With Spring Break just around the corner (and not coming soon enough!), there is a sudden rush to make sure we all get beach-bod ready before we actually hit the sand. While we here at The Reflector are 100% NOT okay with body-shaming, we are human enough to admit that we want to make sure we look our best before we show off our itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikinis.
Among the many quick result promising diets out there, one that came heavily recommended to us was the Military Diet, also known as the Cardiac Unit Diet. It’s a strict three day meal plan that promises to help you lose up to ten pounds a week. (Please take note of the “up to” in there). You have to follow the meal exactly, no substitutions, only seasoning with salt and pepper, for three days. You are not supposed to overeat and no exercise is required.
So, three of us from The Reflector staff decided to take on the Military Diet together.
We learned two things: 1) This diet is HARD 2) This diet works.
So if the payoff is worth the heartache, this diet might just be for you.
NOTE: This diet does work best if followed multiple weeks in a row. You will most likely begin to gain weight back once you begin eating regularly for four days if you only do it once for three days. Try to stick with it for at least 2-3 weeks to get optimal results.
Day 1
What to Eat
Day 1
Breakfast: Black coffee OR unsweetened tea, ½ grapefruit OR juice, 1 slice of toast, 1 tbsp of peanut butter
Lunch: Black coffee or tea, ½ cup of tuna, 1 slice of toast
Dinner: Black coffee or tea, 2 slices of any meat (3oz), 1 cup of string beans, 1 cup of beets or carrots, 1 small apple, 1 cup of vanilla ice cream
How We Felt
Cheryl
The breakfast wasn’t bad at all. I actually drink my coffee black but I remember when I made the switch back in high school and it wasn’t an easy transition. My heart goes out to those making the switch suddenly now. Lunch was disappointing because I was ready for some more fuel after jumpstarting my metabolism at breakfast. Dinner was the hardest part; I was so hungry I couldn’t wait to eat but suddenly I realized how much food I was actually eating. A cup of vegetables doesn’t sound like a lot, but I had to force myself to finish my meal. Also, I grew up in a very Southern family, so vegetables without butter or hot sauce didn’t sit well with me.
Michelle
The breakfast was really good and actually filled me up. However, I haven’t mastered the art of eating a grapefruit so that did not turn out well. The lunch portion sucked. I finished my toast and tuna and was still starving. Not to mention, I was passing out chocolate at the Rotunda and all I wanted was to eat all the chocolate. Dinner was good but once again I was still hungry after. However, the ice cream was very enjoyable.
Yasmeen
It really wasn’t so bad. I was like, “I can definitely do this for three days. I’m not hungry at all really, so it’s not difficult to eat these things.” Tuna on toast is awesome so I had no problem with the lunch, except I hate drinking coffee or tea without any sweetener! Dinner on the other hand, wasn’t very exciting, mainly because I DESPISE carrots. Honestly, I’d rather starve then eat carrots. But, there was ice cream, so I can’t complain too much.
Day 2
What to Eat
Day 2
Breakfast: Black coffee or tea, 1 hard boiled egg, 1 slice of toast, ½ a banana
Lunch: Black coffee or tea, 1 cup of cottage cheese OR ½ cup of tuna, 5 saltine crackers
Dinner: Black coffee or tea, 2 weiners, 1 cup of broccoli or cabbage, ½ cup of turnips or carrots, ½ a banana, ½ cup of vanilla ice cream
How We Felt
Cheryl
This day wasn’t as bad. I woke up hungry but my stomach wasn’t growling. It just felt like my tank was empty. The lunch seemed a little pathetic and like the day before, wasn’t as satisfying as I hoped it would be. I don’t normally eat breakfast so jump starting my metabolism so early in the morning really hit me hard. Dinner wasn’t as bad today but things I would’ve done for some mustard on those hot dogs…
Michelle
The breakfast was good again. This time for lunch I actually felt kind of full, but it may have been the fact that I was working that day so I really didn’t have time to think about being hungry. Dinner however I finished and was still hungry so my roommates witnessed first hand what “hangry” looks like.
Yasmeen
So, I cheated twice today. In the morning, I indulged in an iced coffee with Soy milk and Splenda and at night I enjoyed a few alcoholic beverages. Oops! Hey, at least I had gin and club soda and not some sugar-y drink. Not going to lie, I didn’t feel too guilty about it because I still ate everything I was supposed to!
Day 3
What to Eat
Day 3
Breakfast: Black coffee or tea, 1 hard boiled egg, 1 slice of toast
Lunch: Black coffee or tea, 1 slice of cheddar cheese, 1 small apple
Dinner: Black coffee or tea, 1 cup of tuna, 1 cup of beets or carrots, 1 cup of cauliflower or greens, 1 cup of cantaloupe, ½ cup of vanilla ice cream
How We Felt
Cheryl
The lunch was the worst part of it. Who decided that cheddar cheese and apples went well together? Cause they were wrong. The combination of the two tastes in your mouth, then washed down with unsweetened tea? It’s gross. Other than that, this day was fine. My stomach had shrunk so the smaller portion sizes weren’t too bad for me by this point. Honestly, I was just excited for the diet to be over so I could eat Chik-fil-a the next morning for breakfast.
Michelle
Day three really was not too bad. I think I was getting used to eating like a small bird so it really did not bother me too much. However I was very tired all day.
Yasmeen
I was getting pretty bored with the lack of variety in these foods, not to mention flavor. But, I definitely felt better and less gross. I didn’t get the results I expected as for weight loss, but that’s understandable considering I drank alcohol and only did this for three days. I definitely would try this again when I need to look better in a short amount of time. I’ll probably do it before any beach trip I go on, and I’ll do it the week before Spring Break for sure!
Results
All three participants lost three pounds.
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