4 Day Diet Plan

4 Day Diet Plan - Fad Craze or Diet Miracle?

Fad diets are all the craze and cover ideas like body cleansing to the skinny vegan diet. Amongst the latest and greatest diet craze is the four day diet.

But what exactly is this diet and how does it work? From the title one might assume you eat for four days and then fast for the remaining 3 days in the week.

Or maybe you eat only one food for four days and then normal for three days. It could even mean that you lose 4 pounds in 4 days. The title alone is not enough to know what you are in for. Keep reading to learn more.

How the 4 Day Diet Works

You may have heard about the 50 million pound challenge set forth by Dr. Ian Smith. He challenged Americans to stop the obesity epidemic and lose weight.

As of the writing of this article, over 3.3 million pounds have already been lost by thousands of Americans. So what’s in the 4 day diet that is this diet trend successful for so many people?

The 4 Day diet plan works to reprogram your body for better eating. This diet consists of seven different modules/phases which last for four days each.

By changing the food choices often, this diet eliminates the boredom and routine that many other fad diets consist of.

Module 1 - Induction Phase

The first module, the induction phase, is the strictest and is similar to the South Beach Diet. This first step is designed to eat foods that help detoxify your body. The thought behind detoxifying is to rid your body of the bad stuff before you can begin eating the good foods. The allowed foods and meals are detailed in the book.

Module 2 - The Transition Phase

With the second module you begin to change your current eating habits and are at the start of your transition. New foods are added like grains and vegetables that were not in the induction phase. You know you are on a diet, but the point is not to deprive you but to teach you to become satisfied by eating healthier.

Module 3 - The Protein Stretch Phase

With the third module there are proteins added. The foods on the protein list encourage eating lean meats, foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids like fish and dairy products like eggs and milk. The protein in these foods helps to build lean muscles and speed up your metabolism.

Module 4 - The Smooth Phase

With the fourth module, this fad diet craze really lets you go crazy. With this module you can eat whatever you want – no restrictions - but in moderation. It assumes you have learned some healthy eating habits so allows you to introduce your own choices. Remember, the plan stresses moderation during this phase. Although you may be tempted to eat non-stop during this phase don’t forget the healthy eating you have learned with the first few modules.

Module 5 - The Push Phase

With module five you are back to a stricter eating plan again. It could be to combat the effects of module four or just a reminder of how you should eat. Either way, it seems to work for many.

Module 6 - The Pace Phase

As with the second module, this phase introduces a few more foods than you were allowed in the push phase.

Module 7 - The Vigorous Phase

This phase takes you back to a strict plan for the final stretch of the 4 Day Diet. It will help you shed those last few pounds as you complete the last module.

The 4 Day Diet lasts for about a month with the seven modules but you can repeat them over and over again until you reach your weight loss goals.

Summary of the 4 Day Diet

To sum up the 4 Day Diet plan, it's a plan designed to teach you healthy eating. With the changing foods and menus every four days, you will not get bored with this plan.

Although the plus is that you won’t get bored with the food you want to be careful that you learn long term healthy eating habits so that the weight you lose will stay off for good. Any diet that promotes eating anything you want (like in the 4th module) tends to lend itself to a “fad diet”. However, some people find this method to stave off binging and overeating so there may be some merit to this fad diet for some people.

In addition to this review of the 4 Day Diet, read all about the Biggest Loser Diet before making your diet plan selection.