According to statistics, 8 out of 10 people who lose weight say that the 6 petal diet has helped them lose maximum weight. What is special about this miraculous nutritional diet, why is it called the most optimistic and psychologically comfortable? In this article, you will receive complete answers to questions about weight loss, along with a sample menu for each dieting day.
The diet is designed for 6 days, each represented by its own "petal":
- first day (petal) - fish;
- the second is vegetable;
- third - meat;
- fourth - cereals;
- fifth - curd;
- sixth is fruity.
The principle of such a nutrition system is based on the separation of proteins and carbohydrates. Three days out of six are intended for the consumption of exclusively protein foods, the other three for carbohydrate foods. This division has a physiological basis. The human body is designed in such a way that carbohydrates can only be fully absorbed when consumed with protein. Separate supply of nutrients leads to the fact that the body cannot fully absorb them and is forced to draw energy from fat stores.
Key questions
Who is the author of this diet plan?
The author of the system is Anna Johansson, a Swedish nutritionist. Although no documentary evidence of Swedish involvement in the development of the petal diet has been found, the program is considered professional and literate.
What do the petals have to do with this?
The idea of a petal diet is a psychological visualization of the nutritional system. The author proposes to express it in the form of a large chamomile flower, where each petal symbolizes a distinct dietary day. Tearing off a petal every day, losing weight is gradually approaching its goal. This is an important motivator and helps to adapt positively to dietary restrictions.
Which daytime diet should you follow?
You can eat according to the classic scheme with breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is not necessary to give up snacks, the nutrition of the petals is already low in calories, so in addition you should not starve.
Can days be swapped?
Not allowed. Each of the six days of the diet prepares the body for the next phase of weight loss. By rearranging the meal days, you completely disrupt the whole pattern at the physiological level.
Why is Fisheye Day come first when the body is not hungry yet?
The task of fish in the diet is to "lull" the alertness of the body by saturating it with protein and fat, forcing it to actively burn calories.
How can you survive such tasteless food?
Natural spices, fresh and frozen greens, cinnamon, lemon juice and ginger will help make dishes brighter and tastier. You can sweeten your food with a sugar substitute or a teaspoon of honey, but only as a last resort.
How often can you eat with such a program?
The six-petal diet can be repeated periodically, but no more than once a month. The body needs at least 4 weeks to restore its energy balance and replenish its reserves of vitamins and minerals.
What do doctors think of the Swedish diet?
Doctors strongly recommend that you consult them when planning a diet. With obesity, endocrine diseases and digestive disorders, it is dangerous to limit yourself to food.
Should I count calories?
Optional, but desirable. The recommended caloric value for a dieting adult is 1200 to 1400 kcal.
What is the difference between 6 and 7 petal diets?
The 7 Petal Diet includes the last day of “hunger”. At the end of the cycle, it is forbidden to eat food, but keep only water and drinks.
Who is the diet for
The original weight loss program successfully combines two factors: calorie restriction and psychological motivation. Therefore, the Petal Diet can be safely recommended for anyone who:
- cannot find intrinsic motivation and will for food restrictions;
- wants to lose weight quickly without extreme physical exertion;
- does not tolerate hunger and low calorie fasting days;
- likes to plan meals and not “worry” about preparing complex diet meals.
The Six Petal Diet manages to lose 500-800g of excess weight per day. The total weight loss at the end of the food cycle is at least 3 kg.
Dieting can be a lot more, but you will have to go through several cycles of "chamomile". There are cases when both men and women managed to lose weight from 15 to 18 kg.
Who is the diet not right for
The 6 Petal Diet is designed for healthy people who have no complaints about their well-being and do not suffer from chronic illnesses. But in reality, it is almost impossible to meet a person without "chronicle".
There are several categories of people who are strictly prohibited from dieting:
- diabetics
- - they should receive the optimal amount of carbohydrates, protein and fat prescribed by Diet 9;
- adolescents - a growing body needs fats which are not supplied in petal nutrition;
- pregnant women - with rapid weight gain, women in position may be recommended on occasional fasting days during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters;
- lactating women - their diet should be balanced, but hypoallergenic;
- patients with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract - in the acute stage, they are prescribed days of "hunger" and a sparing fractional diet;
- for patients with liver and kidney disease - a large amount of protein in the diet increases the load on these internal organs.
Swedish food involves complete rejection of sugar, so it will be extremely difficult for those with a sweet tooth on such a diet. In their case, the original chocolate diet may be recommended. All day you will have to eat only dark chocolate, dividing the bar into several receptions.
Advantages and disadvantages of the diet
The advantages of the nutritional regimen proposed by Anna Johansson are:
- optimal duration - in 6 days the body does not have time to exhaust itself, weight loss occurs smoothly, but noticeably;
- lack of overeating - due to the monotony of food during the day, you will not want to eat large portions;
- simplicity of dishes - the everyday menu includes simple and familiar products accessible to all;
- a sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals - the diet contains vegetables and fruits rich in useful nutrients;
- absence of "hungry" days - the diet can be considered mild and moderate;
- varied menu - you are not hungry, you do not have to eat the same food every day.
But you have to watch out for those who lose weight and the "pitfalls" that the diet is not without:
- with rapid weight loss, the skin becomes soft and the muscles lose their tone;
- on protein days, a person may experience weakness caused by deficiency of carbohydrate compounds;
- rapid weight loss can stress the body and disrupt normal metabolic processes;
- is not suitable for the season of hypovitaminosis, when the body is weakened;
- chronic diseases of the stomach and intestines that have not bothered to lose weight for a long time may get worse; The
- diet does not guarantee significant weight loss - 20% of those who lose weight cannot lose more than 2 kg in 6 days.
Dos and Don'ts
The fundamental basis of the diet is the alternation of protein and carbohydrate foods every other day. Days 1, 3 and 5 will be protein, days 2, 4 and 6 will be carbohydrates. It is forbidden to mix the days with each other, otherwise effective weight loss will not work.
Important!The rapid combustion of fatty ballast is observed on the first day of observation of mono meals. In the following days, the results obtained are consolidated and the body is rebuilt to a new metabolic system.
The following products are included in the "white" list:
- vegetables that do not contain a lot of starch - zucchini, zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, carrots, leafy greens, beets, allspice (parsley, cilantro, basil, dill), celery, peppers, broccoli, cauliflower;
- almost all fruits and berries - apples, pears, oranges, tangerines, grapefruits, grapefruits, cherries, peaches, apricots, plums, strawberries, lemon;
- dairy products with a low percentage of fat - kefir, cottage cheese, baked fermented milk, sour cream, yogurt without fillers, whole milk;
- meat - only dietary chicken pulp is allowed, without skin and tendons;
- certain types of cereals - buckwheat, oatmeal in the form of flakes, unpolished rice, bran, sprouted grains;
- low-fat seafood and fish - sea bream, pikeperch, pollock, hake, blue whiting, cod, trout, salmon;
- whole grain bran or bread, rye croutons, crusty bread, seeds, nuts and seeds.
There are no strict restrictions on drinks. Rosehip broth, herbal infusions, freshly squeezed natural fruit juices, homemade compotes, mineral water - all this can be drunk. If possible, you should limit or completely abandon black tea and coffee in favor of a chicory and green tea drink. Drinks with the addition of grated ginger, mint leaves and lemon slices will help quench your thirst.
The main taboos of the Six-Petal Diet are:
- all types of fat - butter and vegetable oils, margarine, mayonnaise;
- fast food - sandwiches, burgers, any fried food;
- vegetables with a lot of starch - pumpkin, potatoes, beans;
- instant food - sausages, meat delicacies, basturma, ham, smoked ham, boiled pork, preserves;
- meat - veal, pork, beef, rabbit;
- flour products - pies, pies, dumplings, dumplings, pancakes, rolls, pasta;
- all sweets - chocolate, sweets, gingerbread, marmalade, halva, marshmallow, cookies, marshmallow, jam;
- cereals - corn, millet, wheat, pearl barley.
Sugar is prohibited in any form - it cannot be added to food and drink. To prevent food from looking lean, it can be lightly salted, natural herbs and spices can be added without flavor enhancers. Sometimes an exception is made for vegetable oil - no more than a teaspoon of olive or sunflower oil can be consumed per day.
Description of the menu
Considering the long list of foods provided by the 6 Petal Diet, it won't be that hard to put together a menu. But you have to be patient, because all day long you will only have to eat one type of product.
Day 1 - fish
The first day, which includes only fish, is designed to supply the body with sufficient omega-3 polyunsaturated acids. It's the same healthy fat that can't build up in the subcutaneous tissue in the form of cellulite and extra pounds. The proteins in dietary fish are good for filling, block the feeling of hunger and are well digested.
What you can cook on a fishy day:
- salmon fillets, pollock, trout, hake in a bain-marie with herbs;
- fish steaks with garlic vinaigrette, cooked in foil;
- fish soup with herbs and sea salt;
- fresh seafood cocktail.
The total amount of fishery products should be around 300-500 grams per day.
Day 2 - vegetables
The number of products per day of vegetables is limited to 1-1, 5 kg. But in fact, you can eat as many vegetables as you want - they don't provide a lot of calories, but they contain the maximum amount of vitamins and microelements. Vegetables rich in fiber (carrots, beets) give a feeling of fullness and at the same time contribute to high-quality intestinal cleansing by increasing peristalsis.
What to plan for a vegetable petal:
- stew with carrots, peppers, cabbage and onions;
- grilled or baked eggplant and zucchini;
- cauliflower or boiled broccoli, seasoned with lemon juice and Provencal herbs;
- tomato soup with vegetables and basil.
Important!The Six Petal Diet cannot supply the body with all the vital substances. Therefore, doctors prohibit eating according to this scheme on an ongoing basis.
Day 3 - chicken
Chicken meat is considered a favorite in the diet. It contains an easily digestible protein and a whole complex of minerals - magnesium, iron, phosphorus, potassium. The amino acids contained in the product are used exclusively for building muscles and are not converted into subcutaneous fat.
Recipes of the day:
- Steamed chicken breast cutlets with egg and dill;
- chicken fillet cooked in foil with spices;
- boiled meat in the form of steak.
On this protein day it is allowed to eat up to 0, 5 kg of chicken meat.
Day 4 - cereals
For this stage of the diet, only varieties of cereals which are not without a bran shell are suitable. This component belongs to slow carbohydrates - it takes a long time to digest and requires a lot of energy. To increase the food value of cereals, they should be soaked in water overnight, and in the morning they should be boiled or steamed.
Food:
- buckwheat porridge with bran;
- Hercules muesli with nuts or seeds;
- rice porridge with herbs and sprouted wheat grains.
The total amount of dry beans should not exceed one glass.
Day 5 - cottage cheese
On the fifth day you need to buy 500 g of light cottage cheese with a fat content of not more than 3. 8%. The so-called curd product is not suitable for a petal diet - it contains hydrogenated fats and unnecessary additives. Cottage cheese, like any protein product, neutralizes hunger well and promotes cell renewal.
Sample menu for this protein day:
- Baked cheesecakes with semolina and cinnamon;
- whipped cottage cheese with sugar substitute and two tablespoons of ground coffee;
- cottage cheese dessert with plain yogurt.
On this day, all milk drinks with a moderate fat content are allowed - kefir, milk, ayran, yogurt.
Day 6 - fruits
Swedish Diet Fruit Day is considered the tastiest and brightest. You can eat any fruit, except bananas, grapes, and dried fruits - they are too high in calories and sugar. Fruits and berries have antioxidant properties, they prevent premature aging and remove toxins from the body. The product performs a "final" cleansing of the body and prepares it for exiting the diet.
On a fruit day, you can connect your imagination and combine the products as you like. Salads, smoothies, fresh juices, freshly squeezed juices, baked fruit with cinnamon and cardamom - all will be fine for the last dietary “petal”.
How to get out of the diet
A smooth exit from the diet will help maintain the results of dietary nutrition. The calorie content can be increased gradually, starting from 1200 kcal and bringing it to 2000 kcal. A week after the “petals” have ended, it is best to eat the same foods, combining several types of protein on protein days, and different types of carbohydrates on carbohydrate days.
If a person is considering continuing to lose weight, it makes sense to switch to a balanced diet. It should include protein, carbohydrates and fats, but with low energy value. At this point, do not forget about physical exercises, lymphatic drainage massage. These procedures will help tighten "thin" skin and strengthen muscles.
Output
The Swedish diet is trustworthy because it is developed by a professional nutritionist. The strict alternation of days, the absence of fat in the diet and an important moment of motivation make the diet effective and popular. But keep in mind that this program is designed for quick and short term results. So that the lost pounds do not come back, losing weight and at the end of the diet should eat rationally and not overeat.