grossly overrated in our society. For how long do you think you can be disciplined and "tough it out"? 1 day? 2 days? 2 weeks? That's how most people are and that's OK - that's just human nature. So I won't pretend I'm someone I know I ain't.

I had read some weight loss advice on some weight loss forums I used to hang out at. It's not that I didn't really know what to do: It was just that I hated going to the gym or "eating right."

So, I asked myself: "How can I create a weight loss program that I actually ENJOY?" Sounds like a tall order, right? When most people hear the terms "weight loss" or "diet", they immediately connect that with months of starvation and sweating their butts off at the gym. Well, I knew that there was no chance I would do that - so I came up with a more "manageable" plan...

1) The first thing I did was make sure that I was drinking enough water a day. Now, most people drink almost no water during the day - or a couple of glasses max. On the other hand, super-athletic types may drink a gallon a day (about 5 liters). I wanted to avoid these extremes so I just made sure I drank about 1,5 liters of water a day (about 51 oz). Not too much but not too little either. I found that water kept me fuller and I wasn't having that many cravings. I would drink some first think in the morning and then a glass about 30 mins before a meal. I would also drink a small glass immediately after any meals that contained fat, while I was using my new weight loss product.

2) As I said, I don't like exercising. But I knew I needed to become more active. I knew I wouldn't join a gym. I hate too much effort. Plus, I didn't want the "gym rats" who where in great shape to laugh at me behind my back. So what I did was make a list of all the activities I enjoyed. NOT activities that would make me sweat - just activities that would burn a few more calories than just sitting on the couch.

For me those activities where:

- Going for a 30-minute brisk walk at the park while listening to my favorite music in my portable MP3 player.

- Riding my stationary exercise bike at home at level 3 (it went from 1-10) while watching my favorite TV shows like Desperate Housewives or Seinfeld.

I'm not saying that I would do both of them every day - but I would try to do at least one of them a day. If at some point I was getting tired or bored, I would immediately STOP exercising as I didn't want to develop an aversion for that type of exercise (very important - you have to like your exercise program - not hate it). Consistency is the name of the game. As they say "you are either consistent or non-existent." That said, I found that, while I was on my new weight loss product, I had more energy (without feeling jumpy) and I could "keep going" without feeling tired. That's probably because the food I ate was being digested more slowly and gave me sustained energy rather than energy spikes that would "dive" later.

3) What about diet? Even though I know its healthy, I admit that I don't like "diet food" too much. I knew I had to find a way to continue eating my favorite meals while also losing weight. I know this may sound hard to believe but I didn't really changemy diet all that much. Because I was drinking a glass of water 30 mins before each meal, I wasn't feeling as hungry so I naturally ate less (without feeling hungry). I also made sure that I was taking my new weight loss product religiously.

A very important lesson I learned is that you should strive for PROGRESS - NOT PERFECTION. Perfection doesn't even exist - besides, it's very tough to stick to...

4) Something else that will help you stick to your weight loss program is motivation. And nothing is more motivating than seeing RESULTS. Once every 5-7 days I would weigh myself as well as measure my waist and hips. No need to drive yourself crazy and do this every day. This isn't necessary or even logical. The bodyweight may fluctuate from day to day. But over longer periods of time, you should see consistent success. Keep in mind that the fat we have around our hips and belly is usually the last to go - so don't worry if you don't see results for the first few days. That's normal. Something else that I did was put on my clothes and see how they fit. I saw that they would feel looser and looser on me. And after a while, I was able to wear the smaller sizes that I had somewhere in my closet. Seeing that I was losing weight, losing inches and droping sizes added fire to my motivation!

After 20 days (the 4th time I had weighed myself), I had lost 20 pounds. I had also lost 5 inches around my thighs and 6 inches around my belly! And after 2 months total on this program, I had lost all my 45 extra pounds!

So, how did losing weight actually change my life?

- First of all, my family was giving me compliments all the time about the new way I looked. My friends also gave me compliments although I could see that some of them where feeling very jealous deep down (which is fine by me - I'm not complaining :-))

- My self-confidence skyrocketed. Not only did I look different - I also acted different. I was more outgoing and "chatty" (before losing weight I was really introverted and closed in myself).

- I managed to land a new office job. I admit that I was qualified for the job but the fact that I also looked good during the interview didn't hurt a bit! I had been interviewed several times in the past for similar jobs but never got them. I wonder why?

- Now that I was feeling more confident and had a job, I also started going out more. And I see how guys look at me now. The same guys wouldn't even notice me a couple of months ago. I know this may sound shallow but it's really nice to feel wanted and liked...

I know that this may not sound fair but overweight people are not treated the same in our society. They just don't get the same chances, you know?

If you are overweight now, ask yourself:

- What are you missing on right now by having all that extra weight?
- How much better will you feel when you lose all your extra weight?
- How much more confidence will you have?
- How more liked and accepted will you be?

If you want to lose all your extra weight without suffering in the process, then I can't recommend highly enough that you use the same weight loss program I just outlined. You may want to modify it here and there to suit you better but remember to KEEP THINGS SIMPLE AND FUN.

Above all, take advantage of all the shortcuts you can and let "modern technology" do the heavy lifting. By using the weight loss product I used:

- You will have more energy

- You will not feel as hungry or have as many cravings

- You will boost your metabolism and burn more calories even while you sleep

I have used many weight loss products and programs in the past and I was very dissapointed. If you haven't lost weight until now, it's NOT your fault! Most popular programs don't work for average people.

It's nice to find one that works for a change. The company that makes this product is so confident that they offer you a free trial.

Hope this helps a little...

To a new slim you,

Emily

Posted by emili.wathson at 8:03 AM EDT

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The Cabbage Soup Diet has been specifically designed for fast weight loss. If followed strictly, it can help you lose ten pounds in a week. For most medical experts, this is not a healthy way to lose weight. Losing weight this way can only lead to what is called a "yoyo" diet. This type of diet is typified by swings in terms of weight gain and weight loss. Because of the drastic weight loss experienced by people who get into the Cabbage Soup Diet, there is a big chance that people will gain weight in the following week after the diet is over.

For most part, the Cabbage Soup Diet has also been criticized for the illusion that it gives to the dieter. It has been discussed that only water weight and lean muscle tissue is lost during this period and is therefore easier to gain back. It is also known to be unhealthy as the diet contains very little protein or carbohydrates. Because of its bland taste, the soup is laden with a large amount of salt and pepper as well as other spices raising the sodium content of the soup. Some people believe in the diet so much that they do not couple it with any fat-burning exercise resulting to negative effects in the body such as lethargy, weakness and irritability. Despite these, there are advantages to the Cabbage Soup Diet.

1. Weight loss

You cannot fault the Cabbage Soup Diet as being an ineffective means to lose weight because it can give you great results. As mentioned earlier, the diet can result to ten pounds off in just a week. The weight loss is also considerably faster than any other diet. Although ten pounds is unhealthy weight reduction in one week, the diet is only recommended for one week and the dieter is advised to take a few weeks before undergoing this diet again. It can be perfect if you need to fit into that wedding dress or if you need to look slim for your upcoming high school reunion.

2. Dietary fiber benefit

Vegetables are a rich source of dietary fiber known to help with digestion problems. It can also help prevent constipation as well as decrease the risk of colon cancer. Green and leafy vegetables are also a rich source of vitamin A and C. Other nutrients found in the vegetables in the soup are manganese, calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, phosphorous, folate and Omega-3 fatty acids. Along with the other foods in the diet, the nutrients can help you sustain your health during this period.

3. Detoxification effects

During the diet, the body deprived of carbohydrates and protein undergoes an effect similar to detoxification. Alternative medical practitioners often suggest fasting as a means of getting rid of the body's toxins through diets. Usually, diets would last three to seven days, often consisting only of apples or grapes and water. The Cabbage Soup Diet is very similar since the main ingredient is a vegetable and other variety of fruits and vegetables. Only unsweetened juice is allowed and the consumption of water is included.

Posted by emili.wathson at 8:01 AM EDT

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The Cabbage Soup Diet is a weight loss diet plan designed around the consumption of low-calorie cabbage soup over the period of seven days. I know it already sounds intriguing now doesn't it! The Cabbage Soup Diet does help losing weight in a shorter period of time, but it is very unhealthy and it completely lacks the vital nutrition.

The Cabbage Diet Plan completely relies on a simple program of eating vegetables and fruits excluding meat in your regular daily diet, not to mention fish is completely avoided in the program. We all know fish holds some of the most important nutrients that are non-existent in any other type of food group.

No wonder people take fish oil vitamin supplement aside from their regular diet. So this is how the Cabbage Soup Diet works. This dieting program consists of 7 steps to monitor the food you eat. For 7 days you will be eating mostly cabbage, onion, celery, carrots, tomatoes, and mushrooms and as mentioned before very little red meat and no fish at all.

The first 4 days of the week, the dieter is allowed to eat exclusively defined vegetables and fruits with countless restrictions on vegetables and fruits that have high amounts of carbohydrates such as potatoes and bananas. You will only be eating 10-20 ounces of skinless meat on the 5th and 6th day and that's it.

Rest of the days you will be eating fruits, plenty of water, cranberry juice, unsweetened tea, and lots of soup. This diet claims to help you loose up to 10 pounds of weight in a week. But nutritional experts argue that it is impossible to loose 10 pounds of body fat in that short period of time.

They point out that the weight loss is rather the loss of water than fat. One must always be careful when dieting and seriously think about the harmful side effects from restricting carbohydrates to one's body. There are many dietary programs in the market that promises rapid weight loss however permanent weight loss can not be realized without commitment of changing one's lifestyle.

Solid determination and undying commitment is the key to drop weight and stay healthy. The Cabbage Soup Diet is only applicable when people want to lose some quick pounds for an occasion like the Grammys or the Oscars award. Now be honest, how many of us will ever have the chance to attend such a grand event. So unless you're thinking of attending Oprah's Birthday, the Grammy's and/or Heffner's private party at the Playboy mansion, the Cabbage Soup Diet is not for you!

Posted by emili.wathson at 8:01 AM EDT

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Cabbage soup diet guidelines provide for a complete plan food of cabbage coup diet among others such as grapefruit diet and this is a variation of the soup diet.

Cabbage soup diet is an appropriate diet which would enable weight reduction fast for special occasions such as a wedding or class reunion. This diet comprises of low fat and high fiber meal which is planned to help you to achieve quick weight goals before you go on higher classes wherein you may have to go for a moderate long term diet program. This diet is a short term diet. Expert's opinion is that this should be used only for seven days at a time with at least two weeks of break in between.

The plan can be enumerated as follows:

On the first day, you can eat all fruits except bananas including cabbage soup as much as you can. However, your beverages should be limited to only unsweeten teas, cranberry juice and water.
On the second day, you can eat raw and cooked vegetables along with the soup. At dinner time you can take a big potato with butter.

On the third day, you can eat all soup, vegetables, fruits as per your desire.

On the fourth day, you will lessen your desire for sweets by having a lot of bananas and drinking many glasses of skimmed milk as much as you desire. Of course, you can have cabbage soup as well.

On the fifth day, have your cabbage soup along with ten to twenty ounces of beef and up to six tomatoes.

On the sixth day, you can have the same and vegetables as much as you want as long as you also drink some soup.

On the seventh day, you can reserve for brown rice, vegetables, unsweetened fruit juices, and more cabbage soup.

Cabbage soup diet has both merits and demerits you can eat a lot of allowable foods and meal plan can also assist you to prepare you for a long term diet as well.

As demerits, you might find the soup to be bland. For the mouth tastes it can even be depressing drinking the same soup for seven days. Some experiences people have shared to appoint that this makes them light headed and weak. They have also reported decreased levels of concentration, difficult to comprise for someone who has especially challenging job.

Cabbage soup diet during an initial teething period no problem to adjust with a momentary discomfort since self control over you should exist if you want to achieve the desired result. The adverse side effects of the weight loss are not long-lasting and gets under control over a period of time. Therefore, it is well worth an attempt to get hold of this kind of diet and proceed as per dieticians' plan.

Posted by emili.wathson at 8:01 AM EDT

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The cabbage soup diet recipe has been made famous by actors and models alike.

When trying to lose weight, one of the fundamental factors is making sure that you burn more calories than you consume; the Negative Calorie Diet book can be a great asset when it comes to making sure that you are doing this. It is based around scientific research and it contains over one hundred different foods which not only help, but require your body to burn more calories as your digest them than the foods themselves originally contain.

By doing this, your body is even burning stored fat. In addition to providing many nutritional fat burning recipes, the book also teaches you how to change your lifestyle by eating healthy foods, which will ultimately let you lose weight regularly, at a slow and steady pace that will also help you keep the weight off, unlike so many other diets, where the weight ultimately comes back on again.

One of the most popular recipes from the Negative Calorie Diet book is the Cabbage Soup diet. Please note, however, that the recipe can be modified to suit your preferences, as long as the main aim remains the same.

The Cabbage Soup Diet Recipe

• 6 large green onions;
• 2 green peppers;
• 1 tomato;
• 3 carrots;
• 10 ounces of mushrooms;
• 8 celery stalks;
• 1/2 of a head of cabbage;
• 4 cups of organic chicken stock;
• 8 cups of water.

Instructions

Slice the green onions, place them in a pot, and sauté them with the aid of cooking spray. Slice the stem off the green pepper, and then cut it in half, removing the seeds and the membrane. Cut the pepper into small pieces and add it to the onions in the pot. Pull the outer leaves off the cabbage, cut it into small pieces, and add it to the onions and peppers. After cleaning the carrots, slice them into small pieces and add them as well, then slice the mushrooms into thick pieces and add them to the pot. Now is the time to add spices, such as cayenne pepper, if you want a spicy soup. Add in the water in chicken stock - or bouillon cubes of your favored flavoring; these provide all the salt and flavor required - cover the soup, and place it on low heat. Let it cook for about two hours, sprinkle in salt and pepper to your tastes

Guidelines

The guidelines are very simple. Simply eat as much of the soup as you like, whenever you prefer, for the following seven days and see the results on the scales quickly and easily.

Posted by emili.wathson at 8:00 AM EDT

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The Cabbage Soup Diet is akin to a fat burning soup that is loaded with negligible calorie content. The more soup you have the more weight you lose, but you should also ensure that proper nourishment takes place.

If the diet is strictly followed your system would be devoid of impurities and you will have a sense of well being with weight loss. You should devoid of alcohol, carbonated drinks and bread. If you still have health concerns you should consult your doctor.
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Here is how the Cabbage Diet Works:

Day One: eat lots of fruits and soup as much as you like. You can drink black tea without sugar, black coffee without sugar, cranberry juice and water.

Day Two: you can eat raw and cooked vegetables by avoiding peas, dry beans, and sweet corn. At dinner you can have a large weight potato, butter and lot of cabbage soup diet without eating fruits.

Day Three: we can combine days one and two by enabling eating as much fruit, vegetables and soup as possible but no bake potato.

Day Four: eat eight bananas, skimmed milk and a lot of cabbage soup.

Day Five: you should have 300 to 500 grams beef or chicken or fish and a large tin of six fresh tomatoes. You should also try to drink 6 to 8 glasses of water and must invariably take the cabbage soup at least once.

Day Six: 2 to 3 beef steaks can be had with salad or fresh vegetables without a tinge of baked potato and soup at least for once.

Day Seven: you can eat brown rice, fresh vegetables, and fruit juice without sugar as well as cabbage soup at a time.

Some people have shared their experiences to the effect that they lost ten pounds in a week. This diet also is more appealing to many people because it does not involve dieting tablets, supplements, or even doing exercises. The only regimen to be followed is to have a strict dieting pattern as recommended for the first seven days which guarantee reduction of weight loss magnificently.

You can repeat this diet pattern once a month for seven days and combined it with good nourishment for the rest of the days so that your weight does not increase too much after the exercised diet program every month. For this purpose you have to have a balanced approach, and a planned diet for achieving weight reduction as well as proper nourishment at the same time so that your health also is kept in a stable condition.

The problem that I see with the Cabbage Soup Diet is that it only seems to allow short term weight loss. What is even more discouraging is when you stop following these directions you simply gain all the weight back which will leave you back at square one wondering how do I really lose weight and keep it off.

Posted by emili.wathson at 7:59 AM EDT

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