Sticking to a diet is quite difficult, boring and burdensome. Many people cannot stand the usual menu and break down, negating the entire result obtained.
That is why nutritionists began to become sophisticated and come up with programs that would be interesting to people, motivating and completely different from their minions.
One of these interesting programs was the "Six Petals" diet or "Petal Diet", authored by Swedish nutritionist Anna Johansson. A week-long course, according to the doctor, will be a successful solution to the problem of excess weight for every person, because you can lose as much as 3-4 kg without much effort!
Features of the 6 petals diet, the author’s recommendations and the advantages of the technique
First of all, the effectiveness of this diet depends on the psychological attitude towards a good result and strong motivation.
The diet itself represents a cycle of 6 mono-programs (petals), which alternate daily, but, nevertheless, represent a carefully thought-out nutrition plan. Each such "petal" is, in fact, a fasting day, during which you eat only one type of food, to the exclusion of others. Thanks to this restriction, you eat less calories, and each of the selected products additionally cleanses, nourishes or fortifies the body. In addition, the diet was designed to alternate protein and carbohydrate days, which is suitable for those who play sports or work under stressful conditions. Also, this rule of separate meals allows you not to mix foods of different composition in one meal, which will allow you to absorb ingredients more efficiently and quickly, without causing excess deposits on the sides.
Since the products on the menu alternate every day, the diet is considered quite interesting, does not get boring and is not rigid.
Let's return to the psychological attitude and motivation for dieting. In order to bring your plan to life and really inspire your body to lose weight, Anna advises everyone to draw a bright colorful flower with large petals (6 pieces) before starting a diet. Each of the petals of your chamomile should be assigned a number or painted in a special color, with the name of the specific day of the diet and a set of allowed ingredients written on top. We place the resulting flower somewhere in a conspicuous place and at the end of each day of the diet we tear off the corresponding petal (only if all requirements are correctly met). Psychologically, it will be easier for the body to survive a week of diet if the number of "agonizing days" visually decreases and decreases.
The author’s strict recommendations for the "6 petals" diet:
- for the day you are allocated a clear set of products that cannot be adjusted, replaced with similar ingredients or supplemented;
- do not consume more than the permitted amount of food, but also do not undereat, which will also lead to negative consequences;
- days of the week cannot be swapped or skipped; in case of failure, the course will have to be repeated again;
- The last time you should eat is 4 hours before bedtime (no matter whether it’s during the day or at night);
- a prerequisite is compliance with the water regime; you should drink 6 cups of healthy liquid or more per day;
- during the diet, we exclude sugar, hot seasonings and spices from the diet, limit the consumption of salt;
- all food is allowed to be steamed, boiled, stewed, baked, dried, eaten raw, but in no case should you add fatty sauces, marinades, salty seasonings, animal lipids (butter, lard, margarine, mayonnaise and others);
- you should exit the diet smoothly and carefully so that excess weight does not return;
- It is allowed to repeat the course no earlier than six months later.
The main advantages of the "petal" technique:
- the diet is very effective - you can lose 0. 5-0. 8 kg of excess weight per day without much effort;
- There is no need to weigh food or study the calorie and carbohydrate content of foods;
- The diet is universal, suitable for both men and women;
- contains exclusively natural and healthy products that will have a beneficial effect on digestion and immunity;
- the diet allows you to cleanse the body of toxins, poisons, protein breakdown products, waste products, salts and suspended matter, radicals;
- the diet also allows you to remove excess fluid, removing the swelling of the limbs, tissues, and face;
- all products are familiar to European cuisine, distributed in markets and stores at a reasonable price out of season;
- the diet also does not require culinary delights, saves a lot of time and effort, and allows you to cook for the whole family;
- diet disciplines and instills healthy habits;
- the diet is combined with moderate physical activity and sports;
- the menu is very varied, satisfying and interesting, which allows you to get enough of completely different products, including vitamins, in 6 days;
- after the course, your metabolism accelerates significantly, and you will continue to lose weight by inertia if you exit the diet correctly;
- The diet is quick and allows you to get excellent results in just 6 days, which is suitable for those who want to lose weight before an event or vacation.
A set of products for the "6 petals" diet, a written nutrition plan
So, let’s figure out what mono-days the diet has in store for us. It will depend on them which products should be purchased to create a menu, and which ones should be strictly excluded.
The first day will be a fish day. Accordingly, you can eat any fish and seafood all day long. Preference should be given to low-fat sea fish (halibut, salmon, cod, mackerel, tuna, hake, hoki, pollock, flounder, etc. ), some river fish (carp, pike perch, pike) and seafood (squid, mussels, crab meat, rapana, octopus, oysters).
On the second day you are supposed to eat vegetables. Here we have complete freedom, because there are a lot of vegetables. Also on this day you can eat soy and legume products, mushrooms, and garden herbs. The consumption of potatoes and corn and other starchy vegetables should be limited. Forget about canned and pickled vegetables and sauerkraut. It is advisable to consume fresh salads and light soups, as well as steamed and stewed side dishes.
Our third day is chicken day. In addition to any chicken meat without skin (preferably fillet and breast), it is allowed to eat lean parts of turkey, as well as chicken eggs and liver. It is forbidden to cook meat over a fire, fry it, or add the usual amount of salt to it.
Day four will be marked by a transition to cereal foods. From complex carbohydrates, stock up on various cereals, seeds and seeds, whole grain bread and cookies, sprouted cereals, and bran.
The fifth day recommends that we eat cottage cheese. Which one is better to take? Of course, pay attention to store options. Sometimes, they are more healthy and natural than homemade ones, and besides, you can choose completely low-fat cottage cheese, which will contribute to more active weight loss. Also, the menu for this day allows you to consume a little skim milk.
The sixth and last mono-day of the diet involves eating fruits and berries. Eat whatever your heart desires, but sweet fruits (bananas, figs, dried fruits, persimmons, grapes, melon, mangoes and others) should still be limited to achieve better results. Also on this day, fresh fruit and vegetable juices, nectars, compotes, jelly, berry smoothies and fruit drinks are allowed.
On all other days, you are allowed to drink ginger drink, rosehip decoction, green and herbal tea, natural bean coffee without sugar and milk, and regular mineral water without gas.
All other foods during the diet are strictly prohibited. Strictly follow the recommendations for the quality of food composition and volumes.
Let's move on to a properly designed diet plan and nutritional recommendations. Every day in the diet is responsible for replenishing the amount of carbohydrates or proteins in the body. Therefore, it is better to train and perform loads on carbohydrate days, and during protein days, the muscles will recover and grow, which will help you acquire a beautiful, sculpted figure.
When preparing foods, you can use herbs, garden herbs, lemon juice, table wine, tomato paste, vinegar, soy sauce, olive oil, and limited salt. It is better to distribute the entire permitted amount of food into 4-5 small snacks evenly throughout the day.
Day 1."Fishy" (protein). It was not without reason that this day became the first in the cycle, because fish is perfectly digestible, has a moderate calorie content, saturates the body with essential valuable fats and well prepares the body for the next mono-days. Due to a nutritious diet, the body’s "vigilance" is dulled, and the metabolism begins to actively consume calories, turning off the storage mode.
So, half a kilogram of cooked fish of various varieties and seafood is allotted per day. You can also drink fish broth, which is not included in the specified volume.
Day 2."Vegetable" (carbohydrate). The lowest calorie mono-day, which nourishes the body with energy from plant carbohydrates and dietary fiber. On this day, metabolism works at its limit and actively consumes existing fat deposits.
The menu consists of 1-1. 5 kg of various vegetables and garden herbs, as well as beans, soy products and mushrooms.
Day 3."Chicken" (protein). On this day, the body begins to experience a carbohydrate deficiency due to a purely protein menu, so the metabolism still burns fat cells to replenish energy.
Half a kilo of skinless poultry and 2 eggs as a snack are allowed per day.
Day 4."Cereal" (carbohydrate). Slow carbohydrates in foods will replenish glycogen, which is where all the released energy will be spent. And new needs will continue to be satisfied through the fat layer.
The cereal day menu includes 200 g of dry cereals (different, but oatmeal, buckwheat and brown rice are better). Also included is a small handful of sunflower seeds and seeds, a few tablespoons of bran, a package of grain bread or 2-3 whole grain toast.
Day 5."Curd" (protein). On this day, the body will receive the most useful protein for building the skeleton and muscles, and the supply of macro- and microelements will also be replenished.
The menu includes half a kilo of cottage cheese (fat content up to 5%) and 2 glasses of lean cow's milk.
Day 6."Fruity" (carbohydrate). Fruits will provide a comprehensive fortification of the body, enrich it with antioxidants, valuable acids and minerals.
The menu consists of 1-1. 5 kg of various fruits and berries, but we limit sweets.
Day 7."Unloading"The diet is called "6 petals", but lasts exactly a week, which implies the presence of a seventh day. So, on this day we carry out a comprehensive cleansing of the body and consolidate the results of weight loss. The menu includes only drinks: milk and fermented milk, fresh and fruit drinks, smoothies, nectars, teas, coffee, herbal infusions, mineral water, meat and vegetarian broths with herbs.
After finishing the diet, you can repeat the course again if you feel normal and have permission from your doctor.
How to get out of the 6 petals diet
A course consisting of mono-diets requires a correct and careful exit from such a restrictive and specific menu. During the first week of release, the author recommends eating only the foods indicated in the diet, combining them in small portions, for example:
- Breakfast can consist of any porridge with fruit, fresh fruit.
- Snack – cottage cheese with berries, lean milk.
- For lunch, you can make any soup, eat an additional portion of baked breast with stewed vegetables.
- Dinner can consist of steamed fish with lemon and herbs, vegetable salad and fresh vegetable juice (carrot, beetroot, cabbage, tomato).
Gradually, the calorie content of such a diet should be increased to 1400 kcal, or up to 1800 kcal for hard working or athletic people.
Also, when leaving the diet, we follow the drinking regime and consume at least 5-6 glasses of healthy liquid per day.
And, of course, immediately after leaving the diet, you should start actively playing sports to maintain your metabolism and further lose weight.
Disadvantages of the "6 petals" technique, possible contraindications
The diet consists of mono-diets, so it simply cannot but have disadvantages. First of all, this is a sharp imbalance, boring and rigid diet. The diet forces you to take dietary supplements, minerals and vitamins, but the promised strengthening of the immune system is out of the question.
Also, such rapid and dramatic weight loss can lead to the following consequences:
- Ailments associated with fasting: nausea, weakness, headaches and dizziness, loss of strength, colic and cramping in the stomach, flatulence, indigestion, apathy, sleep disturbances.
- Changes in appearance: the appearance of stretch marks and cellulite, flabby and saggy areas of skin, as well as depletion of the muscle corset.
Another important disadvantage is psychological discomfort, because it is very difficult to eat the same product throughout the day all week, whether you draw flowers or not. The diet is really boring, so there is a possibility of breakdowns.
And, of course, it is very difficult to maintain an entire diet without meat, without juices (only allowed on one day), fermented milk products, sweets and fried foods.
There are also contraindications to the diet, including the following:
- the presence of an allergy to a food group included in the diet;
- pregnancy and lactation;
- children's, elderly, adolescence, menopause;
- active diseases, inflammatory and viral processes;
- recent psychological breakdown, surgery, injury, serious illness;
- mental disorders, diseases of the nervous system;
- diseases of the internal systems of the body: cardiovascular, circulatory, endocrine, digestive, genitourinary, as well as liver and kidneys;
- stressful work conditions, professional sports.