Do you want to lose weight without constantly feeling hungry? Then the Maggi diet is what you need! In the article you will find recommendations from a nutritionist, a menu of available products and a recipe for dessert made from tangerines and prunes!
- Reviews from those who have lost weight
Author: Kristina Lobanovskaya, doctor, practicing nutritionist Article updated: 11/10/2020
The actions of some nutritional methods are based on biochemistry. Maggi diet belongs to this category. Therefore, if you decide to take the course, then you must strictly comply with all the requirements. And if in some cases you can cheat - for example, by replacing an ingredient indicated on the menu, then the Maggi diet does not allow violations. But the result is worth holding out for a month without resorting to forbidden foods.
Why Maggi
No, Maggi bouillon cubes have nothing to do with it. Maggi is a simplified version of Maggi (Margaret). And Margaret is the same “Iron Lady” Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister of Great Britain in the eighties of the last century. By the way, Europe is the first woman head of state. As you understand, a special diet was developed for such an exceptional woman. There is a version that the Maggi diet was based on a two-week fasting menu developed by specialists at an American clinic specifically for Margaret Thatcher. Gradually, the fasting menu turned into a real low-carb diet, although it deviated significantly from the original version. But the basis remains the same.
The essence of the Maggi diet
This low-carb diet is designed to trigger the biochemical process of burning fat in the body. The nutrition system does not require calorie counting, does not place restrictions on portion sizes, and allows snacking. But! In order for the fat burning process to be successful and continuous, you need to strictly follow the menu, no substitutions or rearrangements (if they are not provided for in the menu). The diet is designed for 4 weeks, each week has its own characteristics and is aimed at strengthening and consolidating the result. During the diet you can lose from 10 to 28 kilograms. For faster weight loss, exercise is recommended. The presence, albeit in small quantities, of carbohydrates allows you to engage in sports and mental activity without compromising your health. The result becomes noticeable from the fifth day of the diet; during the first four days, excess fluid (the same reserves) is removed from the body.
Pros of the Maggi diet
The main advantage of the diet is that by adhering to its rules, you do not feel hungry. All dishes prescribed in the diet are easy to prepare, and the products are available. The obvious advantages include the following:
- Calcium, which is rich in the diet, will strengthen bones and make nails and hair beautiful;
- there are no usual companions of mono-diets - fatigue and bad mood, since calcium has a beneficial effect on the nervous system and gives additional energy to the body;
- when losing weight, based on a certain chemical reaction, the skin and muscles do not sag, the body has a toned appearance.
Photo source: Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash
Origin of the diet
In general, it would be more correct to call the Maggi diet the “Meiji diet” (a diminutive form of the name “Margaret”). Yes, yes, we are talking about that famous lady - Margaret Thatcher. Among her documents in the Palace of Westminster, historians found a typewritten sheet with a certain menu. This find attracted special attention.
It turns out that such a menu is a fasting nutrition program that was developed specifically for the “iron lady”. It was compiled by specialists from the Mayo Clinic (USA). The typewritten document contained a warning: “Do not stay on the diet for more than 2 weeks.” And a small clarification note that on days when there is meat in the diet, you can drink whiskey. And at the end of the sheet there was another warning: “no alcohol on other days.”
By the way, this nutrition plan can be called one of the first low-carbohydrate protein diets. But there is one “but”. The fact is that the original version of the unloading system was passed on by word of mouth. Everyone contributed. Therefore, the modern Maggi diet is somewhat different from the original. But they have a lot in common.
Contraindications
Before starting a diet, it would be a good idea to consult with your doctor to know for sure whether you have any contraindications, such as:
- allergies to eggs and citrus fruits;
- unstable blood pressure;
- pregnancy and lactation;
- problems with the gastrointestinal tract;
- diseases of the cardiovascular system;
- liver and kidney diseases;
- tendency to constipation.
Benefits of the new diet
- There is no feeling of hunger, most foods can be eaten until you feel full.
- There is no need to count calories, because the point of the diet is not to critically limit the body so that it gets stressed and gives up its “strategic reserves” of fat. The key is to combine certain foods and adhere to a certain diet that will activate fat burning.
- The diet has few contraindications: allergies to eggs and citrus fruits or intolerance to any other foods. You should also consult a doctor if you have kidney disease.
- The diet gives lasting results. If you follow all the instructions and exit the diet correctly, then the lost kilograms will sink into oblivion and will not come back to you. To consolidate the results and lifelong weight control, it is best to switch to proper nutrition. In this case, the extra pounds will definitely not bother you anymore.
- No need to cook much. This point is also important, especially if you have to cook for the family separately, and for yourself, your loved one, separately. But some dishes can be prepared for the whole family (for example, vegetable stew with chicken).
- Salt, spices, onions and garlic are allowed. So your food will not be bland.
- Tea and coffee without milk and sugar are allowed. But you can add a sweetener with 0 kcal.
Maggi diet rules
The diet has a number of strict rules; if you do not follow them, you will not be able to achieve the desired effect:
- The main rule is strict adherence to the diet and the sequence of dishes on the menu. Any deviation from it will have to start again, since the very chemical reaction that burns fat will be interrupted;
- you cannot swap dishes (breakfast with lunch, for example) and replace products;
- Every day you need to drink 2 to 3 liters of water;
- the weight of one finished portion is no more than 250 g;
- strictly adhere to three meals a day, snacks can be introduced if necessary, but breakfast, lunch and dinner are required;
- snacks are served 2 hours after main meals;
- if the menu does not indicate the exact quantity of a product, it means you can eat it as much as you want;
- After 18:00 you can eat, but not less than 3 hours before bedtime;
- Physical activity is required, at least walking in the fresh air for at least 20 minutes a day;
- If the diet has been broken, you need to start again.
Attention! If 2 meals are missed, this is considered a failure, and the diet must be started again!
Photo source: shutterstock.com
Additional recommendations
Cook the vegetables in water (not broth), adding a little salt and pepper. You can add a little onion and garlic. Fats, oils and seasonings with flavor enhancers are unacceptable!
If, say, the fasting menu does not indicate the exact number of permissible vegetables or fruits, it doesn’t matter. Eat them as much as you like
