Chicken noodle soup recipe

Richard Booth35,

Fat = dry matter + water
Muscle = ( dry matter + water ) + glycogen ("glucose storage")

Since burning one pound of fat takes much longer than a single day (based on an average American lifestyle), especially if you are constantly consuming more energy than you burn, the only way to achieve rapid weight loss (not fat loss, just weight loss) is by flushing water out of the system.

Regarding muscle mass, its size depends on both cell count and the amount of water held within those cells. Bodybuilders frequently use creatine to aid in "building muscle mass," which is actually a harmless substance (found naturally in foods like salmon or tuna) that increases the muscle tissue's ability to bind water, thereby increasing muscle volume.

Furthermore, muscle size (volume) is also influenced by glycogen—glucose stored in a convenient form within the muscles to ensure the body doesn't run out of energy during sudden bursts of exertion.

By cutting carbohydrates from your diet, you deplete your glycogen stores (both in the muscles and the liver), which reduces muscle volume and weight, though not significantly.

Crash diets (though I suspect even Americans don't buy into anything with a "Hollywood" label anymore) usually achieve exactly this: losing water from both the muscles and the fat tissue. It is similar to taking a water-soaked sponge and squeezing it dry.

The issue is that about 70-80% of the human body is water, and the body strives to replenish that loss immediately. Consequently, after a "diet," the weight often returns even faster than it was lost.

Therefore, the only way to lose excess fat tissue (rather than just weight, since weight includes water and muscle) is through a diet that lowers energy intake below the level of energy expended through physical activity and daily life. This does not happen overnight. The weight didn't appear instantly, so it cannot be removed instantly either (unless you opt for surgery).😉

P.S. Maple is indeed a maple tree and yes, it is featured on the US flag; as for what is on the Australian flag, I am not sure.

Thanks, Martine, for the expert breakdown. So, what you're saying is we basically just flushed a bunch of water weight down the toilet during all those "fasting" days? Man, that sucks.
I’m honestly pretty jealous of all those intense challenge articles in the magazines my wife gets. You know the ones—that gorgeous woman on the cover wearing oversized pants she used to fit into, but now two of her could probably squeeze in there, reading: "She lost 306 lbs! on the new scientific low-carb plan!" In Cosmopolitan, there's this one tempting diet that both of us actually tried, hoping it would help us maintain our current weight:
www.healthyheartmiracle.com
The diet is called: "Get lean and healthy ultra fast!" Just look at the bottom of page five, right near that photo of the bowl of oatmeal and shrimp.
Martine, you really cracked me up when you said, "The weight didn't just 'show up' overnight..." It immediately made me think of some old folks back in my hometown who used to say about people carrying extra weight: "It wasn't wolves that caught them, it was the teeth."
Thanks again for all the hard work. 🙂

I mean, what do I know? I lost about 15 pounds using that chicken noodle soup recipe a while back, and it happened in stages... A little bit of soup, then a break, then more soup... Pound by pound, with breaks, obviously. Over a few months, my clothing size actually dropped 🙂

The diet itself is fine, mostly because it flushes out all the crap you usually put into your body... But seven days is the absolute, total limit! It’s just not healthy for the long haul!

Look, I get it—it's way healthier to exercise and lose weight through a steady calorie deficit over a longer period, etc., etc. But honestly? Every single time I've seen the most progress, it's been when I was starving myself. There's no magic trick to it, really.

When I'm actually working out, I just eat everything in sight; you seriously can't stop me.

My first day on the soup is just about over. My stomach hurts from hunger so much I could actually cry. But whatever, I earned this after all those times I went overboard on mini pizzas and peanuts at the office.

Wish me luck making it through these 7 days! 👍

I’ve been sticking to this chicken noodle soup recipe for about two weeks now—not necessarily because I'm trying to drop pounds, though God knows I should probably be doing that... more because this stuff is just incredible for a total body detox. It's packed with antioxidants, and honestly, I realized a long time ago that the weight isn't going to budge unless you actually put in the work and sweat a little bit.

How on earth have you been sticking to this diet for two whole weeks already???? 😲

So I’m walking around town today, the weather is absolutely miserable, and honestly, I just feel terrible. I’m nauseous, dizzy, basically feeling like I might pass out... plus I am STARVING, but apparently, I’m not allowed to eat a single thing! 😲

I don't know, maybe I could manage two weeks if I took a break halfway through—but two weeks straight? No way!

restlessmarlin6 said:I am officially marking the end of my first day on this soup diet. My stomach is actually aching from hunger, and I'm close to tears. Honestly, though, I earned this after spending all week snacking on mini pizzas and peanuts at the office.

Wish me luck as I try to make it through seven whole days! 👍

🙂 Fingers crossed! 😘

I don't know what to tell you. Earlier today, I mentioned to my mom that I wanted her to make me some soup, and she immediately shut me down. She claimed half the people at her job eat it and haven't lost any weight at all🙄 (which is obvious since they go out for pork or lamb every third night 😁 😁)... then she added that I probably shouldn't bother either...

My brother just sat there listening quietly until he finally piped up: "Look, I don't want to get involved here... but my girlfriend is just as tall as you are and she's already eight pounds lighter than you." 😁 😁

restlessmarlin6 said:How on earth have you stuck to this diet for two whole weeks already???? 😲>

So I'm walking around town today, the weather is absolute trash, and honestly, I just feel miserable... dizzy, lightheaded, plus I am STARVING and apparently I'm not allowed to eat a single thing! 😲

I don't know if I could actually pull off two full weeks straight... maybe with a break—but two weeks without stopping? No way.

Martine, please explain to us women why keeping our metabolism steady 🙏 is so important... avoiding those spikes and crashes.

Daniel Lopez said:🙂 Fingers crossed! 😘

I mean, what can I even say? Today at lunch, I mentioned to my mom that I wanted her to make that for me, and she totally snapped at me the second I brought up soup. She started going on about how half the people at her job eat it and they haven't lost any weight 🙄 (well, obviously, because every third night they were out eating pork or lamb 😁 😁)... then she added that I don't even need it...

My brother just sat there listening to the whole thing in silence, and then finally chimed in: "Look, I don't want to get involved here... but my girlfriend, who's just as tall as you, is already 8 pounds lighter than you." 😁 😁

Give my best to your brother and tell him his timing is absolutely perfect for a comment... 😁

And honestly, we probably don't even need it since it's basically a diet designed for 330-pound heart patients (like someone else mentioned earlier).

But personally, it’s worked for me a few times already. 🙂 And it'll work again. It has to.

Melissa Cruz2, trust me, I get it. But sometimes life just happens and you simply don't have the time to hit the gym and prep perfect, high-quality meals every single day.

By the way... I've heard a ton of nutritionists say this diet isn't actually that bad, provided you supplement it with some extra vitamins. It basically just flushes out your system and doesn't last very long 🙂 You won't even be able to complain if you can just power through those first couple of days.. 🙂

Anyway, I just had some Tang and felt a sudden wave of dizziness hit me 🙂

Then again, I deal with migraines—so I guess that might be playing a part too.. On a good day, I don't even feel that bad, even when I'm starving 🙂

The second day is almost over...

So, I finally whipped up this chicken noodle soup recipe today based on what you guys suggested... hoping that starting tomorrow I can kick off a massive winning streak with the scale... I'll let you know how it goes if I actually pull it off...

restlessmarlin6 said:Melissa Cruz2, look, I get it... but sometimes life just happens and you don't have the luxury of hitting the gym and prepping gourmet meals every single day...

The real trick is just having something on hand... a banana, some fruit, maybe a yogurt with probiotics... something to keep your metabolism from stalling. If you hit five or six small snacks, you can easily clock those 1200 calories without feeling like you're actually starving or passing out...

So, I’ve got my apples and everything else packed up and ready to go. Tomorrow, it’ll be bananas and yogurt. My bag is absolutely stuffed. 😁

But let's be real—an apple and some yogurt are definitely not a mini pizza. 😁 It doesn't count for me; an apple isn't a full meal.

Seriously, can someone just find me someone willing to trade a decent deli sandwich for maybe two or three apples or pears?

It’s tough, yeah. I'm hungry, but whatever, this is just part of the sacrifice. 😉 When you really have to do it, it isn't actually that hard...

So, I actually managed to drop 15 pounds! Honestly, though, it was mostly because I’ve been living on chicken noodle soup lately. Plus, I’ve been hitting the pavement for runs and snacking on tons of fruit. I can't touch yogurt, though—it gives me instant heartburn. My stomach just isn't a fan of dairy at all. But, I haven't skipped breakfast once! I usually have some whole grain toast with two slices of ham and cheese. And oh man, I drink so much water. I'm out running every single day, sweating buckets like it's my job. 🙄

restlessmarlin, just take it easy 👍

Betty Hill82 said:You can drop about 15 pounds in just seven days.

The rules are strict: no alcohol, no sparkling water, and absolutely no sugary drinks.
If you do have a drink, give yourself at least a 24-hour buffer after finishing the diet.

If you end up losing more than 15 pounds, take a week off to recover.

Honestly, this isn't really my thing. For starters, I’m not much of a meat eater, and if I don't have pasta, I feel like I'm going crazy.

Plus, that soup is pretty intense, and my stomach is super sensitive.

I managed to lose 10 pounds in five days, but man, I felt absolutely TERRIBLE.

My mom, on the other hand, loves it. She’s dropped over 20 pounds several times using this—and she wasn't even being perfect about it; she was still putting sugar in her coffee and sipping on soda.

Anyway, they usually recommend this diet for people with serious heart issues who are prepping for surgery.

Thanks, but hard pass from me!

😁

Okay, I don't even know where to start... this whole "3 pounds in 3 days" or "7+ pounds in a week" nonsense is driving me insane.
Let's look at the logic here. An average woman burns somewhere around 2,000 to 2,500 calories a day. Even if a woman didn't eat a single morsel of food for seven days and just drank plain water...
that would be 2,500 x 7 = 17,500 total calories.
(Though even that’s an exaggeration because once you're starving, your metabolism slows down significantly).
We all know that to melt away 1 pound of fat, you need to burn roughly 3,500 calories... so do the math. Seven days of zero food would only equal about 5 pounds of actual weight loss. Now, you might be wondering how people claim to lose 11 pounds in a week... No, you didn't. You lost 1 pound of fat, 3 pounds of water weight, and a whole lot of everything else because that stuff you're eating acts like a massive laxative.
There's about 2 liters of fluid just sitting in your digestive tract; let's just say that soup clears your system out, and boom—there's your "weight loss."
👋

That’s why you hear people say things like, "Oh my god, I lost 10 pounds, but then I gained 6 back immediately..."
If someone drops 15 pounds in a single week and then goes back to eating normally... they’re definitely going to end up gaining half of that right back, maybe even more. Your metabolism slows down, and suddenly everything you eat turns straight into fat because your body is basically bracing itself for the next period of starvation. It’s much better to aim for a steady loss of about 2 pounds a day—but please, skip the detox teas, those weird juices, and all that other junk.
What I suggest instead is getting active with high-calorie burns—think swimming, cycling, or running. Focus on leg workouts since your legs have the largest muscle groups, which means they burn the most energy and have great endurance. Beyond that, long-distance cycling is amazing, or running, though you'll need decent cardio for that.
In any case, I recommend steady-state cardio with short breaks. You don't need to sprint for a minute and then rest for five; just find a consistent pace and keep it going for at least 10 minutes. Why?
The question is: when do you actually see the most weight drop during physical exertion?
It happens right when your legs start to feel heavy and ache. That’s the sign that your body is running low on "fuel" and has started tapping into fat stores to keep you moving. Some people try to dress in layers to sweat more and "heat up" the fat to melt it away faster, but honestly, I wouldn't recommend that. It’s not healthy, especially if you have low blood pressure or aren't in great shape.
:rolleyes 🙄
Wow, I really went on a rant there! Most people think they only have 10 or 20 pounds of excess fat to lose, but they have no idea how massive 5 pounds of actual fat really is. What I mean is, once you lose a few pounds of pure calories, the visual difference is huge.

Bye!

I was just scrolling back through the previous posts... looks like Frank Lee 😁 already covered everything we need to know... lol 😁

Day 4, and I’m down about 5.5 lbs this morning—well, roughly, since I totally blanked on weighing myself before I actually started the diet 👍

I know most of that is just water weight, but honestly, you can see it in my stomach. My jeans are way more comfortable now; they don't dig into me when I sit down, and I just feel so much better 🙂

I don't know about all of you, but if I can stick to this for a full 7 days, it’ll be a huge personal win for me. It'll prove I actually have some willpower... I mean, I can't remember the last time in the past four years that I managed to stick to ANY kind of dietary change (healthy or otherwise) for more than two or three days.

Once this phase is over, I’ll keep going, but I’ll do it on my own terms... I'm hoping to look great by the time summer rolls around 🙂 My goal is to drop about 10-12 lbs by the end of June, and if I lose even more, hey, that's a bonus 😁

restlessmarlin6 said:I don't know about all of you, but for me, surviving seven days on this diet is gonna be my own little personal victory over my own lack of willpower—just proof that I actually have some backbone... honestly, I can't remember the last time in the past four years that I managed to stick to any kind of food restriction (healthy or otherwise) for more than two or three days.

Look, I’m not trying to lecture everyone here on why crash diets are basically useless and dangerous—you guys could have read all that elsewhere (and yeah, I’m talking to more than just restlessmarlin6)... but this whole idea of "conquering weakness" that restlessmarlin6 is talking about? That's really not the best way to look at how you interact with your own body... craving food isn't a character flaw, it’s just being a functioning human being. And storing extra energy as fat isn't some kind of disease either—it just means your system is working the way it was designed to. If you want to actually deal with extra calories without wrecking your health, there's really only one way to go about it: cut back on the calories—but do it reasonably—and stick to the food pyramid. Once you hit your target weight, just keep eating "normally" (meaning, follow that pyramid) for the rest of your life. There are nutritionists out there, and if your relationship with food is totally messed up, there are psychologists and psychiatrists who actually know how to help.

Just take care of yourselves and try to love your bodies a bit... you're gonna need them for the rest of your lives. 🙂

That's pretty intense, rustymoose54

🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏

So, what’s the actual deal here? Are you eating it as your entire meal, or just as an appetizer before something else? Like, is this your go-to whenever you get hungry... and also, does it actually work where you lose a pound a day, or are we talking about needing three whole months just to drop two pounds?