DIET FOR 17 DAYS How can you use it to lose weight?

With the 17-day diet, we should be able to lose weight in a healthy way and without starving. We explain how the method works and what it can bring.

What is the 17-day diet?

The 17-Day Diet is a diet concept developed by the Californian doctor Dr. Michael Moreno, which is supposed to help us eat healthily in the long term. The method comes without too complicated rules and aims primarily at a reduction of carbohydrates, fat, and sugar. Contrary to what the name initially suggests, however, the diet is not just 17 days long - instead, it consists of four phases, each of which is 17 days long. Above all, in the first two phases, the Pounds are to tumble only in such away.

From these four phases the 17-Tage-Diät consists

Since with the 17-Tage-Diät each of the four phases goes also over 17 days, one should plan altogether 68 days for the execution of the nourishing concept. In general, the diet focuses primarily on fresh and unprocessed foods and avoids convenience foods. Also, Dr. Moreno recommends listening again more to the own hunger and saturation feeling. Basically, the body knows what it needs and when - if you can interpret the signals correctly and eat accordingly, you don't have to count calories.

Of course, if you eat the same food after the diet as before, you risk gaining back the kilos you have successfully lost. In general, however, the Moreno diet is a good introduction to healthy eating and the last phase is explicitly aimed at maintaining the new healthy habits. Here we explain the individual phases of the diet:

Phase 1 - Heating phase

In the first phase of the concept, according to Dr. Moreno, you should be able to lose up to 450 grams a day (!). However, the first phase is also the most difficult - especially bread and pasta lovers might have problems with the menu. The following foods are allowed:

• Vegetables, especially low-starch varieties such as eggplant, green lettuce, tomatoes, broccoli, peppers, roots, and spinach.
• Lean meats, such as turkey or chicken
• Eggs
• Fish
• Fruit, preferably low-sugar varieties such as pears, apples, berries and oranges
• Probiotic foods, e.g. kefir, cottage cheese, and yogurt
• Healthy fats, e.g. olive or nut oil

In this phase, the following applies: in the morning, always drink a glass of hot lemon water on an empty stomach; in general, at least two liters of water should be drunk daily. Until 2 p.m., only low-sugar fruits are on the menu, after which one may also eat eggs, fish, and meat. Also, one eats probiotic foods twice a day. Who adheres to the plan, is to improve according to Moreno its digestion and lower the blood sugar play durably. At the same time, fat burning is stimulated and new fat deposits are prevented from accumulating.

Phase 2 - Activation phase

In phase 2, the metabolism is reprogrammed from scratch by changing the menu from phases one and two days. By always providing new incentives with the different foods and different amounts of calories, routines do not set in - this is to keep the metabolism going. The following foods are allowed in this part of the diet (in addition to those from phase one):

• Healthy, starchy side dishes, such as bulgur, couscous, quinoa, rice, and legumes
• Seafood, such as mussels, crabs and oysters
• Starchy vegetables such as potatoes, squash, corn, or sweet potatoes

Phase 3 - Balancing phase

In this phase of the diet, previously forbidden foods such as bread, alcohol, or desserts are allowed again in moderation. Otherwise, the daily change of foods from the first two phases is maintained. The following foods may now be consumed again in small quantities:

• Bread and pasta (preferably wholemeal!)
• Desserts
• Alcohol
• Cheese
• The whole grain varieties of bread and pasta in particular prevent the blood sugar level from rising too high, which could otherwise lead to cravings.

Phase 4 - Arrival phase

In the fourth phase, it concerns primarily keeping the again learned nourishing habits, so that at the end the JoJo effect does not strike. The following applies: From Monday to Friday, the diet from the first three phases remains the same; from Friday at noon, you can indulge in a little more of whatever you feel like. But here, too, the following applies: Don't overdo it - you should continue to make sure that you don't eat too many carbohydrates, fats, and too much sugar. The arrival phase is somewhat reminiscent of interval fasting and should help to be able to maintain the new dream weight permanently.

A question of movement

As with probably all decrease concepts also with the 17-Tage-Diät parallel to the nourishing conversion regular movement is recommended. Interestingly in this case: During the first two phases, the body with the Essensumstellung is already loaded enough, therefore here first only easy movement is recommended such as Yoga. From phase 3 onwards, however, it's all about powering through: at best, a 45-minute workout should be on the schedule every day. If you can't manage that, it's best to build additional exercise into your daily routine, for example by cycling to work.

How much will I lose with the 17-day diet?

In general, the doctor points out that the 17-day diet is primarily about finding and maintaining your personal feel-good weight. Especially in phase 1, however, he assumes an average weight loss of four to five kilos - and the further you are from your normal weight at the start of the diet, the more you can lose. With slimmer humans however in the total already a weight loss of two kilos can be remarkable, persons with clear predominance can lose by the Diät also up to ten kilos.

The 17-day diet: Our conclusion

Basically, the diet certainly helps to switch to a healthy diet in four phases. Overall, the concept pays attention to a good distribution between complex carbohydrates, proteins, and healthy fats, so that you are supplied with all important nutrients during the diet. Unhealthy foods such as sweets are also only completely eliminated from the menu in the first two phases and may then be eaten again in moderation. Who would like to change generally step by step its nutrition, can try the method without hesitation. Only hook: A certain measure of discipline belongs also with the 17-Tage-Diät to it. Especially those who love bread, pasta, and the like must be able to pull themselves together day after day in phases one and two to stick to the plan.