How to Survive the Cabbage Soup Diet

The Cabbage Soup Diet can be pretty strict and overwhelming, the soup consists of a variety of vegetables that are mixed together and simmered in a pot. Often referred to as "Russian Peasant Soup" or "Sacred Heart Diet", its simplicity is the secret to its effectiveness. The diet is a seven-day plan that allows the user to eat unlimited amounts of the soup. The soup is not what you can call a hearty meal since it does not have bits of meat in it. It consists of green peppers, crushed tomatoes, celery stalk, mushroom, onions and lots and lots of cabbage.

The soup is a low-calorie and low-protein meal, often steering clear of high-protein vegetables such as beans, peas and soya. Because of this, what the person loses is mostly water weight and lean muscle tissue. There is hardly any body fat loss. However, the great advantage with regards to this diet is the speedy loss of weight that can be attained. The Cabbage Soup Diet promises at least ten pounds off in just one week.

But cabbage soup, no matter how refreshing at first can get really odd, especially if you are eating the same thing over and over in a period of seven days. It can be very unbearable even if the diet allows you to eat as much fruit and vegetable you want during this period. The lack of variety as well as the constant hunger pangs can lead to irritability, restlessness, lethargy and inability to concentrate. First time dieters should be prepared to battle it out with during the seven-day period.

Here are a few suggestions to make the seven-period more tolerable.

1. Water up. You will be feeling constant hunger pangs so be ready with lots of water by your side. The diet allows you to drink juice and unsweetened teas so those are also good alternatives. One great idea to add variety to your drinks is to make shakes out of them. Some fruits like Mango or strawberries are already sweet in themselves so you don't need to add sugar or any kind of artificial sweetener. Throw in some ice cubes and you're ready to go.

2. Take a good multivitamin. Since you will be losing weight at an incredible speed as well as eating food with minimal nutrients, you have to supplement the diet with multivitamins especially one rich in vitamin A and C. It can in the need help you retain some of the nutrients that you have lost during the period.

3. Find something to occupy your mind. It would be hard concentrating during this period because you will feel constantly hungry. You might even be tempted to take a teeny-weeny bite of chocolate or a taste of peanut butter. Occupy yourself with reading, watching TV or walking around the block. Steer clear of restaurants and skip food advertisements. Try to keep yourself busy with work or in making more cabbage soup. You can keep a container of snackable fruits and veggies like wedges of oranges and apples or sticks of carrots and radish.