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7 day Cabbage Soup Diet results: Does it really work?

Published on - Last Updated on - 40 Comments

One week ago, Trisha and I began an experiment.  We both wanted to lose a little bit of weight and decided to try the crazy sounding Cabbage Soup Diet that promises up to 10 lbs of weight lost in 7 days.

The menu was no fun.  You can eat unlimited cabbage soup and each day had a different set of foods you could eat, mostly containing fruits and veggies and a few protein items, and on the last day some brown rice.  You can eat as much as you want on most days, but it certainly wasn’t the most interesting week I’ve had as far as food choices are concerned.

I started this journey at 167 after having lost almost 40 lbs on my own on the Weight Watchers program.  I had been carrying that weight around since my daughter was born 2 1/2 years ago, and in the last few weeks I had plateaued so I was looking for a (re) kick-start to get to my pre-pregnancy weight of 159.

For 7 days I stayed on plan.  I had minor deviations such as dipping green beans in ketchup and using a little bit of Italian dressing to dip some veggies in.  I also had 1 bite of a breaded chicken patty.  Otherwise I did not deviate from the plan.

It wasn’t easy.

But it wasn’t hard either.

When I did the Atkins plan, within the first week I was craving carbs so bad I felt sick.  That didn’t happen to me on the Cabbage Soup Diet.  I was hungry sometimes but mostly because I just didn’t want anymore soup.  I don’t have a problem with willpower.  If I have a goal in mind I can stick to it, but I wonder if maybe I didn’t eat enough during the week.  I will not eat anything before I will eat something I don’t want.

So I bet you want to know how I did?

Did I lose weight?

Enough to make the 7 days of eating cabbage soup worth it?

Well….

My current weight is (drumroll please…..):

159.2

I lost 7.8 lbs.  I am extremely excited to have reached my pre-pregnancy weight.  A major milestone has been met for me and I am ecstatic!  Now the hard part….keeping it going.  145 – 150 is my ultimate goal.

A few things I’ve learned:

  • Cabbage soup does not taste or smell like cabbage.  With some seasonings, it was actually good.  Even my kids ate it.
  • You can do anything you set your mind to if you set small goals.
  • Having a “diet buddy” helps ten-fold.  Without Trisha to talk to every day, I might have given up.  The support she offered because she understood was priceless.
  • Kids imitate their parents.  Don’t use “my kids won’t eat it” as an excuse.  If you are eating it, and it’s all that is in the house, they will eat it to.  And probably like it.  If not, tell them they can’t have any – they’ll be begging for it.

Priorities and reality are important to consider when starting a weight loss plan.  I don’t want to have to exercise every day, nor do I want to deprive myself of some of my favorite foods.  But I have learned that there are ways to make some of my favorite foods with more REAL and healthy ingredients and not sacrifice flavor.  If cabbage soup can taste that good (it really did – just season it up), a homemade pizza with whole wheat flour, less cheese and fresh homemade sauce can taste just as good (if not better) as a store bought frozen pizza and not contain anything FAKE.

I will continue on with my weight loss journey, back on Weight Watchers and take baby steps.  It may take me longer to lose the last 14 lbs but as I do, I will not be making drastic changes like eating cabbage soup for a week because I want to make changes that I can not only stick with but that will also provide me with satisfaction and happiness for the rest of my life.  The reality of it is, I can’t always find time to exercise every day.  Sometimes I want to eat a taco or ice cream or chocolate.   I want to live a life where I am conscious of what I put into my body, and how I take care of myself but not where I am constantly craving stuff I can’t have because I have established a few months of eating and exercise that helped me lose weight but I can’t maintain the lifestyle and still be happy.

They say slow and steady wins the race and I believe that.  I hope to maintain the 7.8 lbs I lost this week, add a few ounces of loss for next week and keep coasting down the hill knowing that I can enjoy food and still be healthy.   And hopefully, set good examples for my kids.

As for Trisha, I know she was hoping for a little bit better results, but honestly for her size, I think she did amazing.  I simply have more weight to lose than she does, and we all know that those lost 5 lbs are the hardest.  Check out her results for yourself.

In the end, if you are looking to lose a fast 5-10 lbs in a week, I suppose this is a realistic option for someone provided they check with their doctor first.  I do believe this diet is designed to try and make sure you have all the nutrients your body needs.  It has fresh fruits and veggies but also calcium, vitamin D, protein, fiber and whole grain.  I wasn’t physically (which is way different from mentally) craving anything the whole week, and while I did lack some energy for heavy exercise, I actually felt really good.

BUT.

There is always a but.  Or a butt…

Anyway..

I think that if you commit to a weight loss plan and walk into it with negativity, you will fail.  No matter what it is.

I also think that similar results can be achieved in other ways.  Imagine for one week you ate fruits and veggies for breakfast and lunch.  Only fruits and veggies.  No soda.  No high calorie beverages.  Then for dinner you ate a small piece of lean meat, more veggies and a small portion of wild rice or whole wheat pasta.  I bet there would be similar results to what I achieved eating cabbage soup.

What I’m saying is this:

We have the power to change our lives.  But we have to commit to it heart and mind and just do it.

If you say you can’t, I don’t believe you.

You can.

(and don’t worry, I’ll be checking on to let you know in the coming weeks if the weight stayed off)

Comments

  1. Sandy says

    February 10, 2015 at 8:31 am

    My husband & I are beginning Day 4 of this diet. Philip was ready to throw in the towel as he gagged his way through the cabbage soup. So I pureed all the remaining soup and add a sprinkle of cinnamon & Stevia to each bowl full which gives the appearance, texture, & taste of apple sauce! 🙂

    So far Philip’s lost 5.2 lbs. I’ve lost 2.6. Why do men always lose more?? 🙂

    Reply

  2. kacie says

    December 13, 2012 at 10:46 pm

    This is my second day on the cabbage soup diet and i have not not lost a pound yet. I hope i will start seeing some weight loss soon…..

    Reply

  3. Kimmarie says

    March 8, 2012 at 5:09 pm

    Hi my name is kimmarie I’m 51 ,I started the low carb LIFESTYLE 11years ago I lost 60 lbs for ten years I stayed on plane after the weight loss that took six months ,After on matnence I allowed myself to indulge on Sundays a meal or treat . My story is I started having stomach problems that I ended up in so much pain after eating that I had to quit food I ended up in the hospital for two weeks and put on a drug mottilim .it works and because I was thirty lbs underweight ,I started eating every thing ,after three months I’d put on 40 lbs. Yep it only took three months to gain 40plus pounds .I look and feel awful and after all these years I can’t seem to get back on trace I’ve been trying for four months ,so after years of keeping it off I’m wearing my husbands pants . HELP. ,anyone been the something like this?

    Reply

  4. Ronnie says

    January 11, 2012 at 9:55 pm

    Thanks for sharing your results & congrats. Have you done this diet again since and if so, how did it work for you? I hear people say it only seems to work the first week! And can you eat green beans on the cabbage soup diet? I thought any sort of bean wasn’t allowed. Green beans would make it a lot easier if their allowed.

    I lost about 7 pounds to after 7 days. A pound a day isn’t bad and it was a nice break from Atkins which doesn’t work that well for me anymore. Thanks for the post. It’s great support & motivation

    Reply

    • Kim says

      January 14, 2012 at 11:04 am

      I did it again but could not complete it the 2nd time, I did lose 4 lbs in about as many days though the 2nd time, I just found I had low blood sugar and needed carbs!

      Reply

  5. Laura @ GotChooclate.com says

    July 31, 2010 at 4:48 pm

    Since I first commented on your post I have decided to try my hand at losing the 18 lbs. that have clung to my body for a while now.

    As I type this in on Day 10 of Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet. When I weighed myself I was happy to see that I’ve lost 7 lbs. in 9 days. Not bad and the South Beach allows you WAY more variation in your food choices. I highly recommend it to anyone who is also serious about losing weight like Kim.

    I TOTALLY agree with you Kim, you have to REALLY want to lose the weight to be successful, and if you put your mind to it, YOU WILL LOSE IT!!! This is what I decided over a week ago, “Get off my ass and lose this weight… NOW!!!”

    If anybody is interested I am documenting my experience with the South Beach Diet here: http://www.gotchocolate.com/2010/07/south-beach-dietlifestyle-phase-1-no-chocolate/

    CONGRATULATIONS KIM!!!

    Reply

  6. Lorie Shewbridge says

    July 22, 2010 at 5:38 pm

    That is fantastic Kim… I think your whole attitude is what made you successful. When I lost my weight 2 summers ago, it was becuase I changed my whole diet and attitude and I didn’t really deny myself treats, just cut them back to once a day and a tiny portion.
    You need to post a photo of yourself now, because the last one of you (with the scallion) looked wonderful!!

    Reply

  7. Jenny H says

    July 19, 2010 at 6:55 am

    Way to go, Kim! I popped over here after reading about Trisha’s experience and I have to say, you two ladies ROCK! I’ve always wondered if the cabbage soup diet worked, and how well you’d keep the weight off after you lost it. Either way, good for you! You are amazing and your will power is an inspiration!

    Reply

    • Kim says

      July 19, 2010 at 7:04 am

      Thank you!

      So far in the week since, I’ve been maintaining it but I also admit to eating a little too much pizza. So I hope to continue the trend of losing weight next week and not gain any of it back.

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply

  14. Queen of the Click says

    July 13, 2010 at 12:29 am

    Congratulations Kim!!

    It was kinda fun to read you and your friend’s post during the week.

    Reply

  20. Kristen says

    July 12, 2010 at 2:21 pm

    Way to go!! It sounds like both you and Trisha learned a lot!! You two are inspiring…even if I don’t want to eat cabbage soup for a week!

    Reply

  27. Nancy says

    July 12, 2010 at 9:39 am

    Congratulations on the weight loss! I have never tried it, but I can’t even imagine eating cabbage soup.

    Reply

  29. Cat says

    July 12, 2010 at 9:37 am

    That is really awesome Kim, I wish I had your strength when it comes to weight loss. Although, I don’t think I’d mind cabbage soup all day, I love me some boiled cabbage with a little Lawry’s salt and crackers.

    Reply

  33. trisha says

    July 12, 2010 at 9:09 am

    I am proud of us both. I think it was fun, if not funny, to try out. I am glad its over but honestly…im sitting here drinking cranberry juice and eating special K…so old habits die hard? Thanks for supporting me through the whole journey and not chastising me for “cheating”.

    Its been inspiring watching you work out from the beginning, even before this, and you have had a direct impact on me wanting to be healthier.

    trisha

    Reply

  34. Chris says

    July 12, 2010 at 9:09 am

    Wow, so proud of you. You ate cabbage! Any bodily function issues? Did you keep any of those puffy jeans you liked so much? They might be coming back in style. 🙂

    Reply

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