Kellogg's Special K Cereal has been around for as long as most of us can remember. It is a cereal that has long been targeted at those individuals who are weight conscious and hoping to lose a few pounds.
Promoted as a healthy eating alternative, individuals hoping for weight loss solutions developed a loyalty to Kellogg's Special K cereal. They purchased and consumed it on a regular basis. Lately though rumours are circulating about a diet program that involves this same cereal. Those rumours are true. The Special K Diet Plan does exist and it claims to help you lose six pounds in as little as two weeks.
The diet itself does makes sense. Substituting cereal in place of a high calorie breakfast of pancakes and sausages or bacon toast and eggs would naturally save a tremendous amount of calories from being ingested. If this new breakfast were to be eaten on a regular basis it would logically follow that a few additional pounds of weight would naturally be encouraged to drop from your frame. So with this very concept in mind, along comes the Kelloggs Special K Diet claiming to help you drop 6 pounds in as little as a short 2 week period of time.
It's a logical concept. Most cereals run between 110 to 150 calories per bowl. When you add in a half cup of low fat or skim milk which adds approximately another 40 to 60 calories and cereal still adds up to a very low calorie low fat meal choice.
So What Exactly Is The Special K Diet Plan?
To participate in this weight loss plan you are asked to eat one cup of any of the Kellogg's Special K cereals combined with no more than a 2/3 cup of skim milk for two of your three daily meals. Your third meal you are to eat as you would have if you were not on the diet. You can snack on fruit or vegetables throughout the day and also combine fruits or vegetables with your cereal meals to make them more filling.
The diet is to run for a two week period. To add variety to the diet Special K has created a wide variety of snack nutritional supplement bars and these can be used while you diet to replace one of more of your cereal meals or consumed as an additional daily snack.
DOES IT WORK?
A study at Purdue University of 28 people who participated in the Special K Diet found that the participants did indeed lose 6 pounds over 2 weeks. It also concluded that their weight loss was based on the fact that these participants cut their fat intake by about one half and their overall average food intake by approximately 27 percent during the diet. Throughout the diet period they consumed on average 1590 calories per day.
The conclusion was that as a quick weight loss program yes, but as a long term solution to maintaining weight loss probably not. Although it encourages people to eat breakfast on a regular basis this plan just does not encourage throughout the remainder of each day the healthy eating patterns we require for optimum health. Important aspects of this diet plan to note are that although the cereal contains protein it is also not a great source of protein. The new protein bars are to be included in the diet to fill that need. The dry cereal is not a whole grain so it is also not a great source of fibre. People may lose weight quickly on this diet but when they return to their regular eating habits their weight may also be likely to return.
If you are looking for a quick jump to get you started on your way to losing weight then the Kellogg's weight loss program may be one that you will want to look at including in your diet plan. If you do decide to give it a try then here is the full scoop on the Kellogg products that you will be consuming for the next two weeks.
Special K cereal now comes in a variety of taste tantalizing flavours which is quite exciting for those who will be consuming it on a regular basis. These include Chocolatey Delight, Cinnamon Pecan, Red Berrries, Vanilla Almond, Fruit and Yogurt, Protein Plus, the Original Special K, and so many more flavours. A one cup serving will give you about 120 calories without milk and 160 calories with a half cup of fat free or skim milk. The nutrients in this meal are Vitamins A, C, D, B6, B12, Thiamin, Niacin, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, and Protein.
Protein Meal bars which can replace the cereal meal come in a variety of chocolaty flavours you can choose from Chocolate Peanut Butter, Chocolatey Dip, Double Chocolate, and for those who are looking for a little different flavour experience, they also come in Strawberry. Each serving consists of 190 calories and the nutrients you receive are as follows: Vitamins A, C, D, E, B6, B12, Calcium, Zinc, Iron, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Niacin, 10g of Protein and 5g of Fiber.
Protein Snack Bars which are available in assorted flavours are packed with flavour and energy, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Chocolate Delight, Greek Yogurt and Fruit, Fruit and Salted Nut, and so many more. These bars are like dining out on a chocolate bar. They have about 110 - 160 calories each and contain such nutrients as Vitamins A, E ,C, B6, B12, Magnesium, Calcium, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin, Folic Acid, Riboflavin, Phosphorus and a big Protein punch in each bar.
Special K Snack Bites come in a variety of flavours including designer Blueberry, Cranberry, Chocolate, Caramel, and Strawberry. With 90 calories per package this snack contains Iron, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Thiamin, Folic Acid, Niacin, Riboflavin, Zinc and Protein in each serving.
Special K Bliss Bars also are available in a variety of flavors. With about 90 calories per serving, vitamin benefits are Iron, Niacin and Vitamin B6 and Protein being provided in each bar. Special K Cereal Bars come in a wide selection including Strawberry, Blueberry, Honey Nut, Chocolately Drizzle, Vanilla Crisp, Peaches and Berries, and more. These contain about 90 calories each and a serving will give you the benefits of thiacin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Riboflavin and Protein.
Special K Granola is also available because some of us can't resist the urge to snack. Having a healthy alternative to help us avoid chips and other higher calorie snacks is nice. Always remember to diet responsibly. Contact your local health professionals if you have any questions or concerns about your weight loss program. It's important to note that most cereals are low calorie, low fat, and have considerably better nutrition than traditional sweet or salty snacks. Next time you have a snack attack reach for a bowl of your favourite dry cereal to snack on.