Time has come mon fe Apache,
fe fine wun gal an to get marry
Ba lisen wemme taulk,tell everybudy,
me won arrange marriage a fammi mum an dadee
– prophetic words of Apache Indian – Arranged Marriage
Well the time had come for me to jump on the decked horse and go bride-hunting in India. Out of pity for my would-be bride, I thought I shouldn’t throw my weight around very much. I decided I would invoke the special powers of the GM Diet programme which should get me back into my target BMI range.
The History:-
From what I remember, the GM Diet is one of the many diet programmes available on the internet and in books. This diet was supposedly started for General Motor employees, when the employers noticed the the sagging levels of sag in their employees. After much scientific analysis, they came up with a programme which satisifed 3 key factors, which to my mind are the key advantages:-
– It does not require you to starve. Quite to the contrary, the diet asks you to eat as much as you can. Really.
– It does not fix you into a boring routine of eating the same thing everyday. It has different dishes on different days and that makes it more interesting. Especially when you are doing it the first time.
– Weight loss is guaranteed if one sticks to the plan.
Sounds too good. What’s the catch? There are 2 of them
– The famous GM Diet headache – This will happen to anyone when they drastically cut down on their eating. But on the GM diet, you can almost expect it to come and hit you on the 2nd day. It isn’t a migran-ish headache that will debilitate you, but it can sure make even thinking about something pretty difficult.
– Weight gain after the 7th day – Once you break the diet programme and start eating normally, your weight goes back to normal. But naturally.
All said and done, the GM diet is the perfect plan, if you are planning to meet someone for the first time or after a long time, or if you are heading for a reunion party, a honeymoon, etc.
I started the GM diet on a Friday morning. Friday is my first weekend. In other parts of the world, I feel you should start on a Saturday. “Why?”. It’s a long story. Trust me.
I am referencing Google’s #1 site on GM diet – http://www.iimahd.ernet.in/~jajoo/gmdiet.html. All references to his site have been indented.
Rules:-
– Follow the day’s instructions strictly. Don’t follow, don’t complain.
– Drink 10 glasses of water each day. Drink 10 glasses of water each day. Drink 10 glasses of water each day.
– No alcohol for the first seven days. After the first seven days,
it is suggested that you are allowed two glasses of white wine in addition to the instructions on the program. You may substitute champagne for white wine. Under no circumstances are you to drink any other alcoholic beverages with the exception of beer which is allowed. Any liquor (bourbon,vodka, rum) is forbidden. Cream drinks are especially forbidden. You may have an occasional cordial such as creme de menthe or schnapps, but you must always limit yourself to two drinks. If you wine, drink only wine that day. If you have beer, drink only beer that day, etc. Alcohol adds empty calories to your diet. However, after the first week it will help your digestion and settle your stomach.
– The only beverages / drinks you are allowed other than water are :-
- Water (flavoured with lemon/lime if desired).
- Club Soda is OK.
- Black Coffee. No cream or cream substitute. No sugar or sweetness.
- Black Tea = Herb or Leaf.
- Absolutely nothing else except the fruit juices which are part of day seven. No fruit juices before day seven.
Notes:-
– GM’s Wonder Soup
The following soup is intended as a supplement to your diet. It can be eaten any time of the day in virtually unlimited quantities. You are encouraged to consume large quantities of this soup. This soup can be eaten in unlimited quantities. This soup is a supplement while you are on the program and it should be a pleasure to eat.
28 oz (800ml) Water, 6 large onions, 2 green peppers (capsicums), whole tomatoes (fresh or canned), 1 head Cabbage, 1 bunch celery, 4 envelopes lipton (/maggi / knorr) onion soup mix , Herbs and Flavouring as desired.
Not everyone likes cabbage, green peppers, celery etc. This recipe is not inflexible. You may substitute vegetables according to your taste. You may add any vegetables you like: asparagus, peas, corn, turnips, green beans, cauliflower, etc. Try to stay away from beans (lima, pinto, kidney, etc.), however, because they tend to be high in calories even though they are very good for you.
– For consuming the vegetables, you can use a dressing. But
no dressing except malt, white or wine vinegar, squeezed lemon, garlic, herbs. No more than one tea spoon of oil.
– I feel you should prep your body for this diet programme. It won’t hurt and if anything it will do you a world of good.
1. Change your drinking habits to drinking black coffee with 2 spoons of sugar and keep reducing. For a week this might be tough, but soon you will begin to enjoy the taste of pure coffee.
2. Instead of having a heavy dinner, start having a soup for dinner. It is always helpful to eat a very light dinner.
3. Whenever you have a hunger attack or a craving, have a long sip from the bottle of pure orange juice in the fridge, or have a handful of peanuts.
While these are good dieting suggestions by themselves, this will also prepare you for the GM diet style of eating, and thus make the week breeze by.
The Diet and My Experiences :-
Day One
Weight at 8 a.m. after a potty – 88 kilos
All fruits except bananas. Your first day will consist of all the fruits you want. It is strongly suggested that you consume lots of melons the first day. Especially watermelon and a loupe. If you limit your fruit consumption to melons, your chances of losing three lbs. on first day are very good.
Must drink 10 glasses of water
What’s happening?
You are preparing your system for the upcoming programme. Your only source of nutrition is fresh or canned fruits. Fruits are nature’s perfect food. They provide everything you could possibly want to sustain life except total balance and variety.
What did I eat?
Late Breakfast :- A quarter of a musk melon.
Late Lunch :- Quarter musk melon, 200gms green grapes, 100gm of pear.
Dinner :- Nothing
Day Two
Weight at 8 a.m. – 86.5 kilos
All vegetables. You are encouraged to eat until you are stuffed with all the raw or cooked vegetables of your choice. There is no limit on the amount or type. For your complex carbohydrate, you will start day two with a large baked potato for breakfast. You may top the potato with one pat of butter.
Must drink 10 glasses of water
What’s happening?
The day starts with a fix of complex carbo-hydrates coupled with an oil dose. This is taken in the morning for energy and balance. The rest of day two consists of vegetables which are virtually calorie free and provide essential nutrients and fibre.
What did I eat?
Late Breakfast :- 280 g boiled potato, one spoon butter and quarter tea spoon salt.
Lunch – 1 onion, 1 tomato, 2 cucumbers and half a carrot with some italian off-the-shelf dressing and some salt
Dinner – 2 handfuls of peanuts – I needed the fiber for some other problem.
Day Three
Weight at 8 a.m. – 84.5 kilos
A mixture of fruits and vegetables of your choice. Any amount, any quantity. No bananas yet. No potatoes today.
Must drink 10 glasses of water
What’s happening?
This day eliminates the potato because you get your carbohydrates from the fruits. You system is now prepared to start burning excess pounds. You will still have cravings which should start to diminish by day four.
What did I eat?
Breakfast – one pear and one glass black coffee
Lunch – a Quarter of a musk melon, 200 gm grapes and one cucumber
Dinner – 250 gm Carrots
Day Four
Weight at 8 a.m. – 85.5 kilos
Bananas and milk. Today you will eat as many as eight bananas and drink three glasses of milk. This will be combined with the special soup which may be eaten in limited quantities.
Must drink 10 glasses of water
What’s happening?
Bananas, milk and soup sound the strangest and least desirable. You’re in for a surprise. You probably will not eat all the bananas allowed. But they are there for the potassium you have lost and the sodium you may have missed the past three days. You will notice a definite loss of desire for sweets. You will be surprised how easy this day will go.
What did I eat?
Breakfast – 2 bananas and 2 glasses of milk
Lunch – 2 bananas and 2 glasses of milk
Supper – 2 bananas and 1 glass of milk, 1 date milk (200 ml)
Dinner – 1 bananas and 2 glasses of milk
Day Five
Weight at 8 a.m. – 84.5 kilos
Non-veggie: – Today is feast day. You will eat beef and tomatoes. Eat two 10 oz. (2*280g) portions of lean beef. Hamburger is OK. Combine this with six whole tomatoes.
Veggie:- Today is feast day. You will eat paneer and tomatoes. Eat two 10 oz. (2*280g) portions of paneer. Combine this with six whole tomatoes.
Must drink 10 glasses of water + one quart (900 ml) water extra. This is to cleanse your system of the uric acid you will be producing.
What’s happening?
The beef / paneer is for iron and proteins, the tomatoes are for digestion and fibre. Lots and lots of water purifies your system. You should notice colourless urine today. Your allowance calls for the equivalent of five “quarter ponders”. Do not feel you have to eat all this beef / paneer. You must eat the six tomatoes.
What did I eat?
Breakfast – 250 g paneer (cubed and fried in half a spoon of oil), tomatoes (raw, diced), tomato ketchup, some salt and masala
Lunch – 100 g paneer (cubed and fried in half a spoon of oil), tomatoes (raw, diced), tomato ketchup, some salt and masala
Dinner – Tomatoes, buttermilk
I managed to eat only about 4 tomatoes. Since I was eating them raw, I reached a point where I would puke if I ate another piece.
Day Six
Weight at 8 a.m. – 84 kilos
Beef / paneer and vegetables. Today you may eat an unlimited amount of beef and vegetables. Eat to your hearts content.
Must drink 10 glasses of water
What’s happening?
The day is similar to day five, Iron and proteins from beef, Vitamins and fibre from vegetables. By now your system is in a total weight loss inclination. There should be a noticeable difference in the way you look today, compared to day one.
What did I eat?
Breakfast – 1 carrot and 1 cucumber. Some salt and dressing.
Lunch -150 gm paneer cubes, fried in one table spoon olive oil. 2 carrots with some dressing.
Dinner -2 cucumbers and 1 carrot
Day Seven
Weight at 8 a.m. – 83.5 kilos
Today your food intake will consist of brown rice, fruit juices and all the vegetables you care to consume.
Must drink 10 glasses of water
What’s happening?
Finishing off the program like a good cigar used to finish off Victorian meals, except much healthier. You have your system under control and it should thank you for the flushing and cleaning you just gave it.
What did I eat?
I love this day
Breakfast – 200 ml pure apple juice, 200 ml pure orange juice
Lunch – 200 ml pure strawberry juice, 200 ml pure apple juice, 200 ml orange juice
Dinner – 200 ml pure apple juice, 200 ml mango juice
Day Eight
Weight at 8 a.m. – 83 kilos
I managed to lose 5 kilos (11 pounds) in one week. Incidentally, I had flight to India on the 8th day. I looked lighter and felt more confident.
And I got the girl 🙂
All the best to you.
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