Popular opinion states, the GM Diet or General Motors diet was developed in the year 1985 as a 7-day weight loss program. This is believed to cleanse the body and rid it of toxins. The diet was supposedly developed in collaboration with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Johns Hopkins Research Centre. However, a New York times columnist- Roger Cohen in 2009 rubbishes these claims. In his column, he says- “I was intrigued by this. Why, I wondered, had G.M. not made more of its diet? Cars have not done wonders for the company of late. With some inventive marketing, couldn’t G.M. be the new Atkins or South Beach? For a company that’s slimming down, wouldn’t this be nice synergy?” Mr. Cohen went as far as calling a GM spokesman, Mr. Wilkinson for clarification, he (the spokesman) confessed he was not aware of such a diet! Mr. Wilkinson goes on to say. “Nobody here recalls anything about such a diet, and we have no idea how it got attached to G.M”. (The New York Times, Opinion Pages, July 29, 2009)
The GM diet is a popular diet these days, which promises 7 kgs weight loss in 7 days by following a particular eating pattern. In 2014 this was the most searched diet on Google. Some people have tried it and have seen results, but we need to think further and ask ourselves- this fad diet works, but at what cost?
A brief outline of the diet is given below:
Day 1: All fruits, except bananas. Focus on watermelon
Day 2: A potato for breakfast and vegetables through the day
Day 3: A combination of vegetables and fruits
Day 4: Bananas with milk
Day 5: Meat/paneer with tomatoes
Day 6: Meat/ paneer with vegetables (avoid potato)
Day 7: Brown rice, fruit juice and vegetables
The weight drops rapidly since the diet is high in fiber, yet it restricts macronutrients like protein, carbohydrates and healthy fat. It is also very low in calories, which results in a lowered metabolism once the diet is stopped. Some of the other side effects of the diet include- headaches, irritability and hunger. The first few days the diet is devoid of protein which could lead to muscle weakness. There have also been complains of thirstiness and dehydration since the body needs water for its metabolic processes.
Since the diet was scrutinized for lack of exercise and no mention of healthy food preparation, the recent guidelines suggest that one needs to exercise for 30-45 minutes. But this can be dangerous. Being a low-calorie diet, one cannot easily sustain exercise without getting tired. Since the diet lacks carbs, these are the main sources of energy for the body. Without which, muscle is broken down and used for energy. This is not advisable, since muscle is important to burn calories effectively. Muscle, rather than fat gives the body a toned appearance. Protein is extremely important for muscle and tissue building. It also helps regulate various hormone processes in our body. The recommended protein intake is 0.8g per kg body weight for adults.
Being a restrictive diet, it is difficult to follow on a long-term basis. Initially the weight loss may seem promising, but when followed long term it could lead to nutrient deficiencies and a lowered metabolism. This results in piling calories once the diet is stopped leading to more weight gain, than what one started out with. This forms a vicious cycle. Being so low in calories, you are not able to exercise to your full potential, exercise is important since it boosts metabolism, releases endorphins and gives a sense of wellbeing. All of these benefits are important for overall fitness.
Considering all these drawbacks it is better to follow a healthy balanced diet. This includes all the food groups and focuses on clean eating. When you eat, make sure your meals contain whole grains, fruit, vegetables (both raw and cooked), protein (vegetarian or non-vegetarian), low fat dairy and healthy fat.
Want a formula for Healthy and sustainable weight loss? Here goes,
Include: Cardio+ strength training+ Balanced diet+ 6-8 hours of sleep+ stress management
With inputs from:
1. www.precisionnutrition.com/all-about-protein
2. https://truweight.in/blog/health/gm-diet-plan-reviews.html
3. http://www.staywow.com/GM-Diet-Side-Effects-Read-this-before-following-it
4. http://www.thehealthsite.com/fitness/what-are-the-side-effects-of-gm-diet/
5. http://www.diethealthclub.com/types-of-diet/gm-diet-plan/gm-diet-side-effects.html
6. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/30/opinion/30iht-edcohen.html?_r=0
7. http://dailyburn.com/life/health/gm-diet-plan/
8. http://www.livestrong.com/article/300774-what-is-the-gm-diet/
9. http://www.gmdietworks.com/gm-diet-history