For as long as I can ever remember, my mom has done something called the Cabbage Soup Diet every now and then. It is a week long diet plan that is centered around a savory cabbage soup recipe, with select other foods being allowed on eat day. It is not a diet that is meant to be done long term, but instead is a quick jump start for your metabolism to get you on the road to healthy eating and losing weight.

How Much Can You Lose?

Many people average a weight loss of 10 pounds while on the diet and it is possible to lose as much as 17 pounds in the week. Of course, this is assuming that the diet is strictly followed.

What is The Cabbage Soup Recipe?

The basic recipe for the cabbage soup diet is as follows.

6 large onions
2 green peppers
3 whole tomatoes, one large can of tomatoes, or a container of V8
1 head of cabbage
1 stalk of celery
1 packet of onion soup mix
bullion cubes
pepper and garlic to taste

Chop all vegetables and add all ingredients to a large pot. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer until vegetables are soft. Season until desired taste is reached.

What is the 7 Day Cabbage Soup Diet Plan?

On each of the 7 days, as much cabbage soup can be eaten as desired. There is no limit on the soup and you can eat until you are stuffed.

Day 1: Eat only fruits (no bananas). It is suggested that melons are best, but you can eat any fruit you like besides bananas and as much soup as you want.

Day 2: Eat only vegetables. Avoid corn, dried peas and dried beans. Eat until you are full, but use no salt. You are also allowed one baked potato with butter along with the soup this day.

Day 3: Eat only fruits and vegetables. No bananas or potatoes on this day. Eat as many fruits and veggies as you like along with the soup.

Day 4: Eat up to 8 bananas and up to 8 glasses of skim milk along with as much soup as you want this day.

Day 5. Beef and vegetables or chicken and vegetables no potatoes, corn, dried beans or dried peas. Eat between 10-20 ounces of beef or chicken as well as 6 tomatoes and any other vegetables you like. Try to drink 8 glasses of water to rinse the acid from the tomatoes out of your system.

Day 6. Fish, beef, chicken and vegetables. Eat as much as you want until you are stuffed. No potatoes, corn, dried peas or dried beans.

Day 7. Brown rice, vegetables and unsweetened fruit juice. No potatoes, corn, dried peas or dried beans. Have as much as you want of these items and the soup.

My Take

I have started the cabbage soup diet today. I am going to keep track of my progress each day and will post an update when the 7 days are done. I am also doing the 30 Day Shred each day and am on day 16 today. I hope to be able to still complete this while on the diet, but obviously will do what is safest for me.

Have you tried the cabbage soup diet before?

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