Monday, June 17, 2013

The GM Diet

The GM Diet (AKA The Special Occasion Diet)

Preface: 

Ever since I fell off of the Medifast bandwagon (whoops) I have been kind of stuck in a "diet" rut. I know, I know, that word DIET, it's EVIL. But, at the end of the day the word itself can be a noun OR a verb and as a noun it actually means "The kinds of food that a person, animal, or community habitually eats." so when you think about it this way, it's really about what you are choosing to eat (good OR bad!)...

That said, my "diet" over the last few weeks (months???) has turned in to grab it, cook it and eat it. Not a very good plan for someone who really needs to lose a few pounds.

*sigh*

I have been thinking about a few different ways to jump start my weight loss again and find some motivation, but NOTHING was appealing to me. Then, BAM! Last weekend as I was mindlessly pinning I ran across a pin that said this: 7 Day Cleanse = lose 10-17 pounds. This is an amazing 7 day meal plan/guide to lose pounds and totally cleanse your body.

I vaguely remember a sister in law trying this cleanse (diet) and after I read it over I instantly felt compelled to give it a try.

YES! Something I think I can do!

So here goes nothing....




THE GM Diet

 

The background: 

The following diet and health program was developed for employees and dependents of General Motors, Inc. and is intended for their exclusive use. This program was developed in conjunction with a grant from U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. It was field tested at the Johns Hopkins Research Center and was approved for distribution by the Board of Directors, General Motors Corp. at a general meeting on August 15, 1985. General Motors Corp. wholly endorses this program and is making it available to all employees and families. This program will be available at all General Motors Food Service Facilities. It is management's intention to facilitate a wellness and fitness program for everyone.

This program is designed for a target weight loss of 10-17 lbs per week. It will also improve your attitudes and emotions because of its cleansing systematic effects. The effectiveness of this seven day plan is that the food eaten burn more calories than they give to the body in caloric value. This plan can be used as often as you like without any fear of complications. It is designed to flush your system of impurities and give you a feeling of well being. After seven days you will begin to feel lighter because you will be lighter by at least 10 lbs. You will have an abundance of energy and an improved disposition.



UM, did you read that? Yes please!



What to eat:   

 

For EVERY Day: You must drink 10 glasses of water every day for all 7 days. Follow the diet strictly, no added beverages, alcohol, or dressings. You may use seasoning.

Day 1: Fruit only. (No bananas yet) Eat as much water based fruit as possible. If you can manage to eat cantaloupe and watermelon only on this day, you can lose up to 3 pounds by the end of the day.

Day 2: Vegetables only. Raw or cooked. You are encouraged to eat until you are full. You may start the day with a large baked potato with one slice of butter.

Day 3: Fruits and Vegetables. No potato or bananas.

Day 4: Bananas and milk. Three glasses of milk, up to 8 bananas, and an unlimited quantity of "GM's Soup". (Recipe Below)

Day 5: FEAST DAY! Beef and tomatoes. You may eat up to 20oz of lean beef today. (Steak, Roast, Ground Beef...) And 5 whole tomatoes. Drink an additional 2 glasses of water today.

Day 6: Beef and Vegetables. Today you may eat an UNLIMITED amount of beef and vegetables.

Day 7: Brown rice and vegetables. Eat to your hearts content. Drinking fruit juice on this day is also encouraged.



GM's Soup Recipe

 

- 28 oz of water
- 4 packets of Lipton's French Onion Soup Mix
- 6 onions
- mushrooms (to your content)
- tomatoes (to your content)
- green peppers (to your content)

*Note: one blog said that the soup can really contain any veggies you like (HOORAY!)

Every blog I read said after day 7 you should have lost 10-17 lbs! WOOT!

Also, it's safe to continue, starting over with day 1... so keep that weight loss going!


I also read some other notes that I should mention:

You MUST drink at least 10 (some say 12-14) glasses of water a day (prepare yourself to go to the bathroom a LOT)

NO alcohol or other drinks - however I read you can have carbonated water, black coffee and tea

NO dressing except malt, white or wine vinegar, squeezed lemon, garlic and/or herbs. No more than one teaspoon of oil.



Details and How and Why It Works


Day One you are preparing your system for the upcoming program. Your only source of nutrition is fresh or canned fruits. Fruit is nature's perfect food. Fruit provides everything you could possibly want to sustain life... except total balance and variety. 

Day Two starts with a fix of complex carbo-hydrates coupled with an oil dose (the "pat" of butter). This is eaten in the morning for energy and balance. The rest of day two consists of vegetables which are virtually calorie free and provide essential nutrients and fiber.

Day Three eliminates the potato because you get your carbohydrates from the fruit.Your system is now prepared to start burning excess pounds. You might still have cravings which should start to diminish by day four.

Day Four - bananas, milk and soup sound strange. You're in for a surprise. You probably will not eat all the bananas allowed. But they are there for the potassium you have lost and the sodium you may have missed the past three days. You will notice a definite loss of desire for sweets. You will be surprised how easy this day will go.

Day Five - beef and tomatoes! The beef is for iron and protein, the tomatoes are for digestion and fiber. Lots and lots of water purifies your system. You should notice colorless urine today. Your allowance calls for the equivalent of five "quarter ponders". Do not feel you have to eat all this beef. You must eat the six tomatoes.

Day Six is similar to day five. Iron and protein from beef, vitamins and fiber from vegetables. By now your system is in a total weight loss mode. There should be a noticeable difference in the way you look today, compared to day one.

Day Seven - Your system is now under control and your body will thank you for the flushing and cleaning you just gave it!

----

Personal notes:

 
Today was day one for me. Because I am a busy, working mom I was able to stay distracted most of the day. I drank 2 big glasses of Iced Tea for breakfast and grabbed a pre-made fruit tray on my way out. I split the fruit with the BF at the office and tried to focus on eating melons since that's what the diet recommends, but my plate had purple grapes, pineapple and red and green apples too. I had a big cup of black coffee (I love my coffee and I've grown accustomed to black already, so this was no biggie).

For lunch we ran over to Jamba Juice and I had a 100% fruit smoothie (YUM!)

After work we had errands to run so we stopped at the store and grabbed more fresh fruit. For dinner I ate a tomato (that's fruit, right?) and a Synergy organic and raw drink.

I have been chugging water ALL day. I hope I got in my 10 glasses.

I feel pretty good, a little hungry but more I think because I am cooking food for the kids and it looks/smells good. But I feel good. I also already feel some cleansing happening. I have been to the bathroom 100 times today.

Overall, not too bad and I am looking forward to day 2 - I am more of a veggie than fruit kind of gal, so day 2 will likely be a breeze for me.

I'll keep you posted. Comment if you have any questions for me :-)