When you're in a hurry to lose weight, a three-day diet may seem like an effective solution. Although the three-day diet has been passed around the Internet as a fast way to lose excess pounds, it's not a safe or healthy weight-loss solution. Talk to your doctor before making any changes in your diet plan, especially before trying a crash diet like the three-day diet.
History
Although the origins of the three-day diet are unknown, it's similar to the grapefruit diet, another popular fad diet that was created in the 1930s. Like the grapefruit diet, the three-day diet involves eating small portions of specific foods, including grapefruit, every day. Unlike the grapefruit diet, the three-day diet involves consuming very low-calorie meals for only three days. Because the diet is so short, it may seem harmless, but it is still an unsafe crash diet.
Three-Day Diet Meals
The three-day diet involves eating specific combinations of very low-calorie foods. These combinations are purported to burn fat and jump-start weight loss, but these claims are unsubstantiated. For breakfast, dieters may eat half a grapefruit, a piece of toast and 1 tbsp. peanut butter. For lunch, dieters may eat 1/2 cup tuna and a piece of toast. For dinner, dieters may eat 3 oz. of lean meat like chicken or turkey, 2 cups steamed vegetables, an apple and 1 cup vanilla ice cream. During each meal, dieters may drink a cup of black coffee or tea, and water.
Results
Whenever you consume fewer calories than you are burning through exercise and daily physical activity, you will lose weight. In the case of the three-day diet, you may lose weight rapidly. When you consume very few calories, the body sheds water in an attempt to hold onto extra fat and nutrients. When your body sheds this weight, you may lose a few pounds. When you stop following the diet, the water weight will return.
Warnings
The three-day diet is considered a fad diet because it heavily restricts the calories you eat, and requires you to eat the same low-calorie foods over and over again. Fad diets are dangerous and may cause malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies and fluctuations in weight. To lose weight and keep it off, eat a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein and whole grains that you enjoy eating. Balance this eating routine with daily exercise to maintain your weight loss.
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