The Military Diet is a short-term, calorie-controlled meal plan that claims to help you lose 10 pounds in one week. The diet involves eating a set calorie-restricted menu for three days, followed by four days off the diet, in which you're advised to eat in moderation or follow a less restrictive, low-calorie meal plan.
If you want to lose weight quickly, you may think about the Military Diet (which has no real link to the branches of the military). Before you do, learn more about this diet. No research has proven that it can help you lose weight. The diet may make you feel hungry, tired, and grumpy because it's a low-calorie plan.
What Is The Military Diet? According to TheMilitaryDiet.com, the military diet is a “rapid weightloss plan, enabling you to lose up to 10 pounds in one week, without strenuous exercise or prescriptions”. It's free, requires no book, cooking instructions, expensive food or additional supplements.
The 3-Day Military Diet does not adhere to USDA guidelines and it is not considered a healthy eating plan for weight loss or long-term weight management. The eating plan is not recommended by nutrition experts since it could create unhealthy eating habits and lead to unfavorable health outcomes.
Water can be really helpful for weight loss. It is 100% calorie-free, helps you burn more calories and may even suppress your appetite if consumed before meals. The benefits are even greater when you replace sugary beverages with water. It is a very easy way to cut back on sugar and calories.
The diet plan involves a 3-day, calorie-restricted meal plan followed by 4 days off. Followers of the diet are told to repeat the weekly cycle for up to 1 month, or until they reach their goal weight. Because it follows on-and-off calorie restriction, the military diet is a form of intermittent fasting.
On the Military diet, you're meant to follow a structured diet that provides 1,100 to 1,400 calories — men can have 100 more calories than women — per day for three days of the week. The foods you can eat include proteins, fat, dairy, eggs, grains, fruit, vegetables, vanilla ice cream, water and coffee.
While the 3-day military diet does not specifically require exercise, they recommend walking 20-30 minutes every day while you're on the diet. If you already participate in an exercise program before you start the diet, you can keep doing it.
Breakfast Meals
For breakfast, there will be eggs to order, scrambled eggs, hash browns, sausage/bacon, pancakes/french toast, juice, milk, cereals, coffee, and fruits.
The military diet allows food substitution and lists several swaps for each food item on its website. For example, you can swap 1 cup (113 grams) of canned tuna for 1/2 cup (83 grams) of chickpeas, or half a grapefruit for 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda and a glass of water.
Aim for 64 ounces a day (it's a good goal for all of us, even if specific needs vary) and of course, skip the soda.
Lemon water can promote fullness, support hydration, boost metabolism, and increase weight loss. However, lemon water is no better than regular water when it comes to losing fat. That being said, it is tasty, easy to make, and can be used as a low-calorie replacement for high-calorie beverages.
The strict plan lasts for three days and is followed by four days off. During these “off” days, you're encouraged to continue eating healthy foods and try to keep your calorie intake below 1,500 calories. With this diet plan, you are encouraged to repeat the 7-day cycle until you reach your desired weight.
Share on Pinterest The military diet is high in protein and low in fat. A review article in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition examines very-low-calorie diets (VLCDs) and suggests that they can be effective in helping people lose weight in the short term. A VLCD allows a maximum of 800 calories per day.
The military diet encourages you to drink water or herbal tea. You are also permitted to drink caffeinated tea or coffee up to twice per day, but you cannot add creamers, sugars, or other sweeteners.
You cannot drink alcohol, or have milk and sugar in your hot drinks. In the military diet, there are no snacks permitted in-between meals. You can make substitutions for all of the foods in the military diet plan if you follow a vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free diet.
Lack of Dietary Fiber
Due to the lack of variety in the food permitted on the military diet, the diet may not meet the recommended daily intake of fiber. Dietary fiber is important in reducing the risk of diabetes and coronary heart disease over the long-term.
Each day's rations usually include one hot meal. A daily hot meal may not be available at all times, but three meals a day are provided.