How To NOT FAIL At The Cabbage Soup Diet

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Whether you’re on the diet right now or not, you came to my website because you wanted to lose some pounds with the week long Cabbage Soup Diet.

The awesome part is, MOST of you have followed the diet to the letter and gotten the results you wanted!  Some of you loved the diet and have done the cleanse over and over….buuuuuut some of you haven’t gotten the results you wanted – and that’s where this new post comes in!

From reading your comments and from doing the Cabbage Soup Diet quite a few times, myself, I’ve come up with some sure-fire tips to help you succeed with the BEST results possible!

General Advice

-For the most weight loss possible, FOLLOW the 7 Day plan!  Yes, I know that sounds like a silly thing to say, but it isn’t.  No, you cannot add things to the plan OR have an egg every morning because that’s what you’ve been doing since 1982. For these 7 days, follow the plan!

Is failing at diets and NOT staying on track a constant problem for you?  If so, I strongly encourage you to check out my review of Enjoying Weight Loss, a CD program that helps you stay on track – with the Cabbage Soup OR any long-term plan!! 

-EAT MORE SOUP!  You should never feel hungry this week. The Cabbage Soup Diet is NOT a starvation diet by any means.  Have 3-4 HUGE bowls of soup and if you’re hungry, have more.

-Drink NOTHING but water.  Yes, I know the cranberry juice and V8 are optional, but they do contain calories.  If you don’t want to drink calories, stick to water.

-Headaches happen.  They mostly happen to people who give up their caffeinated beverages for the week.  Yes, give up the soda and the diet Coke, too.  You CAN, however, have black coffee and tea, both of which have very few calories when taken black.  If headaches persist, take some aspirin!

-Take a multi-vitamin.  I promise, you will feel MUCH better if you take that multi-vitamin.

-Make a soup you like!!!  I get SO many comments from people saying they hate the soup. Why make a soup you dislike?  Taste as you cook it and spice it up to your liking!

-DO NOT ADD SALT.  Do not add salt substitutes, do not add seasoned salt. Do not add salt to the soup, do not add salt to your veggies. Don’t add salt to a bowl of soup or to your meat on the meat days. Add whatever other spices you like, but no salt!!

-You CAN substitute things!  If you’re allergic to tomatoes, don’t eat them this week!!  If you hate bananas, don’t eat them this week.  Find substitutes that are appropriate in my FAQ section on the site!

Alright, there is a small smarter list of tips to stay ON track and to lose the most weight possible.  In a few days, I’ll email with more info!

If you have any tips, leave them in the comments!

-Catherine

PS: Is this you??  If failing at diets and NOT staying on track is a constant problem for you, I strongly encourage you to check out my review of Enjoying Weight Loss, a CD program that helps you stay on track – with the Cabbage Soup OR any long-term plan!! 

  • not a cabbage

    This is week four, after my cabbage soup diet. I have lost five kilos in total, and still spiralling down – slowly but surely. One thing I learnt from the diet was – not to over eat – small portions frequently keeps you going. I don’t like that heavy feeling in my stomach anymore and so find light soups and salads and fruits a good meal substitute after I finished the cabbage soup diet.

    Thank you so much Catherine, for motivating us and keeping us on track.

  • Annie Bananie

    I did the cabbage soup diet last
    week and lost 11lbs. I actually enjoyed the cabbage soup but do miss having
    salt in it even though I am using more spice now. I enjoyed it so much that
    have decided to do it again this week while working out a healthier diet plan
    for after that. I feel that a big weight loss initially with encourage me to go
    on and maintain a healthy diet. The only substitute that I made was to change
    the beef streaks to chops baked in the oven in tin foil, in their own juices,
    lovely.

    So far haven’t felt hungry but did have a couple of headaches at the end of the
    week but nothing too bad and worth it to see the results.

    Thanks for all your help Catherine, it is much appreciated.

  • Don Atchason

    lost 6.8 # after 7 days.
    type 2 diabetic so added multivitamins
    and no side affects. Going back to regular diet (no buffets)
    and gallon water daily.
    Back on diet in 10 days if not lost another 5 #
    Diabetics can’t lose a bunch so being careful.
    clothes fit better, feel great, look great.
    Rings falling off for first time!!

    Don

  • MJ

    I found that I ADORE boc choi with a little bit of beef. Oh yum! so to die for. Better than that is when you add cabbage to the mix. I put in purple, green, and that leafy cabbage I can never remember what it’s name is too, soooo good! When I eat that each day after the soup diet is over I don’t regain the weight! Also when I made the soup the bouillon cubes made all the difference, yummy!

  • tina harris

    Hello..i have just started on day one…do i just
    Go by the plan? eat only whats on the list for that
    Day? No yogurt etc? thanks..this us new to me

  • Joan

    i am planning to start the soup plan this week.and its my hope that in 7days i will be back to this site with Great news.i currently weigh 210lb and my target is to loose 65 lb.

  • SONIA

    Can i continue to take soup with my normal diet after CSD is over?

  • lenae

    Its very hard for me to get started and eat that many fruits and veggies in 1 day much less a week. so to get past my veggie /fruit days I blend them all and make a smoothie. all fruits. all veggies. or a mix of both. I stay full and get in my healthy foods.

  • Elmarie

    Hi Catherine… I do the CSD, and i was wondering can i eat only the soup or must i eat everything that im told?

  • sikha

    please help,,,,, i dont like soup so wht will i do?? can i avoid soup and reduce about 10 to 17 pounds??

    • sikha

      i want to reduce my weight and i will cme back with the good result as well,,, but can i avoid soup..

    • lenae

      make the soup and just drink the broth

  • debbie

    do I have to eat all that other stuff or can I just eat the soup

  • http://www.facebook.com/deserae.brown Deserae MzRespect Brown

    I love your page so much you are helping alot of people on this diet…thank you so much

  • fatma

    what if you dont drink the soup.> wouldn’t you lose wait??????????

  • Kathleen

    i am vegetarian and on fourth day of cabbage soup diet..what can i substitute for meat

    • Kathiw

      Mushrooms! the big portabello mushrooms are great grilled and are chewy like meat. They are basically a negative calorie food as you metabolism burns more calories to digest them.

  • Kathiw

    I have done this diet many times, it is kind of a ritual after christmas to kick off the new year. We get all the goodies and leftovers out of the house and stock up on soup ingredients and fruit and veggies. A little tip I learned from my Mom was to add a capful of vinegar to soup instead of salt, you can also use lemon juice if you don’t have vinegar. I also add cumin and ciracha hot sauce to kick up the flavor a bit. Started a pot today. Tomorrow for my veggie day I will make a little stir fry and add portabello mushrooms as they kinda simulate meat when grilled. It also helps if you get yourself a nice water bottle and keep sipping water all day too. If you work like me you might like to stock up on no sugar added fruit cups in the refriderator section or produce section of your grocery store – they are a little
    expensive but much cheaper than food on some diet plans like nutri system or jenny craig.

  • Kathiw

    Started my diet Saturday (2 days ago), yesterday was rough for me as I love sweets and ushually drink a lot of diet soda. Haveing just a veggie and soup day was hard to not give in and have a satsuma orange or something, but I hung in there drinking only water and was really happy I did when I woke up today and weighed myself, down from 153lbs to 148 since Saturday. I do have to say I feel like I have lost a lot of the bloaty feeling I had been experiencing since the holdays, could be the weight loss, no salt, no diet soda? Anyway, today went better being able to have fruit again and I am really looking forward to tomorrow (banana day), and steak day :)

  • Kathiw

    Well it looks like no one else is posting on here, but today is day 5 and I am down another pound! Started at 153 and weighed in at 146 this morning. I have not been working out but am beginning to feel more energized…one thing at a time. The temp is 26 degrees here in Seattle this morning and cold sliced tomatoes don’t really sound too good for breakfast. Today is Steak and tomatoe day and I am excited to have that for dinner. I am on my second pot of soup and it is a lot less appetizing than it was earlier in the week, also not having fruit for the next couple days will be tough on my sweet tooth. I will post again and let you all know how the week ends! I have decided that if I stick with it I will reward myself with a pedicure.

    • http://www.cabbage-soup-diet.com Catherine Soup

      Hello! Most people head to the Facebook page, but you can post wherever. Glad its going so well! Enjoy that pedi!

  • elyshirley

    Today is day 3 of my journey. Not sure that I will lose a lot of weight, but in only 60 hours my fasting blood sugar has dropped 20 points. THAT is wonderful. If nothing else comes of this it was worth it.

  • Vicki

    I just started this diet and am on day 2. On the Beef and Tomato day, do you have to eat raw tomatoes or can it be canned/ cooked? Thank you!!

  • diva

    Hi every1,when I read through the blog and saw cahterine saying it was not gona be easy,I tot not of so much difficulty. Its my 1st day of the program and have been eating fruits and soup the whole day. When I prepared lunch for my kids I tot I wouldn’t survive but I did. I did not cheat. Hope I finish the 7days without cheating.

  • Lily

    Hi, I am currently putting a shopping list together, as I am going to start the diet on monday!… don’t know if I’m excited or nervous ;)

    Can someone please give me ideas for beef/tomato day, what kind of beef do you cook (steak/chops?? what?) and do you cook the tomatoes?? can someone please give me some ideas/recipies please, as I want to plan my week in advance, otherwise I know I will get stuck and then just end up throwing a pizza in the oven! lol

    Thank you in advance x

    • Tried and true

      Hello Lilly, on the beef/tomato day you can also have chicken or fish (baked/broiled). This will solve the problem. You can have up to 16 ounces.

  • http://www.facebook.com/tasha.delainejohnson Tasha Delaine-Johnson

    Can I used almond milk or organic milk Instead of skim or soy milk?

  • tash

    Can I used organic or almond milk Instead of skim or soy for the banana and skim milk day?

  • Ken

    I am a senior male who does not cook. Does any company market the cabbage soup.

    • Jenn

      check out whole foods….honestly, this soup is soo easy to make. Just remember to season it (add boullion & spicey v-8 for great flavor), I also add mushrooms, garlic, celery, shredded carrots, red & green pepper. On different days, you can add different things, to change flavor…like a tablespoon of salsa, or a table spoon of skim sour cream on skim milk day (this makes it so good!)

  • Jenn

    I try to do this diet every few months, just as a cleanser and a great way to keep healthy eating habits. My favorite thing is spaghetti squash…I bake on big squash the first night, before I go to bed. I shred it and put it in a tupperware bowl. Starting the second morning, I have fun making up ways to enjoy it. Usually, I make a variation of pretend hash browns, with diced onions & hot sauce or a little ketchup on the side..for breakfast. At lunch, I have the soup over squash, like a noodle soup. I incorporate it over many days, on the beef/chicken day, it serves as pretend pasta for spaghetti or caccitore. I suggest everyone add it to thier plan, so many options. I miss it when Im not on the diet!

  • Tina

    Hi I just started on this cabbage soup diet yesterday and I already feel good! However, I think I added too much water to the soup because it is bland. I added spices, but still bland. Any suggestions?

  • Bluecow999

    I’m on day 4 and have lost 4lbs in the first 3 days. I’ve been on this diet many times and love it although I can only really get to the end of day 5. Despite this I eat well for the remaining 2 and keep the initial weight loss off. Last night ( end of day 3) I had a very restless sleep with headaches and achey legs. I feel much better this morning and am glad I have stuck it through so far. I dont put onion or leek in my soup just cabbage and carrots etc and add a spoonful of Marmite which helps the flavour. Omitting the onion and leeks mean no offensive wind!!
    Will let you know the final weight loss.

  • Maryam

    Salam
    I m starting this recipe. But in our area we have not celery. so what i do.

  • leelei2004

    I am on day 5 and have only lost 2lbs. I haven’t cheated and have been following the diet to the letter. not sure as to why I’m not loosing much weight.

  • samanthaGallagher

    Can I eat bananas on day 3?