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Ever tried working out without regulating your diet? If you have, you probably know how difficult it is to get in shape without consuming the right foods in the right quantity. Hundreds of diet plans are available for us to choose as per our needs. Diet is what makes your fitness plans possible. Here we are discussing the GM Diet Plan and how it can help you lose weight within 7 days. But first…
What is the GM Diet Plan?
With assistance from the FDA and the US Department of Agriculture, General Motors created the GM Diet Plan for its employees in 1985. Its purpose was to improve employee productivity by making them healthier. Needless to say, the diet plan offered really good results within a short period.
However, the diet plan has not been without criticism from nutritionists, but you should be the one to decide for yourself. It does allow you to lose weight quite quickly and improves energy and confidence but not without a few side effects.
At FITPASS, we take a holistic approach to fitness, which includes advice from expert nutritionists. FITFEAST offers easily accessible expert advice to one and all. With a single app, you can keep a track of your weight, calorie & water intake, and schedule calls with our expert nutritionists as per your convenience.
GM Diet Plan Benefits
The plan focuses on the absorption of complex carbs with the help of low-calorie food items. It also includes drinking a lot of water, which helps in losing weight within 7 days. It entails limiting intake to fruits, brown rice, vegetables, and lean proteins.
Here’s a day-to-day breakdown of the plan. The original plan includes consumption of beef; you can replace it with chicken or fish. Or if you’re a vegetarian, you could consume brown rice.
Day 1
- Fruits except for bananas. Watermelon and muskmelon are highly recommended
- Eat whenever feeling hungry
- Water (8-12 glasses)
Eat as many fruits as possible anytime during the first day. Melons are highly recommended since they contain high amounts of fiber and water. Apples, oranges, papaya, are also good.
You should drink 2-3 liters of water on the first day. There is no need to starve yourself; have some fruits whenever you feel hungry. Fruits are low in fats and rich in fiber, which reduces your calorie intake while making you feel full. Water flushes out the toxins and prepares you for the oncoming hardships of the diet. You are, however, advised to avoid bananas. Avoid eating any vegetables as well.
Day 2
- Veggies – uncooked or cooked with little olive oil or butter
- Cooked potato(s)
- Water (8-12 glasses)
The body can sustain itself on the nutrients from vegetables alone. For example, carrots and beans are rich in fiber and vitamins, peas are full of protein, and potatoes have necessary carbs.
The second day is about consuming veggies. You can eat them uncooked or cooked. However, you should not use oil to cook them. Like the first day, you can have veggies anytime during the day to satisfy your hunger. Fried veggies and chips are not allowed. You can use sparing amounts of butter or olive oil if you cannot do without it. Day 2 ingredients will restore the carb contents in your body and improve your energy levels. Don’t consume any fruits though.
Day 3
- Fruits & veggies
- Avoid potatoes & bananas
- Water (8-12 Glasses)
The third day is about eating a combination of veggies and fruits. You can consume the same foods as the first two days except for bananas and potatoes. You will feel that your body is starting to adjust to the diet. Veggies and fruits together provide enough protein and fiber to the body. You must consume 2-3 liters of water without fail.
Day 4
- Bananas (8-10) and Milk (3-4 glasses)
- Avoid other fruits and potatoes
- Water (8-12 glasses)
Missing bananas? After having avoided them for the first 3 days, you can have up to 8 bananas throughout the fourth day. Along with bananas, the diet includes drinking a glass of milk for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can have veggie soup if you don’t feel like having milk for all the 3 meals. Bananas are great for digestion and rich in pectin. They are low in salt and high in potassium and provide instant energy.
Milk, on the other hand, is a great source of calcium, potassium, and Vitamin D that strengthens the bones. The fourth day may be tough since you are not supposed to eat any other fruit than bananas. You should stay away from potatoes and sweet potatoes as well. However, bananas can be substituted with figs and milk with soymilk.
Day 5
- Brown Rice (1 cup) or Lean Meat (500g)
- 6 tomatoes
- Water (12-15 glasses)
On the fifth day, you can either consume a cup of brown rice or lean proteins like chicken breast or fish. Eating 6 sizeable tomatoes is also recommended along with it.
While cooking brown rice, however, ensure using the smallest possible amount of oil. At this point, your body will produce high amounts of uric acid, which can be flushed out by drinking up to 15 glasses of water.
As far as non-vegetarians are concerned, you can consume up to 500 grams of skinless chicken, baked or lightly fried. Have 6 tomatoes on the side. Chicken and fish are great sources of lean protein, while brown rice is rich in fiber and aids digestion. Avoid potatoes, sweet potatoes, and bananas.
Day 6
- Brown Rice (1 Cup)
- Cooked or uncooked veggies except for potatoes
- 8-12 glasses of water
The sixth day includes a bowl of brown rice for vegetarians and fish or chicken for non-vegetarians along with cooked or uncooked veggies. On this day of high food intake (as compared to the other days), the veggies should not be fried. You should have boiled veggies without any dressing.
Non-vegetarians can consume up to 500 grams of lean meat with a side of veggies. However, you shouldn’t have tomatoes or potatoes. The mix of foods gives the body the required nutrients. However, you should avoid fruit altogether on this day.
Day 7
- Brown Rice (1 Cup)
- Assortment of veggies
- Fruit Juice (3-4 glasses)
The last day of the diet plan must include brown rice, veggies, and fruit juice. Lunch can be a bowl of brown rice along with boiled veggies. Each meal should be completed with a glass of juice without sugar. Rice and veggies are enough to give you energy for the day and fruit juice will flush the toxins out of your system. Stay away from potatoes, sweet potatoes, bananas, cherries, mangoes, and pears.
Disadvantages of the GM Diet Plan
- GM diet is high in fiber and low in fats, proteins, and carbs. Your body might not get all the nutrients it needs even though you lose weight quickly
- Such a drastic change in diet will slow down your metabolic functions. As a result, you might find it hard to maintain your weight in the long run
- The diet can lead to dehydration, as the body will resort to using all the fluids in the diet for metabolism
- You might feel weak, have headaches or get hunger pangs
Essentially, the GM diet works against the idea of a balanced diet. You might lose weight within 7 days, but the long-term effects might be troublesome. One of the worst disadvantages is that once a regular balanced diet is resumed, you might gain more weight than you lost in the first place.
Experts suggest that any diet plan that stops you from eating regular staple food is not sustainable in the long run. There are no shortcuts to weight maintenance; it requires inculcating healthy and balanced eating habits in addition to exercising 3-4 days a week at least. Therefore, in case you choose to follow this diet, don’t forget its implications.
FITFEAST is the convenience to create a balanced diet, which provides all the required nutrients to the body. Consult experienced nutritionists and get diet plans based on your needs and preferences.
