I Tried the 10-Day Belly Slimdown Diet by Dr. Kellyann: My Honest Review
/Have you heard about Dr. Kellyann's 10-Day Belly Slimdown diet and are you curious if it's a good fit for you? Maybe you've seen her ads on Facebook or YouTube and wonder if this diet is legit?
Is it really possible to lose 10 pounds in 10 days??
The 10-Day Belly Slimdown is a rapid weight loss diet that targets belly fat. The creator, Dr. Kellyann Petrucci, promises you will lose up to 10 pounds and 4 inches off your waist in 10 days. The diet uses intermittent fasting combined with nutritious foods like bone broth, vegetables, protein, and fruit.
I've done all three of Dr. Kellyann's popular diet plans and in this post, I'll explain exactly how the 10-Day Belly Slimdown works and I’ll answer all of your questions. I am a person who likes super-detailed reviews so I can make an informed choice, so I’ve included as much information about this diet, as well as my personal experience.
Use this table of contents if you want to jump ahead:
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.
What is the 10-Day Belly Slimdown?
The 10-Day Belly Slimdown is a simple and effective diet plan that specifically targets belly fat. Many people on the plan have lost up to 12 pounds and 5 inches off their waist in just 10 days.
The 10-Day Belly Slimdown isn't about starving yourself. Rather, you feed your cells with nutritious, healing foods. You'll enjoy hearty bone broth, drink delicious collagen shakes, and eat wholesome, real food to stop cravings in their tracks, burn fat, and boost your metabolism.
It's a plan for when you're serious about getting results QUICKLY.
This 10-day weight loss program uses 3 powerful tools to help you lose weight and belly fat quickly and easily:
Mini-Fasting
Collagen and Bone Broth
Nutrient-Rich and Anti-inflammatory Foods
Mini-Fasting
What you eat is important, but so is when you eat. In this program, you'll be introduced to mini-fasting, which is simply another name for intermittent fasting.
Science shows that limiting your eating window helps not only burn fat but helps you easily keep it off.
If you're new to mini-fasting or intermittent fasting it's as easy as skipping breakfast. (But you won't be hungry, because you will sip on delicious, nourishing bone broth during the morning.)
Collagen and Bone Broth
If you've read other Dr. Kellyann books like Bone Broth Diet: Lose Up to 15 Pounds, 4 Inches--and Your Wrinkles!--in Just 21 Days, or Dr. Kellyann's Cleanse and Reset: Detoxify, Nourish, and Restore Your Body for Sustained Weight Loss...in Just 5 Days, you know that she loves her bone broth and collagen!
Bone broth is beneficial because:
it fills you up so you aren't constantly snacking and sabotaging your slim belly goals
The gelatin in bone broth soothes and heals your gut.
It is rich in glycine which fights inflammation
It keeps you hydrated, boosting your body's ability to lose weight.
It stops food cravings.
Bone broth contains collagen so it can smooth fine lines and wrinkles.
It can help ease joint pain. For a person with arthritis like me, this is a huge bonus!
Magnesium and glycine in bone broth are calming so you will feel less stressed during the day and sleep better at night.
Remember that bone broth is not the same as chicken or beef stock or broth. Be sure to look for a product labeled “bone broth.” (Here are some of my favorites on Amazon.)
RELATED: Here is a simple recipe for homemade bone broth (and 8 reasons why you should drink it every day).
Collagen is an important part of the belly slimdown diet.
The first meal of each day on the 10-Day Belly Slimdown is a thick, rich collagen shake. You can make your own (like I did) or purchase collagen shake mixes from Dr. Kellyann’s website or on Amazon. It is a way to fill your body with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and all kinds of healthy things while you are losing weight.
Not only will collagen help stop cravings, but it can help strengthen your nails and hair!
Benefits of collagen:
Collagen will stop your cravings and it makes hair and nails thick, healthy, and strong.
Collagen has been proven to help with arthritis pain and can even increase cartilage.
Collagen helps heal your gut. One of the main causes of excess belly fat is inflammation that can be caused by a weak, sick gut that leaks toxins that escape into your system.
I have collagen in my coffee every single morning and I also take a Type 2 collagen supplement for arthritis in my knees every afternoon. Doing the 10-Day Belly Slimdown filled me up with extra healing collagen in the morning smoothies.
RELATED: I got hooked on collagen when I did Dr. Kellyann’s 5 Day Cleanse and Reset. Read my review and results here.
Nutrient-Rich and Anti-inflammatory Foods
Each night for dinner you will have a filling, nutritious, delicious meal that will truly satisfy you while you're melting belly fat.
You can use one of the recipes in the book, create a meal based off the belly slimdown principles, or even use healthy convenience foods like rotisserie chicken, pre-washed spinach, and frozen cauliflower to avoid a lot of meal prep time.
Imagine enjoying Roast Chicken with Herbs and Lemon or Shrimp Cakes paired with a fresh Asparagus and Tomato Salad or warm Herb-Roasted Vegetables. The recipes on the belly slimdown plan use wholesome foods to nourish your body.
Each meal contains protein, lots of vegetables, herbs and spices, and healthy fats, like olive oil, nuts, avocado, or coconut milk. You can add grapefruit or berries to your meal and gut-healing probiotic foods like fresh sauerkraut, pickles, or kimchi.
The best part (other than delicious flavor) is that these meals are filling and you don't need to weigh your food, count calories, carbs, or fat grams.
This Chocolate Mint Shake has tons of healthy greens, healthy fats, and protein!
Is the 10-Day Belly Slimdown the right diet for YOU?
10-Day Belly Slimdown is a quick and simple way to lose some belly (and other body) fat. It's not meant to be a long-term diet (though Dr. Kellyann does give you a maintenance plan in the book).
The 10-Day Belly Slimdown might be for you if:
You want to lose weight FAST
You want to be told exactly what, when, and how much to eat
You want to drop a few pounds for a vacation, wedding, or special event
You want to get back to healthy eating after falling off the wagon
You want to lose weight you've gained over the holidays, vacation, or (darn it) during lockdown
You want to eat in a way that reduces inflammation and fills your body with tons of nutrients
The 10-Day Belly Slimdown might not be for you if:
You don't like to follow strict diets
You don't want to give up cookies, sweetened lattes, or Snickers bars
Your doctor recommends against it
RELATED: Dr. Kellyann has a new probiotic AND ant-aging skin supplement. Read my review and learn how it’s helping women calm digestive issues and get great looking skin.
Salmon baked in foil packets with pink Himalayan salt, herbs, and lemon, is a super easy dinner.
Why is belly fat bad?
It's bad enough (for me anyway) looking in the mirror and seeing a chubby waistline or when I'm bloated and my tummy looks like I'm 5 months pregnant. Belly fat makes me want to hide my body. Likely you feel the same.
It turns out belly fat isn't just a cosmetic issue.
Excess belly fat is actually dangerous.
Dr. Kellyann presents the very real risks of excess belly fat not to scare you, but to motivate you to take control of your health.
Visceral fat, the fat that is wrapped around your organs, not the "pinch an inch" kind of fat, is harmful. It releases toxins 24/7. It causes chronic inflammation which makes you gain weight, and ages your organs, it causes insulin resistance and alters your hormones.
5 reasons excess belly fat is bad for your health:
Fat cells release pro-inflammatory hormones that increase your risk for developing an autoimmune disease, stroke, cancer, dementia, or heart disease.
Fat cells release hormones that can make you sick and age prematurely.
Excess belly fat can lead to insulin resistance and diabetes.
Belly fat can even affect how well your immune system works. In this age of Covid, a strong immune system is more important than ever.
Do you have too much belly fat?
If you're a woman and your waist measures over 35 inches you have too much belly fat. For a man, a waist measurement over 40 inches is too much.
Roast Chicken with Lemon and Herbs over cauliflower rice. I used leftover chicken for lettuce wraps.
What foods can you eat on the 10-Day Belly Slimdown?
You can eat lots of healthy, nutritious (and delicious) foods on the 10-Day Belly Slimdown.
Here are some of the foods you will enjoy on your 10-day weight loss journey:
bone broth (either a homemade using one of Dr. Kellyann's recipes, or a quality store-bought bone broth)
proteins like beef, fish, poultry, pork, and eggs
lots of non-starchy vegetables, like cauliflower, broccoli, onions, spinach, mushrooms, and asparagus
berries, lemon, and grapefruit
healthy fats like nuts, coconut milk, nut butter, avocado, coconut oil, or clarified butter
spice up your meals with fresh or dried herbs and spices, like basil, cayenne, cilantro, cinnamon, ginger, and turmeric
probiotic foods like fresh sauerkraut or kimchi
unsweetened coffee or tea
This is not an exhaustive list. You'll find a complete list of foods you can eat on the 10-Day Belly Slimdown and lots of recipes in the book or in the video course. LINK
The 10-Day Belly Slimdown Book comes with 80 recipes.
The 10-Day Belly Slimdown book includes daily meal plans, batch cooking tips to make meal prep a snap, and 80 delicious recipes like slow cooker pulled pork, chicken enchiladas verdes, turkey wraps with green goddess dressing. Even my picky husband loves the recipes!
I have 3 of Dr. Kellyann's other diet/cookbooks and I am a huge fan of her recipes. I believe it's much easier to follow a diet, even for 10 days, if you LOVE the food.
My top 10 favorite belly slimdown recipes:
Creamy Broccoli Soup
Sweet Vidalia Onion Vinaigrette
Thick-and-Creamy Chocolate Mint Shake
Roast Chicken with Herbs and Lemon
Tomato Basil Stacks
Butter Lettuce with Avocado Egg Salad
Unstuffed Cabbage
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Latte Shake
Fast and Easy Beef Burgers
I love that the book includes batch cooking tips and meal plans. This helps make starting (and completing) the diet easy.
There are no-cook options too!
If you don’t want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen check out the no-cook options. These meals take advantage of “healthy convenience foods” like pre-washed lettuce, rotisserie chicken, storebought hard-cooked eggs.
You can also purchase collagen shakes if you don’t want to make your own. (See the current price of Dr. Kellyann’s highly-rated collagen shakes on her website.)
Chicken with Creamy Cilantro Sauce made with leftover chicken was extra yummy in a butter lettuce wrap with lots of fresh veggies.
What foods to avoid on the 10-Day Belly Slimdown?
It's easy to know what not to eat on the 10-Day Belly Slimdown. If a food is not listed in a recipe or not on the list of "yes foods," then it's off limits for 10 days.
Don't eat:
candy, cookies, cakes, or sweets
sweetened coffee, lattes, or teas
starchy vegetables like white and sweet potatoes or (gasp!) French fries
fast food
grains like rice, pasta, bread, or cereal
artificial sweeteners
dairy products like milk, cream, and cheese
As with the "yes foods," this is not an exhaustive list. See the book or the video course for the complete list of foods to avoid on this diet.
What do I need to start the 10-Day Belly Slimdown?
It’s easy to get started with the belly slimdown. You just need a few tools and some healthy food! Here is a list of everything you need to get started.
The 10-Day Belly Slimdown book (click to see the current price on Amazon) - or -
The 10-Day Belly Slimdown e-course (you can purchase this from Dr. Kellyann’s website.) The e-course is a series of short 5-minute videos you can watch on your phone or laptop. I own both the book and the e-course and I love how the short, entertaining videos make it easy to "digest" the information without spending a lot of time reading!
Bone broth. You can make your own (I have a simple recipe HERE) or purchase bone broth. As much as I love homemade bone broth, I used store-bought for the 10-day diet so I didn't have to stress about cooking. I recommend Dr. Kellyann’s brand or this bone broth.
Collagen or protein powder for your daily shake.
Healthy delicious food from your local grocery store or farmer’s market. The book and e-course will tell you exactly what you can eat.
How does the 10-Day Belly Slimdown work?
The 10-Day Belly Slimdown works by limiting your eating window so you can burn fat, providing your body with nutrient-dense foods like collagen and bone broth to heal your gut, and eliminating foods that are easily converted to fat or cause inflammation in your body.
A day in the life of the 10-Day Belly Slimdown.
Before I start a diet I want to know what foods I'll eat, what foods I can't eat, and what a typical day of eating is like. It takes away some of the stress of deciding if a program is right for me if I can visualize EXACTLY what it will be like to follow the diet.
This is a day in the life of the 10-Day Belly Slimdown.
Phase 1 is "broth burning" from wake-up time until noon.
Instead of breakfast, you can drink as much bone broth as you want until your first meal. The broth-burning phase will burn fat like crazy. You can add herbs or spices to flavor the broth - see the book or e-course for flavor combinations and allowed herbs and spices). You can also drink unsweetened coffee, tea, and/or lemon water.
(When I'm too lazy to juice my own lemons in the morning I add Lemon Sips powder to my water which not only has lemon but also a natural, antioxidant-rich extract derived from cantaloupe which helps keep you hydrated, flushes toxins from your skin, and even helps diminish cellulite.)
Phase 2 is a slimming shake between noon and 1pm.
Your first meal of a day is a super nutritious shake made from greens or other non-starchy vegetables, collagen or protein powder, healthy fats, a handful of blueberries, and herbs, spices, and approved sweeteners if you like.
One of my favorite recipes was the Thick-and-Creamy Chocolate Mint Shake. I used to hate drinking a shake or smoothie as a meal replacement but when Covid started I got in the habit of drinking a big, healthy green smoothie almost every single day to help boost my immune system.
Green smoothies (like the ones on the 10-Day Belly Slimdown diet) give you energy, boost the immune system, help you focus, increase your consumption of fruits and veggies, improves your mood, keep you hydrated, and promote weight loss.
I also add Your Super Powders (low-carb superfood blends) to make the shakes even more healthy. I like the Gut Feeling (probiotic mix) and the Moon Balance superfood blend (to help balance your hormones naturally). If you’d like to try Your Super Powders you can use THIS LINK and get 10% off your first purchase.
Phase 3 is broth loading until 6 or 7 pm.
This is a little different from the morning broth burning phase because you can add healthy leafy greens or other non-starchy vegetables and healthy fats to your broth so it's more of a soup.
Drink as much bone broth soup as you need to keep you full and satisfied.
I drank tons of Dr. Kellyann's soup recipes when I did her 5-Day Cleanse and Reset and the soups are nourishing and satisfying.
Phase 4 is a “Slim Plate Meal” between 6 and 7 pm.
Your dinner is a tasty combination of protein, veggies, herbs, spices, and healthy fats. You also can enjoy fat-burning grapefruit or berries for dessert.
Dinners on the 10-Day Belly Slimdown
Start with lean proteins like steak, salmon or other seafood, or even burgers. (You burn more fat eating protein than you do eating carbs.)
Add lots of fibrous veggies like spinach, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower. These vegetables fill you up and give your body tons of nutrients.
Have a serving of healthy fat like avocado, olives, coconut oil, nuts, or ghee. Eating good fats actually helps your burn more fat, and they fight cravings. They also make your food taste delicious!
Enjoy a serving of fermented foods like kimchi, sauerkraut, or refrigerated pickles. Probiotics stock your gut's ecosystem with healthy nutrients to make it glow and rev up your metabolism. (I love the Cleveland brand of sauerkraut which contains raw and live probiotics and comes in lots of different flavors. Find it at Whole Foods, Super Target, Amazon, or at your local grocery store.)
Finally, add a fat-zapping fruit like berries or grapefruit. These fruits lower insulin and burn abdominal fat. It’s nice to have something sweet after your meal that is good for you, unlike ice cream or cookies.
You will find meal plans and tons of recipes in the 10-Day Belly Slimdown book.
Slower Cooker Pulled Pork was amazing paired with oven roasted Brussels sprouts.
How much weight can I lose on the 10-Day Belly Slimdown?
The 10-Day Belly Slimdown author, Dr. Kellyann Petrucci, promises you can lose up to 10 pounds and 4 inches off your waist in 10 days.
The more weight you have to lose, the quicker the pounds will melt off.
When I did the 10-Day Belly Slimdown I lost 6 pounds and 2.5 inches off my waist in 10 days.
I was extremely happy with my results because I am never one of those people who drops a ton of weight fast. I felt light and energized when I completed the diet.
What results are other people getting on the 10-Day Belly Slimdown?
I looked at lots of reviews on both Dr. Kellyann's website and on Amazon to see what other, real people, had to say about this diet. The results and reviews are overwhelmingly positive and most had an experience like I did: 5-10 pounds of weight loss, more energy, less bloating, and a smaller waistline.
Here's what a few people had to say:
Coysolar says: "I can honestly say that this is my new favorite go-to diet, though, whenever I feel I need a "re-boot" or to remove stubborn lbs. I started this diet with 19 lbs. to lose. My first round of 10 days I lost 8 lbs. I then went on a 2 week trip and stayed as close to the maintenance plan (or 80/20 plan) as possible. I'm now on round two of the 10 day and feeling so good! This diet has helped me with joint pain, as well as my skin, hair and nails look and feel great - and I'VE LOST THE BLOAT!!"
Kourtney says: "Within a few days my muffin top deflated and my waist became a waist again! This plan is easy and I don't have to buy crazy foods I've never heard of. She gives a "don't have to cook" meal plan for those of us too busy or don't like to cook and a ton of recipes if you want to cook. I can do this plan at work and I dont run to the bathroom every 5 min or get irritable from "dieting"! I love this book and totally recommend to anyone ready to shed fat--quickly!!!"
Nolsher says: "I was not hungry in the least and I followed Dr. Kellyann's 10day bone broth slim-down by making 4 big @ss pots of my own luscious beef bone broth as per the recipes in the book. Sip on bone broth and black coffee from when you wake up, then a collagen protein smoothie at lunch, more bone broth in the afternoons, and a sensible portion of chicken, fish or beef protein with unlimited non-starchy veggies at the evening meal, all within a 7 hour window, just as outlined and it worked! Added bonuses; are stronger finger nails,hair and improved skin...I lost 12 lbs in 10 days and wish to lose about 5 more before the summer season arrives."
Sharon says: "I didn't think that I would ever be able to end food cravings - but I've been able to do so within a matter of days from the information in this book. What I have been eating is beyond delicious and simple - I actually look forward to it. When I'm not eating, I'm not hungry and don't have cravings (first time ever). (And her recommended approach reduces inflammation that makes me - and each of us - have 265x risk of heart disease and high blood pressure, which makes me feel doubly good about it)."
What other benefits can I expect from following the 10-Day Belly Slimdown?
Your life will change for the better after losing belly fat.
When you lose your belly fat you can stop hiding your body and start flaunting it. No more oversized tops or stretchy yoga pants instead of skinny jeans. Say goodbye to coverups at the beach.
You will have the confidence to wear anything! I remember when I lost 80 pounds about 10 years ago and, for the first time in years, could wear ANYTHING I wanted. Getting dressed was fun again.
When you reduce your belly fat you'll also reduce inflammation. You'll speed up your metabolism, you'll lower your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer.
Best of all cravings will disappear so you can finally be in control of your weight. I know from personal experience that cravings are the biggest sabotage of my desire to be a healthy person at a healthy weight.
We celebrated my husband’s birthday while I was doing the 10-Day Belly Slimdown so I ordered salmon with shrimp, and naked green beans and broccoli. It was delicious!
Is there a 10-Day Belly Slimdown maintenance plan?
Dr. Kellyann doesn't leave you hanging after you finish the 10-day diet. She includes a very comprehensive and do-able maintenance plan. In fact, it's the same maintenance plan she recommends for any of her other diet programs like the Bone Broth Diet or 5-Day Cleanse and Reset).
What I love about the maintenance plan is it realistic for anyone. It is essentially an 80/20 style of eating.
80% of your meals will include protein, a serving of healthy fat, and as many non-starchy vegetables as you want. You can include fruit and starchy veggies (like potatoes or butternut squash) if you need extra energy.
She gives you lots of guidance in the book but when you eat this way 80% of the time you can easily include a few little splurges in your diet - 20% of the time.
I love this philosophy because it means no food is ever off-limits.
As most dieters experience, as soon as you make a food off-limits it becomes the one thing we crave.
RELATED: I am 100% for eating as many healthy, non-starchy plant foods as possible because they are the key to good health. How to Eat More Veggies on a Keto Diet - Free Low Carb Eat the Rainbow Tracker
10-Day Belly Slimdown FAQ's.
Here are answers to common questions you might have before beginning this diet.
Is the 10-Day Belly Slimdown a keto diet?
The 10-Day Belly Slimdown is not a keto diet since it is not high in fat. But it is a diet low in carbs, moderate in protein, and devoid of any processed foods.
Can I follow the 10-Day Belly Slimdown for longer than 10 days?
Because the 10-Day Belly Slimdown is designed for quick weight loss, it's recommended that you switch to the 21-Day Bone Broth Diet after completing your initial 10 days. You can stay on the Bone Broth Diet as long as necessary.
Can I substitute regular broth for bone broth?
It's important to use either homemade bone broth or a quality store-bought bone broth product instead of chicken or beef broth you may normally use in cooking. Bone broth has gut-healing, fat-burning nutrients not present in regular broth. You can find bone broth at your local grocery store, on Amazon, or on Dr. Kellyann's website.
Can I do this diet if I am a vegetarian?
You can definitely do the 10-Day Belly Slimdown if you are a vegetarian. You will substitute a rich vegetable broth for bone broth and eggs are a good protein choice for the evening meal. You can add foods to the basic diet template such as beans, lentils, edamame, full-fat pastured milk kefir and yogurt, natto, and tempeh. (These additions are ONLY if you follow a vegetarian diet and she discusses all the details on page 56 of the book.) It is important to avoid "fake" foods like vegetarian chicken wings, soy milk, tofu hot dogs, etc.
Who is Dr. Kellyann Petrucci, creator of the Belly Slimdown?
You hear me name-dropping Dr. Kellyann Petrucci like she’s my BFF, but I actually DO feel like I know her. I have followed her blog for years, and have done not only this diet but the 5-Day Cleanse and Reset and her 21-Day Bone Broth diet too. (I’ve linked to my blog posts about each of these diets below.)
When I'm not actively following one of her diets I include many of her recipes in my meal-planning rotation because they are delicious, simple to make, and include tons of nutrient-dense ingredients like low-starch vegetables, fresh herbs, and quality proteins.
Dr. Kellyann is a naturopathic physician and certified nutrition consultant with over 20 years of clinical experience. She focuses her practice on healthy weight loss and aging and was one of the original proponents of bone broth and collagen for their gut-healing, weight loss, and anti-aging properties.
She is a New York Times best-selling author and has been featured on many TV shows such as Good Morning America and Dr. Oz.
I hope you enjoyed this review of the 10-Day Belly Slimdown. Wishing you good health!
—The Keto Minimalist
If you like the 10-Day Belly Slimdown, or are seriously considering starting this diet, you might be interested in these related articles. I love Dr. Kellyann’s diet plans because they are simple, doable, and have delicious recipes!
Don’t forget to PIN this post so you can find it in the future!
