Caramella, a popular YouTuber, tested a week-long soup diet to see if it could promote weight loss and boost energy. Throughout her journey, she experienced various challenges such as hunger, fatigue, and cravings, ultimately losing 2.8 kilograms. Despite some initial benefits, she found the diet mentally taxing and unsustainable. While soups can help with satiety, her experience highlighted the importance of a balanced diet for lasting weight loss rather than relying solely on liquid meals.
The first version of this article was published on Fit For Fun*.
Caramella, a vibrant YouTuber with a following of 496,000 subscribers who delights her audience with spontaneous self-experiments and entertaining content, embarked on a unique challenge: a week solely on liquid meals. Initially doubtful about her ability to thrive on just soup, the allure of quick weight loss and an energy boost drew her in. Her mission? To discover if soups truly hold the key to effective dieting.
Navigating the Soup Diet: Daily Experiences
Day 1: The Initial Hurdles
Kicking off her journey, Caramella began with cabbage soup. To her surprise, it wasn’t as bad as she expected, but she quickly realized it didn’t satiate her hunger. By evening, she faced her first headaches and cravings, though a green bean soup helped alleviate her hunger pangs.
Day 2: Energy Depletion
Day two was challenging. After consuming lentil soup, Caramella felt nauseous and drained. Dining out with friends became difficult as she was limited to curry soup while they indulged in burgers and fries. The anticipated energy boost was absent, and her hunger intensified. A late-night vending machine discovery of tomato soup provided some relief.
Day 3: Emotional Rollercoaster
On the third day, things began to look up; Caramella was less hungry and even anticipated a lentil soup. But by afternoon, her mood plummeted, and she felt weak. A goulash soup offered minimal comfort, and dinner with mushroom soup left her unsatisfied.
Day 4: Endless Food Cravings
The fourth day was marked by constant food thoughts that distracted her from tasks. Although she noticed she felt full faster, the monotony of soup left her feeling discontent. A Vietnamese chicken soup did little to lift her spirits, leaving her in a funk.
Day 5: Fading Motivation
Motivation hit rock bottom on day five. Caramella craved sweets and was fed up with soups. Nevertheless, she pushed through with a cream of asparagus soup, although the desire for fast food intensified, especially as her coworkers ordered shawarma.
Day 6: The Final Push
By day six, a glimmer of hope emerged. Starting with letter soup and enjoying lentil soup later, Caramella still couldn’t shake the thought of curly fries but remained committed to the lentil option.
Day 7: Completion of the Challenge
The final day arrived, and Caramella eagerly anticipated the conclusion of her soup diet. She finished off the last of her chili con carne soup, but her mood didn’t improve. Another lentil soup marked the end of her experiment, and she felt relieved to return to solid meals, curious about the true impact of her week of soups.
The Outcome: Evaluating the Soup Diet
After seven days on the soup diet, Caramella lost 2.8 kilograms and felt lighter temporarily. However, the negatives outweighed the positives: persistent fatigue, irritability, and a sense of deprivation turned the experience into a mental struggle. “I wouldn’t recommend this diet to anyone,” she concluded candidly.
Essential Insights on Soup Diets
Research supports that soups can aid in feeling full quickly, potentially lowering calorie consumption. Studies demonstrate that consuming a low-calorie soup before meals can decrease total intake by as much as 20 percent. Additionally, vegetable or legume soups are rich in nutrients that bolster health.
However, subsisting solely on soups for an entire week is neither practical nor sustainable. The exclusion of solid foods and the unvaried diet can place undue stress on both body and mind.
Caramella’s experience illustrates that soups can be a valuable component of a balanced diet—particularly as a low-calorie starter or dinner option. For lasting weight loss success, it’s essential to embrace a well-rounded diet that is both satisfying and enjoyable. This approach helps maintain motivation without the feelings of deprivation or frustration.
*The first version of this article appeared with our colleagues at Fit For Fun.de.