The Rice, Chicken & Apple Diet

The rice, chicken and apple diet is one of the many fad diets that promise quick weight loss. The kinds of food you can eat are limited to the ones mentioned in the name of the diet. However, there is no restriction on how much you can eat – you may have as much as you want any time of day.

The rice, chicken and apple diet lasts for nine days, divided into three parts of three days each. You eat only one of the three foods during each three day period, and can't mix food items or include any additional foods. You also may not have any alcohol while on the diet. You can drink water, tea or coffee. However, no milk or sugar is allowed.

During the first three days of the diet you eat only boiled rice. You are not supposed to add any other ingredients such as sauces or gravy. From day four to day six the diet switches to chicken, again with no added ingredients. You are supposed to remove the skin and boil, grill or roast the chicken. During the last three days of the diet you eat only apples. The apples can be eaten raw or they can be baked or boiled.

Advocates of the rice, chicken and apple diet say that you can lose as much as 20 lbs. in nine days. This is not a realistic expectation. Few people use even 3,000 calories a day and it takes a calorie deficit of 3,500 to lose just one pound of weight. Losing more than 3 or 4 lbs. in nine days is unlikely. Much of the weight someone loses on this diet is probably water weight, which will return as soon as the diet ends. The rice, chicken and apple diet does not provide proper nutrition. You get no dairy products or vegetables, and consequently don't consume many essential vitamins and minerals.

Extreme diets generally do not get good results. Even if you do lose some weight, you are likely to regain it because these diets don't help you develop the dietary and activity changes needed for long-term weight loss. The Mayo Clinic recommends a weight loss of 1 to 2 lbs. per week as a sensible goal. Choose a diet plan that provides a balanced, nutritious menu and that helps you eliminate excess calories. Start an exercise program to improve your physical fitness, and increase the number of calories you burn each day.