Free Crash Diets

Why pay to lose weight when there are numerous free crash diets? Do they work? You be the judge!

Critics of crash diets argue that the weight you may lose as a result of a crash diet is mostly made up of carbohydrates and water. They also point out that the loss of fat really doesn't factor into this type of weight loss. Most critics also believe that the weight you lose in this manner can just as easily be put back on. For this reason, dietitians recommend a weight loss regimen that includes healthy meal plans and a routine exercise regimen. With this in mind, why would anyone want to try a crash diet?

A dieter who focuses on nutrition and exercise will see gradual weight loss. This type of weight loss plan can take several weeks and even months to show significant results. Those who are looking for almost instantaneous results often turn to crash diets to lose the weight quickly. The following free crash diets are well-known in the crash dieting world.

The chicken soup diet is a free crash diet that has many variations. However, it is based on a 7-day meal plan that follows a specific routine—namely a choice of five breakfasts and, after that, chicken soup. The chicken soup that comprises this diet isn't your mom's chicken soup. You must follow an exact recipe that includes the following:

• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 pound of parsnips, cut up
• 1 turnip, cut up
• 4 celery stalks
• 1 tablespoon of garlic, chopped
• 1 jalapeno pepper, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 16 cups reduced fat, low sodium chicken broth
• 1 bag of frozen carrots
• 1 box of frozen broccoli florets
• 1 box of collard greens, chopped
• 1 ½ cups onions, chopped
• 5 cups of cooked chicken
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1/4 cup dill, chopped

To make the soup, cook the vegetables and seasonings in the heated olive oil until tender. Next, add the broth and lemon juice. Bring the mixture to a boil, then simmer. For more information on this diet, visit Chicken Soup Diet.

The Scarsdale Diet dates back to the publication of a book by the same name written by Dr. Herman Tarnower in the 1970s. The diet was designed for overweight participants, and it's based on a specific nutrient ratio of 43% protein, 22.5% fat, and 34.5% carbohydrates. With a limited caloric intake of approximately 1000 per day for the first two weeks, dieters can lose up to 20 pounds. The meal plan is very limited, and because of the reduced calorie intake, strenuous exercise is discouraged as well. For more information on this diet, including a detailed meal plan, visit The Weight Loss Institute.

One of the most well-known free crash diets is the grapefruit diet. The diet has been modified widely since it first hit the diet world in the 1930s, but it's based on eating a grapefruit half or drinking grapefruit juice with each meal. This diet also requires a reduced calorie plan, from 800 to 1000 calories per day. Proponents of the diet claim that the grapefruit has a fat-burning enzyme that works along with protein to promote rapid weight loss, as much as 10 pounds in less than two weeks. However, while dieters who follow this diet's regimen often lose weight quickly, they quickly find themselves putting the weight right back on. This diet should not be considered as part of a long-term weight control process.

If you do choose to follow a crash diet, do so with the idea that you are jump starting a weight loss routine. This doesn't mean you need to continue following a crash diet. If you do so, your body may miss out on valuable nutrients that are essential to your health. Instead, consider changing the way you eat after you've lost the initial weight, and plan on following a healthier lifestyle.

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