Known as General Motors Diet, the GM diet is a weight loss plan that helps you lose up to 7kgs in just one week.
It was created in 1985 by General Motors to help its employees lose weight. And according to the findings, employees were able to lose up to 7.7kgs by the end of the first week.
So how does the GM diet works? The main idea of this diet plan is to encourage you to eat different low-calorie food groups each day for seven days.
How the GM Diet Helps You Lose Weight?
The GM diet helps weight loss by reducing the number of calories you consume. With that, this plan includes low-calorie, healthy foods from different groups on different days.
It also helps in flushing out toxins in your body, boosting your metabolism and improving your digestion.
Before we jump right into the actual diet plan, let us show you first what the GM Diet looks like.
How to Follow the GM Diet
Day 1
- You can eat as many fruits as you want
- Experts recommended adding watermelons and cantaloupes for this meal
- Drink up 8 to 12 glasses of water throughout the day
Day 2
- Consume only vegetables
- Use olive oil for cooking the vegetables (no deep-frying)
- Drink up 8 to 12 glasses of water throughout the day
Day 3
- Eat fruits and vegetables
- Avoid bananas and potatoes
- Drink up 8 to 12 glasses of water throughout the day
Day 4
- Consume eight bananas and four glasses of milk
- You may add a bowl of vegetable soup in the list if it gets too bland
- Drink up 8 to 12 glasses of water throughout the day
Day 5
- Eat brown rice
- Consume six large tomatoes
- For non-vegetarians, they can consume fish or chicken breast
- For vegetarians, they can consume tofu or cottage cheese
- Drink up 8 to 12 glasses of water throughout the day
- You may drink fruit juices without sugar or sweeteners
Day 6
- Eat brown rice
- For non-vegetarians, they can consume fish or chicken breast
- Consume raw or sautéed vegetables
- Avoid potato
- Drink up 8 to 12 glasses of water throughout the day
- You may drink fruit juices without sugar or sweeteners
Day 7
- Eat brown rice
- Consume raw or sautéed vegetables
- Have four glasses of fruit juice
- Drink eight glasses of water
Risk
The idea of losing weight within a short period of time may get your attention, but keep in mind that this kind of diet does come with risks. So before you try doing it, be sure to do a lot of research and to talk to your doctor first before trying this new diet or even any fitness program.
Lack of Nutrients
Following the GM diet plan may not get you enough of particular essential food groups, such as healthful fats and protein in your system. You may also lack essential minerals and vitamins.
For your body to function, it requires healthful unsaturated fats, such as salmon, avocados, and walnuts.
Short-Term Weight Loss
Another thing to bear in mind that this type of diet is not appropriate as a long-term diet plan. With that, we mean that a person, including you, may regain weight once they stop doing the diet.
The GM diet is not designed in teaching techniques for healthful cooking or eating, and these techniques are crucial when it comes to achieving long-term weight maintenance.
Other Risks
By following this diet, you may also experience dehydration, fatigue, headaches, muscle weakness, and poor physical performance during exercise, according to the GM Diet website.
How to Do the GM Diet Plan
GM Diet Day 1
- Breakfast – Medium apple, a few berries, and a glass of water
- Mid-morning – a half bowl of sliced cantaloupe and a glass of water
- Lunch – a bowl of watermelon
- Evening snack – one large orange and a glass of water
- Dinner – one cup of cantaloupe and berries, and a glass of water
- Snack – a half cup of watermelon
Foods to Avoid
- All types of vegetables
- Banana
- Protein such as meat, fish, eggs, beans, mushrooms, and lentils
- Fats and Oils like butter, margarine, lard, and safflower oil
- Foods high in carbs including brown rice
- Dairy, e.g. full-fat milk and yoghurt, frozen yoghurt, ice cream, and cheese
- Beverages such as alcohol, soda, sweetened drinks, packed fruit juices, and vegetable juice or smoothie
GM Diet Day 2
- Breakfast – a cup of boiled potato with a bit of salt and pepper
- Mid-morning – a half bowl of cucumber
- Lunch – a cup of lettuce, bell peppers, baby spinach, and asparagus
- Evening snack – a half cup of baby carrots with lime juice and a pinch of salt
- Dinner – a cup of blanched broccoli and green beans
- Snack – one cucumber
Foods to Avoid
- All types of fruits
- Protein such as meat, fish, eggs, beans, mushrooms, and lentils
- Fats and Oils like butter, margarine, lard, and safflower oil
- Foods high in carbs including brown rice
- Dairy, e.g. full-fat milk and yoghurt, frozen yoghurt, ice cream, and cheese
- Beverages such as alcohol, soda, sweetened drinks, packed fruit juices, and vegetable juice or smoothie
GM Diet Day 3
- Breakfast – a half bowl of cantaloupe and two glasses of water
- Mid-morning – a cup of pineapple or pear and two glasses of water
- Lunch – a cup of salad which consists of cucumber, carrots, and lettuce + 2 glasses of water
- Evening snack – orange, a half cup of cantaloupe, and a glass of water
- Dinner – a bowl of salad with boiled broccoli, beets and spinach = 2 glasses of water
- Snack – a pear and a glass of water
Foods to Avoid
- Potato
- Banna
- Protein such as meat, fish, eggs, beans, mushrooms, and lentils
- Fats and Oils like butter, margarine, lard, and safflower oil
- Foods high in carbs including brown rice
- Dairy, e.g. full-fat milk and yoghurt, frozen yoghurt, ice cream, and cheese
- Beverages such as alcohol, soda, sweetened drinks, packed fruit juices, and vegetable juice or smoothie
GM Diet Day 4
- Breakfast – 2 bananas and a glass of milk
- Mid-morning – banana and a glass of milk
- Lunch – Banana milkshake, a glass of milk with a dash of cocoa powder
- Evening snack – 2 bananas
- Dinner – banana and a glass of milk
- Snack – a glass of milk
Foods to Avoid
- All except banana and milk
GM Diet Day 5
- Breakfast – 3 tomatoes
- Lunch – half a cup of brown rice, sautéed assorted veggies or 3oz fish fillet
- Evening snack – two tomatoes
- Dinner – a bowl of brown rice, one tomato and a half cup of sautéed vegetables
Foods to Avoid
- Vegetables such as potato and sweet potato
- Banana
- Protein like beef, pork, and turkey
- Fats and Oils like butter, margarine, lard, and safflower oil
- Foods high in carbs such as white rice, bread, and processed foods
- Dairy, e.g. full-fat milk and yoghurt, frozen yoghurt, ice cream, and cheese
- Beverages such as alcohol, soda, sweetened drinks, packed fruit juices, and vegetable juice or smoothie
GM Diet Day 6
- Breakfast – a glass of carrot juice
- Lunch – a half cup of brown rice, a half cup of vegetables, and tofu or fish fillet
- Snack – a cup of cucumber slices
- Dinner – half a bowl of brown rice, half cup of vegetables, and chicken or cottage cheese
Foods to Avoid
- For vegetables, potato and sweet potato
- All fruits
- Protein like beef, pork, and turkey
- Fats and Oils like butter, margarine, lard, and safflower oil
- Foods high in carbs such as white rice, bread, and processed foods
- Dairy, e.g. full-fat milk and yoghurt, frozen yoghurt, ice cream, and cheese
- Beverages such as alcohol, soda, sweetened drinks, packed fruit juices, and vegetable juice or smoothies
GM Diet Day 7
- Breakfast – a glass of orange or apple juice
- Lunch – half a cup of brown rice, half cup of sautéed vegetables
- Snack – one cup of watermelon and a few assorted berries
- Dinner – a bowl of plain vegetable soup
Foods to Avoid
- For vegetables, potato and sweet potato
- Fruits such as banana, cherry, pear, and mango
- For protein, avoid any kind of meat like beef, turkey, chicken, pork, fish, beans, soy, lentils, and mushrooms
- Fats and Oils like butter, margarine, lard, and safflower oil
- Foods high in carbs such as white rice, bread, and processed foods
- Dairy, e.g. full-fat milk and yoghurt, frozen yoghurt, ice cream, and cheese
- Beverages such as alcohol, soda, sweetened drinks, packed fruit juices, and vegetable juice or smoothies