The "6 petals" diet is a fast weight loss method developed by Swiss nutritionist Anna Johansson and officially listed by the European Nutrition Association. The peculiarity of the 6-petal diet is that, according to its developers, it allows you to achieve fast results in a relatively short time. Let's understand what a "6-petal diet" is, how effective it really is, and what it can do to lose those extra pounds.
Lose weight in six days: a six-petal diet
The famous Six Petal Diet was developed by Anna Johansson, a Swedish nutritionist. It is based on separate nutrition principles and consists of six mono-diets, ie there should be only one type of food on the menu every day. The diet is designed in such a way that protein days are replaced by carbohydrate days, which, according to the nutritionist, helps to get rid of unnecessary pounds as soon as possible. The main condition is that with this method of weight loss can not change the menu for each day, as well as the sequence of mono-diet.
Why a 6-petal diet? Everything is very simple: before you start observing it, the author suggests drawing 6 petals and making a flower out of them, noting each stage of the diet, and then plucking them every day as you move towards the cherished goal. According to the author, this will help support the motivation of a person who loses weight: getting rid of the next petal every day, clearly sees which part of the road has already passed and how far ahead.
Basic rules of petal diet
Each weight loss technique has its own rules. The six-petal diet is no exception:
- meals may not be less than a quarter, and the intervals between them may not exceed four hours. The best choice is two breakfasts (after a certain period), lunch, afternoon tea and dinner (preferably no later than six o'clock in the evening);
- food should be chewed thoroughly during consumption. This will help enrich it with enzymes and improve the digestive process;
- follow a drinking regimen. You can drink plain water (at least one and a half liters per day) and sugar-free green tea. It is forbidden to drink while eating, it is better to eat half an hour before or after a meal;
- The amount of salt consumed in one day of the menu should not exceed 5 grams, which is about two-thirds of a teaspoon. You can use fresh or dried herbs as a spice.
Six petals will have to be given up while following the diet:
- all kinds of baked goods except a few slices of whole grain bread a day;
- all kinds of sweets, the list of which includes store and home-made confectionery, canned food and jams, chocolate and all other products containing large amounts of sugar;
- butter and vegetable oils;
- canned food, smoked and fried foods, semi-finished products, fast food products;
- all kinds of coffee, sweet carbonated drinks, compotes, jellies, store-bought juices. On the last day of the diet (fruit) you can pamper yourself with a little freshly squeezed juice.
And one last rule: weight loss can not be products that do not fall into the group specified in the menu every day.
Pros and cons of losing weight with a separate diet
The advantages of the petal diet are:
- helps you lose a few pounds in just one week;
- alternating mono-diets, for example, are more easily transferred than those that should be observed for several days;
- Eating often helps a person who is losing weight not to feel hungry.
This technique is not without its disadvantages, namely:
- Such a strict diet, like other mono-diets, is stressful for the whole organism. Some people overeat, some do not get enough, in other words - the balance of nutrients is disturbed;
- non-compliance with personal taste preferences. For example, some people do not like fish and have to eat all day. This is a kind of psychological stress;
- The effectiveness of a separate diet has not been fully proven. Similar to the placebo effect: a person can work when they believe the diet will help make it more subtle. Do not believe - there is a risk of joining the ranks of those who participate in experiments that do not help to lose weight separately. By the way, scientists from the Weizmann Institute in Israel conducted a study that found that different people's bodies may react differently to different foods. Therefore, the outcome of the diet may be different;
In 2016, scientists from the University of Colorado also studied the direct effects of dietary components on the human body.
but the main disadvantage of the express diet is that such a technique cannot change a person's attitude towards food. It can help you lose weight, but it does not eliminate the cause of your appearance.
Daily 6-petal diet
If you start the process of losing weight on Monday, it could be:
- Monday: fish menu
On the first day, the diet should be only fish. Seafood can be boiled, baked or steamed. You can add a small amount of herbs or natural spices to improve the taste. A good moment - the use of oily fish is allowed.
On any day of the diet, the menu should consist of the first and second breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner (hereafter we will express them in numbers).
Monday:
- boiled fish;
- oven-baked fish;
- vegetableless fish soup with a little greens;
- steamed fish;
- boiled crab or seafood (squid, shrimp).
- Tuesday: vegetables
Vegetables such as fish can also be cooked and steamed in the oven, as well as boiled. Do all this without butter, cream and other products that make the dish more delicious.
Menu:
- Boiled potatoes, as well as chopped white cabbage.
- Broccoli or cauliflower from a double pot (you can combine both types of cabbage in one bowl). Lean cooked vegetable casserole. You can put greenery.
- Baked pumpkin slices or celery root puree. You can add fresh vegetables - carrots, cucumbers, sweet peppers.
- Cooked vegetables. Meals can be varied with fresh vegetables such as cabbage or carrots.
- Wednesday: chicken
The middle of the diet is often the most difficult, both physically and mentally. Protein will help prevent apathy from disrupting the plans of a person who is losing weight.
Sample menu for today:
- Boiled breast fillets.
- Baked skinless drumstick.
- Chicken soup (drain first) without adding meat and vegetables.
- Steamed chicken legs without skin.
- Boiled breast on the bone (remove the skin).
- Thursday: grain
Today, all types of oil-free cereals cooked in water are allowed.
The menu of the fourth day:
- Pre-cooked wheat corn in the evening.
- Rice porridge.
- Millet porridge.
- Oatmeal.
- Buckwheat.
- Friday: cottage cheese
Today's diet should include only cottage cheese and a glass of low-fat milk.
Recommended menu:
- Low-fat cottage cheese without any additives.
- Salted cottage cheese.
- Curd and half a glass of low-fat milk.
- Pure cottage cheese.
- Curd and residual milk.
- Saturday: Fruit Day
Today, only fruits, ideally raw, are allowed.
Menu:
- A banana (large).
- Apples and citrus fruits.
- Banana or kiwi.
- Any fruit (preferably seasonal and in acceptable quantities).
- Grapefruit.
Today, in addition to water and sugar-free green tea, you can pamper yourself with fresh fruit juice.