Gillian McKeith's Boot Camp Diet
The Boot Camp Diet - Gillian McKeith

Gillian McKeith has a new diet and recipe book out that means you can experience a boot camp for weight loss in the comfort of your own home. Weight loss boot camps have become increasingly popular and Dietitian Juliette Kellow BSc RD takes a look at this DIY version.

Gillian McKeith's Boot Camp Diet By Gillian McKeith

By Dietitian Juliette Kellow BSc RD

What’s the Theory?

This is a 14-day plan that effectively takes you on a day-by-day journey to help you evaluate and change your eating, exercise and lifestyle habits so that you lose weight. It really is that simple!

What Does the Diet Involve?

After a day of initial preparation for the boot camp, on day 2 you plan and start to follow your diet. You’re allowed to have veg, fruit, nuts, seeds, grains, beans, tofu, fish, white meats, herbs, spices and herbal teas.

Everything else is out. Throughout the remaining 14 days there’s advice on super foods, diet tips and advice on snacks and eating out to help you stick with the programme and develop good habits that you can follow after the boot camp.

How Much Weight will I Lose?

Sadly, there’s no indication given on the amount of weight loss you can expect but at a guess most people would lose up to 7lb as the diet severely limits calories.

What Can I Eat in a Typical Day?

First thing: Warm water with a squeeze of lemon juice.

Breakfast: Smoothie made from 1 banana and a cup each of strawberries and blueberries.

Snack: Hummus with carrot and cucumber sticks.

Lunch: Salad of mixed sprouts, rocket, cherry tomatoes and avocado with a lemon and olive oil dressing.

Snack: Carrot, beetroot and celery juice with ginger

Dinner: Lemon sole with mangetout, broccoli and kale.

Snacks: A small handful of almonds.

Drinks: 2 litres of water plus herbal teas.

What Else Does the Book Include?

Each day provides a series of tasks and advice. For example, on day one you mentally prepare to lose weight, carry out tasks such as deciding what you want to get out of the boot camp experience, rate how you feel physically, mentally and emotionally, measure your weight and vital statistics and carry out questionnaires on health, eating habits and your lifestyle.

At the end of the 14 day boot camp, there are a series of questionnaires to help you look at certain aspects of your health such as adrenal stress, blood sugar balance, detoxification, digestion, female hormones, food sensitivity, heart and circulation, hypothyroid, immune system, and mind and mood – together with action plans to solve potential problems. Plus, there’s a boot camp cleanse, plenty of recipes and worksheets to complete.

Juliette’s Verdict

This is effectively a detox programme, although it’s less strict than many other typical detox plans. Chances are you’ll lose weight as most of the foods you are allowed are low in calories.

Even if you eat large amounts (perhaps with the exception of nuts, seeds and grains), you’ll still end up with a relatively low calorie intake overall and so will see the pounds drop off. Like most strict diets, this plan may leave you short on nutrients, particularly iron due to the lack of red meat and calcium, thanks to the lack of dairy products.

Following it for 14 days probably won’t do any long-term damage though and will help you to de-junk your diet, eat more fruit and veg, drink more water and quit caffeine and booze. If you want to give it a go, use it to kick-start a longer-term healthy eating plan that includes a wider variety of foods and nutrients.

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