According to statistics, 8 out of 10 people who lose weight claim that the 6 petal diet helped them achieve maximum weight loss. What is the peculiarity of this miraculous nutritional scheme, why is it called the most optimistic and psychologically comfortable? In this article, you will receive comprehensive answers to questions about losing weight, as well as find a sample menu for every day of the diet.
The diet is designed for 6 days, each of which is represented by its own "petal":
- first day (petal) - fish;
- the second is vegetable;
- the third is meat;
- fourth - cereal;
- fifth - curd;
- sixth is fruity.
The principle of such a nutrition system is based on the separation of proteins and carbohydrates. Three out of six days are designed for the consumption of exclusively protein foods, the other three - carbohydrate foods. This division has a physiological basis. The human body is designed so that carbohydrates can be fully absorbed only when consumed together with proteins. Separate intake of nutrients leads to the fact that the body cannot fully absorb them and is forced to draw energy from fat reserves.
Key questions
Who is the author of this power plan?
The author of the system is Anna Johansson, a female nutritionist from Sweden. Although no documentary evidence of the Swede's 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 it?
The idea of a petal diet is a psychological visualization of the nutritional system. The author suggests expressing it in the form of a large chamomile flower, where each petal symbolizes a separate dietary day. Tearing off a petal every day, losing weight gradually brings himself closer to the intended goal. This serves as an important motivational element and helps to positively tune in to food restrictions.
What day regimen should you follow?
You can eat according to the classic scheme with breakfast, lunch and dinner. There is no need to give up snacks, petal nutrition is already low in calories, so you should not additionally 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 days of feeding, you will completely disrupt the whole scheme at the physiological level.
Why does the fish day come first, when the body is not hungry yet?
The task of fish in the diet is to "lull" the vigilance of the body, saturating it with protein and fats, forcing it to actively burn calories.
How can you survive such bland 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 not 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 about the Swedish diet?
Doctors strongly recommend consulting them when planning any diet. With obesity, endocrine diseases and digestive disorders, it is dangerous to limit yourself to food.
Do I need to count calories?
Optional, but desirable. The recommended caloric value for an adult dieter is 1200-1400 kcal.
What is the difference between 6 and 7 petal diets?
The 7 Petals Diet includes the last "hungry" day. At the end of the cycle, it is forbidden to eat any food, but keep only on water and drinks.
Who is the diet for
The original weight loss scheme successfully combines two factors: calorie restriction and psychological motivation. Therefore, the petal diet can be safely recommended to anyone who:
- cannot find intrinsic motivation and willpower for food restrictions;
- wants to lose weight quickly without extreme physical exertion;
- does not tolerate hunger and low-calorie fasting days;
- loves to plan his meals and not "bother" about preparing complex dietary meals.
The six petal diet manages to lose 500-800 g of excess weight daily. The total weight loss at the end of the dietary cycle is at least 3 kg.
Dieting can be much more, but you will have to go through several "chamomile" cycles. There are cases when men and women managed to lose weight by 15-18 kg.
Who Diet Is Not Suitable
The 6 Petals Diet is designed for healthy people who do not have any complaints of well-being and do not suffer from chronic diseases. But in reality it is almost impossible to meet a person without a “chronicle”.
There are several categories of people who are categorically prohibited from dieting:
- diabetics - they should get the optimal amount of carbohydrates, proteins and fats prescribed by dietary 9;
- for adolescents - a growing body needs fats that are not provided in petal nutrition;
- pregnant women - with a rapid weight gain, women in the position can be recommended point 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 “hungry” days and a sparing fractional diet;
- for patients with liver and kidney pathologies - a large amount of proteins in the diet puts an increased load on these internal organs.
Swedish food involves a 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 can be recommended. All day you will have to eat only dark chocolate, dividing the bar into several receptions.
Diet Pros and Cons
The advantages of the nutrition scheme proposed by Anna Johansson are:
- optimal duration - in 6 days the body does not have time to deplete, 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 menu for every day includes simple and familiar products available to everyone;
- a sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals - the diet contains vegetables and fruits that are rich in useful nutrients;
- absence of "hungry" days - the diet can be considered as soft and sparing;
- varied menu - you don't feel hungry, you don't have to eat the same food every day.
But you should pay attention to those who are losing weight and to the "pitfalls" that the diet is not without:
- with rapid weight loss, the skin becomes flabby, and the muscles lose their tone;
- on protein days, a person may experience weakness caused by a deficiency of carbohydrate compounds;
- rapid weight loss can stress the body and disrupt the usual metabolic processes;
- is not suitable for the hypovitaminosis season, when the body is weakened;
- chronic diseases of the stomach and intestines, which have not bothered losing weight for a long time, may worsen;
- diet does not guarantee significant weight loss - 20% of those who lose weight cannot lose more than 2 kg in 6 days.
Do's and Don'ts
The fundamental basis of the diet is the alternation of protein and carbohydrate foods every other day. 1st, 3rd and 5th days will be protein, 2nd, 4th and 6th days will be carbohydrate. It is forbidden to mix days with each other, otherwise effective weight loss will not work.
Important!The rapid burning of fatty ballast is observed on the first day of observing mono meals. In the following days, the achieved results 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 herbs (parsley, cilantro, basil, dill), celery, bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower;
- almost all fruits and berries - apples, pears, oranges, tangerines, pomelo, grapefruit, cherries, peaches, apricots, plums, strawberries, lemon;
- dairy products with a low percentage of fat - kefir, cottage cheese, fermented baked milk, sour cream, yogurt without fillers, whole milk;
- meat - only dietary chicken pulp is allowed, without skin and tendons;
- some types of cereals - buckwheat, oatmeal in the form of flakes, unpolished rice, bran, sprouted grain;
- seafood and low-fat fish - bream, pike perch, pollock, hake, blue whiting, cod, trout, salmon;
- bran or whole grain bread, rye croutons, crispbread, sunflower seeds, nuts and seeds.
There are no strict restrictions on drinks. Rosehip decoction, herbal infusions, natural freshly squeezed 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 drink and green teas. 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 fats - butter and vegetable oils, margarine, mayonnaise;
- fast food - sandwiches, hamburgers, any fried food;
- vegetables with a lot of starch - pumpkin, potatoes, beans;
- instant food - sausages, meat delicacies, basturma, ham, smoked ham, boiled pork, canned food;
- meat - veal, pork, beef, rabbit;
- flour products - pies, pies, dumplings, dumplings, pancakes, buns, pasta;
- all sweets - chocolate, candy, 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 drinks. To prevent the food from appearing lean, you can slightly salt it, add herbs and natural seasonings 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.
Menu Description
Given the extensive list of foods that the 6-petal diet provides, it won't be so difficult to compose a menu. But you need to be patient, because all day you will have to eat only one type of product.
Day # 1 - fish
The first day, which includes only fish, is designed to provide the body with enough polyunsaturated omega-3 acids. This is the same healthy fat that is not able to accumulate in the subcutaneous tissue in the form of cellulite and extra pounds. The proteins contained in dietary fish are good for filling, blocking the feeling of hunger and being digested well.
What you can cook on a fish day:
- fillets of salmon, pollock, trout, hake in a double boiler with herbs;
- fish steaks with garlic dressing, baked in foil;
- fish soup with herbs and sea salt;
- fresh seafood cocktail.
The total amount of fish products should be about 300-500 grams per day.
Day # 2 - vegetables
The number of products per vegetable day is limited to 1-1. 5 kg. But in fact, you can eat as many vegetables as you want - they do not supply many calories, but they contain a maximum of vitamins and microelements. Vegetables rich in fiber (carrots, beets), give a feeling of satiety and at the same time contribute to a high-quality bowel cleansing by increasing peristalsis.
What to Plan for a Vegetable Petal:
- ragout with carrots, bell peppers, cabbage and onions;
- grilled or oven baked eggplants and zucchini;
- boiled cauliflower or broccoli, seasoned with lemon juice and Provencal herbs;
- vegetable tomato soup with basil.
Important!The Six Petal Diet cannot provide the body with all 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 strengthening muscles and are not transformed into subcutaneous fat.
Recipes of the Day:
- steamed chicken breast cutlets with egg and dill;
- chicken fillet baked in foil with spices;
- boiled meat in the form of a 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 those varieties of cereals that are not devoid of 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 dietary value of cereals, they should be soaked in water overnight, and in the morning they should be boiled or eaten steamed.
Food:
- buckwheat porridge with bran;
- Hercules muesli with nuts or seeds;
- rice porridge with herbs and sprouted wheat grains.
The total dry grain quantity should not exceed one glass.
Day number 5 - cottage cheese
On the fifth day, you should purchase 500 g of diet cottage cheese with a fat content of no more than 3. 8%. The so-called curd product is not suitable for a petal diet - it contains hydrogenated fats and additives that are not useful. 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 brewed coffee;
- cottage cheese dessert with natural yoghurt.
On this day, any dairy drinks of moderate fat content are allowed - kefir, milk, ayran, yogurt.
Day 6 - fruits
The Swedish Diet Fruit Day is considered the tastiest and brightest. You can eat any fruit, with the exception of bananas, grapes and dried fruits - they are too high in calories and sugar. Fruits and berries have antioxidant properties, they prevent early aging and remove toxins from the body. The product carries out the "final" cleansing of the body and prepares it for the exit from the diet.
On a fruit day, you can connect your imagination and combine products as you wish. Salads, smoothies, fresh juices, freshly squeezed juices, baked fruits with cinnamon and cardamom - all this will be appropriate 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 gradually increased, starting from 1200 kcal and bringing it up to 2000 kcal. A week after the end of the "petals" it is better to eat the same foods, combining several types of proteins on protein days, and different types of carbohydrates on carbohydrate days.
If a person plans to continue losing weight, it makes sense to switch to a balanced diet. It should include proteins, carbohydrates and fats, but with a low energy value. At this stage, do not forget about physical exercises, lymphatic drainage massage. These procedures will help to tighten the "thin" skin and strengthen the muscles.
Output
The Swedish Food Scheme is trustworthy as it is composed by a professional nutritionist. The strict alternation of days, the absence of fat in the diet and an important motivational moment 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 kilograms do not return, losing weight and at the end of the diet should eat rationally and not overeat.