How Much Weight Can You Lose on the 3-Day Diet? (2024)

  • Definition
    • What Is the 3-Day Diet?
  • Food List
    • What Foods Do You Eat on the 3-Day Diet?
  • Substitutions
    • Are Substitutions Allowed on The 3-Day Diet?
  • Weight Loss
    • How Much Weight Can You Lose on the 3-Day Diet?
  • Guide

What Is the 3-Day Diet?

How Much Weight Can You Lose on the 3-Day Diet? (1)

Weight loss is possible on The 3 Day Diet, but only because it is very low in calories. As soon as a dieter resumes eating a normal amount of carbohydrates, the weight will come back.

The 3-Day Diet (also called The Military Diet) is a type of fad diet that dates back to 1985. The 3-Day Diet promises:

  • Quick weight loss
  • Cleansing
  • Lower cholesterol
  • Increased energy

However, there is no scientific research that validates any of the claims made by the diet.

The diet is meant to be followed for 3 days on, and 4 days off. It may be followed for up to one month, cycling through 3 days on and 4 days off for the month.

What Foods Do You Eat on the 3-Day Diet?

The 3-Day Diet is a very specific food plan that is meant to be followed exactly as outlined. Portions must be eaten exactly as specified. Eating more than is recommended is not advised and it recommends dieters consume all meals, even if they are not hungry. Dieters are also instructed to drink 4 cups of water or other beverages that do not have any calories each day.

Foods to eat on The 3-Day Diet include:

  • Day 1
    • Breakfast
      • Black coffee or tea, with 1-2 packets Sweet & Low or Equal
      • ½ grapefruit or juice
      • 1 piece toast with 1 tablespoon peanut butter
    • Lunch
      • ½ cup tuna
      • 1 piece toast
      • Black coffee or tea, with 1-2 packets Sweet & Low or Equal
    • Dinner
      • 3 ounces any lean meat or chicken
      • 1 cup green beans
      • 1 cup carrots
      • 1 apple
      • 1 cup regular vanilla ice cream
  • Day 2
    • Breakfast
      • Black coffee or tea, with 1-2 packets Sweet & Low or Equal
      • 1 egg
      • ½ banana
      • 1 piece toast
    • Lunch
      • 1 cup cottage cheese or tuna
      • 8 regular saltine crackers
    • Dinner
      • 2 beef franks
      • 1 cup broccoli or cabbage
      • ½ cup carrots
      • ½ banana
      • ½ cup regular vanilla ice cream
  • Day 3
    • Breakfast
      • Black coffee or tea, with 1-2 packets Sweet & Low or Equal
      • 5 regular saltine crackers
      • 1 ounce cheddar cheese
      • 1 apple
    • Lunch
      • Black coffee or tea, with 1-2 packets Sweet & Low or Equal
      • 1 boiled egg
      • 1 piece toast
    • Dinner
      • 1 cup tuna
      • 1 cup carrots
      • 1 cup cauliflower
      • 1 cup melon
      • ½ cup ice cream (regular vanilla only)

Are Substitutions Allowed on The 3-Day Diet?

Some substitutions are permitted on a limited basis.

Substitutes for 1 slice of toast: 1/8 cup of sunflower seeds, 1/2 cup of whole grain cereal, 1/2 high protein bar, 1/4 cup of yogurt with 1/2 teaspoon of flax seeds, or one tortilla or two rice cakes instead of bread

Substitutes for 2 tablespoons of peanut butter: the same amount of almond butter, cashew butter, pumpkin butter, soy butter, sunflower seed butter, hummus or bean dip, or two tablespoons of plain sunflower seeds

Substitutes for 1 cup coffee or tea (with caffeine): green tea, sugar free hot chocolate, or sugar Free Red Bull

Substitutes for 1/2 cup of tuna: grilled sushi grade piece of tuna, the same size as 1/2 or 1 cup serving of canned tuna, any other lean meat with the same calories, or cottage cheese, tofu, or almonds. Vegetarians and vegans, substitute 1/2 an avocado and 2 tablespoons of hummus.

Substitutes for 3 ounces of any type of meat: lentils, beans, tofu or portobello mushrooms as meat alternatives

Substitutes for 1 cup of green beans: the same CALORIE amount of lettuce, tomatoes, spinach or any other green vegetable

Substitutes for 1/2 banana: 2 kiwis, 1 cup of papaya or 2 apricots. Plums, grapes and apple sauce also work as long as it’s the same amount of calories

Substitutes for 1 small apple: plums, peaches, grapes, zucchini, pears or dried apricots

Substitutes for 1 cup of vanilla ice cream: 1 cup of fruit flavored yogurt or apple juice or strawberry, vanilla or banana flavored almond milk. Dairy free ice cream may be used as a substitute.

Substitutes for 1 egg: one cup of milk, one chicken wing, 1/4 cup of seeds or nuts, 2 slices of bacon, or 1/2 cup baked beans

Substitute for 1 hard-boiled egg: 1/2 avocado
Substitutes for 1 cup of cottage cheese: plain Greek yogurt, ricotta cheese, cheddar cheese, eggs, ham, tofu in an equal number of calories, or 1 cup unsweetened soy/hemp/almond milk and 2 tablespoons hummus

Substitutes for 5 saltine crackers: rice cakes, other crackers in a similar number of calories, or the calorie correct amount of quinoa or couscous

Substitutes for 2 hot dogs (without bun): turkey dogs, soy dogs, tofu dogs, bratwurst, luncheon meat, deli meat, baloney, beans, lentils, or portobello mushrooms.

Substitutes for 1 cup of broccoli: a green or greenish vegetable like cauliflower, spinach, Brussels sprouts, or asparagus

Substitutes for 1/2 cup of carrots: squash, parsnip, beets, celery, and bell pepper

Substitutes for 1 slice of cheddar cheese: egg, cottage cheese, ham, nondairy cheese alternatives with calcium such as soy cheese, soy milk, cabbage, and tofu

How Much Weight Can You Lose on the 3-Day Diet?

The 3-Day Diet claims dieters can lose up to 10 pounds in three days. Weight loss is possible on The 3 Day Diet, but only because it is very low in calories. And realistically, most of that weight is likely water weight and not fat loss because the diet is so low in carbohydrates. As soon as a dieter resumes eating a normal amount of carbohydrates, the weight will come back.

Other drawbacks of the plan include:

  • It may promote unhealthy “yo-yo” dieting and an on-again off-again approach to weight management that is not conducive to long term success
  • Dieters may be excessively hungry while following the diet, causing them to overeat on their days off
  • Diets that restrict caloric intake to less than 1,000 calories each day may lower a person’s metabolism so that when they resume a normal diet they gain weight back even faster
  • The diet may not provide adequate amounts of nutrients
  • Exercise is not part of the plan
How Much Weight Can You Lose on the 3-Day Diet? (2024)

FAQs

How Much Weight Can You Lose on the 3-Day Diet? ›

The 3-Day Diet claims dieters can lose up to 10 pounds in three days. Weight loss is possible on The 3 Day Diet, but only because it is very low in calories. And realistically, most of that weight is likely water weight and not fat loss because the diet is so low in carbohydrates.

Can I lose 10 pounds in 3 days? ›

You will likely lose weight on any diet if you eat less than 910 calories a day. But losing 10 pounds in 3 days is both unlikely and unhealthy. To lose just 1 pound of body fat, you need to reduce your daily calories by about 500 a day for a whole week. That's giving up 3,500 calories over the course of 7 days.

How much weight can you lose on 3 day cleanse? ›

Your starting weight, your level of physical activity, the duration of your cleanse, and the types of juices you consume all play a role in how much weight you lose. On average, people can lose anywhere from 3-10 pounds on a 3-7 day juice cleanse.

Can you lose 5 pounds in 3 days? ›

Conclusion. Technically, it is possible to lose 5 pounds in 3 days with so-called “detox” diets. However, it is unhealthy for your body. That is why even if a meal plan seems to be simple and effective, it is important to consult a dietitian to prevent unwanted consequences for your health.

How much weight will I lose if I eat 3 meals a day? ›

Multiple studies have compared eating many smaller versus fewer larger meals and concluded that there is no significant effect on either metabolic rate or the total amount of fat lost ( 1 , 2 ). Eating more frequently does not increase your overall metabolic rate, or the numbers of calories you burn over the day.

How to drop 10 lbs quickly? ›

11 ways to lose 10 pounds safely
  1. Calorie deficit.
  2. Avoid junk food.
  3. Protein.
  4. Move more.
  5. High-intensity cardio.
  6. Resistance training.
  7. Intermittent fasting.
  8. Reduce bloating.
Nov 23, 2023

Is it possible to lose 5 lbs a week? ›

If you want to lose 5 pounds in a week, you will need to reduce your food intake by 17,500 calories, which is a huge calorie deficit. If you weigh 250-pound, you will need to reduce your daily calorie intake to about 1,250 calories per day, an amount that is too low amounting to starvation.

What happens if you don't eat for 3 days but drink water? ›

After two or three days without food, your body starts to break down fatty tissue. Your muscles use the fatty acids created during this process as their main source of fuel. Fatty acids are also used to form ketones in the liver. Ketones are another substance the body can use for energy.

How much weight will I lose on a 7 day water fast? ›

Fasting did spur noticeable short-term weight loss, researchers found. A five-day water fast caused people to drop about 4% to 6% of their weight; a seven- to 10-day fast produced 2% to 10% weight loss; and fasting 15 to 20 days yielded 7% to 10% loss of total body weight.

How much weight can I lose in 3 days only drinking water? ›

We watched hundreds of videos on 3 day water fasts and people reported losing between 4.5 lbs to 12 lbs on their fast. This depends on a lot of factors including starting weight and height. The three-day water fast can be a powerful tool for natural healing, weight loss, and overall well-being.

How to reduce belly fat in 3 days? ›

Doing cardio and abdominal exercises every day, coupled with a healthy diet (that is low in calories, fats, and sugars) is an efficient strategy for losing belly fat quickly. Which fruits are good for a flat tummy? Banana, full of potassium, helps your body get rid of excess water weight.

Is losing 6 pounds noticeable? ›

How much weight a person needs to lose for it to be noticeable is also subjective as it depends on your frame and starting body mass index, according to Guzman. On average, a 15 to 20-pound loss (approximately 2 to 5 percent of your starting body weight) is enough to notice "significant changes in your body," he said.

How to slim down fast? ›

Decreasing your intake of processed foods and added sugar can help you lose weight in 7 days. Drinking plenty of water and adding fiber to your diet might also help. That said, many factors influence your ability to lose weight, and it's better to aim for slower and more sustainable weight loss of 0.5–2 lbs per week.

What time should you stop eating to lose belly fat? ›

There's no set time you should stop eating to lose belly fat, but, as a guideline, you should avoid eating two to three hours before bed to stop it from disrupting your sleep and body clocks, which can cause belly fat gain. Studies show early dinners can help people lose weight.

What is the best eating schedule for weight loss? ›

1: Make breakfast your biggest meal of the day. Make lunch mid-size and dinner the smallest. 2: Eat dinner four hours before bedtime, rather than right before bedtime. 3: Eat lunch earlier, and always before 3 p.m.

What is the best time to eat for weight loss? ›

While there is no one perfect way to time your meals, there is some evidence that suggests that eating most of your food earlier in the day, going lighter at your evening meal and leaving at least 12 hours between dinner and breakfast may have some health benefits—including enhanced weight loss.

Is it possible to put on 10 pounds in 3 days? ›

Fluid retention

The amount of fluid in your body changes throughout the day. It's totally normal for your weight to change up to four pounds in a single day, based on your fluid levels. Fluid retention, or edema, is when a lot of fluid builds up in the body. This can cause a sudden weight gain of 15 or more pounds.

How much weight will I lose on a 3 day water fast? ›

We watched hundreds of videos on 3 day water fasts and people reported losing between 4.5 lbs to 12 lbs on their fast. This depends on a lot of factors including starting weight and height. The three-day water fast can be a powerful tool for natural healing, weight loss, and overall well-being.

Is it possible to lose 10lbs in 5 days? ›

It's certainly possible to do. But that weight loss is likely to be very short-lived. Dr. Griebeler explains that's because quick weight loss is often a result of losing not only fat, but also water and muscle mass.

How to lose 10 lbs in 2 days? ›

Therefore, to lose 10 pounds in 2 days, you would need to eat nothing, rest for only 3 hours, and run for 45 hours. Math aside, you cannot sprint for 45 hours in just two days. Even if you're an ultra-marathoner, this would be impossible. Therefore, it's impossible to try to cut 10 pounds in under 48 hours.

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