Oats For Weight Loss: 7-Day Diet Plan, Benefits, & Side Effects

Accelerate your weight loss journey by including this super grain in your diet.

Medically reviewed by Merlin Annie Raj, RD (Registered Dietitian)
Written by Priyanka Sadhukhan, MSc (Nutrition), Certified Diabetes Educator
Edited by Arshiya Syeda
Fact-checked by Himanshi Mahajan, Certified Health & Nutrition Life Coach  • 
Oats For Weight Loss: 7-Day Diet Plan, Benefits, & Side Effects

Image: Shutterstock

Oats recipes for weight loss are the new trend worldwide. Many people wonder, “are oats good for weight loss?” and the answer is yes! Oats are famous for being one of the healthiest whole-grain foods that promote weight loss. They are high in minerals, protein, fiber, and vitamins (1). Moreover, their high fiber content promotes satiety, thus decreasing your energy intake (2).

So, following an oatmeal diet and replacing the meals completely with oats keeps your hunger in check and helps you shed 15 to 20 lbs within 6 to 8 weeks. Sounds great, isn’t it? In this article, we have explored a seven-day oatmeal diet strategy and a recipe for each day. So, let’s get started.

Oats For Weight Loss

The basic principle behind the oatmeal diet is to replace major meals with oats. This diet plan has three phases:

Phase 1

In this phase, you will have oatmeal three times a day (whole oats, not instant oats). For the other three meals, including fresh fruits and fruit juices, veggies, and a good source of protein.

Phase 2

This phase includes eating whole oats two-three times a day, along with half a cup of fruits or vegetables with each meal. You can also start practicing stretching exercises, yoga, or walking.

Phase 3

This is the phase in which you come back to your normal eating routine. However, be sure to eat healthily and include oats at least for one meal per day.

7-Day Oatmeal Diet Plan (With Recipes For Each Day)

This 7-day diet plan is a balanced calorie diet that requires you to replace at least two meals of the day with oatmeal. Phase 1, includes oatmeal three times a day in your diet for two days. In Phase 2, include oatmeal two times a day for the next two days to lose a significant amount of weight. Finally, in Phase 3, have oatmeal at least once a day for the remaining three days to maintain your new bodyweight.

Note: This is a sample diet plan. You can change the components of the meals as per your convenience.

Phase 1 (Day 1 & Day 2)

Day 1

BreakfastOatmeal with milk and berries
Before LunchOrange juice or apple juice
LunchOatmeal with vegetables
Post-Lunch1 apple
Evening SnacksGreen tea and 1 multigrain biscuit
DinnerBaked fish with oats and veggies

Vegetarian Alternative: For dinner, you can have a bowl of baked beans or a bowl of sprout salad.

Recipe – Oatmeal With Vegetables

Oatmeal with vegetables for weight loss
Image: Shutterstock
Ingredients
  • ½ cup oatmeal
  • 4 cauliflower florets
  • 4 broccoli florets
  • ½ medium-sized carrot
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt and pepper
  • Water
How To Prepare
  1. Boil the oatmeal until it is soft.
  2. Dice the veggies and sauté in a frying pan.
  3. Add the boiled oatmeal, a little water, salt, and pepper.
  4. Mix well.
protip_icon Quick Tip
You can make this a one-pot meal by first sauteing the vegetables, adding washed oats, and a little (3/4th cup) water. You need to cover the pot and let the oats and veggies absorb the water.

Day 2 

BreakfastOatmeal with apple and cinnamon
Before LunchAny whole fruit
LunchCabbage soup with whole rolled oats
Post-LunchCucumber slices with a dash of lime and salt
Evening SnacksBlack tea with 1 multigrain biscuit
DinnerOatmeal with lentils and chicken cubes

Vegetarian Alternative: For dinner, instead of chicken cubes, you can add mushrooms or soy cubes or use mixed lentils.

Recipe – Oatmeal With Lentils And Chicken Cubes

Oatmeal with lentils and chicken cubes for weight loss
Image: Shutterstock
Ingredients
  • ½ cup oatmeal
  • ¼ cup yellow/red lentils
  • 1 chicken breast cut into cubes
  • ½ chopped onion
  • 1 chopped green chili
  • 2 chopped cloves of garlic
  • 1 chopped tomato
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • Chopped coriander leaves
  • Salt and pepper
How To Prepare
  1. Boil the oatmeal and lentils separately. Do not throw away the excess water.
  2. Sauté the garlic, onion, tomato, and green chili.
  3. Add the chicken right after you add the chili.
  4. Add the oatmeal and lentils and let it cook until the chicken is soft.
  5. Add a pinch of salt and pepper and garnish with chopped coriander leaves.
protip_icon Did You Know?
For added texture, you can opt for roasted chicken strips or pulled rotisserie chicken and use as a topping.

Phase 2 (Day 3 & Day 4)

Day 3

BreakfastFresh fruit juice or smoothie (avoid banana)
Before Lunch4 almonds
LunchOats pita bread wrap with eggs and veggies
Post-Lunch1 Kiwi or 1 grapefruit
Evening Snacks1 cup green tea
DinnerOatmeal salmon cake with mashed sweet potato

Vegetarian Alternative: For dinner, instead of salmon, use kidney beans.

Recipe – Oats Pita Bread Wrap With Eggs And Veggies

Oats pita bread with eggs and veggies for weight loss
Image: Shutterstock
Ingredients
  • 1 oats pita bread (available in supermarkets)
  • 1 whole egg
  • ½ chopped green bell pepper
  • ¼ chopped onion
  • 1 lettuce leaf
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • Salt and pepper
How To Prepare
  1. Sauté the chopped onion and green bell pepper.
  2. Crack open the egg and add it to the sautéed veggies.
  3. Lay the lettuce leaf on top of the oats pita bread.
  4. Transfer the fried egg on top of the lettuce leaf.
  5. Add a little Dijon mustard and sprinkle salt and pepper for taste.
  6. Wrap the pita bread and take a generous bite!

 Day 4

BreakfastGreen tea and oats with banana and milk
Before Lunch1 medium sized carrot
LunchLight Italian-style sandwich
Post-LunchSoy milk
Evening SnacksFresh fruit juice
DinnerOatmeal balls in Asian-style gravy (vegetarian)

Recipe – Oatmeal Balls In Asian-Style Gravy

Oatmeal balls in Asian-style gravy for weight loss
Image: Shutterstock
Ingredients 
  • 1 cup boiled oatmeal
  • 1/5 thinly sliced cabbage
  • ½ thinly sliced carrot
  • ½ thinly sliced green bell pepper
  • 1 thinly sliced red chili
  • 3 cloves chopped garlic
  • 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • Salt and pepper
  • Sesame seeds
  • Water
How To Prepare 
  1. Mix the oatmeal, cabbage, carrot, green bell pepper, flour, and half a tablespoon of oil and make round, medium-sized balls.
  2. Brush a little oil on the balls and bake them in a preheated oven at 200°C for 20 minutes until they turn golden brown.
  3. Heat three tablespoons of oil in a Chinese frying pan and add garlic and red chili to it. Cook for 1 minute.
  4. Add the fish sauce, soy sauce, and a pinch of salt and pepper, and cook for 30 seconds.
  5. Add the baked oatmeal balls.
  6. Garnish with a sprinkle of sesame seeds.

Phase 3 (Day 5 – Day 7)

Day 5

BreakfastOats and berries smoothie with a dash of melted dark chocolate
Before Lunch1 apple
LunchZoodles with shrimps or spinach
Post-LunchOrange juice
Evening SnacksGreen tea
DinnerOatmeal Rava dosa (oats semolina pancake)

Recipe – Oatmeal Rava Dosa

Oatmeal rava dosa for weight loss
Image: Shutterstock
Ingredients
  • 1 cup ground oatmeal
  • ¼ cup rice flour
  • ¼ cup rava (semolina)
  • ½ chopped onion
  • ½ chopped green chili
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • Salt
  • Water
  • Readymade coconut chutney (available in Indian grocery stores)
How To Prepare
  1. Mix the ground oatmeal, rice flour, rava, chopped onion, green chili and cumin seeds with water. The consistency should be the same as that of regular pancake batter.
  2. Heat the pan and spread the batter to make thin, crispy pancakes.
  3. Serve hot with coconut chutney.

 Day 6

BreakfastOatmeal with milk and honey
Before Lunch4 almonds
LunchChicken clear soup
Post-Lunch1 cup fat-free yogurt
Evening SnacksGreen tea
DinnerTuna-oatmeal lettuce boats

Vegetarian Alternative: For lunch, instead of chicken clear soup, you can have baked veggies or vegetable clear soup.

For dinner, instead of tuna, use soy cubes or soybeans.

Recipe – Tuna-Oatmeal Lettuce Boats

Tuna-oatmeal lettuce boats for weight loss
Image: Shutterstock
Ingredients
  • ½ cup ground oatmeal
  • ½ cup canned tuna
  • 1 lettuce leaf
  • 1 thinly sliced tomato
  • ½ julienned cucumber
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon fat-free yogurt
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 tablespoon rice bran oil
  • Lime juice
  • Salt and pepper
How To Prepare
  1. Add a pinch of salt and pepper to the ground oatmeal.
  2. On a baking tray, coat the tuna with the oatmeal, brush a little oil, and bake in a preheated oven at 200°C for 15 minutes.
  3. Lay the lettuce leaf and put the tomatoes.
  4. Add the crispy baked tuna on top of the tomato slices.
  5. Add the cucumbers next.
  6. Add a dash of lime and top it with Dijon mustard, fat-free yogurt, and cayenne pepper.

Day 7

BreakfastKale and pomegranate detox drink
Before Lunch1 small bowl of papaya
LunchIndian-style oatmeal kofta
Post-Lunch1 glass buttermilk
Evening SnacksGreen tea
DinnerMexican-style oatmeal with fried egg

Vegetarian Alternative: Instead of eggs, use button mushrooms or kidney bean chili.

Recipe – Mexican-Style Oatmeal With Fried Egg

Mexican-style oatmeal with fried egg for weight loss
Image: Shutterstock
Ingredients
  • ½ cup oatmeal
  • ¼ avocado
  • ¼ chopped onion
  • Pickled jalapeno
  • ½ chopped tomato
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • Cilantro
  • Lime juice
  • Salt and pepper
How To Prepare
  1. Sauté the chopped onion and tomato in a frying pan.
  2. Cook the oatmeal until soft.
  3. Cut the avocado into medium-sized cubes.
  4. Add the sautéed onion and tomato to the oatmeal.
  5. Add a pinch of salt and pepper, cook for 30 seconds and turn off the flame.
  6. Meanwhile, fry an egg.
  7. Transfer the oatmeal to a bowl and top it with avocado.
  8. Add a few pieces of pickled jalapeno, a dash of lime, and Dijon mustard.
  9. Place the fried egg on top of the avocado cubes.
  10. Add a little salt and pepper.
  11. Garnish with cilantro.

Miranda, a food YouTuber, tried eating only oats for a week and documented her experience in her vlog. She says, “I lost 4.7 pounds in seven days which is actually a very drastic weight loss especially for someone who is always moving who has had a set body weight for at least two years that’s a drastic weight loss (i).” She has also shared many varieties of oat recipes in the vlog to minimize the monotony.

It is important to know which type of oatmeal should be used for delicious weight loss recipes and result in optimum weight loss.

Know Your Oats Better – What Type Of Oats Is

Good For You?

  1. Plain oatmeal – You will find a lot of varieties of oatmeal on the market. But make sure you are buying plain low calorie oatmeal in comparison to the other varieties.
  2. Flavored oatmeal – It contains added sugar and more calories. Stay away from flavored varieties if you really want to shed those extra pounds.
  3. Larger flakes – People often refer to larger flakes as old-fashioned flakes. These keep you full for a long time and help to curb your hunger pangs.
  4. Steel-cut flakes – These oats take longer to cook, but they make deliciously creamy dishes. Their texture is delectable, and they are chewy at the same time.

Foods To Eat

Spinach, broccoli, chicken breast, fish, turkey, tea, fat-free yogurt, lettuce, berries, celery, any fruit, carrots, radish, beetroot, sweet potato, beans, lentils, mushrooms, honey, maple syrup, lemon, and lime.

Foods To Avoid

Sweetened or aerated drinks, alcohol, artificial sweeteners, high sodium foods, packaged fruit juices, flavored yogurt, donuts, and cornbread.

Is The Oatmeal Diet Effective For Weight Loss?

Oatmeal is a healthy option for weight loss. However, the amount of weight loss varies based on body type, lifestyle, and exercise habits. Following the oatmeal diet with regular exercise can help you lose 15-20 lbs in a span of 2 months.
The dietary fiber in whole oats helps to provide satiety and reduces weight and abdominal fat (3), (4).

Since this is a fad diet plan, it is not recommended for long-term results.

Consult your nutritionist for a balanced approach.

Even if the oat diet is a fad, oats are still a healthy option for weight loss. But, what is the best time to have them to reap this benefit? Let us find out.

Best Time To Eat Oats For Weight Loss

There is no “best” time to eat oats for weight loss. Oats are most popular as a breakfast food, but you may have them for any meal or as a snack, depending on your preferences and daily routine. A study suggests that consuming oatmeal at breakfast is associated with better diet quality and an increased intake of nutrients like protein, fiber, and calcium (5). However, you may also consume it for lunch or dinner to avoid eating heavy meals.

The key to consuming oats for weight loss is to be mindful of your portion sizes and avoid adding excessive sugar or high-calorie toppings to it. Another thing you should do is pair it with regular exercise. Learn more about it below.

Role Of Exercise During The Oatmeal Diet

  • It is recommended that you do a few stretching exercises while you are in Phase 1.
  • When you are in Phase 2, you will provide your body with more calories. Hence, you should start walking/power walking as well as doing free-hand exercises.
  • When you enter Phase 3, you will have enough energy to go for a full workout and strength training routine. Merely losing fat will not get you back in shape; you also need to tone your muscles so that your skin doesn’t look aged and loose.

Benefits Of The Oatmeal Diet

  • Prevents abdominal fat accumulation (6).
  • The soluble fiber found in oats can help in reducing blood cholesterol (7).
  • Oats help in slowing down the rise of glucose levels in the blood. They can stop and control the sudden rise in blood sugar levels (8).
Related: Easy Ways To Manage Blood Sugar Naturally And Safely
  • Oatmeal has a high fiber content and is considered excellent for proper bowel functioning and a wonderful remedy for constipation (9).
Related: 13 Quick And Effective Home Remedies For Constipation
  • Curbs cravings.
  • Improves cardiovascular health (10).
  • Contains antioxidants that can slow down aging (11).
Related: Top 37 Anti-Aging Foods That Keep Your Skin Youthful

Side Effects Of The Oatmeal Diet

  • May reduce the absorption of medicines.
  • May cause distention.
  • May cause perineal irritation.
  • May cause weakness.

Infographic: Interesting Facts About Oats

Oats are the oldest whole-grain cereals with a rich nutrition profile. They are an excellent source of fiber and antioxidants that helps treat many ailments and can be a great addition to your diet. Click on the infographic below to learn some interesting facts about oats.

interesting facts about oats (infographic)
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Oats are known for their health benefits worldwide. Especially if you are trying to reach or manage your ideal weight, the above-mentioned oats recipes for weight loss can come in pretty handy. Easy to make and highly nutritious, these recipes not only fit well into your diet plan but also keep you full and satiated. Along with oats, you may include the benefits of fruits and vegetables and a regular workout routine to give you visible results very soon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is oats with milk good for weight loss?

Oats are rich in fiber and essential nutrients. Fiber offers satiety and makes you feel full for a long time. Oats with milk is a healthy option to make your breakfast nutritious and is also beneficial for weight loss. Make sure to add whole fruits and nuts to make it healthy.

Can I eat oatmeal every day?

Yes, you can include oatmeal every day in your diet plan. Opt for various other recipes with oats along with a bowl of fruits, vegetables, and proteins to create a balanced meal. Even granola containing oatmeal works.

Do oats help to reduce belly fat?

There is no specific food that will help reduce your belly fat. You need to opt for a holistic approach, like eating healthy, exercising, and improving lifestyle. Oats are one of the healthiest options to start this journey.

Can we eat oats at night for weight loss?

Yes, you can consume oats at night for weight loss. It is better to make different recipes with oats for your dinner instead of oats with milk.

How many pounds can I lose by following the oatmeal diet?

If you follow the phases strictly and prepare oats without sugar or artificial sweetener, you can lose up to 20 pounds within 6 weeks. You can also speed up the process if you start working out from Phase 2 regularly.

Is oatmeal good for you if you are on another diet?

Yes. You can have oatmeal even if you are following another weight loss diet plan. It is high in fiber, which will prevent fat accumulation. It will also help you if you experience constipation.

I am in Phase 2 and have not lost weight. Help.

Weight gain is a result of many factors. It can be uncontrolled eating, slow metabolism, medical conditions, and genes. If you have not lost weight, it can be due to not following the diet guidelines properly or because of your medical condition. Please consult your doctor or dietitian.

Can breastfeeding moms follow the oatmeal diet?

Wait a little longer before you start working on losing your pregnancy weight. Consult your doctor.

Can I eat mangoes or any other high glycemic index fruits while I am on this diet?

There is nothing wrong with eating local fruits, even when they are on the higher end of the glycemic index scale. If mangoes grow in your country, enjoy them. However, be sure not to overeat. Fat accumulation takes place when we eat more calories than we burn. Fruits are enriched with nutrients, and eating them in limited quantities will not harm you.

How much oat is too much?

You can consume oats two to three times a day as part of the seven-day oatmeal diet. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that following this type of diet for an extended period of time may lead to weakness, a decrease in the absorption of medications, and bloating.

Are oats hot or cold for the body?

According to anecdotal evidence, oatmeal may have a thermogenic effect and warm up the body. Thermogenic foods are high in carbohydrates which help boost metabolism and increase body temperature (12). However, further research is needed to understand this further.

Key Takeaways

  • Oats are a good source of fiber, which helps control blood sugar levels and control appetite.
  • Overconsumption of oats may cause weakness and distention.
  • Avoid high-sodium foods and sweetened beverages during the oatmeal diet.
  • Incorporate walking and free-hand and strength training exercises to lose weight and build lean muscles.

Start your weight loss journey with this delicious and healthy diabetic-friendly Indian oatmeal porridge recipe. Learn how to make it and lose weight in a healthy way with this video! Check it out now.

Personal Experience: Source

(i)ONLY EATING OATS FOR A WEEK?!! And THIS happened! How Much Weight Did I Lose!? Maximum Weight Loss
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrGY4c-SUE8

Sources

Articles on StyleCraze are backed by verified information from peer-reviewed and academic research papers, reputed organizations, research institutions, and medical associations to ensure accuracy and relevance. Check out our editorial policy for further details.
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