A small bowl of lentil soup.
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A study by Barbara Rolls of Pennsylvania State University, published in "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" in 1999, showed that eating soup before a meal decreased the amount of calories lean women consumed at a meal. Rolls went on to demonstrate that the type of soup eaten before the meal didn't matter much -- subjects who ate soup before a meal generally ate less at the meal than a non-soup control group.
This research gave way to fad soup diets. Although research seems to indicate that soup can be an effective part of a weight loss plan, there is no research that conclusively demonstrates how much weight you can lose if you only eat soup for two weeks. Most likely, your results will depend on how much soup you eat and how calorie-rich it is.
It takes an energy deficit of 3,500 calories to lose 1 lb. Cutting back 500 calories per day leads to a weight loss of 1 lb. in about a week, which is about the fastest weight loss that the American Dietetic Association recommends. The number of calories you can cut from your diet by eating only soup depends on what you eat now and the types of soup you start to eat. The United States Department of Agriculture recommends an active adult woman should eat about 2,200 calories per day to maintain weight. Dropping below this intake level should result in weight loss.
The huge array of soup makes it impossible to generalize calorie counts. You could make squash, chickpea and red lentil stew, from "Eating Well" offers filling fiber and protein with 300 calories per serving. If you ate one serving of a similar dish three times a day, your calorie total for the day would add up to 900. If you normally eat about 2,500 calories per day, it would only take you four to five days to lose 1 lb. However, if you opted for a creamy clam chowder at 450 calories per serving, the loss would take longer. Another challenge is avoiding bread and crackers along with your soup.
The diversity of soup makes it possible to eat a wide range of vegetables and legumes while dieting. You can also vary the flavoring style to keep the soup interesting. The warmth of soup could make you feel full on less food, at least for a while.
No matter how flavorful you make soup, or how many different kinds of broth you use, it's going to get boring after a while. This will make it very tempting to binge on convenient unhealthy foods like French fries or cake, especially if you go out with friends. Even if your soup is made of healthful ingredients, you can still eat too much of it and end up gaining weight. Although you may see an initial weight loss when you first change your diet, the American Dietetic Association says very fast weight loss is usually due to water, bone and muscle loss. When you go back to eating your regular diet, you could gain back everything you lost plus a few bonus pounds.
Canned soups are convenient and they offer the benefit of nutrition information right on the label, so you know exactly how many calories you are consuming. However, most canned products also contain a lot of salt. Look for lower sodium soups. Another problem with any crash diet is that consuming such a limited range of foods also limits the nutrients you can get from food. Consuming one type of soup for two weeks would leave some big gaps in your nutritional profile.
FAQs
People who follow the diet strictly will likely lose some weight, potentially 10 pounds per week or more. This is because it involves eating so few calories each day. However, in most cases, people quickly regain this lost weight once they return to their regular diet.
How much weight can you lose by only eating soup? ›
Broth-based soup diets generally last for 7 days. However, some can last as long as 10–14 days. Over that time, proponents of a broth-based diet claim you can lose up to 10 or even 20 pounds (4.5 to 9 kg). On a broth-based soup diet, cream-based soups are restricted, as they're higher in calories and fat.
Does the soup diet 7 days work? ›
The Cabbage Soup Diet is a short-term weight loss diet. Proponents of the diet say that it can help you lose up to 10 pounds (4.5 kg) in a single week, but many health experts warn that the diet does not promote health and wellness, and results are unsustainable.
Is soup good for losing belly fat? ›
While no soup alone can magically melt away belly fat, certain soups can be a healthy addition to your diet as part of a balanced and calorie-controlled meal plan. A classic choice, vegetable soup is low in calories and rich in fiber.
What is the diet called souping? ›
Souping, similar to juicing, has been popular in recent years as way to detox the body and to lose weight, but eating only soup for days at a time can cause problems, if you're not careful. The diet calls for having soup three to five meals a day and adding vegetables to help cleanse and detox your system.
Which soup is good for weight loss? ›
03/6Chicken soup
Low fat chicken pieces serve as an extremely good source for weight watchers. Boil these chicken pieces properly and use the strained broth. Give it a nice tadka of salt, pepper and garlic and have it hot. You can also add more flavors to it by adding boiled vegetables.
Is it possible to lose 10 pounds in 3 days? ›
You will likely lose weight on any diet if you eat less than 910 calories a day. But losing 10 pounds in 3 days is both unlikely and unhealthy. To lose just 1 pound of body fat, you need to reduce your daily calories by about 500 a day for a whole week. That's giving up 3,500 calories over the course of 7 days.
Why am I not losing weight on a soup diet? ›
Indeed, creamy soup is delectable. But unfortunately, this type of soup contains a hefty dose of fat. This means that you're more likely to gain weight than lose some if you're always choosing to eat creamy soup. These soups are mostly made with a roux—composed of equal parts of butter and all-purpose flour.
How to get rid of tummy fat? ›
8 Ways to Lose Belly Fat and Live a Healthier Life
- Try curbing carbs instead of fats. ...
- Think eating plan, not diet. ...
- Keep moving. ...
- Lift weights. ...
- Become a label reader. ...
- Move away from processed foods. ...
- Focus on the way your clothes fit more than reading a scale. ...
- Hang out with health-focused friends.
To lose 10 pounds in one week, you'll need to burn between 3,500 and 5,000 calories more than you consume each day by restricting your diet to small portions of nutritious yet low-calorie foods, and significantly increasing your aerobic exercise with interval training, sports, and other vigorous activities.
One of the best ways to improve your gut health is by going on a soup cleanse. When you puree' soups you can turn multiple pounds of vitamin and mineral rich veggies into smaller soups that are more easily digestible. Perfect way to flood your body with nutrients!
How to lose weight in 7 days? ›
Decreasing your intake of processed foods and added sugar can help you lose weight in 7 days. Drinking plenty of water and adding fiber to your diet might also help. That said, many factors influence your ability to lose weight, and it's better to aim for slower and more sustainable weight loss of 0.5–2 lbs per week.
Will I lose weight if I only have soup? ›
As the soup diet usually only lasts for 7-14 days, it's not recommended in the long term. The NHS also highlights how very low-calorie diets like this often lead to short term weight loss, but it's likely that you'll put some or all of the weight back on once you go back to eating normally.
How much weight can you lose eating soup for 2 weeks? ›
Although research seems to indicate that soup can be an effective part of a weight loss plan, there is no research that conclusively demonstrates how much weight you can lose if you only eat soup for two weeks. Most likely, your results will depend on how much soup you eat and how calorie-rich it is.
Is soup good at night for weight loss? ›
Soup is a good evening meal to have every day because it is typically low in calories and high in nutrients, making it a healthy option for weight management. It is also easy to make and can be customized with a variety of ingredients to suit personal taste preferences.
How much weight can you lose in 2 weeks on a diet? ›
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a safe and achievable weight loss goal is to lose 1 to 2 pounds per week. This means that in two weeks, you can safely lose between 2 to 4 pounds. However, this can vary depending on your current weight, diet, and level of physical activity.
Can you lose more than 10 pounds on the cabbage soup diet? ›
Fans claim you can drop 10 pounds or more in a week. Some people use it to kick-start their weight loss plan, or to trim a few pounds for a special event. But before you stock up on cabbage, know that this crash diet won't help you in the long run, and it doesn't give your body the nutrients it needs to stay healthy.
Does soup count as 1 of your 5 a day? ›
Soup can be a wonderful way to reach your 5-a-day, especially if you make it yourself. Pack in the vegetables, lentils and beans to easily get two portions per serving. This hearty, low-calorie meatball & tomato soup counts as an impressive three of your 5-a-day and makes a substantial meal.
