If you have been reading some of my articles this summer - I have mentioned that I have been making lifestyle changes in the past couple of years.
Not because I necessarily needed to (although I believed I did), but more because I wanted too since I have learned more about my body and health in general from research and trial and error.
Starting Wednesday this past week, my mom and I came across the three-day military diet and thought it was something we could try out. Three days and you can lose up to 10 pounds or more, can't be too hard, right?
I am going to take you day by day, what the diet consisted of, a few alterations, what I felt like after each meal and my overall thoughts!
Day 1:
Breakfast: 1 cup of coffee or tea, 1 slice of toast with 2 tsp of peanut butter, half a grapefruit.
My thoughts after breakfast was that I felt full, light and satisfied. I am not a huge breakfast eater as is. My typical breakfast consists of a super-foods smoothie, so having substance instead of a liquid actually kept me full till lunch time!
Lunch: 1 cup of coffee or tea, 1/2 can of tuna*, 1 slice of toast
*I substituted the 1/2 can of tuna for 10-15 pieces of cooked shrimp.
My thoughts after lunch were good, but also depressing. Watching everyone eat a normal lunch was making my stomach growl - but I surprised myself once again and found that I was full and satisfied and had enough energy to take on the rest of the workday without reaching for a healthy snack!
Dinner: Choice of meat (3 oz.), Green beans, 1/2 banana, 1 apple, 1 cup of vanilla ice cream.
Such a balanced meal! It was super good and filling. I didn't even have the cup of vanilla ice cream after dinner - I found myself feeling full and satisfied. Usually I get pretty hungry for a semi-late snack, but I didn't even think twice!
Day 2:
Breakfast: 1 egg (cooked however you like), 1 slice of toast, 1/2 banana
Lunch: 1 cup cottage cheese, 5 saltine crackers, 1 hardboiled egg
Dinner: 2 hotdogs*, 1 cup broccoli, 1/2 cup carrots, 1/2 banana, 1 cup vanilla ice cream
Today wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be! I felt satisfied after every meal - I was however, a little hungry after lunch but I just grabbed more water to drink and my hunger subsided.
*I substituted hotdogs for 3 oz. of grilled chicken because hot dogs are icky.
Day 3:
Breakfast: 1 small apple, 5 saltine crackers, 1 slice of cheddar cheese
Lunch: 1 slice of toast, 1 egg (cooked how you like)
Dinner: 1 cup of tuna*, 1/2 banana, 1 cup vanilla ice cream
*Substituted tuna for a 3 oz. small steak, grilled chicken or 10-15 cooked shrimp.Today was tough, especially since it was Friday and I had brought donuts for my team at work in spirit of my birthday. I skipped the breakfast portion and caved in on a donut (which is A-OK!). But I followed the lunch and dinner portions and I felt pretty light and healthy!
To be quite honest, I wouldn't recommend anyone really take on this challenge or diet fad. My mom and I decided it would be harmless due to the fact that it was only three days in length.
Working out as much as I do during the week, I went to two workouts during the time of the diet and I was super lethargic and very weak. I didn't feel like I could reach my full potential and work as hard as I usually do while on this.
All in all, like I said, I wouldn't advise anyone who is remotely active to try this. It's best to stick to the three meals per day and remaining as healthy as possible while drinking lots of water during those three meals!
You don't need diet fads to help you lose weight - just eat in moderation and exercise!
