Has Anyone Tried the Cabbage Soup Detox Diet?

Hi C. -

Like everyone else, I wouldn't do the diet. However, I do really like the soup itself. I make a big pot every once in a while and freeze most of it. The soup really isn't that filling so I add whole wheat pasta to it and eat it for lunch. The soup is good for you, the diet is not.

Hope this helps.

I would say if you are doing a detox to lose weight you may be disappointed. I have been counting points with Weight Watchers since April. Since I have done that I have also done two cleansing fasts. Both of which helped me lose even more weight but when I got done with the cleanse, it came back fairly quickly. I continue to lose my regular amount through Weight Watchers that has taught me to make healthy choices everyday- and that there are no "quick" solutions to living a healthy life.

I've tried it and sure it works,temporarily. I dropped 10 pounds very quickly, but the problem with it is that you gain it right back when you go back to a regular diet, because the weight you are losing is mostly water weight. The only true way to lose fat weight is reasonable portion sizes and exercise. Good luck.

Stay away from 'cleansing' diets or anything that makes you use a supplement to lose weight. The best way to lose weight is to watch the amount of things you eat at each meal. We are served such huge portions all the time. It's amazing when you compare what we eat to what we are suppose to eat. Find a program (like Weight Watchers) that will let you eat regular foods. You don't want to get caught up in something that forces you to buy their meals, shakes, vitamins, etc. Losing weight is really hard and we all want immediate results. Exercise and be patient. The weight will come off.

I tried it over the summer. I followed the instructions to the letter. It just didn't work for me. My body actually started to shut down from the lack of protein in the diet. I felt horrible and didn't lose a single pound. A friend of mine, however, was able to lose 20 pounds on this diet (she's gained it all back since though).
I recommend looking at the Sonoma Diet. Especially if you like to cook and enjoy really nutritious foods... it's a way of eating for life... not really a fad diet...

I tried it years ago. It helped take off a few pounds. However as with any "diet", as soon as you go back to eating real food, the weight comes right back. The best way to lose weight and keep it off is by making lifestyle changes. I still say one of the best things about being the Mom in the house, is that I do the grocery shopping and I control what we keep in our house. If you buy minimal junk food and sweets, and more fruits and veggies, then the temptation goes away.

Good luck!

Denise

I'd talk to a nutritionist, especially if you are still nursing. You don't want to diet if you are breastfeeding. I know everyone hates to hear it, but balanced diet and excersize are the only way to lose weight and keep it off. You can crash diet with soup, but as soon as you go back to eating regular food, you'll gain the weight back.
Good Luck:)

I have to agree with Nina. Drink water, exercise and eat in moderation. It takes time to lose the weight. I gained 65 pounds with my son and it took me close to a year to lose it and then some. Good luck!

Hi C.,

I say the same thing every time I see a diet post...and I say it because I live it and it works...

1) Drink 3 liters of water every day. It sounds like a lot, but after you get used to carying a bottle of water around it becomes second nature.

2) Start walking and build up distance and pace. If you like running, build up to that.

3) Eat anything you want but in moderation.

4) Take a vitamin

I'm not one of those people who is naturally thin and can eat whatever I want...far from it, but I lost all 60 pounds I gained with my fist child doing this and all 43 pounds I gained (plus an additional 13)with my second child this way...

I truly believe diets don't work b/c they wouldn't keep coming up with new diets if dieting worked...you should lose about 2 pounds a week this way. Good luck!

Hi C., Yes I have tryed it about 15 years ago. It did not give my body all that it needed. I have something that will work for you. It is called HERBALIFE. You can go to my website at www.herbal-nutrition.net/members/K. or call me at ###-###-####. It worked for me and alot of other people. Hope to hear from you, K.

I lost 5 pounds the first week, but ran out of cabbage and ended up eating other foods after the first week. My mom still makes the soup just to eat, because it tastes good and is perfect for diabetics. Even if you don't loose weight, all the wonderful vitamins you get from the veggies wont hurt.
God Bless!!! J.

I've not tried the diet, for obvious reasons. It is just another one of those gimmicky, short-term band-aid solutions that, without a commitment to proper nutrition and exercise, can help someone initially cut weight but put it right back on if they revert back to the same old habits.

Here is some information I found about the cabbage soup diet:

The Cabbage Soup Diet does offer fast weight loss, but it is completely lacking in nutrition, flavor and variety. You'll consume mostly soups of cabbage, onion, celery, carrots, tomatoes and mushrooms. Nutritionists argue that the pounds shed are more likely attributed to the dramatic and dangerous loss in calories and not the proposed fat-burning power found in the cabbage. This diet deprives your body of essential nutrients and has been correlated to difficulty concentrating, feeling light-headed and weak.

Hi C.,
The Cabbage Soup diet has been around a while now. I did it years ago for about a week and lost 6lbs, I broke down on the end of the first week at the mall and ate choc chip cookie but still lost 6lbs. I mean I'm short 5'1 and the weight I want to weigh is like 133-135 but currently I'm about 143... I have the gut issue. :)

C.,

My mom did it more than once and she liked it. Here are a couple of issues:

1 - It doesn't fill you up
2 - Bland and boring
3 - Diarehha

But, aside from that, she said it works. But, if you go back to eating poorly you will put the weight back on (as with any diet).

Good luck.

I have read tons of books on nutrition and nutrition for athletes since I am one! A great book for cleansing your body naturally with foods is the Ultra Simple Diet by Mark Hyman. It looks at toxicity and inflamation in ones body and the foods to eat to help with this. It is a good start to healthful natural eating, but it is really a life long change or at least modification for you. I think there is also a book called Ultra Metabolism that I think is by Hyman as well. Check out your library, that is where I got mine. Look up by the author and read his books, they are full of knowledge! Good luck.