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To lose the last few pounds, I’m starting the kanten diet.
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The kanten diet swept the nation after being featured on a popular TV show in 2005 and is now a well-known dieting method in Japan. So, “Wtf is kanten?” you ask.
It’s known as agar-agar, or freeze-dried seaweed, in English. When this powder is boiled, it forms a gelatin. It’s got zero, count ’em, ZERO calories and is high in fiber. It’s often used in Japanese sweets; it can take on any taste and is used as a substitute for animal-based gelatin.
So you’re thinking, how is zero-calorie jelly gonna make me lose weight? Well, this stuff is potent. After a while, it EXPANDS. It expands in yo belly. It’ll fill up my tummy so that I am not tempted to snack and I can cut my portion sizes waaaaaay down.
The plan is to create little jelly snacks for me and Mr. Glasses (he is hopping on this bandwagon with me!) and eat them with our meals so that we will feel full even after a light meal. After losing 20 pounds in five months, I’ve absolutely hit a wall and I can’t lose any weight. It’s because I’ve lost control of my snacking and will power. This is sort of a desperate, last-ditch attempt to get a bikini bod in time for my honeymoon.
Sounds like a crash diet, doesn’t it?
I guess it kind of is. They say the best way to lose weight is to do it slowly to ensure that it stays off. But my goal was a bikini body by the summer! Here’s the plan: I’m going to cut my calories to 1,200 a day, which is the minimum daily recommended amount for women. I’m gonna keep my meals balanced and healthy every day, of course, i.e. not a Snickers bar and a Diet Coke. I know my way around the food pyramid, thanks.
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I know this sounds like some wacky Japanese diet, but it is pretty legit. Check out this study on diabetes, obesity, and metabolism. Here’s a better explanation of what the diet is all about. And here’s the base recipe I’ll be using for our kanten snacks.
I’m trying it for a week. I’ll report back to you again.
Have you ever tried a fad diet? How did it work for you?
Sounds pretty cool, actually. I literally cannot diet to save my life, but I’m a pro at balancing nutrition and bumping up my cardio. Did you know that walking is a HUGE fat burner? Even at low speeds, if you walk for at least 45 minutes a few times a week you’ll see the fat melt right off. I’m starting my walking regimen up again this week!
Sigh.
I 2nd the walking, that’s how I keep it off and helped DH lose 15 lbs. I walk home from work sometimes, it takes about 30 mins and is a great, fun workout. Also, just eat smaller portions which forces you to consume more filling foods. Good luck, let us know how it turns out!
Sigh indeed.
I think there’s a good chance this will work for you temporarily, but in the long-term, fad diets are just not very effective, and you typically end up gaining back more than you lost. If your goal is long-term weight loss, I would recommend increasing your cardio, and filling up on foods with a low calorie density, like fruits and vegetables.
20 pounds in 5 months! That’s awesome! Just about a pound a week… completely the HEALTHY way to do it too.
I lost 50 pounds over the course of a year on the 5 Factor Diet. It’s definitely not a quick fix, but I felt great while doing it and it really is more about changing your lifestyle rather than dieting. Plus, the recipes are really easy to make and don’t require many ingredients. I’ve been able to keep the weight off for a year and a half despite not strictly following the diet anymore.
I was wanting to lose a few more lbs before the wedding in two weeks however for breakfast this AM I ate leftover birthday cake…and it was awesome.
@ both anons: I try not to respond to snark, but you can both take your sighs and suck it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to drop a couple of pounds so I can look my absolute best in my bikini- not only for my husband, but for me. I am proud of my weight loss. As Miss Hippo so kindly pointed out, I’ve lost weight very safely in the past 5 months and I am damn pleased. I am not talking about extreme weight loss through a fad diet. I’m talking about losing a couple of pounds through a well-known dieting tool in Japan. You’ve never lived in Japan so you wouldn’t know anything about it, so I suggest you take your sighs elsewhere. Weddingbee is a place to share, be encouraging and positive.
@camrie: LOL leftover birthday cake breakfast FTW!
I’m with you Mz G. I’ve lost 25lbs in 7 months, which isn’t great, but I did it in a way that I hope I won’t gain it back. I had really hoped it would be more like 40lbs, but with just six weeks left until the wedding (I can’t write that w/o going into a panic!), I would be happy with another 10lbs. I am feeling like I need extra measures to get there, and I think I’m going to go to 2x a day workouts. Good luck, I’d love to know if it works!
@OctPumpkin: 25 pounds in 7 months is awesome! Good luck with your workouts, even if you don’t get to the last 10 pounds you’ve truly achieved a lot! *HIGH FIVE*
@Hammertime: I’ve never heard of the 5 Factor Diet but 50 pounds in a year sounds very safe and healthy. I’ll bet you look amazing too! I’m all for easy recipes too! Congrats on keeping the weight off, I haven’t had much trouble in that department either. Although, losing additional weight has been hard! Well I’m off to research your diet!
Miss Glasses, you’re an awesome and responsible woman and I am certain you would never do something irresponsible. Cowardice is infuriating though, isn’t it? I actually think this diet sounds pretty dang cool. Although, how does that stuff taste?? haha
Hmmm… I think the diet sounds cool, albeit not exactly healthy? I mean, 1200 calories isn’t much, and do you plan on exercising at all? I can’t imagine functioning properly all day AND exercising on 1200 cals! I’ve crash dieted a LOT in my life, and I’ve found that, although frustrating, slow and steady is definitely the way to go if you want to keep it off! I’ve kind of hit a plateau, too, but the best thing to do is up your level of activity while still properly nourishing your body, instead of just almost starving yourself! But, just my 2 cents! Best of luck!
agar used to be my best friend when i was studying molecular and cellular bio. that’s so cool that it has this function as well! i bet this stuff could be useful all sorts of ways. maybe it’s like the new peanut, hehehe
If you haven’t lost any more weight maybe that is your normal healthy weight!!! Especially if you are active and stuff. Don’t get down on yourself! your wedding is about love and support— you don’t have to be a super model.
haha i never knew that! in Singapore (and a lot of Southeast Asia), agar-agar is made as a dessert. But well, that definitely has calories since sugar is added!
@Miss Rainbow: 1200 calories is actually very doable! I am 5 feet, 100 pounds (that is my happy weight) and tend to function on 1200 calories if I’m not exercising. If I do plan to exercise that day I up my calories to about 1500. I’ve actually found if I am eating a clean, non processed diet I have a hard time even getting up to 1200 calories!!
@Miss Rainbow: I try to stick to 1,500 calories a day on my diet and I know 1,200 calories seems like a little. I mean, yeah, you’re gonna be hungry but it’s a diet. 1,200 calories a day is the recommended amount for nourishment so nobody would be starving themselves by definition.
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Mrs. Glasses, Tokyo/Los Angeles, CA Age and Occupation: 24, English teacher Fiance's Age and Occupation: 27, English teacher Engagement Date: September 2008 Wedding Date: October 2010 Venue: Parents' backyard About Me: I’m an expat living in Tokyo. I’ve been in Japan for almost three years now, where I met my fantastic English fiance. It’s time to leave Japan, so we are planning a fun, intimate, backyard ceremony back home in the suburbs of L.A. in October. Our wedding will be a mix of my love for food, beer, my Japanese culture, and Mr. G’s Englishness. We are on a tiny budget and DIYing almost everything!
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