This is a system that has been known to everyone for a long time - the “Minus Dinner” diet. Now it has another name - American. It involves the exclusion of evening food in any form.
To get the minimum result, you don’t have to do anything else. There is no fasting or strict restrictions, but by following a strict eating regimen, you can lose weight and easily maintain it in the future.
Diet principles
As it turned out as a result of tests, not only the composition of the diet is important. The timing of breakfast, lunch and dinner is of great importance.
Many people don’t have breakfast at all – in the morning they have no appetite, time or desire to cook. Then, during the workday, food consists of cookies and sandwiches eaten on the run. And when evening comes, a person comes home and begins to relax - eats heavily, watches a movie or goes to bed.
The result of this nutritional algorithm is weight gain.
This happens because at night the digestive processes are not so intense, and the absorption of what is eaten is slow. In the morning there is no appetite, and further according to the already described scenario. If a lot of foods containing fast carbohydrates are eaten at dinner, stable kilograms will form.
Excess weight also appears due to poor control of the amount eaten. This happens because the signal to receive the necessary load does not immediately reach the brain. If eating occurs at a high speed, a person manages to eat much more than he needs.
The essence of the method
Often the cause of weight gain is improper food intake.
A person skips breakfast due to various circumstances. Some people don’t feel hungry in the morning, others don’t have time to eat a full meal, and others are simply too lazy to cook something.
Later in the day, people also do not have a normal lunch, snacking on something on the run. As a result, upon arriving home, they experience a wild feeling of hunger, and it no longer matters how healthy or unhealthy the food they eat is.
It is quite difficult to break out of this circle, especially if such a diet becomes systematic. Food does not have time to be digested overnight, calories are not consumed - and weight is rapidly gained.
The “minus dinner” diet received the name “American” thanks to research by scientists from the States. They have proven that meal timing plays a big role. The fact is that at night all body systems slow down their work, especially the duodenum.
Food in the evening is difficult to digest. Then, once it enters this section of the intestine, it does not move further. And at this time, bile continues to be produced. All this leads to unpleasant consequences: bile accumulates in the bladder, and over time, stones and inflammation form. In addition, when undigested food lies in the intestines for a long time, it begins to ferment and rot. A person suffers from bloating, and sometimes even from poisoning with decay products that enter the blood.
Naturally, toxin poisoning begins to negatively affect your appearance. A person develops acne, dull complexion, and rashes.
Another reason for overeating is the weakening of the brain's control over the satiety centers. The signal that the stomach is full comes slowly, so a person easily eats much more than required.
And finally, poorly digested food will contribute to the feeling of fullness in the morning, which is why people skip breakfast.
We recommend reading about the Institute of Nutrition diet. You will learn about the pros and cons of the diet of the Institute of Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, a sample menu for obesity, weight loss results, and reviews from clinic patients. Find out more about the meat-free diet here.
How to lose weight by Minus dinner
This nutrition system involves changing the calorie intake pattern. High-calorie meals are eaten in the first half of the day. This also applies to sweets and confectionery.
The final dinner of the day should be no later than 5 hours before going to bed. For those who go to bed after midnight, dinner time is moved to 19:00, but not later.
picture of young attractive woman in the kitchen
This eating schedule is necessary to burn more calories. If you want to lose weight faster, you need to adjust the list of allowed products by excluding from it:
- fast food;
- smoked meats;
- pickles;
- very hot and spicy food;
- dishes fried with oil.
It is recommended to eat more at breakfast. Then during the day your appetite will be less, it will be easier to control the consumption of cookies, crackers and other light snacks.
During the day you can’t get by with snacks – there must be lunch. It is advisable to organize three meals a day in small portions.
It is recommended to drink plenty of fluids. It's best if it's just clean water. The minimum amount to drink per day is 2 liters. At the same time, ready-made juices and sweet carbonated drinks are excluded.
The food is enriched with vitamins and plant fiber. This requires vegetables, fruits, and berries. Porridge cooked in water is a must. You need protein - so your diet should include boiled or baked meat.
How to get used to not eating in the evening
For those who are used to evening hours with their favorite food, diet may be a problem, but you can get used to it.
- If you move your dinner time every day by a quarter of an hour, you can quietly get results - the habit of eating 5 hours before bedtime.
- To this you can add a small reduction in portions every two to three days. To do this, you can buy smaller plates without heaping them.
- Having to get up from your desk and taking short breaks also helps.
Pros and cons of eating without dinners
Any diet has strengths and weaknesses, which are assessed individually by the people who use them.
Advantages
- The diet is not strict: calories are not counted, favorite dishes do not disappear from the menu.
- The food is complete - meat and vegetable dishes are present in the diets and are even recommended.
- Only a few categories of food will have to be excluded: fast food, baked goods, confectionery, fatty foods, fried foods.
- The diet does not require the preparation of special dishes; the person continues to eat at the family table.
- Even with maintained eating habits, weight decreases. This happens slowly, so you shouldn't expect quick results. At the same time, there is no risk of quickly returning the lost kilograms.
- Since the weight is lost gradually, the skin easily restores turgor and does not sag.
- According to doctors, this is the easiest and safest way to lose weight.
Flaws
The diet has disadvantages, due to which it may not suit some users.
- Weight loss is slow.
- Often the scale needle stays at the same mark for weeks. This means that a balance has been achieved between calories consumed and calories expended. In this case, you will have to review your menu and exclude everything high-calorie from it.
- It will be difficult for those who work at night to get used to the diet. Usually in this case, a person eats after working hours - in the morning, before going to bed. It is recommended to eat low-fat cottage cheese and drink kefir before resting. Gradually, you will have to reduce the portions, and then completely refuse to eat before bed.
- Difficulties also arise when visiting. You will have to control yourself and not overeat. The next day, the diet is revised, excluding the most high-calorie foods.
How effective is the diet? Results from real people
Based on their reviews on the Internet, the “Minus Dinner” diet brings the desired results if you adhere to the basic rules and recommendations. It does not allow you to lose tens of kilograms in a matter of weeks, but it guarantees moderate weight loss. Small dietary restrictions without giving up your favorite foods lead to a loss of 1-1.5 kilograms without additional activity. If you start exercising and burning calories, the results will be much greater.
The American system is aimed at healthy weight loss. This means that the body does not experience stress and gets rid of fat on its own, receiving the necessary vitamins, micro and macroelements from food. If you return to your usual diet, there is no sharp reversal of results. Below are reviews about the effectiveness of the “Minus Dinner” diet for those losing weight:
- I liked the diet, although the results were slow at first. To increase my efficiency, I started working out in the evenings. Thanks to limiting dinner and simple squats, I lost 10 kg in a month and a half.
- I didn’t know about such a nutrition system, although I haven’t eaten after 17:00 for three months now. For me, the result is obvious - excess weight goes away and the body feels better.
- I combined the American system of no dinner with a refusal of flour and sweets. Within three months I stepped on the scales and saw the result - about 15 kg. Now I do exercises to tighten my skin.
Sample menu
This weight loss system remains effective even if a person continues to eat the way he is used to. But the best results are obtained if you create a menu of foods that are considered useful and healthy.
The following weekly schedule can be used as a sample. All dishes are simple, easy to prepare, and you can vary the ingredients.
1 day
In the morning
- Boiled potatoes or stewed cabbage.
- Salad of tomatoes and cucumbers.
- Grapefruit.
- Cottage cheese with honey can be replaced with cheese or curd mass.
- Unleavened or whole grain bread.
- Some nuts: walnuts, almonds.
During the day
In the evening
A glass of kefir.
Day 2
In the morning
- Sandwiches with cheese and herbs.
- A portion of stewed chicken with vegetables.
- Apple.
During the day
Sandwiches with boiled chicken breast, vegetables (herbs, sweet peppers and tomatoes).
In the evening
Green tea with honey.
Day 3
In the morning
- Durum pasta with meat, seasoned with tomato sauce.
- Vegetable salad.
- Ripe plums.
- Fish baked in the oven.
- Vegetable salad to taste.
During the day
In the evening
Ryazhenka, 200 ml.
4 day
In the morning
- Omelet with cheese, tomatoes, herbs.
- Slightly stale bread.
- Fresh pineapple.
- Sandwiches with ham and cheese.
- Cottage cheese or curd mass.
During the day
In the evening
A couple of cups of tea with honey.
5 day
In the morning
- Grilled chicken.
- Pineapple – fresh or canned.
During the day
You can make sandwiches like the previous day.
In the evening
A glass of skim milk.
Day 6
In the morning
- Pea and lentil porridge.
- Salad.
- Baked apple, you can cook it with honey and cinnamon.
- Chicken baked in the oven.
- Stewed or baked vegetables.
- Some nuts.
During the day
In the evening
Tea with jam.
Day 7
In the morning
- Pie with greens.
- Pear.
- Muesli.
- Yogurt without sugar.
During the day
In the evening
Kefir.
Diet features
There will be no quick weight loss. Days and weeks will pass before obvious results appear. You will have to show willpower every day, since changing habits is extremely difficult. It is advisable to adopt the diet not as a restriction with a certain period of use, but as a permanent diet.
First, the body gets rid of excess fluid accumulated in the tissues, and then the breakdown of fat deposits begins. Therefore, there may be a quick loss of several kilograms. Then weight loss slows down and may even stop for a while. During this period, you still need to eat according to the correct schedule, eliminating the most high-calorie and harmful foods from your diet. Therefore, it is difficult to take before and after photos; a lot of time must pass.
Photos before and after the diet
If you combine meals without dinner with a strict selection of products, as well as exercise, the result will be noticeable. There are people who have lost 20 kg or more.
Advantages and disadvantages
The “Minus Dinner” diet is ideal for those who have been unable to cope with excess weight for a long time. Traditional systems are designed to help you lose weight quickly, but they don't teach proper eating habits. As a result, people find it difficult to adhere to the rules, they constantly break down, do not comply with the total caloric intake, and the effect leaves much to be desired. In the case of restricting dinner, people's reviews indicate the effectiveness of the system. The main advantages include:
- free choice of food, without limiting your favorite dishes;
- lightness in the stomach due to the refusal of a heavy dinner and food at night;
- there is no need to count calories, since it is enough to follow the rules;
- the possibility of moderate weight loss at a rate of 1-1.5 kg within a week;
- there are no strict restrictions regarding flour and sweets during the daytime;
- no contraindications or stress for the body, which guarantees ease of compliance with the rules.
A person should refuse a heavy dinner during the diet, and also switch to light food. Although there are no food restrictions, it is better to reduce the amount of sugar and sweets you consume. The disadvantages of this approach include:
- low rate of weight loss compared to other programs;
- restrictions on the last meal;
- not suitable for people who experience digestive problems, as well as peptic ulcers.
Reviews
You can immediately notice that almost no one writes about the stunning effect. The reviews contain results achieved over a fairly long period of time.
Sofia, 47 years old, followed the Minus Dinner diet for 3 months. I lost 10 kilograms. I adjusted the diet recommendations:
- I started the day by drinking clean water, 1-2 glasses;
- I ate whatever I wanted for breakfast (eggs, sausage, meat); I always ate my fill in the morning;
- at lunch she also ate heartily, but tried to select dishes with less calories;
- I didn't have dinner at all.
Plus I drank all the time - still mineral water or clean water. If I wanted, I drank my favorite kind of beer in the evening, but without any additions. This is even good, as it has a diuretic effect. If I suddenly felt hungry in the evening, I ate a few spoons of something low in calories. And then I also practice this diet: a hearty breakfast, and an apple or a pear for lunch and dinner. So there is an effect - minus dinner, and the weight is no more than 60. Without cucumbers and stale bread.
Alla, 24 years old I don’t think this is proper nutrition. I don’t want to argue with anyone, I’ll just draw the attention of potential users to the psychological side of this. Due to the emptiness in the stomach and hunger, sleep is disturbed. Such a diet is a separation from the family, since relatives often meet and communicate only in the evening, at dinner. Moms who cook these dinners and don’t eat anything themselves are unlikely to lose weight easily. In addition, they will have to be absent from the family table. I think this is wrong. Therefore, before starting a diet, you should think about whether there is another, more convenient way to lose weight. If the listed factors do not interfere, diet can be a solution to the problem. After all, you can eat almost everything.
Galina, 39 years old I use this weight-only diet to lose weight by summer. This is Minus dinner, but with my amendments. I eat at 16:00 and eat until the morning, that is, the body remains without food for at least 15 hours. This gives it a break from digesting. At 4 o'clock in the afternoon I eat a normal dinner - porridge, omelettes or vegetable stew. I almost eat in the morning. Just coffee, some fruit or chocolate. I have a heavy lunch and without restrictions. I exclude all harmful foods, salt and sugar too. I eat this way for about 2 weeks and lose about 4 kilograms.
Katerina, 35 years old, recovered terribly after the operation. In the hospital I got used to eating a lot, and in the absence of movement it turned into folds of fat. I tried different ways to lose weight, but nothing worked. I decided to give up dinners, and at the same time threw out everything from my diet that nutritionists usually prohibit. It was terribly difficult, but I decided to work my way up to a normal weight. I got used to doing without cookies and buns, and also not eating in the evening. She ate from small plates with a teaspoon. Within a year I lost almost my previous weight. There were no breakdowns, since meat, fruits, vegetables, even sweets - everything was on the menu.
System minus 60 by Ekaterina Mirimanova for weight loss.
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The dangers of skipping dinner altogether
A sharp change in the daily menu and nutrition schedule can have a negative impact on your figure. It is worth understanding that completely refusing evening food will lead to stress. Because of this, the amount of calories consumed in the morning and daytime will increase, which will affect the effectiveness of weight loss.
The correct “Minus Dinner” diet involves gradually limiting food in the evening. Because the body is slow to accept changes, complete withdrawal can cause weight gain. Also, you should not count on sky-high results, since the diet is intended for weight loss at a moderate speed without harm to health. The main thing is not only to get rid of extra pounds, but also to maintain the result.