Learning Activity
What sport do (did) you play? The interviewee played National Collegiate Athletic
Association women’s basketball.
What made you decide to lose
weight?
I decided to lose weight after childbirth. I gained 18
pounds during the pregnancy. I struggled with postpartum
depression and gained an additional 10 pounds.
What approach did you take to
accomplish your weight loss
goals. (If they went on a diet,
have them describe the diet)
In the beginning, I tried eliminating carbohydrates, fat,
and sugar. I also tried to walk at least once a day. Then I
tried the Apple Cider Vinegar diet, two teaspoons after a
meal. But I stopped because it made my stomach burn.
Then I tried the Cabbage Soup diet. I ate the soup one
week on and one week off. My only drink was water.
Did you lose weight? If so how
much?
Yes. I lost 35 pounds.
While on the diet, how did it
affect your performance or
training? How did you feel while
on the diet?
I stopped playing basketball when I got pregnant. The
only exercise I did was walking. When I started the
Cabbage Soup diet, I always felt tired and had a lot of
headaches.
How long did you stay on the
diet? Why did you go off the diet?
I stayed on the diet for two months. I stopped because it
was not sustainable. I got tired of eating the soup.
Have you maintained the weight
loss? If so How long did you keep
off the weight?
No. I tried to maintain by eating pre-packaged meal. But I
gained 10 pounds within a month of stopping the diet.
(If appropriate) and they regained
the weight, ask what happened.
I was not consistent with the pre-packaged meals and
snacked on junk food. I was not really exercising. Then I
got pregnant again.
Diet Method
Learning Activity
The first diet my interviewee tried was the Apple Cider Vinegar diet. She had two
teaspoons of vinegar after each meal. Because the vinegar upset her stomach, she stopped after
four days. Next, she tried the Cabbage Soup diet. She found a recipe online for which cabbage
was the main ingredient. The soup also included root vegetables such as carrots and onions. She
ate this soup at least three times a day and drank only water. Kebles and Hemric describe the diet
as “less than 1,000 calories, which mostly come from unlimited consumption of cabbage soup,
along with 1-2 servings of other acceptable fruits and vegetables.”1 For example, the Omega Z
Diet Book states that along with the soup, “one day allows for unlimited consumption of
bananas, and a few other days allow for a baked potato.”1 A dietary supplement each day is
recommended.1 Furthermore, this diet should be consumed on a weekly basis with a two week
break.1
My interviewee’s methods were a little different from the book’s description. As an
example, she did the diet one week on and one week off. Also, she knew fruits were allowed but
someone told her fruit has too much sugar. So, she decided not to include any fruit. Nor did she
include dietary supplements or baked potatoes.
Healthy Approach?
Regarding the Apple Cider Vinegar diet, I think it was not a healthy approach. First, the
diet does not specify food options. Unless one is knowledgeable about Recommended Dietary
Allowances (RDA), there is a risk of excess or inadequate nutrient consumption. As well as poor
food choices. Second, apple cider vinegar poses potential side effects. Zeratsky writes, “apple
cider vinegar is highly acidic and may irritate your throat if you drink it often or in large
amounts. Apple cider vinegar may interact with certain supplements or drugs, including diuretics
Learning Activity
and insulin.”2 While I would not recommend this diet, research shows beneficial aspects of apple
cider vinegar. One study concluded that “acetic acid can prevent fat deposition, improve
metabolism and help lower blood sugar levels after a meal by changing how foods are absorbed
from the gut.”3
Regarding the Cabbage Soup diet, I believe it was an unhealthy approach. This is mainly
due to the low caloric intake. Low calorie diets usually restrict vital nutrient causing the body to
“adjust some of the energy pathways in response to a reduced amount of carbohydrate, fat, and
protein from food.”4 Normally, carbohydrates are transformed and stored as muscle glycogen.
When needed, the body uses the stored glycogen as glucose for energy. But in the case of low
intake, “some of the carbohydrates consumed will be used for immediate energy and will be
unavailable for storage as muscle or liver glycogen.”4 Thus, providing the basis for my
interviewee feeling tired while on this diet.
The risks associated with diets that restrict calorie and carbohydrate intake may include
mild effects such as gastrointestinal upset. But “severe carbohydrate limits can cause your body
to break down fat into ketones for energy (ketosis), possibly leading to bad breath, headache,
fatigue and weakness.”5 As previously mentioned, she often had headaches.
Recommendations
I would recommend seeking nutrition education from reliable sources (e.g., medical
journals, webinars, nutrition professionals). One study determined that “individuals will change
their diets appropriately when they get accurate information about what they should eat and they
should know the effects of foods consumption on health.”6 With nutrition knowledge, she will
Learning Activity
References
1. Kebles C, Hemric M. Omega Z Diet For Weight Loss. 2nd ed. Amazon 2022.
2. Zeratsky K. Drinking apple cider vinegar for weight loss seems far-fetched. does it work?
April 29, 2022. Accessed October 8, 2023.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/expert-answers/apple-cider-vinegar-
for-weight-loss/faq-20058394.
3. Shmerling RH. Apple cider vinegar for weight loss: does it really work? June 15, 2023.
Accessed October 8, 2023. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/apple-cider-vinegar-diet-
does-it-really-work-2018042513703.
4. Dunford M, Doyle JA, Killian L. Nutrition for sport and exercise. 5th Edition. Boston, MA:
Cengage; 2022.
5. Mayo Clinic. Low-carb diet: can it help you lose weight? November 15, 2022. Accessed
October 8, 2023. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/in-depth/low-carb-
diet/art-20045831.
6. Scalvedi ML, Gennaro L, Saba A, Rossi L. Relationship between nutrition knowledge and
dietary intake: an assessment among a sample of italian adults. Front Nutr. September 13,
2021;8:714493. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.714493. PMID: 34589511. Accessed October 8, 2023.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8473625/.
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