Many diets have various phases and elements to them that serve to change your dietary habits and keep you motivated and engaged throughout the program. These are usually called induction phases and take place during the first three to 14 days of the diet. Some short-term quick-loss diets serve as induction phases on their own, with the expectation that you follow them up with a continued healthy eating and exercise plan.
About
It can be difficult to break the habit of eating foods that are high in sugar and fat; they generally taste good while appearing to be emotionally soothing. Induction plans help to cleanse and detox your body from such foods and eating habits. By following strict eating guidelines for a specific period of time, you will hopefully stop the unhealthy habits while replacing them with healthier options. Additionally, these induction phases usually restrict calories, which can help to jump-start your weight loss.
Water Weight
The Mayo Clinic reports that diets that severely restrict calorie intake or entire food groups can be difficult to maintain for long periods of time. Additionally, much of the weight that you lose during the induction phase will be water weight, not fat. The Mayo Clinic advises sensible eating plans that offer a balance of foods with proper calorie counts, plus a regular exercise plan, for long-term weight loss success.
3-Day Diet
The 3-Day Diet is an induction phase within itself. The program strictly limits calories for three days and claims that you can lose approximately 10 lbs within 72 hours. After the initial three days you are supposed to eat a sensible food plan for the next four or five days, and then repeat the induction phase again if desired. Grapefruit is an important component to the 3-Day Diet and should be eaten with every meal. Other foods include protein, fruit, vegetables and a mild amount of complex carbohydrates.
4-Day Diet
Though it has a similar name, the 4-Day Diet is completely different from the 3-Day Diet. The 4-Day Diet consists of seven different phases that each last for four days. The first four days are the induction phase, which are supposed to help you cleanse and detox your body from unhealthy sugars, starches and processed foods. The meals during this time consist of coffee, lemonade, vegetables, fruit, yogurt, beans and brown rice.
The Atkins Diet
The Atkins Diet works to break your habits of eating carbohydrates as well as jump-start your weight loss. The Atkins Diet has been in existence since 1972 and is known for its high protein and fat content. During the first 14 days, the only foods that you eat are protein, healthy poly and monounsaturated fats and vegetables; no fruit, bread, rice, pasta or the like are permitted. During phase two some of these foods are slowly reintroduced to the body.
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