I Tried the Mono Diet, the Results Transformed Me

Have you ever found yourself constantly overthinking your food choices, worrying about how to avoid unhealthy options, and feeling out of control with your eating habits?

If so, you're not alone. I did too.

I recently embarked on a five-day experiment with something called the "mono diet," and it completely transformed my perspective on food and eating.

A mono diet is when you commit to eating only one type of food for an extended period.

The idea is to simplify your diet, focus on whole and healthy foods, and avoid processed and heavily seasoned options.

It's also highly recommended that you take in a lot of water during the diet.

Intrigued by the concept, I decided to give it a try for five days along with a good friend of mine as a diet buddy for extra support.

How My Mono Diet Journey Unfolded

Day One: Corn

My mono diet journey began with corn. To be more specific, I could only eat boiled corn for an entire day.

Surprisingly, day one didn't go too badly. The simplicity of knowing exactly what I could eat was oddly reassuring.

I didn't feel fatigued, and I made sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day, as recommended.

Day Two: Apples

Under normal circumstances, I enjoy eating apples, but I quickly grew to loathe them.

Early on in the day, I was already sick of eating apples. It left me feeling low on energy.

I couldn't wait to move on to the next food item.

Day Three: Eggs

This day was wonderful because I love eggs.

There are many breakfast shops where I live and they sell these soy sauce tea eggs, which are super delicious, though a bit of a splurge because they are high in salt.

I didn't eat them too often, and mostly consumed hardboiled eggs throughout the day.

I enjoyed the eggs, and their protein content kept me thinking about the benefits for my strength training and workouts.

Day Four: Meat

Today was strictly meat. My diet partner opted for shrimp, but I stuck with chicken breast, which I prefer.

While it was a decent source of protein, chicken got old quickly, and I found myself missing the flavors and textures of fruits and vegetables. Meat alone didn't satisfy my palate.

Day Five: Boiled Vegetables

The final day was a very tough one. Boiled vegetables were on the menu, and I needed quite a bit of them to feel full and satisfied. I battled cravings for sugar and carbs throughout the day.

On the positive side, I did enjoy steamed broccoli and peas, but overall, I didn't feel as full as I would have liked.

The Results and 4 Valuable Lessons

My starting weight was 206.7lbs, and after completing the five-day mono diet, I weighed in at 200.1lbs. That's a total loss of 6.6lbs.

Interestingly, my diet partner achieved similar results, shedding around the same amount of weight.

While the mono diet isn't a sustainable long-term solution, it did offer some valuable lessons and insights that I was super grateful for.

1. A Reset for Eating Behaviors: The diet provided a much-needed reset for my eating habits, which felt out of control. It eliminated the constant overthinking about food choices, like how I was going to avoid junk food, and allowed me to focus solely on eating what was healthy.

2. Gratitude for Food Variety: Eating apples all day made me appreciate the variety of healthy food options available in my regular diet. It reminded me of how fortunate I am to have a wide range of healthy choices, and left me more grateful for that.

3. Discovery of New Favorites: It reminded me of the many wonderful and nutritious health foods out there. I discovered a newfound appreciation for eggs during this diet. It encouraged me to incorporate more of the foods I genuinely enjoy into my daily meals.

4. Shifted Mental Attitude: My mindset shifted from constantly worrying about avoiding certain foods, such as sugar, to actively seeking out nutritious options. Now, I've surrounded myself with healthier choices and prioritize filling up on them. I remind myself that I can feel full satisfied and energized from eating a well-balanced and healthy diet.

Additionally, one aspect that significantly contributed to my success during this challenge was having a diet buddy. We kept each other accountable and shared our excitement about the experience.

My friend's dedication to sticking to the diet even during a trip to major cities like Guangzhou and Shanghai was truly impressive.

In conclusion, my experience with the mono diet was enlightening and transformative.

I wouldn't recommend it as a long-term solution. But I would highly recommend it as a valuable tool for a healthy eating reset to help realign your eating priorities and get back on track.

Jordan Biesinger is a health and fitness vlogger on YouTube where he tracks his weight loss journey.

All opinions expressed are the author's own.

Do you have a unique experience or personal story to share? Email the My Turn team at myturn@newsweek.com.