Soup diet

JumboGembo
JumboGembo Posts: 4 Member
edited November 7 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi all. Does anyone think I would lose weight doing a soup diet?
I'm not talking about a silly cabbage soup diet or anything like that, I mean homemade soups packed full of fresh vegetables, chicken, beef, maybe even the odd nut.

And before anyone pipes up about needing to learn healthy eating habits, I have no problem there, I usually am a sensible eater. I need to lose 2 and a half stone I gained during twin pregnancy and I just need something to kick me up the bum and spur me on. So has anyone tried living off healthy soups? Did you lose much weight?

I'm desperate to get back to my old self!
«1

Replies

  • itsbasschick
    itsbasschick Posts: 1,584 Member
    whether or not you lose weight eating soup depends on the calories in the soup. if you eat the same amount of calories eating beef and vegetables in soup or on a plate, you'll lose the same amount of weight. for that matter, if you eat the same amount of calories of ice cream or bread, you'd still lose the same amount of weight.
  • amw5471
    amw5471 Posts: 111 Member
    I'm not on a soup diet but I tend to eat a lot of soups for lunch because they're so easy to make in a crockpot and store. You can lose weight eating almost anything, just keep a calorie deficit and try to eat foods that keep you feeling full.
  • JumboGembo
    JumboGembo Posts: 4 Member
    Yeah I get that. But most vegetables are very low calorie and I'd stick to lean meats. So I guess the calorie content isn't going to be very high.
    I read somewhere that soup keeps you satisfied for longer because Of the water content and such.

    I guess I was meaning to ask if it was a healthy way to lose weight rather than whether I would lose weight.
  • Odinisgod
    Odinisgod Posts: 46 Member
    Soup tends to be filling due to the broth. You'd get the same effect if you drank a complete glass of water with a solid meal. A soup diet may help with appetite suppression, but it's still all about calories in/out, no matter which way you slice it.
  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member
    If you really really like soup, and hit all of your macros while staying at your calorie goal...sure.
  • bowlerae
    bowlerae Posts: 555 Member
    wanted to add watch the sodium level. Increased sodium will inflate the scale due to retaining water weight. As others mentioned, doesn't matter if it's in a bowl or served on a plate. If the calories are the same, you'll get the same results.
  • DamePiglet
    DamePiglet Posts: 3,730 Member
    If you really really like soup, and hit all of your macros while staying at your calorie goal...sure.

    this.

    and also the sodium thing.
  • SonicDeathMonkey80
    SonicDeathMonkey80 Posts: 4,489 Member
    I guess, yeah. You'll probably get sick of it after a few days though and then you'll be figuring out what the next thing to eat exclusively is.
  • TheBrolympus
    TheBrolympus Posts: 586 Member
    I hear the apple diet is great and you never get tired of apples.
  • nomeejerome
    nomeejerome Posts: 2,616 Member
    Hi all. Does anyone think I would lose weight doing a soup diet?
    I'm not talking about a silly cabbage soup diet or anything like that, I mean homemade soups packed full of fresh vegetables, chicken, beef, maybe even the odd nut.

    And before anyone pipes up about needing to learn healthy eating habits, I have no problem there, I usually am a sensible eater. I need to lose 2 and a half stone I gained during twin pregnancy and I just need something to kick me up the bum and spur me on. So has anyone tried living off healthy soups? Did you lose much weight?

    I'm desperate to get back to my old self!

    See the bold.

    What happens when you have a family or friend get together and no soup is available?

    If you truly are a sensible eater, you probably would not be asking this question.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    Yeah I get that. But most vegetables are very low calorie and I'd stick to lean meats. So I guess the calorie content isn't going to be very high.
    I read somewhere that soup keeps you satisfied for longer because Of the water content and such.

    I guess I was meaning to ask if it was a healthy way to lose weight rather than whether I would lose weight.
    No, the magic is in eating less calories than you burn not in the soup. If you make soup with all the things you love and eat however many times a day, and also have other foods in your diet, while hitting your calorie goals, then it would be sustainable. I know people who eat soup very often, sometimes throughout the day, not to lose weight but because they love it. However, they eat it in addition to their other meals/snack.

    Since you only have about 28-30 pounds to lose, I'd suggest setting your goals to lose 1 pound per week for the for the first ten, the rest at .5 pounds per week.

    I suggest figuring out what is sustainable for you in the long run instead of just a way to lose weight.

    Eat less calories than you burn and you will lose weight. :smile:
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    Hi all. Does anyone think I would lose weight doing a soup diet?
    I'm not talking about a silly cabbage soup diet or anything like that, I mean homemade soups packed full of fresh vegetables, chicken, beef, maybe even the odd nut.

    And before anyone pipes up about needing to learn healthy eating habits, I have no problem there, I usually am a sensible eater. I need to lose 2 and a half stone I gained during twin pregnancy and I just need something to kick me up the bum and spur me on. So has anyone tried living off healthy soups? Did you lose much weight?

    I'm desperate to get back to my old self!

    See the bold.

    What happens when you have a family or friend get together and no soup is available?

    If you truly are a sensible eater, you probably would not be asking this question.
    This.
  • coaoalo
    coaoalo Posts: 104 Member
    It's fine. If it works for you then go for it. Just keep in mind your calorie intake. My grandfather did a "soup diet" and every soup has huge hunks of bread and real butter, and cream in most of the soups. Suffice to say it didn't go well. Just hit your calorie intake, get enough fluids and keep your macros in mind as much as you can.
  • Barry0611
    Barry0611 Posts: 8 Member
    Can't speak to a "soup diet", but having a cup of veggie soup before a meal will definitely curb your appetite. Works for me when I remember to make it. Beware of canned soup, very high in sodium.
  • itsbasschick
    itsbasschick Posts: 1,584 Member
    besides lots of sodium, soup often includes lots of oil, which is almost pure fat. even a single measly tablespoon has 11 grams of fat.

    otherwise there's no reason not to eat it if it's convenient and you like it.
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    When I'm having trouble eating, soup is helpful. The mushy food slides on down and it's flavorful. I don't have the wherewithal to make it, though. Soup is a project.

    It can be as healthy as anything else, can't it? If you put all good stuff in it and don't load up on salt, I don't see why it would be a problem, health-wise. I couldn't eat all soup, all the time, though.

    I don't think eating food in that form will make you lose more than eating the same food in some other form.

    But good luck! Let us know how it goes!
  • SonicDeathMonkey80
    SonicDeathMonkey80 Posts: 4,489 Member
    I hear the apple diet is great and you never get tired of apples.

    One apple a day has been my secret to maintenance!
  • AllOutof_Bubblegum
    AllOutof_Bubblegum Posts: 3,646 Member
    Try the "Eating at a Reasonable Calorie Deficit Diet While Eating Anything You Want" diet. It's worked wonders for me, I lost 30 pounds, AND I didn't hate my life, which I strongly suspect a diet of nothing but soup would cause in me.
  • JTick
    JTick Posts: 2,131 Member
    besides lots of sodium, soup often includes lots of oil, which is almost pure fat. even a single measly tablespoon has 11 grams of fat.

    otherwise there's no reason not to eat it if it's convenient and you like it.

    Huh? What kinda soup are you eating? And what's wrong with fats?
  • CupcakesMom2
    CupcakesMom2 Posts: 154 Member
    I think this would easily work if you made the soup and control what it is in it. Nutritionally soup is wonderful because you don't lose any of the nutrients from boiling them since its all part of the soup.
  • lbride
    lbride Posts: 248 Member
    I did WW before, and they have a "free" point soup, that is very low in calories. I ate it - a lot - and it really helped control my appetite. So yes, I think that eating a lot of soup is very helpful in losing weight. I still do it now - my easy recipe - 1 box of chicken broth, add some taco seasoning or 1 jar of salsa, add bag of frozen cut green beans; cook on stove and then eat all day long.
  • levitateme
    levitateme Posts: 999 Member
    Just eat less calories worth of what you used to eat.
  • williams969
    williams969 Posts: 2,528 Member
    Try the "Eating at a Reasonable Calorie Deficit Diet While Eating Anything You Want" diet. It's worked wonders for me, I lost 30 pounds, AND I didn't hate my life, which I strongly suspect a diet of nothing but soup would cause in me.

    I was very, very poor for over a year a ways back. We ate a LOT of homemade soup, since it's what we could afford to buy. WIth $10-15, I could make 1-2 gallons of soup made of cabbage, carrots, celery, potatoes, and 1-2lbs of whatever random meat and bones were on sale that week. I got very, very skinny (not on purpose). And very, very sad...I avoid soup now whenever possible.


    Oh, and yeah, I agree with "Eat Reasonably Less of What You Like Diet". It works. And log it with MFP to track your calories. YAY!
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I think it sounds like a good idea. It sounds like you are talking about sensible balanced soup meals, and soup can be deceptively filling because of all the water, so why not?
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Try the "Eating at a Reasonable Calorie Deficit Diet While Eating Anything You Want" diet. It's worked wonders for me, I lost 30 pounds, AND I didn't hate my life, which I strongly suspect a diet of nothing but soup would cause in me.

    It sounds like you are suggesting the "Eating at a Reasonable Calorie Deficit Diet While Eating Anything IWant" rather than "... Anything You Want". Otherwise, why would what worked for you or what you hated matter?
  • loriemn
    loriemn Posts: 292 Member
    just no,,I hate soup unless I have some avain bird flu,then I only want my hubbys homemade chicken noodle soup!
  • vickymva
    vickymva Posts: 46 Member
    I did the cabbage soup diet for a week and it gave me a great jump start and encouragement to now count my calorie intake and change my life style. It was a great boost for me.

    You must follow it properly though.

    Good Luck and don't give up.
  • kaseyr1505
    kaseyr1505 Posts: 624 Member
    If I let ice cream melt, will that make ice cream soup?
  • SherryTeach
    SherryTeach Posts: 2,836 Member
    My cardinal rule of my food plan is to never do today what I'm not planning on doing every day for the rest of my life. I couldn't live on soup all the time, so I wouldn't do it now. I do incorporate some soup into my food plan, but I prefer to consume a wide variety of dishes with a full range of nutrients and just stay within my calorie levels. Sure, soup fills you up temporarily, but I've never found it to be sustaining for several hours.
  • JumboGembo
    JumboGembo Posts: 4 Member
    Thanks to all the sensible suggestions!
    I knew I'd get some stick about wanting a 'diet' rather than healthy eating everyday.

    I have already lost 6lb so far through sticking to a 1200 calorie a day intake but because I haven't noticed a difference in myself, I feel disheartened. That probably makes no sense at all to most of you.
    I guess I wanted something that would give me a quick result so I can see a difference, therefore spurring me on to carry on with the healthy lifestyle.

    And I was always a size 10 before pregnancy... Through a healthy lifestyle so I do know how to eat a sensible diet. The only reason I piled on the pounds was through my pregnancy and having a hard time after while my babies were in hospital for 4 months.... I ended up comfort eating and eating late at night because I was at the hospital all day....
    Maybe some people on here should think of people's circumstances before posting a comment.
    I didn't gain weight through pure gluttony.

    But thanks for all your info, all the comments were helpful in their own way.
This discussion has been closed.