3-Day Cardiac Diet - Fast, Easy Weight Loss

The 3-day cardiac diet is one of the quickest and easiest ways to lose weight. Also known as the Birmingham Hospital Diet, it is supposed to help heart patients lose some extra pounds in preparation for surgery.

This diet is quite similar to the popular Mayo Clinic or Grapefruit Diet and also the Cleveland Clinic Diet. All these diets are variations on a theme of high-protein, low carb meal plans.  The purpose of all these diets is to enable a person to lose as much weight as possible in three days. The namesake hospitals and clinics have not publicly endorsed these 3-day diets, but they have been used for many years by many people who attest they do work. 

The 3-day cardiac diet is a high protein, limited calorie diet that calls for primarily eating vegetables and lean protein or meat. Because of the amounts of vegetables and meat you are encouraged to eat, there should be no risk of nutritional deficiencies.  But it is crucial that you do not stay on this limited calorie-intake diet longer than the alloted 3 days. Otherwise, you risk certain undesirable effects on your health - including slowing down your metabolism in the long run. 

For breakfast on each of the three days, the focus is getting ample protein along with some fats. The usual meal consists of about half a cup of water-packed tuna or cottage cheese.  Add to this two eggs cooked in your preferred style - but without any added cheese or dairy.

This gives you a good mix of protein and fat, which are important for keeping hunger down and giving you the materials you need to keep your muscles strong. Under no circumstances should you skip breakfast or not eat the full amount. You may have coffee or tea with it, but make sure not to use sweeteners or any dairy products. 

Lunch will be a mixture of tuna and salad. On the first two days, you may have a half a cup of water packed tuna, and a generous serving of salad. Keep in mind, though, that the salad must be all vegetables - no cheese or croutons. Make sure to use olive oil as your dressing, and you can indulge a bit with the olive oil since you need the good fats for proper metabolism.  On the third day, you may increase your protein in the form of tuna - to a full cup.

Dinner on the 3-day cardiac diet will consist of your preferred kind of lean meat. But skip adding sauce or breading. You need to eat this with two different types of vegetables, steamed and without sauce. You are, however, encouraged to use some butter for flavoring.

Do not eat bread, pasta, potatoes or any other starches on the 3 day cardiac diet. It was especially designed to skip the carbs and up the protein and fiber precisely to effect quick weight loss.  Remember to drink at least 64 ounces of water each day, while on the diet. Do not cheat - it is only three days before you get the weight loss you are working for.

Stick to the 3-day cardiac-diet and you will lose weight. To keep the pounds off, make sure you follow through with a sensible, long term eating plan supported by regular exercise.