What Is The GM Diet?
The General Motors diet has been around since 1985. It was originally developed by General Motors, along with the Food and Drug Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture, for its employees. It was designed to increase workforce productivity by making the workers healthier. Results of the diet were impressive – a loss of 10 to 17 pounds of weight in just a week! The workers experienced increased efficiency, confidence, and higher energy. The diet was deemed a great success. Probably the biggest reason millions of people swear by the GM diet is that it’s easy to follow. There are no complicated ingredients or great demands on a person’s routine. For this reason, we recommend the GM diet for you.
How Does The GM Diet Plan Work?
The plan focuses on limiting your weekly diet to eating fruits, vegetables, brown rice, and chicken. The diet focuses on consuming a combination of complex carbohydrates, low-calorie vegetables, and fruits, and increasing water intake to help achieve a weight loss of up to 17 pounds in just seven days.
Caution: Always consult a doctor before starting on a diet regimen.
The GM Diet Plan
GM Diet Plan Day 1
A variety of fruit – apples, oranges, watermelon, kiwi, and papaya are some of your best options.
What You Have To Do
The first day of the diet allows you to eat as many fruits as you like. There are no restrictions on when you can eat. Watermelons and cantaloupes are the recommended fruits as they are high in fiber. Other healthy choices include papaya, apples, and oranges. You must also consume 8 to 12 glasses of water during the day. At no point is it advised to starve. If you feel hungry, you can grab some fruits and satisfy your craving.
A Schedule You Could Follow
- Breakfast (8 am – 9 am): A regular sized apple with a glass of water
- Brunch (11 am – 12 pm): Half a bowl of sliced cantaloupe with a glass of water
- Lunch (1:30 pm – 2 pm): A serving of sliced watermelon and two glasses of water
- Post Lunch Snack (4 pm – 5 pm): A whole orange and a glass of water
- Evening Snack (6:30 pm – 7 pm): An apple and a glass of water
- Dinner (8 pm – 9 pm): Sliced cantaloupe and guava with two glasses of water
Why This Works
Fiber-rich fruits keep you full for longer. They are also low in fat. In addition, the high amount of water intake will flush out the toxins and prepare your body for the next six days of dieting.
Foods To Avoid
- Vegetables – Avoid eating any veggies on this day.
- Fruits – Banana
- Protein – Avoid eating any protein source such as meat, eggs, fish, beans, lentils, and mushrooms.
- Fats & Oils – Lard, butter, margarine, and safflower oil.
- Carbs – Avoid all carb-rich foods, including brown rice.
- Dairy – Full fat milk, full-fat yogurt, frozen yogurt, ice cream, and cheese.
- Beverages – Alcohol, soda, sweetened drinks, milkshakes, vegetable juices or smoothies, and packaged fruit juices.
Useful Tip: It is advisable to eat some apples and drink a couple of glasses of water for breakfast. Melons are also a good choice; you can lose up to three pounds by the end of day 1.
Eating good and less will help you to a certain extent. To activate the lipid mobilization, you have to exercise. Here is a list of basic exercises that you can start with.
Exercises
Since you will be on only fruits and water, do not perform rigorous exercises. You may do these exercises early in the morning or in the evening after office or school. Here is your customized exercise plan for Day 1.
- Arm circles – 1 set of 10 reps (clockwise and anticlockwise)
- Wrist circles – 1 set of 10 reps (clockwise and anticlockwise)
- Neck rotation – 1 set of 10 reps (clockwise and anticlockwise)
- Ankle rotation – 1 set of 10 reps (clockwise and anticlockwise)
- Leg rotation – 1 set of 10 reps (clockwise and anticlockwise)
- Waist rotation – 1 set of 10 reps (clockwise and anticlockwise)
- Spot Jogging – 5-10 minutes
- Yoga asanas (stretching)
Warning- Please avoid doing any of the exercises listed above if you have an injury. Please consult your trainer or doctor.
How You Will Feel By The End Of Day 1
Day 1 will be comparatively easy since the monotony of eating fruits and veggies has not crept in yet. If you stick to the diet plan and exercise routine, you will feel active, energetic, and great about yourself by the end of Day 1.
GM Diet Plan Day 2
You Will Need
An assortment of vegetables. Some of the healthiest options would be carrots, beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, and cabbage.
What You Have To Do
You have to follow a vegetable-only meal plan on the second day. You can cook the vegetables to make them palatable, or consume them raw. Care should be taken while preparing the vegetables as oil is not allowed. So, forget deep frying your favorite potatoes or eating chips. You can have vegetables whenever you feel hungry. Flavorings like olive oil or butter can be used sparingly, only if absolutely required.
A Schedule You Could Follow
- Breakfast (8 am – 9 am): A boiled potato. You can also add a teaspoon of low-fat butter for flavor
- Brunch (11 am – 12 pm): Cabbage and lettuce salad with a light dressing and a glass of water
- Lunch (1:30 pm – 2 pm): A mixed vegetable salad with cucumbers, onions, and carrots and two glasses of water
- Post Lunch Snack (4 pm – 5 pm): A cup of boiled broccoli, half a cup of sliced bell pepper, and two glasses of water
- Evening Snack (6:30 pm – 7 pm): Some boiled cauliflower with a light dressing and a glass of water
- Dinner (8 pm – 9 pm): A salad comprising boiled carrots, broccoli, and green beans, and two glasses of water
Why This Works
Vegetables have all the nutrients you need to sustain your body. Potatoes have carbohydrates, peas have protein, and carrots and beans are full of fiber and essential vitamins. After the relatively low carb day, this will replenish your carb stores and will energize you for the next day of the diet.
Foods To Avoid
- Fruits – Avoid all fruits on this day
- Protein – Avoid eating any protein source such as meat, eggs, fish, beans, lentils, and mushrooms.
- Fats & Oils – Lard, butter, margarine, and safflower oil.
- Carbs – Avoid all carb-rich foods, including brown rice.
- Dairy – Full fat milk, full-fat yogurt, frozen yogurt, ice cream, and cheese.
- Beverages – Alcohol, soda, sweetened drinks, fresh fruit juices or smoothies, and packaged fruit juices.
Useful Tip: Eating baked potatoes will help you go through this hard phase! You can also switch to cabbage soup or tomato soup and have it for lunch or dinner.
As long as you stay active, you will keep many obesity-related diseases and heart diseases at bay.
Exercises
A similar exercise routine as Day 1, but a slightly strenuous workout plan to help mobilize the fat. You may do these exercises early in the morning or in the evening after office or school.
- Surya Namaskar
- Kapalbhati – 50-10 times (take a break if you cannot do it continuously).
- Baddhakonasana or cobbler pose – 2 sets of 20 reps.
- Adho Mukha Shvanasana or downward facing dog pose – 2-3 minutes.
- Rope jumping – 2 sets of 50 reps
- Arms circles – 1 set of 10 reps (clockwise and anticlockwise)
- Wrist rotation – 1 set of 10 reps (clockwise and anticlockwise)
- Shoulder rotation – 1 set of 10 reps (clockwise and anticlockwise)
- Neck rotation – 1 set of 10 reps (clockwise and anticlockwise)
- Face exercises
Warning – Avoid doing certain yoga asanas or pranayamas if you have an injury. Please consult your doctor or trainer to know the best yoga asanas for you.
How You Will Feel By The End Of Day 2
You may start to feel weak from late afternoon on Day 2. Do not worry, this is normal with most low-calorie diet plans. Your body will not get the usual amounts of carbs and hence will react by making you feel slow and weak.
GM Diet Plan Day 3
You Will Need
A combination of fruits and vegetables. You could stick to the fruits and vegetables consumed during the first two days. The only foods to avoid are potatoes and bananas.
What You Have To Do
On the third day, your body would have almost adjusted to the new diet. After a day of eating just vegetables, fruits will bring a welcome break. It will also combine the benefits of both fruits and vegetables, and provide you with high fiber, nutrient, and protein.
A Schedule You Could Follow
- Breakfast (8 am – 9 am) Half a bowl of cantaloupe or a sliced apple and two glasses of water
- Brunch (11 am – 12 pm) Half a sliced pineapple or a pear and two glasses of water
- Lunch (1:30 pm – 2 pm) A salad of cucumber, carrots, and lettuce with two glasses of water
- Post Lunch Snack (4 pm – 5 pm) An orange with half a sliced cantaloupe and a glass of water
- Evening Snack (6:30 pm – 7 pm) A pear and a glass of water
- Dinner (8 pm – 9 pm) Boiled broccoli and beets with two glasses of water
Why This Works
The combination of fruits and vegetables on the third day allows your body to replenish itself. Fruits and vegetables provide fiber and nutrients, giving your body what it needs. The variety will also help satisfy your taste buds and break the monotony of the first two days. The water will help flush the toxins out.
Foods To Avoid
- Vegetables – Avoid all veggies on this day.
- Fruits – Avoid eating bananas.
- Protein – Avoid eating any protein source such as meat, eggs, fish, beans, lentils, and mushrooms.
- Fats & Oils – Lard, butter, margarine, and safflower oil.
- Carbs – Avoid all carb-rich foods, including brown rice.
- Dairy – Full fat milk, full-fat yogurt, frozen yogurt, ice cream, and cheese.
- Beverages – Alcohol, soda, sweetened drinks, vegetable smoothies or juices, and packaged fruit juices.
Useful Tip: You can include fruits for breakfast and finish it off with fresh vegetables in the evening. You can also drink the GM diet soup for lunch or dinner.
Exercises
On this day, start with a warm-up and move on to some energy expending exercises. You may do these exercises early in the morning or in the evening after office or school. Here is the list of the exercises that will keep you feeling energetic all day long.
- Arms circles – 1 set of 10 reps (clockwise and anticlockwise)
- Wrist rotation – 1 set of 10 reps (clockwise and anticlockwise)
- Shoulder rotation – 1 set of 10 reps (clockwise and anticlockwise)
- Neck rotation – 1 set of 10 reps (clockwise and anticlockwise)
- Ankle rotation – 1 set of 10 reps (clockwise and anticlockwise)
- Leg rotation – 1 set of 10 reps (clockwise and anticlockwise)
- Squats – 2 sets of 5 reps
- Lunges – 2 sets of 5 reps
- Surya Namaskar (click here to see the steps to perform Surya Namaskar).
- Face exercises
Warning – Take care not to injure yourself. If you are not comfortable with doing an exercise continuously, take 2-3 minutes break and then complete the set. Do not perform a particular exercise if you have an old injury. Consult your doctor or trainer to know whether you should do the listed exercises.
How You Will Feel By The End Of Day 3
Day 3 will make you feel better again as you will get a good amount of fruit sugar from the fruits and a little number of carbs from the veggies. Exercising and staying active will also make you feel great.
GM Diet Plan Day 4
You Will Need
Eight bananas and four glasses of milk.
What You Have To Do
The fruit you’ve been asked to avoid is finally permitted. It is advised to eat eight bananas over the course of the day. Distribute them among your meal and snack times. Also, consume a big glass of milk, thrice, once each at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If this gets monotonous, you can also include a bowl of soup.
A Schedule You Could Follow
- Breakfast (8 am – 9 am): Two large bananas and a glass of milk
- Brunch (11 am – 12 pm): A banana shake (use one banana). Half a teaspoon of honey can be added as a sweetener
- Lunch (1:30 pm – 2 pm): A bowl of GM diet soup
- Post Lunch Snack (4 pm – 5 pm): Banana milkshake
- Evening Snack (6:30 pm – 7 pm): Two medium to small bananas
- Dinner (8 pm – 9 pm): Two large bananas and a glass of milk
Why This Works
Bananas provide instant energy. They are rich in pectin, which aids digestion. They are also high in potassium and low in salt. Milk is a great source of calcium and potassium. It is also fortified with vitamin D that helps strengthen bones.
Foods To Avoid
- Vegetables – Potato and sweet potato.
- Fruits – Avoid eating all fruits except banana.
- Protein – Avoid eating any protein source such as meat, eggs, fish, beans, lentils, and mushrooms.
- Fats & Oils – Lard, butter, margarine, and safflower oil.
- Carbs – Avoid all carb-rich foods, including brown rice.
- Dairy – Full fat milk, full-fat yogurt, frozen yogurt, ice cream, and cheese.
- Beverages – Alcohol, soda, sweetened drinks, vegetable smoothies or juices, and packaged fruit juices.
Useful Tip: You can have your daily ration of bananas in the form of a milkshake and drink it for breakfast or as a mid-morning or evening snack. You could also include the GM diet soup for both lunch and dinner.
Bananas provide a lot of energy. Therefore, exercising early in the morning or in the evening will not make you feel weak. The following exercises will help you mobilize fat and boost your metabolism.
Exercises
All those calories from the bananas should be expended so that the energy from the bananas don’t get stored as fat. You may do these exercises early in the morning or in the evening after office or school. Here is the list of exercises that you should do on Day 4.
- Arms circles – 1 set of 10 reps (clockwise and anticlockwise)
- Wrist rotation – 1 set of 10 reps (clockwise and anticlockwise)
- Shoulder rotation – 1 set of 10 reps (clockwise and anticlockwise)
- Neck rotation – 1 set of 10 reps (clockwise and anticlockwise)
- Ankle rotation – 1 set of 10 reps (clockwise and anticlockwise)
- Leg rotation – 1 set of 10 reps (clockwise and anticlockwise)
- Spot jogging – 7-10 minutes
- Squats – 2 sets of 5 reps
- Pilates – 15-20 seconds
- Bicycle crunches – 2 sets of 5 reps
- Face exercises
Warning: Do not perform exercises that will worsen an old injury. Take the advice of your doctor or trainer before starting the exercises.
How You Will Feel By The End Of Day 4
The monotony of eating bananas and milk can make you feel demotivated. You may also experience mood swings. However, drinking enough water, working out, and talking to people who have successfully lost weight by following the GM diet will keep you going.
GM Diet Plan Day 5
You Will Need
Vegetarians can opt for a cup of brown rice. Non-vegetarians can have a lean protein source like chicken breast or fish. You will also need to consume six large tomatoes.
What You Have To Do
This day is a feast compared to what you consumed on the first four days. Vegetarians can have a serving of brown rice for lunch. It is recommended that a minimum amount of oil be used while cooking. To combat the high amount of uric acid your body will be producing, you must increase your daily water intake to 15 glasses.
For Non-vegetarians: You can include a serving of fish or chicken. Eat 500gms of skinless chicken baked or lightly fried and don’t forget the six tomatoes.
An exciting day as you will get to eat a good amount of protein. Here is the Day 5 diet plan to make it more easy for you to follow.
A Schedule You Could Follow
- Breakfast (8 am – 9 am): A few small tomatoes with a bowl of boiled, seasoned kidney beans and two glasses of water
- Brunch (11 am – 12 pm): A cup of yogurt and two glasses of water
- Lunch (1:30 pm – 2 pm): A bowl of cooked brown rice/chicken breast/fish with two tomatoes and two glasses of water
- Post Lunch Snack (4 pm – 5 pm): A salad with onions, and sprouts with two glasses of water
- Evening Snack (6:30 pm – 7 pm): An apple and a pear
- Dinner (8 pm – 9 pm): GM Diet soup with two glasses of water
Why This Works
Brown rice is a complex carbohydrate and is high in fiber. It aids digestion. Chicken and fish are excellent sources of lean protein. Fish also contains omega-3 oils that are essential for our bodies. Tomatoes are high in fiber and aid digestion.
Useful Tip: Prepare chicken soup with tomatoes in it or roast the pieces without oil in a pan/oven. You can also opt for six eggs divided into three meals + six tomatoes. Don’t forget to drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water for the day.
Foods To Avoid
- Vegetables – Potato and sweet potato.
- Fruits – Banana.
- Protein – Beef, pork, and turkey.
- Fats & Oils – Lard, butter, margarine, and safflower oil.
- Carbs – White rice, bread, and processed foods.
- Dairy – Full fat milk, full-fat yogurt, frozen yogurt, ice cream, and cheese.
- Beverages – Alcohol, soda, sweetened drinks, and packaged fruit juices.
Exercises
Your body needs protein for building muscle, energy, and repair. Therefore, do these exercises in the evening after office or school. Here is the list of exercises for Day 5.
- Arms circles – 1 set of 10 reps (clockwise and anticlockwise)
- Wrist rotation – 1 set of 10 reps (clockwise and anticlockwise)
- Shoulder rotation – 1 set of 10 reps (clockwise and anticlockwise)
- Neck rotation – 1 set of 10 reps (clockwise and anticlockwise)
- Rope jumping – 1 set of 50 reps
- Squats – 1 set of 10 reps
- Kapalbhati – 50-100 times (take a break if you cannot do it continuously).
- Adho Mukha Shvanasana or downward facing dog pose – 2-3 minutes.
- Surya Namaskar
- Face exercises
Warning – Dieters with an old injury or any heart condition should consult their doctor or trainer before performing these exercises.
How You Will Feel By The End Of Day 5
The protein, carbs, and fruits will uplift your mood and you will feel much better by the end of the day. You will feel more enthusiastic about working out on Day 5.
GM Diet Plan Day 6
You Will Need
Any amount and type of vegetables. Vegetarians can opt for a cup of brown rice. Non-vegetarians can have a lean protein source like chicken breast or fish.
What You Have To Do
This is another relatively high food intake day. Follow a similar pattern today with the addition of vegetables. Vegetables have to be boiled, not fried, and salads shouldn’t have heavy dressings. By day six you should notice visible weight loss. This will give you added motivation to finish the diet on a high.
For Non-vegetarians: You can eat up to 500gms of skinless chicken and all vegetables, excluding tomatoes and potatoes. You can eat chicken/eggs or the GM diet soup mid-morning or in the evening.
A Schedule You Could Follow
- Breakfast (8 am – 9 am): A bowl of mixed boiled vegetables and two glasses of water
- Brunch (11 am – 12 pm): A bowl of boiled kidney beans with a diced tomato seasoned with spices, and two glasses of water
- Lunch (1:30 pm – 2 pm): A bowl of brown rice/chicken breast/fish with the GM diet soup and two glasses of water
- Post Lunch Snack (4 pm – 5 pm): 3-4 baby carrots and a glass of water
- Evening Snack (6:30 pm – 7 pm): A bowl of GM soup and a glass of water
- Dinner (8 pm – 9 pm): A bowl of boiled vegetables with a glass of water
Why This Works
In addition to the other nutrient-rich foods, a mix of vegetables provides the fiber and nutrients needed by our body.
Useful Tip: Vegetables have to be boiled, not fried, and salads shouldn’t have any heavy dressings.
Foods To Avoid
- Vegetables – Sweet potato and potato
- Fruits – Try to avoid fruits, especially mango, banana, and cherry.
- Protein – Beef, pork, and turkey.
- Fats & Oils – Lard, butter, margarine, and safflower oil.
- Carbs – White rice, bread, and processed foods.
- Dairy – Full fat milk, full-fat yogurt, frozen yogurt, ice cream, and cheese.
- Beverages – Alcohol, soda, sweetened drinks, and packaged fruit juices.
Exercises
A little strenuous exercise routine for Day 6 that will help burn the fat and tone the muscles. You may do these exercises early in the morning or in the evening after office or school. Here is the list of exercises for Day 6.
- Arms circles – 1 set of 10 reps (clockwise and anticlockwise)
- Wrist rotation – 1 set of 10 reps (clockwise and anticlockwise)
- Shoulder rotation – 1 set of 10 reps (clockwise and anticlockwise)
- Neck rotation – 1 set of 10 reps (clockwise and anticlockwise)
- Jogging
- Stairs running
- Sit-ups – 2 sets of 5 reps
- Air cycling – 2 sets of 10 reps
- Pushups – 2 sets of 5 reps
- Breathing exercises
- Face exercise
Warning: Do not overstrain yourself. Take breaks to catch your breath and keep an electrolyte powder handy to prevent a sudden drop in blood glucose. Refrain from doing exercises that will worsen an old injury or a previously established medical condition.
How You Will Feel By The End Of Day 6
By the end of Day 6, you will notice a visibly slimmer body and will also feel lighter.
GM Diet Plan Day 7
You Will Need
A cup of brown rice, an assortment of vegetables, and fruit juice.
What You Have To Do
You made it! Today is the final day of the diet. You can have one serving of brown rice and an unlimited quantity of vegetables. To supplement the nutritional value of the vegetables, sugarless fruit juice should be consumed after every meal or snack.
A Schedule You Could Follow
- Breakfast (8 am – 9 am): A mixed vegetable salad in a small bowl and a glass of apple or orange juice
- Brunch (11 am – 12 pm): A bowl of GM diet soup and a small portion of carrot sticks with a glass of water
- Lunch (1:30 pm – 2 pm): A cup of brown rice, a bowl of boiled vegetables, and two glasses of water
- Post Lunch Snack (4 pm – 5 pm): A few carrots and a glass of kiwi juice
- Evening Snack (6:30 pm – 7 pm): A mixed vegetable salad and two glasses of water
- Dinner (8 pm – 9 pm): A bowl of GM diet soup and two glasses of water
Why This Works
Fruit juices will flush out the toxins from the system, and the other food items will provide you with the much-needed energy.
Useful Tip: Include vegetables like cabbage or broccoli to go with brown rice. Try to include one glass of fruit juice (orange or pineapple) in the morning.
Foods To Avoid
- Vegetables – Potato and sweet potato.
- Fruits – Banana, cherry, mango, and pear.
- Protein – Avoid any kind of meat such as beef, turkey, chicken, pork, fish and lentils, beans, soy, and mushrooms.
- Fats & Oils – Lard, butter, margarine, and safflower oil.
- Carbs – White rice, bread, and processed foods.
- Dairy – Full fat milk, full-fat yogurt, frozen yogurt, ice cream, and cheese.
- Beverages – Alcohol, soda, sweetened drinks, and packaged fruit juices.
Exercises
You may do these exercises early in the morning or in the evening after office or school.
- Arms circles – 1 set of 10 reps (clockwise and anticlockwise)
- Wrist rotation – 1 set of 10 reps (clockwise and anticlockwise)
- Shoulder rotation – 1 set of 10 reps (clockwise and anticlockwise)
- Neck rotation – 1 set of 10 reps (clockwise and anticlockwise)
- Surya Namaskar
- Sit-ups – 1 set of 10 reps
- Air cycling – 2 sets of 10 reps
- Bicycle crunches – 2 sets of 10 reps
- Squats – 2 sets of 5 reps
- Face exercise
Warning: Dieters with a heart condition or any other medical condition should consult their trainer or doctor to know if they should perform the listed exercises.
How You Will Feel By The End Of Day 7
By evening you may feel like eating a high-calorie dessert or munch on potato wafers since you know that you have lost weight. It’s a trap, don’t fall for it. The exercise routine will help you stay active throughout the day. A sense of accomplishment will bring a smile on your face as you go to bed.
NOTE- Do not follow GM diet continuously. This will lead to compromised immunity, muscle and bone weakness, and slow down your metabolism. GM diet works best when it is followed every alternate week or once in two weeks.
The Scientific Explanation
The consumption of fruits in this diet provides the body with fiber that aids digestion and prevents you from feeling hungry fast. Vegetables are packed with essential vitamins and ensure your body receives all the nutrition it needs. Brown rice is a complex carbohydrate that is low in fat. Protein in the form of chicken is low on fat and energy rich. Additionally, protein helps to increase the metabolic rate and burn more fat. The diet doesn’t limit the amount of food you can eat, focusing on limiting what you can and can’t eat. This, along with the frequent small meals and increased water intake, flushes toxins and leads to fat loss.
The science explains the success of GM diet but not every scientifically sound diet plans are as popular as GM diet.
What’s Great About This Diet
The cleansing systematic effects of the General Motors diet make it possible to lose a tremendous amount of weight quickly. The best part of the GM Diet plan is that it helps get you into the habit of eating more fresh fruits and vegetables. It will cleanse your system of impurities and give you a sense of well-being — so you’ll feel as good as you look. You actually feel lighter (both physically and emotionally) after just one week. All the foods that are suggested are low in sugar and high in fiber. The increased fiber intake helps digestion. Because of the improved digestion, it helps mobilize fat stores while absorbing nutrition.
GM Diet Soup Recipe
The GM diet soup is a staple of the diet. It can be consumed in unlimited quantities on any day and ensures you don’t go hungry anytime. You can prepare a large quantity of it and simply reheat it anytime during the week.
Ingredients
- Six large onions
- Three medium-sized tomatoes
- One cabbage
- Two green peppers
- A bunch of celery
- Half a liter of water
Method of Preparation
Chop up the onions and peppers. In a pot, sauté them in olive oil till they turn mild brown. Next, cut up the tomatoes, celery, and cabbage, and add them to the pot along with the water. The soup takes about 60 minutes to prepare. The vegetables will need to be boiled, then left to simmer. Season it with pepper and salt to your liking and enjoy a bowl of delicious soup. You may add a seasoning of your choice to make different variations of this soup.
What You’re Allowed To Drink
- Water should be your main source of hydration. Make sure you’re reaching for your bottle of water throughout the day. You can squeeze a few drops of lemon or lime juice into the bottle to give it some additional flavor.
- Club Soda is a healthier alternative to the sugar-rich colas.
- If you’re addicted to your morning caffeine hit, make sure you have your coffee without any cream, milk, or sugar.
- If you prefer tea to coffee, make sure it is either green or herbal.
Benefits Of The GM Diet
- Quick weight loss – The biggest benefit of the GM diet is that it helps you lose weight fast! Most people drop between 3 kg to 6 kg in just one week.
- Detoxification – The diet helps flush out toxins from your system. Because the diet is full of fruits, vegetables, and lots of water, it ensures your system is completely cleansed after day 7.
- Time Span – Because the diet is just seven days long and ensures fast weight loss, you are more likely to stick to it.
- The Diet Is low on salt and sugar and Is high in complex carbohydrates and fiber
- Reduces serum cholesterol levels
Disadvantages Of The GM Diet
- Restrictive Diet
The GM Diet is a highly restrictive diet. It allows you to only consume veggies and fruits in very limited amounts. This restriction may put you off and prevent you from continuing with the diet plan. - No Research Back Up
General Motors claimed that the GM diet helped the employees lose weight and be more productive, but there is no documentation about the success percentage. Also, there are no independent research papers published in any scientific journal supporting this fact. - Lacks Nutrients
The GM diet is restrictive when it comes to consuming different food groups. And hence, it lacks in nutrients that each food group has to offer. So, if you follow the GM diet for too long, you may become malnourished and feel weak. - May Cause Muscle Loss
The GM diet may cause muscle loss as it doesn’t allow enough protein consumption and doesn’t encourage vigorous exercising like strength training. As you are aware, this diet is very restrictive and lacks nutrients – all of this adds to muscle loss and may make you look skinny fat. - May Slow Down Metabolism
When you consume very few calories and do not do strength training exercises, it causes a metabolic slowdown. This slowdown happens because your body switches to the survival mode, causing the cells to store every morsel of food as fat. The muscle loss also leads to metabolic slowdown. - Weight Loss Is Not Permanent
Lastly, the GM diet will not help you lose weight permanently. You will regain the weight as quickly as you lost it. Most fad diets that aid quick weight loss do not give permanent results. After completing 7 days of the GM diet, start exercising and follow the 1200 calorie diet to prevent regaining the weight.
Do’s And Dont’s
THINGS YOU SHOULD DO
- Drink plenty of water
- Use lemon, vinegar, herbs, or other low-calorie flavorings
- If you must use oil, stick to extra virgin olive oil
- Follow the instructions as closely as you can
THINGS YOU SHOULDN’T DO
- Don’t drink alcohol
- No salad dressings
- Don’t use more than a teaspoon of oil
- Don’t cheat on the diet even for a meal/day
Should You Try The GM Diet?
Yes and no. Yes, if you are trying to lose the weight quickly for a special occasion. Being on the GM diet for 7 days will help you drastically lose the fat and make you at least two sizes smaller. If you are determined and prepared for all the mood swings and are able to control the cravings, go for it. BUT if you are looking for a more permanent solution and want to lose weight without resorting to fad diets, try the Mediterranean diet. The lack of scientific support, loss of mass, and metabolic slow down can be harmful in the long run if you follow the GM diet continuously.
So, think twice before you take the plunge. Also, make sure to consult your doctor before you start the GM diet. Your weight loss depends on a number of factors like current body weight, medical history, genetics, eating habits, medications, etc.
Bottomline
To conclude, the GM diet has worked for many and may work for you too. However, do it only if you have a time crunch and need to lose the weight fast for an upcoming event. Also, do not follow it continuously.
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