Eshealthtips.com – Unlike some crash diets, the military diet is not endorsed by the U.S. Army. Nonetheless, it does have a certain cachet. Many people associate soldiers with being physically fit and tough. The military diet taps into this trend and aims to help people achieve these traits while maintaining a healthy body. However, it is not as easy to follow as it sounds. Besides, it is impossible to be a soldier and follow this diet at the same time.
Military Diet Has Many Benefits and Disadvantages
The military diet has many benefits and pitfalls. Most of its fans claim that the military diet boosts metabolism. While this is true, the diet lacks scientific evidence to support its claims. While the military diet can help people lose weight, it is not suitable for people with health issues such as kidney or gout. Regardless of its drawbacks, the diet is an excellent way to lose weight without having to sacrifice your current diet. In addition to losing weight, this diet also provides numerous food substitutions.
Among the disadvantages of the military diet are the lack of essential nutrients and calories. Moreover, the menu is limited to low-calorie food that contains a low quantity of nutrients. For this reason, most participants report feeling tired and nauseous after only three days. Additionally, the military diet doesn’t include sufficient quantities of fruits and vegetables. So, it is not recommended for long-term use. This plan is difficult to stick to.
In addition to losing weight, people following the military diet have to be prepared for emotional eating, mood swings, and energy fluctuation. They also face difficulty sticking to the diet because they’re constantly hungry. However, the military diet guarantees a certain amount of weight loss because the weight loss is mostly water. If you’re not used to being hungry, you’re not likely to lose much fat. It also has many health-related risks, such as low blood pressure.
Military Diet Not Recommended for Everyone
The military diet is not recommended for everybody. Many people suffer from disordered eating and are unable to follow the military diet’s requirements. For one thing, you might end up dehydrated and irritable. Not to mention, you’ll also have trouble exercising on this diet. You also won’t have time for military-style conditioning drills if you’re not hydrated properly. It’s important to follow the guidelines laid out by the US military diet before beginning it.
In addition to a detailed list of foods you can consume on the military diet, you’ll also be required to follow a strict plan. The daily calorie requirement is 2,000 calories. However, this figure can vary based on the individual’s age, gender, and physical activity level. Some people naturally require more calories than others and may need to adjust their military diet accordingly. Also, the military diet is difficult to follow if you’re on a limited budget. Those who have health issues or who’d like to lose weight should consult with their doctor before undertaking a strict diet.
The military diet has been popular among those looking to lose weight fast. The military diet includes a cycle of eating foods low in calories, three days on and four days off. This means that you need to cut down your calories on three days and eat high-calorie food on the other days. While this may seem like a great way to lose weight quickly, it can be very difficult for most people. For instance, most people can’t lose more than two pounds a week, while the heaviest individuals can lose three or four pounds of body fat per week.
Calorie Restriction Plans Encourage Portion Control
The military diet is one of the few dietary plans that recommends three meals a day with no snacks between. This calorie restriction plan encourages portion control, calorie restriction, and calorie counting. Generally, a military diet follows a regimen that provides around 1,500 calories per day, which can be hard to maintain for people who aren’t used to such strict calorie limits. It is also possible to lose weight on the military diet by following a strict calorie restriction program.
However, the military diet is not a good idea. The reason it’s unsustainable is that it is not a sustainable long-term diet for anyone. Even though the military diet promises to help people lose up to 10 pounds in a week, it isn’t healthy and won’t be sustainable. Instead, you’ll end up losing weight faster by making healthy dietary changes. And, of course, you’ll gain more muscle while losing weight than on a traditional diet.
Reference:
Davies, Roy W. “The Roman military diet.” Britannia 2 (1971): 122-142.