The Special K Diet was created by Kellogg's Cereal Company. To be on this diet, you are asked to eat a bowl of Special K with 1/2 cup of low fat milk for both breakfast and lunch or dinner for two weeks.
According to Every Diet, "Kellogg's quotes the results of a scientific study supporting their diet which showed that three out of four dieters achieved a slimmer waist and hips and lost up to six pounds over a two week period." Participants' average caloric intake was reduced to about 1590 calories a day and a major reduction in the amount of fat consumed.
The Special K Diet asks participants to eat a meal of Special K Cereal for two major meals; breakfast and lunch or dinner. Then the third major meal you can eat as you normally would but it should be a low-fat, nutritionally balanced meal. The diet allows for snacks to be consumed: two Special K products and others of fruits or vegetables. Drinks can be consumed as normal. Even though the diet is mainly focused around the meals, they also suggest getting 30 minutes of exercise in each day while on the diet.
While the diet is good in terms of simplicity and success rates over the two week period for weight loss, there are many pitfalls in the diet. First of all, the diet really lacks a variety in foods, which can cause boredom or can severely compromise nutrient intake. The Special K cereal itself is also not based on whole grains and is not a good source of fiber. Since the diet is restrictive of calories and the cereal itself contains appetite increasing sugars, hunger is a big issue with individuals on this diet. However, most importantly, the weight lost on this fast two week diet can easily and quickly be regained by resuming on a normal diet.
For more information on the Special K Diet, pay a visit to any of the following websites:
Exercise: Today is another swim day: IM Swim Practice. However, I will not be joining you in the workout today. So check out a previous Thursday for some ideas on good workouts that will have you practicing all four strokes. Try to stay in the water for 30 minutes to an hour if you can!
Eat: "Be Aware of Portion Sizes". According to Cooking Light, "the secret of healthy eating is this: once you know what makes up a healthy diet, you still need to be aware of how much of those components to eat." So some things you can do to help your portion sizes stay on track are to use smaller plates, cups, and utinsils - this way you will serve and eat smaller portions. You can also grab some measuring cups or a small scale to help you measure out serving sizes. While you will eventually be able to recognize healthy portion sizes over time, starting a little over the top with measuring and weighing will help you reach that point with more precision.
Relax: When I woke up this morning, I immediately started my day off with a bit of relaxation. I went down to my kitchen and enjoyed a cup of hot coffee while reading my book (Why We Get Fat). I absolutely love to start off my days with a good cup of coffee and a good book!
No comments:
Post a Comment