GM Diet: The fastest way to lose weight or yet another hoax diet?

What is the GM diet?

GM diet is the General Motors diet which is known to help in reducing weight up to 6.8 kg in seven days.  This diet is formulated in such a way that each day particular foods need to be consumed which is known to double the fat burning process and helps to lose weight rapidly during the seven days.  

The GM diet was formulated in 1985 by General Motors for its employees. A research team from the US Department of Agriculture and the John Hopkins Research Center formulated this diet. There is no clear evidence that this diet plan helps in reducing weight at such a fast pace, but there are various people who have tried to implement this diet.

The GM diet generally consists of fruits and vegetables with a very minimal amount of calorie intake.  The calorie intake should be way lower than the calories which are burnt on a daily basis. The diet consists of foods which are rich in water.  

It also recommends repeating the diet multiple times to achieve the desired weight loss. It is also known to detoxify the body and help in digestion.  GM diet advises minimal to no exercise during the seven days of dieting. The diet strictly recommends no caffeine and no alcohol.

What is the GM Diet Plan?

The diet generally includes fruits, vegetables, 10 to 12 glasses of water, brown rice, as well as chicken.  Physical exercise is not advised for the first 3 days of the diet.

Day 1 GM diet

The first day of the GM diet involves consuming only fruits excluding bananas.  Recommended fruits include fresh apples, oranges, watermelon, papaya, kiwi, etc.  There is no limit to consuming fruits and there is no time schedule to consume the fruits.  You will need to consume 8 to 12 glasses of water during that day. Hunger can be suppressed with more fruits consumption only.

The recommended schedule would include starting the day with breakfast around 8 to 9 a.m. with one fresh apple and a glass of water.  A late morning meal can include a half bowl of sliced cantaloupe with a glass of water at around 11 a.m.

For lunch a moderate slice of fresh watermelon with 2 glasses of water is recommended around 1. 30 p.m.  Post lunch snack may contain a whole fresh orange with a glass of water at around 4 p.m. At 6:30 p.m. an apple with a glass of water is recommended for an evening snack and finally, for dinner between 8 to 9 p.m., sliced orange melon and soft seeded guava with 2 glasses of water is recommended.  

It should be noted that the first day is the preparation day for the next 6 days where you need to consume fiber-rich foods with lots of water.  This is helpful to flush out the toxins from the body and prepare the body for the next 6 days. Other alternative fruits also can be opted to substitute the above-mentioned fruits and include cucumber, honeydew melon, grapefruit, peach, green apple, etc.  The desired weight loss for the first day is approximately 3 pounds.

Day 2 GM diet

The second day of GM diet involves consuming only vegetables.  Recommended vegetables include raw or cooked carrots, tomatoes, beans, lettuce, tender cucumber, as well as cabbage.  There is no limit to consuming the vegetables and there is no time schedule to consume the vegetables. You will need to consume 8 to 12 glasses of water to stay hydrated.  More vegetables either raw or cooked can be consumed with strict instructions to avoid oil while cooking.

The recommended schedule would include starting the day with breakfast around 8 to 9 a.m. with boiled potato and even a teaspoon of low-fat butter is allowed.  A late morning meal can include tender cabbage and tender lettuce salad with a glass of water at around 11 a.m. For lunch, mixed vegetable salad with red onion, tender cucumber, and carrots, with 2 glasses of water is recommended around 1. 30 p.m.  

Post lunch snack may contain one cup of cooked broccoli and a half cup of red or green bell pepper with a glass of water at around 4 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., cooked non-starchy vegetable such as cauliflower with a glass of water is recommended for an evening snack and finally for dinner at 8 to 9 p.m. salad consisting of cooked carrots, green beans, and cooked broccoli, with 2 glasses of water is recommended.

It should be noted that the second day is a complete vegetable day which includes a large intake of fiber, proteins, as well as vitamins with very low carbohydrates.  A vegetable substitute may be considered such as sweet potato, beetroot, margarine, shallots, zucchini, green beans, etc. Generally, you may feel weak by the afternoon of day 2 due to reduced calorie and carb intake.  This is the day when more calories are burnt as compared to the first day.

Day 3 GM diet

The third day of GM diet involves consuming all fruits leaving out bananas, as well as all vegetables except potatoes.  Recommended fruits include apples, oranges, watermelon, ripe papaya, and kiwi. Recommended vegetables include carrots, tomatoes, beans, lettuce, tender cucumber, and cabbage.  There is no limit to consuming the vegetables or fruits and there is no time schedule to consume them. You will need to consume 8 to 12 glasses of water to say hydrated.

The recommended schedule would include starting the day with breakfast around 8 to 9 a.m. with half a bowl of cantaloupe or apple with 2 glasses of water.  A late morning meal can include half a slice of tropical pineapple or pear with 2 glasses of water at around 11 a.m. For lunch, a salad containing tender cucumber, lettuce, and carrots, with 2 glasses of water is recommended around 1. 30 p.m.  

Post lunch snack may contain one full orange with half a slice of cantaloupe with a glass of water at around 4 p.m. At 6:30 p.m. one pear with a glass of water is recommended for an evening snack and finally, for dinner between 8 to 9 p.m., cooked broccoli and beets with 2 glasses of water are recommended.  A combination of fruits and vegetable provides the energy which was lost in the first 2 days and the body tries to accommodate this diet change more efficiently. The combination of fruits and vegetables provides nutrients, fiber, protein, as well as vitamins.

Day 4 GM diet

The fourth day of GM diet is very gruesome and would definitely test your patience.   You would need to consume a very limited variety of food that includes around 8 to 10 bananas as well as 4 glasses of milk with 8 to 12 glasses of water.  Bananas which were avoided during the first 3 days are included with no other fruits or vegetables allowed. Distribution of the food is the key to managing day 4.

The recommended schedule would include starting the day with breakfast around 8 to 9 a.m. with 2 large bananas with a glass of milk.  A late morning meal can include a banana shake and a teaspoon of honey. For lunch, GM diet soup is advised around 1. 30 p.m. Post lunch snack may contain banana milkshake at around 4 p.m.  At 6:30 p.m., two medium to small bananas for an evening snack and finally for dinner between 8 to 9 p.m., two large bananas with a glass of milk is recommended. Water should be consumed in divided doses appropriately.

Day 4 GM diet concentrates on increased energy as well as better digestion with the use of bananas whereas calcium and potassium are gained by the use of milk in the diet.  Substitutes such as fig and soy milk can be tried to alternate banana and milk. As stated earlier day 4 would be very gruesome and would definitely test your patience. People may also experience mood swings, but with adequate water intake, the symptoms will subside quite easily.

Day 5 GM diet

The fifth day of GM diet involves a completely new type of food which includes 6 tomatoes, one cup of brown rice with 12 to 15 glasses of water.  Non-vegetarians can choose chicken breast or fish as an alternate food for brown rice. A minimum amount of oil is also allowed during cooking. Non-vegetarians can consume 500 grams of chicken breast or fish which can be fried with a minimal amount of oil.

The recommended schedule would include starting the day with breakfast around 8 to 9 a.m. with a few tomatoes, a bowl of cooked kidney beans, and 2 glasses of water.  A late morning meal can include a cup of yogurt with 2 glasses of water. For lunch, a bowl of cooked brown rice or chicken breast, or fish, with a couple of tomatoes and 2 glasses of water.  Post lunch snack may contain salad with onions and soaked sprouts with 2 glasses of water. At 6:30 p.m., one apple and a pear for an evening snack and finally for dinner between 8 to 9 p.m., GM diet soup with 2 glasses of water are recommended.

Consuming brown rice provides large amounts of fiber as well as carbohydrates whereas consuming chicken or fish provides lean protein.  At the end of the day, you are expected to feel stronger due to the addition of carbohydrates and proteins.

Day 6 GM diet

The sixth day of GM diet involves consuming one cup of brown rice with vegetables of choice and 8 to 12 glasses of water.  Non-vegetarians are allowed to choose chicken or fish as an alternate food for brown rice with a very minimal amount of oil.

The recommended schedule would include starting the day with breakfast around 8 to 9 a.m. with a bowl of cooked vegetables with 2 glasses of water.  A late morning meal can include a bowl of cooked kidney beans with diced tomato which is seasoned with spices and 2 glasses of water. For lunch, a bowl of cooked brown rice or chicken breast, or fish, with GM diet soup and 2 glasses of water.  

Post lunch snack may contain 3 to 4 baby carrots with a glass of water. At 6:30 p.m., a bowl of GM diet soup with a glass of water and finally for dinner between 8 to 9 p.m., a bowl of cooked non-starchy vegetables and a glass of water is recommended.  It is advised that vegetables need to be boiled and never fried in oil.

Day 6 provides high amounts of nutrients and fiber, which is essential for the body.  At the end of day 6, you should be able to notice a slimmer body and also feel light and energetic.

Day 7 GM diet

The seventh day of GM diet involves consuming one cup of brown rice, non-starchy vegetables, as well as fruit juice.

The recommended schedule would include starting the day with breakfast around 8 to 9 a.m. with a small bowl of mixed vegetable salad with a glass of fresh apple or orange juice.  A late morning meal can include a GM diet soup and a small portion of carrots with a glass of water. For lunch, a bowl of cooked brown rice and a bowl of cooked non-starchy vegetables, with 2 glasses of water.  Post lunch snack may contain few carrots with a glass of fresh kiwi juice. At 6:30 p.m., mixed vegetable salad with 2 glasses of water and finally for dinner between 8 to 9 p.m., GM diet soup and 2 glasses of water is recommended.

Brown rice provides the necessary carbohydrates as well as fiber whereas the fruit juice flushes out the toxins from the body and provides energy.  At the end of day 7, you can notice substantial weight loss due to the large amounts of fats shredded. You may even attempt to break the diet by choosing to eat on some high-calorie food, which needs to be avoided at any cost.  GM diet may be repeated to achieve the desired weight loss.

What are the benefits of GM diet?

There are 3 main benefits of GM diet and they include fast weight loss, body detoxification, and short-term goal.  Since the person is able to lose weight at a rapid pace in a very short period of time, many people try to choose this type of diet.  Another important advantage is that a large amount of water consumption and fruits help in the detoxification process of the body.

Should you trust on GM diet to lose weight?

Not backed by research:  There seems to be no science-based documentation associated with GM diet.  Many people have tried and failed and very few have achieved the desired goal.

May cause muscle loss:  Restricted protein intake may lead to muscle loss.  It is always recommended to do only minimal exercise during the GM diet period.

May cause change in metabolism:  The body is literally switched to survival mode where it slows down the important functions of the body.  Due to this reason, there is a change in metabolism.

The weight loss attained is not retained:  The weight loss which is achieved at the end of 7 days is not permanent and is gained very quickly when you switch over to the regular diet.  In fact, you may end up gaining extra weight.

Are you the right candidate for GM diet?

GM diet is recommended for those who need to have a quick fix to their weight gain.  It should be noted that this diet plan is not for long-term benefit, but for a short-term temporary weight loss.  During the diet period, your body would switch to starvation mode as this diet avoids essential nutrients.

Since there is no consumption of salt and very limited consumption of carbohydrates, you may even feel mood swings as well as headache associated with it.  Another point to be noted is that the daily routine of your lifestyle may be altered since you are bound to feel low on energy. This may even impact your work life. Due to these reasons, it is advised to consult a medical professional before starting a strict diet plan such as the GM diet.

References
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/gm-diet#section3
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324340.php
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537084/
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03134235

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