HOW TO...67GOINGON50 AND THE GM DIET

updated  April 2021

Courtesy of Clipart  © Copyright Glasbergen and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

A popular diet in the summer 2017 was the controversial 'GM diet', a 7-day eating plan popular in the '80's.  It's low-carb, consisting mostly of fruit and veg but heavy on meat in the latter stages. (See Original:)

Apparently designed to help General Motors staff lose weight and change eating habits (GM denied it a decade ago), some people report weight loss of up to 7kilos (10-17 pounds).  

The diet is strict and demanding. It's not quite 'eat one potato chip and you've had it' but there are rules.  To achieve maximum effect, you need to follow them. And it's not easy.

Fresh Fruit (Stock Photo)

The diet is simple enough and full of health-giving vegetables and fruit. It's intended as a short-term measure, not a permanent eating plan.  

The Blogger tested the diet during a vacation.   

After several months of 'frankly, not giving a damn' about eating plans, portion control, restricting carbs etc, etc, etc, the Blogger developed lumps and bumps worthy of a Michelin Man.  Turning into, well...a slob, in the process.  

Taking advantage of a long break, the Blogger hoped to not just lose weight but also to: 

• kick the blogger out of a long slump
• change the poor eating habits which had taken hold 
• clear the toxins accumulated during the 'Let it go' months
• achieve the above without damaging body and soul

The GM Diet held no fears; the Blogger usually undertook a fruit & vegetable day once a week and in the past, regularly (if infrequently) went on 3-day restricted eating plans.    

Here's a simplified version of the diet (see gm diet for the original instructions)

Day 1

Any fruit apart from bananas; melons & berries recommended

Day 2

Baked potato with a little butter or oil +

Any salad or vegetables (steamed or boiled) except carrots, peas, corn

Day 3

Any fruit and veg apart from potato and banana, carrots, peas, corn +

Fresh fruit juice

Day 4

Bananas and skim milk or 0-fat plain yoghurt +

Cabbage soup with celery, onion and green peppers; other non-starchy veg, no  peas, corn

The Polish artist Anna Tokarska using
fruits and vegetables to create portraits
Courtesy of The Times and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

You can do an awful lot with fruit and veg if you really try!

Day 5

Beef, chicken or fish plus tomatoes and vegetable soup.  No peas, corn

Day 6

More beef, chicken or fish and steamed or boiled non-starchy veg (no potatoes, carrots (except in Wonder Soup), peas, corn; no fruit)

Day 7

White or brown rice with veg (no potatoes, carrots, peas, corn) + fruit (melon & berries recommended & no bananas) + fruit juice

Wonder Soup 

, made from non-starchy vegetables apart from a small amount of carrot, can be consumed on any or all of the 7 days.

Daily: 8-10 glasses of water; on day 5 even more 

Exercise:  low-level exercise such as yoga 

RESULT

• Weight Loss

       By Day 3, weight loss was 2.5 kilo/5.5 pounds
       On Day 8, the weight loss was 2.4k/5.2 pounds 

• Total weight loss was disappointing; possibly due to days 5 & 6 which had 5 servings of meat over 2 days, more than twice the Blogger's usual weekly intake.  (Two vegetarian versions, one where rice or legumes replaces meat or fish and a second Indian version which adds curd/cottage cheese to rice) might be a more promising option for some.) (Note: 67 adopts the Indian vegetarian version of the GM Diet bur replaces curd with non-dairy tofu or eggs)  

• Body shape was sharply improved; inches fell from midriff and thighs -- an unexpecteded consolation (which may have been partly due to lower stress)

• Habits of disciplined eating returned.  

DIFFICULTY:

• Day 3 was particularly difficult but overall, energy levels were ok 
• Boredom; by Day 5 fantasies about bread, crisps, eggs were continuous 
• only so much enjoyment is possible from boiled/steamed non-starchy veg, though salads broke up the monotony 

Carb-free, low-salt/ fat Stir Fried Vegetables 
Spinach, celery, mushrooms, courgettes, cauliflower, broccoli, tomatoes

ENERGY LEVELS & EXERCISE 

The Blogger was on vacation and reasonably relaxed.  The following was accomplished without strain: 

• walks of up to 1 1/2 hours
• a yoga class
• a lighter session of the usual cardio and strength training regime 

UNEXPECTED BENEFITS

• a (very) streamlined body which persisted for some time
• absolutely radiant skin, at times 
• a minor but persistent problem with ear wax cleared up
• as normal eating resumed, the negative effects of certain foods became clear
• the Blogger discovered she could, after all, drink coffee without sugar 
• one gets better at being creative with the food allowed 

DRAWBACK:

Not exactly cheap; variety is needed to stop climbing walls but in time one found  cheaper substitutes for fruit & veg 

FEB. 2020: The Blogger finds the Indian vegetarian version of the GM diet more effective for sustained weight loss, replacing meat with brown rice plus pulses OR tofu OR eggs.  It also allows unlimited quantities of Cabbage Soup, seeming to  place less strain on body and mind.

Recommendation:

67 hesitates to recommend this diet, especially if the prospective dieter is not used to regular fasting.  However, for some people, it could be a solution to kickstart an eating programme based on disciplined eating. 

The diet does not induce feelings of unwellness but neither does the dieter feel well.  And even if energy levels were reasonable, one did feel strained. Mornings were difficult.  

The diet is seriously restrictive; quantities are not always clear.   

Seven days is a long time; only the knowledge that the diet was not forever kept one going. 

Conclusion: 

The Blogger does not recommend this diet but, for some people, cannot recommend avoiding it, either.  

It can be useful:

• though weight lost will be regained quickly if you're not careful, the streamlined body shape lingers for some time
• disciplined eating can become a habit 

However:

• if in you're late middle-age or older, extreme caution is recommended 
• an awareness of the diet's drawbacks is essential 
• a 'diet buddy' for physical and emotional support would be helpful.   

ALWAYS Check with your doctor first before undertaking the GM diet. 



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