Cabbage Soup Diet

Today I am starting the cabbage soup diet.  I have gone on line to see what I can eat and not for the next 7 days.
Reference: https://www.cabbage-soup-diet.com/

Day1
Cabbage soup, fruit all kind except bananas and you can eat all you want
Note: I stuck very close to this except I did have a few corn chips (5) and cashews 1/4 cup.  I ate a whole cup of raspberries - they were so delicious. 3 cups of Cabbage soup

Day2
Cabbage soup, vegetables and a baked potato with butter as a treat
Note: Day two I had corn chips, Jell-O, cashews, a little dark chocolate and started the day with a small breakfast - 1 egg, 1 piece of bacon and a few mashed potatoes.  I'll get on the scale tomorrow and see how it was.  2 cups of cabbage soup


Day 3
Cabbage soup, Vegetables and fruits
Note: So I got on the scale this morning and I have lost about 3+ lbs. in the last 3 days.  I started this morning with 2 eggs over well.  I am about to eat the first of cup of cabbage soup this morning and try to have 3 cups for the day.  I am prepared to have peas, fresh cut green beans and raspberries for other food items.

Day4
Cabbage soup, Bananas up to 8 with skim milk (I'll be doing almond milk)
NOTE: I have lost 6 pounds as of Monday.  That's right.  I have been on this diet since Monday and I have pretty much put down everything that I ate and I have still lost this much weight.  Yesterday after I blogged, I had my So-Delicious Ice Cream.  It has about 180 calories per serving with 3.5 g of fat.  It is made with either coconut, soy or almond milk products.  I also have had eggs for breakfast yesterday and today.  I had 3 cups of the cabbage soup.  Today eggs, bacon, green beans, and I am having my first cup of cabbage soup.

Day5
Cabbage soup, Beef 10-20 oz., 6 fresh tomatoes
NOTES: the rest of the diet consisted of eating a lot of beef and something with cabbage.  I took the bus to Maine and did not have the rest of the cabbage soup with me.  However, you can find salads with red cabbage and coleslaw just about everywhere.

Day6
Cabbage soup, Beef & Vegetables

Day7
Cabbage soup, Brown Rice, Fruit juice (I'll make my own - no added sugar), vegetables
NOTES:  I never got to this part of the diet as I was on vacation and again not in a controlled environment.  However, I lost 6 lbs. over all.  When I came home after day 11, I had gained a couple of pounds.  So it was very successful.  I am back on the diet starting at day 1.  I'll reboot until I have lost the weight I desire every week.  I believe you can eat this soup every week, as long as you eat what you want every so often.  That the plan.  Will keep you posted. (see below)

Recipe:
2-3 carrots
1/2 - 1 onion
2 spears of celery
1/4 head of cabbage chopped small
salt and pepper - even red pepper if you like spice
cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, Italian spices, basil leaf/ground
v-8 or tomato and chicken stock
add water for more liquid depending on how you like it

Use a Dutch oven or 8 quart cooking pan
put all ingredients in and bring to a rolling boil
turn down heat and simmer for 30 minutes no more and I don't recommend using a pressure cooking - unless you want mush

Then you can put in canning/Masson jars and seal.  This keeps your recipe fresh and so much more enjoyable; plus easily transportable.
If you make enough you will have for the whole week.  You can also blend this into a tomato smoothie.

The batch I made fit into 12 1 cup servings which if I eat 3 a day will last 4 day or 4 a day will last 3 days.  So I only need to make it twice.
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The cooking of the batch and canning took me about 1 hour from chop to canned.  The batch is very tasty and I would recommend the second batch make with difference spiced is you want it to be less boring.  You could also make several batches and changes the spices and even some of the vegetables in each batch. 

I recommend not putting in too much cabbage as that can cause bathroom issues, also don't overcook the vegetables and you end up with a crunchier soup.

I read somewhere in the last 3 years that cabbage was a mainstay in the diet during World War II because so many foods where rationed.  I find it hard to believe that if you ate a little of the cabbage soup every day for lets say 25 days and cut back on other things that would harm you nutritionally.
So I plan on expanding this diet so that I lose 20 pounds in a short period of time, but still ensure that most days I eat 1000-1500 calories a day after the first seven.

Day assessment - I did have a few things not on the diet, but overall I ate 3 of the 1 cup servings of the cabbage soup, had fruit, a couple of corn chips, and did not feel hungry, but full of pep - so all in all a good day.  I'll check in with you tomorrow if I can.
Day 3 assessment - This is very enjoyable.  I have not been bored with the recipe - it is very tasty.  I know I have eaten things that are not on the diet, but I have managed to lose 3+ lbs.  So I recommend you do what make you happy, try to stay as close to the diet as possible and relax - this just part of that long and winding road we are all on together.


Research 20170626:
In my research to try and find the WWII reference about cabbage I came across this article.  I would try this diet, but I would use Meta Given's recipes and menus.  She believed in variety, color and good tasting food that was economical yet fell within the proper nutrition that would keep you healthy.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/03/31/world-war-two-ration-diet-woman-loses-seven-stone_n_5061383.html