3-Day Diet Plan

The 3-day diet is a fad diet that came into existence around 1985. It is a very low-calorie diet plan wherein a person consumes no more than 1000 calories per day. The diet claims to help dieters lose up to 10 lbs after following the diet.

The diet also promises lower cholesterol and body cleansing. Although the origin of the diet has been associated with a number of health professionals and institutions, no one has ever come forth and accepted the claim or even recommended the diet.

Yes. The diet does work. It is claimed that weight loss occurs due to chemical reaction of various foods that are incorporated in the diet plan. However, there is no scientific data that proves it. Cindy Moore, spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association says, that it is only because the diet is a calorie-restrictive diet that the dieter loses weight.

The diet allows the dieter to consume only up to 1000 calories a day and uses the same principle behind any diet plan i.e., calorie restriction. The diet does not recommend any physical exercise. There are very few chances that one might lose fat without any exercise in such a short period of time. So, the weight-loss that is seen is mostly water loss.

Like any other fad diet, the 3-day diet results in rapid weight gain once the dieter is off the diet. So, it is not as efficient as it claims.

Although the diet is very popular, it has not been endorsed by any author or book. Neither is there any evidence of how the combination of foods in the diet might help to lose weight. It is a must that the minimum calorie intake be 1200 calories for women and 1500 calories for men.

The diet plan also restricts consumption of carbohydrates. Since carbohydrates provide our body with the energy that it needs to carry out day-to-day functions, a person following the diet will feel extremely lethargic due to lack of energy.

Moreover, the diet recommends a lot of coffee/tea intake which makes this diet unsuitable for those who are sensitive to caffeine. If the diet is repeated several times, the body might actually take it as a sign of starvation and start storing more fat and also lead to poor eating habits.

The 3-day diet plan needs to be followed in the exact way that it is designed. But the following food items can be interchanged in extreme cases as follows:

Tuna -: Cottage Cheese
Grapefruit :-  Orange
Broccoli :- Cauliflower
Ice cream :- Yogurt
Carrots :- Beets
Meat/Egg :- Tofu
Crackers :- Toast

Any restrictive diet needs to be prescribed or authorized by a doctor or dietitian. Being calorie-restrictive, the 3-day diet should not be followed without consulting a health professional.

But it especially should not be followed in case you are:

• Pregnant or breastfeeding
• Suffering from any kind of illness
• Have a history of any cardiovascular disease
• Are below 12 yrs of age
• Suffering from any psychiatric disorder

So, even if you lose weight by following this diet, it is definitely not a long term weight loss solution. Healthy weight loss can be achieved only with the help of a proper exercise regime and a healthy diet plan, personally devised for you by a health professional.

Disclaimer: This is only for informative purposes and does not in any way attempt to replace the advice offered by an expert on the subject. Always consult a dietitian/nutritionist before starting any restrictive diet.