When it comes to the task of losing weight, many of us are looking for a miracle diet. Plenty of diet plans claim to be just that, but are they?
The Shangri-La Diet
The Shangri-La Diet has been called a miracle diet. The premise behind it is that instead of just eating less and exercising more, this diet actually teaches your body to want less food. This beats the vicious cycle of feeling hungry and wanting more. This diet is different in that it:
- Doesn't require counting calories
- Doesn't force you to avoid specific foods
- Makes you uninterested in eating
Uninterested in eating? Now that does sound like a miracle. Here is the thought behind the inspiration. It's called the set point. According to the diets creator, Seth Roberts, this set point is like a thermostat setting for our bodies. If the body's weight falls below the set point the result is feeling hungry, and if our weight is above the set point we will feel full. The goal is to change your set point so you don't experience hunger while in turn you burn fat and lose weight. To do this all you must do is eat food that has no taste. To Robert's way of thinking, this tells your body food is scarce (why else would you eat tasteless food), and thus your metabolism doesn't store your calories as body fat like it does in times of abundance.
Hollywood 48 Hour Diet
The Hollywood 48 Hour Diet is also known as the Hollywood 48 Hour Miracle Diet. This is a form of juice fasting which can cause rapid weight loss in a short amount of time. In a study which involved both men and women, participants averaged a loss of 4.5 percent body fat along with a noteworthy amount of overall weight.
The diet cleanses the digestive system by disrupting the eating of regular food and using a drink that works like a mild laxative that flushes the system. This blend consists of the following ingredients:
- Natural fruit juices
- Enzymes
- Minerals
Dieters drink this mixture throughout the day at regular times to control blood sugar levels and hunger.
To help make an informed decision, you'll want to know that the fortified juice blends run on the expensive side but they do help to lose weight. However, what weight is it you want to lose? Here's a breakdown of average weight loss on this 48 hour diet:
- 1-6 pounds lost due to water loss
- About 1 pound of body fat
- 0-2 pounds of muscle
- 2-5 pounds of fecal matter
On the positive side, this diet:
- Is an easy-to-follow cleansing diet
- Is designed to control hunger
- Offers quick weight loss
- Flushes system and encourages improved bowel function
- Provides an energy boost
- Is fortified with vitamins and minerals
Is this the miracle you're looking for in a diet? Remember, it is a cleansing diet only. Check with your doctor before starting this or any diet, whether you use it to cleanse your system or jump start your weight loss plan.
5 Day Miracle Diet
The 5 Day Miracle Diet by Adele Puhn (also the author of Midlife Miracle Diet is a low carbohydrate diet designed to help you lose weight fast. You are required to eat within 30 minutes of waking in the morning and are to stretch your eating time to forty-five minutes at each meal unless exercise is part of your weight loss plan. Here are the basics:
- Breakfast: Starch such as wheat toast
- Snack: Crunchy snack like an apple or celery which releases sugar slowly into the bloodstream.
- Lunch: Eat before 1:00 p.m. and consume only protein and vegetables. No complex carbohydrates or fruits are permitted.
- Dinner: Eat before 8:00 p.m. and for this meal take in protein and veggies. No complex carbs or fruits are allowed unless otherwise specified.
For those who decide to try the 5 Day Miracle Diet, it's important to note that you are not to exceed the 5 days and in many cases no more than 2 days. This diet falls within the category of fad diets with its very low calorie intake. It really isn't a healthy choice for losing weight because it also lacks necessary nutrients.
Is Quick Weight Loss Best?
It's easy to want a miracle diet that melts excess weight fast, but is it really the best way to lose weight? It's important to remember that weight loss derived from loss of water is only temporary. What you really want to look for is a balanced approach that offers a long term focus on changing your lifestyle and burning body fat.
