Cabbage Soup Diet

Full Name: Cabbage Soup Diet

Origin: Has been around for ages and has several variations

Description: Eat as much cabbage soup as you want for seven days

Likes: Cabbage soup, brown rice, vegetables

Dislikes: Meat, alcohol, bread, fried foods

Looking for: A dieter looking for rapid weight loss

Works Well With: Beano!

Of all the fad diets out there, the Cabbage Soup Diet has withstood the test of time like no other. This is surprising - not only does the stuff taste horrible, but it also doesn't work! When will the word get out that cabbage soup does not, will not, and has never helped anyone lose weight and keep it off . Sure, consuming only cabbage soup can help you achieve rapid weight loss for a special event or vacation, but it's not a fun diet to follow, and the weight will come back as soon as you switch back to normal food.

This following sample seven day meal plan shows that you must restrict most foods, but you can eat as much cabbage soup as you would like:

Day 1: Cabbage soup, plus any fruit (except bananas). Drink unsweetened tea, black coffee, cranberry juice and water.
Day 2: Cabbage soup, plus other vegetables (raw, boiled or steamed) and avoid dry beans, peas and corn. For dinner, eat a baked potato with butter.
Day 3: Cabbage soup, plus other fruits and vegetables.
Day 4: Cabbage soup, plus up to eight bananas and fat-free milk.
Day 5: Cabbage soup, plus up to six tomatoes and up to 450 grams of meat or fish.
Day 6: Cabbage soup, plus meat and vegetables.
Day 7: Cabbage soup, plus brown rice, pure fruit juice and vegetables.

There are many different versions of this diet, all of which seem excessively regimented and mundane - not to mention nutritionally unsound. You'll rapidly lose weight on this diet, but you'll also be starving, agitated and incredibly tired the entire time you're on it. And don't even think about going out in public - eating all that cabbage soup and vegetables will definitely make you gassy!