What is the GM Diet?
It is titled the General Motors Diet; it is a quick weight loss, and low calorie and low sugar diet that claim to lose 10-15 pounds in a week. This diet plan is very specific and the foods are low in calorie higher in nutrients with multiple servings of vegetables. The diet creators state that it will improve digestion while detoxifying the body. The creators of this diet are unknown and some even say that this diet was an urban legend at GM.
Where/when was it started, etc.?
The introduction to the diet says: “The following diet and health program was developed for employees and dependents of General Motors, Inc., and is intended for their exclusive use. The program was developed in conjunction with a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. It was field tested at the Johns Hopkins Research Center and was approved for distribution by the Board of Directors, General Motors Corp., at a general meeting on August 15, 1985.”
Please comment on the soup (day three)… the Wonder Soup is a soup that contains low calorie non-starchy vegetables that have high nutrients and fiber including cabbage, onion, carrots, and peppers.
Is there another diet that it is similar to?
The cabbage soup diet or the juice cleanse diets are similar. Low in calorie, short period of time and very rigid and restrictive.
What are the healthiest/unhealthiest foods in it?
The vegetables are the healthiest foods in the diet. There are no true unhealthy foods, but the restrictive rules of the diet can trigger eating disorder like behaviors. There is very little science behind this diet itself, it appears to be something that was thrown together in the 80’s as a quick weight loss scam.
Who would this benefit? And who wouldn’t this benefit?
I would not recommend this diet to the average person, it is unrealistic and it is not a lifestyle change.
Is there reason/science behind it?
Low calorie restriction providing temporary weight loss, there is no research provided to back up this diet plans recommendations.
Does it work? Do you recommend the GM Diet?
It will work short term but as mentioned above it can trigger eating disorders, nutrient deficiencies and it does not coach or teach people how to make long term lifestyle behavior modifications to live a happy life with a healthy relationship with food.