A whooping 5 to 10 pounds (or more!) in a span of 7 days is an exciting and encouraging way to lose weight. All thanks to the 7-day Cabbage Soup Diet. It is quite motivating to stay on track while on the diet especially when you see results while you are at it. After all, just eating certain vegetables plus lots of cabbages is a big sacrifice so you have to congratulate yourself for a job well done. But the question is – after that, what’s next?
The Cabbage Soup Diet can be a way to jumpstart your actual weight loss journey but being limited and sticking to a low calorie, high fiber vegetables and homemade cabbage soup can be described as bland and boring. Although there are various ways on how to improve the taste, it is almost an instinct to look for other foods that you usually consume before after the duration of the diet. You may be overwhelmed and reach for that bag of chips, take a bite on that chocolate bar or binge on pizza.
It is advised that this diet be done strictly only for 7 days and if you still aim to lose more, wait for one to two weeks before restarting because it doesn’t provide all the nutrients like complex carbohydrates, protein and other essential vitamins that your body needs. Yes, you might feel lighter but weaker. You might not get the strength that you need and just crave for unhealthy foods, making you gain more weight in the process.
Just like other crash or fad diets, this also can backfire if you do not exert effort to maintain proper discipline in your lifestyle especially in choosing what you eat after the program. The good news is, you can sustain the weight loss and even lose more – for good! Making you feel more confident, energetic and glowing than before! Listed below are some practical and effective ways to successfully maintain weight loss after the 7 day Cabbage Soup Diet:
Start exercising and commit to doing it daily
Coming from a Cabbage Soup Diet, you may feel and notice that you have little energy and may experience headaches but exercise really do wonders and can instantly perk up your mood. You can start by doing simple exercises like:
- 15 minutes to 1 hour brisk walking in the park
- Walking your dog
- Playing with the kids
- 10-30 minute jogging
- Following 5-10 minute exercise videos online you can do at the comfort of your home.
Over time, you can engage yourself in strenuous exercise routines and even lift weights to tone your muscles if you wish.
Plan your meals and stick to eating healthy
Planning your meal every single day or for a week can be tiresome but the effort is worth it. Calorie counting is a great plus too! Temptations are inevitable after a week-long homemade cabbage soup diet. Make sure that you still load up on fruits and vegetables. Eating appropriate amounts of red meat and avoiding junk, sweet and salty foods can keep you on the right track. Also, you can find alternative food selections like choosing brown rice instead of white rice or choosing whole grain wheat bread instead of the white bread. In addition to this, you should consider eating hearty breakfast, moderate servings for lunch and small portions during the night.
Get enough sleep
Yes, you read that right! Sleep can have a great impact in your overall health and weight loss. This may be surprising but people who are deprived of sleep tend to overeat especially during the night. This can make you feel bloated, heavy and tired the next day.
Drink up!
Drinking 8-10 glasses of water per day and loading up on natural fruit juices is vital in maintaining your weight. This can help in flushing out toxins and unwanted fats. Green tea is also a great addition to your diet because it can help in increasing metabolism rate and keep your tummy flat as well.
Keep a circle of friends with the same goal as you have
You can go to the gym, run marathons, share recipes and a lot more. It is more fun to lose weight with friends because you can be their source of motivation and encouragement especially during times when you feel like giving up.
Focus on your goal and keep track of your progress daily
Discipline is important. You have to make it work and have the desire to keep going and get your goal. More than fitting into clothes of smaller sizes, it is the long-term effect on your overall health that matters. You can live longer and be a role model to other family members. Keeping track of your small success everyday can get you excited for the days ahead.