What’s the latest diet craze have you tried lately? How did it work? Did it even work at all?
I may sound skeptical about certain diet plans and I know you are, too. With an overwhelming number of slimming or diet programs available, choosing one that truly fulfills a sustainable weight loss can be quite challenging.
Even more daunting is the fact that many of the so-called “fad diets” surely work for a while, but don’t result in long-term weight loss.
The overall program may look good, with all the scientific evidence, proven techniques, and natural ingredients that aim to convince you into trying out the product, only to find out that it did not work for you.
Well, let’s put our doubts to rest for a while as we make a review about a recently-launched diet program that claims to produce rapid weight loss results.
Have you heard about the Smoothie Diet lately? Is it just another fad diet?
Let’s see how this current diet trend differs from the other existing diet plans and if it really is as good and effective as it claims to be.
What is the Smoothie Diet All About?
The Smoothie Diet is a 3-week online weight loss program that replaces certain meals with healthy smoothies to maximize weight loss and improve health.
This should not be confused with a smoothie fad diet that replaces all meals of the day. Rather, Smoothie Diet has a custom 3-week weight loss schedule that allows you to replace any one or two of the daily meals (either breakfast or lunch) with smoothie recipes that are packed with fruits, vegetables, protein, and few healthy fats.
According to smoothiediet.com review, all the smoothies are given in a very specific sequence and frequency, so you need not worry about exceeding your recommended calorie intake.
In this program, you are mainly provided with recipes, drink schedules, healthy eating guides that you can follow for 21 days or more to achieve your desired results.
The program also allows you to have a “cheat day” where you can eat some of your food cravings so long as they are high fiber and low sugar snacks or food.
What is Inside the Smoothie Diet Plan?
The Smoothie Diet is more than just a compilation of recipes; it is a comprehensive guidebook that teaches you many things about smoothies – what to drink, when to drink them for best results, and the best smoothies for different activities, to name a few.
So, other than the recipes, you will also benefit from the schedules, pre-made grocery shopping lists, recipe cards, workout plans, healthy eating guides, and more.
The Smoothie Diet PDF comes with the following package:
- Full 21-Day weight loss and health improvement program.
- Over 36 smoothie recipes to help you lose weight.
- A weekly grocery shopping list.
- Insider tips on making smoothies along with prep guide to help you spend less time in the kitchen.
- Diabetes-friendly and gluten-free smoothie recipes to follow the program.
- Healthy eating guide for maintenance.
- Kids friendly smoothie recipes.
Specifically, here’s what you’ll see inside the guide:
Main Guide
- Chapter 1: Fat Burning 101
- Chapter 2: Smoothie Basics
- Chapter 3: What to Eat
- Chapter 4: The Program Weeks
- Chapter 5: FAQ
- Chapter 6: Wrap Up
- Chapter 7: Recipes
Smoothie Schedule
- 5 Week Program, 7 Days a Week
Shopping Lists
- Navigating a Grocery Store
- Shopping Lists Broken Down for Each Week
Recipe Cards
- Printable Recipe Cards for each Recipe
Daily Journal
- Journal for Each Week
- Mood, Energy, Digestion, Cravings Tracker
- Mind, Exercise Tracker
Healthy Eating Guide
- Chapter 1: Introduction
- Chapter 2: Healthy Eating Basics
- Chapter 3: Healthy Eating Tips + 7 Day Meal Plans
Workout Plan
- Fast Fat Blasting Workouts for Busy People
- Introduction
- Beginner Workouts
- Intermediate Workouts
- Advanced Workouts
Diabetes-Friendly Smoothies
- 42 Smoothies that are Diabetes-Friendly
Gluten-Free Smoothies
- 42 Smoothies That Are Gluten-Free
Smoothies for Kids
- Chapter 1: Introduction
- Chapter 2: Eating Healthy Early in Life
- Chapter 3: The Power Lies in You
- Chapter 4: Breakfast Skipping – An Absolute No-No
- Chapter 5: Boost Your Child’s Nutritional Intake with Smoothies
- Chapter 6: A More Effective Way to Classifying Foods
- Chapter 7: Conclusion
- Chapter 8: 5 Fruit Smoothies
- Chapter 9: 5 Green Smoothies
This program also offers bonus eBooks to help you fast track the process of detoxification and weight loss:
Bonus #1: The 3-Day Smoothie Detox
You can do this detox program before starting the 21-Day program to help clear out the “cobwebs” and get your body ready for optimal results. This is your go-to guide if you want to lose a quick few pounds or “reset” your health after you go off track, and you can definitely use it anytime. Using this program will give you an almost instant weight loss results, as per the smoothiediet.com official website.
Bonus #2: Quick-Start Guide
It’s a condensed version of the core guide that contains the 3-week schedule, shopping lists, prep guide, and smoothie recipes. It is designed as such so you can start using right away without needing to read the longer core guide and enjoy the benefits of the program from the very first instant you download it.
How Does This Diet Plan Work?
First, you start with a 3-day detox program that suggests meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as snacks. This means your body will go through the process of “cleansing” to eliminate the toxins, which might somehow cause you to feel overly tired, nauseous, lightheaded, and other side effects.
These are normal reactions of your body when it goes through detoxification. But worry not, because this eBook addresses those side-effects and gives recommendations on how to relieve them.
After the detox stage, you can now proceed to the core of the program: the 21-day smoothie plan.
Actually, the Smoothie Diet review has different plans you can choose from.
The first one – “The Detox plan”, where you replace all your 3 main meals with healthy smoothies.
The other one includes the 21-day plan, where you replace 2 meals with a smoothie and have one regular meal with a few snacking, which must be lower in calories and rich in fiber.
On days where you are physically more active, or you need to do high-impact exercises, you can switch to a “flex day” option where you can have one smoothie followed by 2 meals.
You can also have one “cheat day” per week but only includes a recommended food list for the day.
After the end of each week, there is a weekly wrap-up, with encouraging and motivational quotes as well as a notes page where you can write down any thoughts or ideas. This way, you can see your progress throughout your weight loss journey using this program.
The 21-day smoothie diet plan does not end there. You can actually repeat the three-week cycle as many times as you want until you achieve your desired results.
But an important thing to keep in mind is that this diet plan is not for everyone. It is not recommended for people having food allergies, or those with serious health conditions. You need to consult a health professional before starting the Smoothie diet for weight loss. The importance of exercise or any physical activity is also emphasized in this program.
Who’s Behind the Smoothie Diet plan?
Drew Sgoutas is the author of The Smoothie Diet. He is a certified health coach and nutrition expert. Some independent reviews say that he is not a registered dietitian, but considering the huge following of this program, you can very well say that he is highly recognized in the health and fitness industry because of this innovative eating plan.
Drew focuses on teaching you the importance of using natural ingredients, healthy foods, and home cooking. He also stresses the significance of physical activities that is why he incorporated several workouts in this guide to help you achieve optimal health.
What Benefits Can You Derive from this Program?
- The diet plan can boost your servings of vegetables and fruits. This is the best way to boost your consumption of both if you don’t eat them that much.
- Aside from fruits and veggies, you can also add protein and healthy fats so you practically have a complete meal in liquid form.
- It doesn’t require a full-time calorie counting, unlike many famous diet plans. Since fruits and veggies are lower in calories, you don’t need to calculate your calorie intake all day long.
- The e-book contains weekly shopping lists broken down to simplify your store visits during this 21-day smoothie diet plan
- The step-by-step guide is easy to follow and understand.
- The recipes are easy to prepare and convenient for busy people. If you are pressed for time, you can “drink” your breakfast on the way to work or make them the night before.
- You only need a blender and a few ingredients to use.
- The smoothies are tasty and nutritious at the same time. The ingredients are rich in fiber and loaded with vitamins and minerals.
- They are the best healthy options if you want an energy boost throughout the day.
- Consuming smoothies rather than processed food brings out a clear complexion and healthy hair. Fiber-rich smoothies can act as a detox as they help to flush out the toxins and restore the ideal acid-alkaline equilibrium in the body.
- Apart from the smoothie recipes, the program also comes with workout plans and healthy eating guides that you can follow to help you live a healthier life.
Are There Any Drawbacks on This Diet Plan?
Despite all the benefits that come with Smoothie Diet, surely, there are also downsides to this weight loss system.
Replacing all your meals with smoothies is not ideal.
Consuming food in liquid form makes you feel less satiated, thus you tend to eat more calories than you otherwise would have if you eat solid foods. Better to eat at least one or two regular meals a day and one smoothie as a meal replacement, especially if you are just starting out with this diet.
This diet plan is rather restrictive.
Most of the ingredients (fruits and vegetables) are devoid of the essential proteins and healthy fats, both of which are essential nutrients needed by our body. Protein is crucial for building muscle strength, repairing tissues, strengthening bones, and making enzymes, hormones, and other body chemicals. On the other hand, healthy fats help your body absorb some nutrients, give your body energy, and support cell growth.
If you make smoothies as part of your diet, make sure it contains essential macronutrients namely, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. As per the Smoothie Diet review, it is recommended to have a protein intake of at least 50 grams daily. You may try adding some chia seeds and flax seeds to thicken up your smoothies and provide you with essential nutrients. You may also include foods that are high in healthy fats such as nuts, avocados, or milk.
Smoothie Diet is not recommended for everyone.
While fruit contributes healthy nutrients, it also has a high sugar content that is not recommended for some people with serious health complications like diabetes. Some smoothies also call for honey, which only adds calories to them. This is also not recommended for some people, including children, pregnant and nursing women, and other people with certain health conditions. Consult with your healthcare provider first before starting any diet.
It may be convenient, but preparing it can be time-consuming.
Preparing your 2 to 3 smoothies a day still requires time and effort. It can be challenging too if you’re away from home and have no access to a blender and all your ingredients.
It is not sustainable for weight loss.
The Smoothie Diet plan certainly works, based on a number of consumer reviews. However, there are some concerns about its sustainability and effectiveness in the long run. Your body will go through drastic changes when you cut down your intake of calories, and it is possible to lose muscle mass if you lose weight too quickly.
Also, when you go back to your previous eating habits, you’ll start gaining weight again. This must be the reason why this program suggests repeating the diet as frequently as possible.
Smoothie Diet lacks strong evidence
Many people who have tried this program may have felt better and more energetic, but there’s been little research supporting the notion that detox diets actually flush out toxins from the body.
As a matter of fact, the body naturally “detoxes” itself through digestion and excretion (such as bowel movements and sweat). Organs like the kidneys and liver are meant to filter and eliminate toxins.
Does it Mean Smooth Diet is a Scam?
Some people may think that the Smoothie Diet plan is a scam. But plenty of good reviews from the official and independent sites can prove otherwise.
One good thing about this diet program is that it does not claim to have the only solution to weight loss. It also emphasizes that the results are not the same for everyone as it all depends on how you follow the diet to the letter, and how your body responds to it.
Moreover, you are protected by this program’s return policy, so you don’t run the risk of putting your investment to waste in case you find it not ideal for you. You’ll get your full refund after 60 days of product trial.
Final Verdict
Definitely, smoothies can be a part of your daily health regimen but don’t rely on this diet alone.
We still need to consume the daily required calories for our bodies to function properly. If you consume lower than the recommended calories, you’ll only starve yourself and end up overeating. This leads you to gain more weight than ever.
On average, men need at least 1500 calories and women need at least 1200 calories per day. But the right number of calories is different for everyone; factors such as age, sex, weight, and activity level should be taken into consideration when assessing your daily calorie intake.
Having said that, smoothies can provide extra nourishment for your body, but they don’t necessarily fill your body up with the essential nutrients. Better to eat at least two regular solid food meals and one smoothie either as a snack or a meal for the day.
Conclusion
Truth be told, there is no easy path or shortcut to losing weight. You need to have a strong resolve to really achieve the body shape that you’ve always wanted. A well-balanced meal, coupled with regular exercises, staying hydrated and adequate sleep, are still the best practices for becoming slim and healthy.
Although a smoothie diet may not be the best option for your weight loss goal, you have nothing to lose if you give it a try. For just $37, you’ll have a full package of nutritious recipes, shopping lists, healthy eating guides, and carb-burning exercises that you must accomplish to get the results that you want.