The Basic Principles of the “Kremlin” Diet
At the end of the last century, the most popular weight-loss method in our country was the “Kremlin Diet.” In the West, this same method is known as the Atkins Diet. Its principle is simple and understandable to anyone, and is based on limiting the consumption of sweets, flour-based foods, potatoes, and legumes. Sugar, which food manufacturers have conditioned us to consume in virtually unlimited quantities, is limited to the absolute minimum—two teaspoons a day. Followers of this diet are forced to study the ingredients on every package and count the calories they consume. Food is assigned points, with one point equal to 1 gram of carbohydrates. Weight loss is achieved by reducing carbohydrate intake to 40 points per day; at 60 points, weight is maintained. If the number is higher, weight gain will follow.
Like many other diets, it is divided into phases.
• The first phase lasts two weeks, during which 20 points of carbohydrates are consumed per day. Depending on your metabolism, you can lose up to 10 kg.
• In the second phase, the amount of carbohydrates increases by 10 points; this increase is often broken down into increments of 5 points per week.
• The third stage typically lasts for a quarter. The amount of carbohydrates is gradually increased to 60; at this stage of the diet, the most important thing is to maintain the results already achieved.
• The fourth stage involves consolidating the results and expanding the diet. At this stage, it is important to pay attention to meal planning, as meat should not be eaten together with potatoes—this contradicts the principles of food combining, which are fundamental to this diet.
Since the diet has consistently remained among the most popular diets for three decades now, it has proven to be highly effective. However, completing the entire diet and consolidating the results will take six months, as well as patience and meticulousness in counting calories there are other variations of the Kremlin Diet, such as the “Kremlin Diet for Athletes,” the “Express Method,” etc.
The Kremlin Diet also has a number of contraindications:
• Metabolic disorders
• Pregnancy and lactation
• Diabetes of any type
• Weakened immune system
• Nervous exhaustion, frequent stress, and mood swings
• This diet is also contraindicated for vegetarians
There are plenty of recipes and ready-made meal plans online, as well as comprehensive calorie charts for most foods. So you won’t have to reinvent the wheel or spend hours with a calculator. You can find many online communities that keep shared journals, support each other on their weight loss journeys, and compete to see who can lose the most weight. There are several smartphone apps available that make calorie counting much easier.
