As is well known, there are numerous diet variations available on the Internet. Many of them are balanced, adhering to protein, fat, and carbohydrate norms, with a slight calorie deficit necessary for weight loss.

However, my attention was drawn to one extreme diet, known as the ‘egg-citrus diet.’ It involves consuming only boiled eggs and citrus fruits (usually oranges) for a certain period of time.

In this article, I will share my experience with this diet and discuss the results I achieved. The characteristics of this diet are as follows:

• Duration – 3 days.
• Number of meals per day – 4.
• Each meal includes – 2 boiled eggs and 2 oranges (or one grapefruit).

So, in the evening, I went to the store and bought several kilograms of oranges and a few packs of eggs. When I woke up in the morning, I boiled 8 eggs for the whole day. The first meal was quite decent. I even felt full. I forgot to mention that as my morning beverage, I had black coffee with 50 ml of plant-based milk.

Throughout the day, I consumed only boiled eggs and oranges. On the first day, I didn’t feel any hunger, even though this amount of food was insufficient to replenish my energy.

Until the middle of the second day, I still didn’t feel strong hunger, but I was getting tired of oranges. So, I decided to include half a grapefruit instead of one orange to add some variety. Towards the end of the second day, I began to feel stronger hunger and quick fatigue. The second day ended.

On the third day of the diet, I woke up with a severe headache that persisted throughout the day. It briefly eased after breakfast. It was as if my body realized it hadn’t been entirely forgotten and was being given some food. On this day, when I was at the store, my eyes started watering, and I had an inexplicable sensation. It was similar to the state when a person hasn’t slept for a long time, their eyes turn red, their consciousness changes, and their reactions slow down. Additionally, the feeling of hunger intensified, and I constantly felt a rumbling in my stomach due to emptiness. Added to this state was increased tooth sensitivity due to the high acidity in citrus fruits.

And, finally, the third day of the diet came to an end. It was time to sum it up. As a result of this extreme diet, I managed to lose 2.5 kg (5.5 lb). In other words, I was losing 830 grams (1.8 lb) per day. At first glance, the result seems good, but there are a few nuances. Firstly, the weight loss occurred not only due to the loss of fat mass but also due to the loss of muscle mass, which is certainly not good for the body. Secondly, it’s simple mathematics: when the body receives little food, it weighs less. As soon as I started eating normally the next day, my weight increased by 1.5 kilograms (3.3 lb) in just one day. So, in reality, I managed to lose 1 kilogram (2.2 lb), not 2.5 (5.5 lb).

In the table below, I will list the pros and cons of this diet. What do you think, will there be more pros or cons?

Pros:

• No need to think about what to cook
• Time-saving in preparation
• Inexpensive
• Potential for weight reduction

Cons:

• Lack of variety
• Insufficient essential nutrients and micronutrients
• Extremely low calorie intake
• Increased tooth sensitivity
• Headaches
• Constant feeling of hunger
• Low energy levels
• Loss of muscle mass

These tables demonstrate that the application of this diet largely leads to negative consequences. In my case, I adhered to this diet for only 3 days, although some people follow it for up to 7 days.

Summing up my practical mini-research, I can say with absolute certainty that one should not adhere to this diet, especially individuals with health issues.

A much more effective method for weight loss is to maintain a proper and balanced diet with a slight calorie deficit (200–300 calories per day below the recommended norm). With such an approach, your body won’t experience stress, will receive the necessary micronutrients and macronutrients, and you will have more energy. With this calorie deficit and regular physical activity, you can lose around 450–500 grams (approximately 1 pound) of weight.

Don’t experiment with your body! I’ve already conducted the experiment for you. If you need dietary recommendations or want to improve your eating habits, don’t hesitate to seek assistance from me.

 Fitness And Health