Don't stay on Very Low Calorie Diets (VLCD) for too long because…

OK so this is an old article but how can you put down you will quickly gain the weight soon after losing it all?
Theoretically, if you weigh 200 pounds, and your basal metabolic rate is 2500 calories, if you eat say 500 calories a day, you will lose weight fast, when you get down to a target of say 150 pounds bodyweight, your basal metabolic rate will be say 2000 calories. So when you go back to eating normally, yes you will gain weight if you eat how you use too (@ 2500 calories), but if you stuck at your new basal metabolic rate of 2000 calories, that is your new maintenance and should not gain fat. If what your saying is true, you can be eating at your maintenance calories and you will still gain fat, this is not possible, your body would burn it off, not store it as fat and not use it! Please explain how the above statement is wrong, if you can...

May 16, 2013

Hi Adrian, when you say you'll gain the weight right back after a VLCD, is it because people tend to go back to their normal eating habbits(2k+ calories) or they just gain it back because of some metabolism thing?

If i were to be in a VLCD, and after I hit the mark I wanted, I stayed in a healthy 1500-1800 calorie diet and exercising frequently, would I still gain dome weight back? If yes, why.

May 15, 2013

Ok.. So this is what I infer from the above. If I go on a very low calorie diet for say 2 weeks, or something like master cleanse program for 1 week and lose a lot weight...
When I get off the diet, and eat only the number of calories my body needs at that weight to keep itself running each day and couple it with enough exercise, I will keep that weight off?

April 28, 2013

Hey Adrian,
I am 5'4", 27 yrs. weighing 143 pounds... I would like to lose my stomach without loosing my butt, hips and thighs. people keep telling me to do intense cardio, go on a diet and etc., but when i did it I noticed that everything else was starting to slim excpet my stomach.. What should I do?

April 07, 2013

I am a 21 year old female weighing 165 lbs. I would like to lose at least 20 lbs in 2.5 months, however I'm not interested in gaining back the weight I lose after stopping a very low calorie diet. I find it difficult to stick to high-impact exercise but would like a program that I can easily stick to after trying the low calorie diet to lose my initial 20-ish lbs.

thanks so much!

March 23, 2013

Hi I am 21 year old female I am currently weighing in at 176 pounds the biggest iv ever been ATM I'm classified as jus over the overweight chart so it's a problem but I'm not too badly over weight iv always been around 132 pounds so I'm like 20 kilos over an it's due to part reason iv jus had my daughter almost a year ago but it's upset in me a lot iv tried a lot of diets an seem to crash them after the first week as I feel weak an I can't exactly be weak havin a new to walking toddler runnin after, ppl say it takes upto two years to shift the weight after having a baby but I don't believ that and I am unsure of my height to be exact but I'm not tall usually small frame an small in height so that makes me look even more plump! I need help I need a diet plan something easy as I don't hav the time to prepare all these different fancy meals every day per day, please help

March 22, 2013

My wife and I started a diet on new years. I am actually very satisfied food wise with around 1500 to 1800 calories. Now I am wondering if that is enough to promote good weight loss, and sustain my bodily needs. I make each meal roughly 400-500 calories,with one snack each day. I weigh 310lbs at 6 foot.

January 07, 2013

Hi Adrian, I'm 5' 3" and weigh 270 pounds, what kind of diet should I do?

January 05, 2013

Hi Adrian ,

I'm 5'9 and weigh 230lbs. I'm in desperate need to lose a quick 10-15 lbs by New Years (2 weeks)! What do you suggest I do? I've read you VLCD but am a little confused about how much food to eat after the 2-3vegetables. So how many calories should I be totaling per day including the 2-3fruits/vegetables?

December 17, 2012

Hi there Adrian! I think I've been on a VLCD diet for way too long and now I am very confused and worried! Here's the story: I started working out very hard and dieting about 1 years and a half ago, and by then, I was 70kg. Then at some point I had lost 8kg, which wasn't my objective yet, so I continued doing the same formula. Important to say that it wasn't a lame diet (I was even oriented by a sports nutritionist), I mean, it's pretty balanced, with at least 2grams of protein per kg, a fair amount of good fats, basically less than 110grams of carbs, all low-medium GI, and the kcal count was most of the time around 1200~1800. But suddently I started to GAIN ALL THE WEIGHT BACK, now I am stuck with my original weight and don't know what to do! Am I on this "VLCD plateau"? Why did I gain all my weight back? I don't know what I should do, please help me!

I would greatly appreciate your response, thanks in advance!

September 22, 2012

Ive been on the VLCD along with oxyelite pro diet pills and ive went from 167 to 159 within 5 days. Will I eventually hit a plateau? also when it gets to the point where i want to maintain my weight is there a way i can ease back into a higher calorie intake with exercise and not gain my weight back? thanks!

July 13, 2012

Hi Adrian,
I'm 25 yrs old, 5'3", and 108 lbs. I'm Asian, so my weight is not considered bottom-line !! I'm at my highest weight of my life and I wish to lose about 5 lbs. I used to have bulimia and weighed only 74 lbs (4 yrs ago). I'm recovered and have gained all my weights back (and more). However, I've been on a VLCD for a few years because I'm afraid I might binge like I used to. And although I've restricted my calorie intake, my weight has been gradually increased. I try to eat healthy (but I do eat crap from time to time - -") and do weight training. But nothing help. I still live with my parents so I can't be too choosy about what to eat. I can't do too much cardio coz somehow they're still paranoid that I might have EDs again, so I have to do light weights at home....no gym.

Do you think my metabolism has been shut down?
Are there ways to know that I currently have slow metabolism?
What are your suggestions I should do?

Pretty please help and thank you for your time,
Pam :)

June 22, 2012

Hi Adrian,
I was wondering what kind of diet & excercise plan i need if i'm 5'3 and weigh 180lbs? Can i go on the VLCD plan? i want to lose 50lbs do you think that's doable, any advice?Thanks!!

June 19, 2012

is it possible to not gain all the weight back you loss in a VLCD??

June 13, 2012

I need help , I've tried to cut back calories, I've tried excersing and i don't see results so by the second week I want to give up , I use to weight 140 but four years ago I had a c_section and my over all weight was 210. I wanna get bk to my weight , I'm devoted to making a change and need your help . I was thinking of doing the loose 50 lbs 5-8 months ? Do u suggest that for me?

June 03, 2012

Hi Adrian,

I just came across this site on yet another search on reasons why I'm not losing weight. I am 4ft 11" and weight 122lbs. I know my BMI still says I am healthy but my weight increased steadily but rapidly 2 years ago by about 14 lbs (was eating the same but started exercising more). Being small also makes me look a lot heavier with even a small increase in weight. I know part of this may be muscle but I have also gained quite a few inches around my waist and hips. On average I eat around 1200 calories per day and at weekends, around 1500 max. (but not every weekend!). I exercise 3 - 5 times per week. Two months ago I decided to cut out carbs 5 days a week to see if this helped, in the first week I lost 3lbs but put it on the week after and have not lost any weight since. I have literally tried everything to lose weight (weight watchers, more exercise, thyroid tests, diets) but nothing has worked! If you can give me any advice or help I would really appreciate it!!

May 15, 2012

Hi Adrian.

My religion requires me to fast 1 month per year. Fasting involves eating a pre-dawn meal around 5am and I can only eat and drink back at around 7plus. After that 1 month of fasting, my appetite diminished and I ate quite little. (Does this count as a VLCD?) My weight went down from 54 to 47kg. My height is around 157cm.

But after a period of time, my appetite came back and I gained weight till 50kg. Can you suggest me a healthy weight loss program with minimal exercise? I have eczema and sweating hurts my wounds. My form of exercise everyday is a 10 minutes walk 2 times per day.

I'd like to loose till 47kg once more. I'm 19 this year btw. Hope you can help :)

May 05, 2012

I am 45 years old. I've done the HCG and of course gained it all back in a year. I have been reading a lot of your comments and information on your website and I want to do the "lose 30 lbs in 4 weeks". I have a lot on my hands right now but, I will find the time to do it. I saw that you had given food plans to some and I would like to know what I need to eat during this time to help with the weight loss.
I am 5'6" and 237 lbs. I plan on losing 120 pounds by March 2013 before my next physical check up. Will you help me with my food plan of what I need to eat to burn the 20 lbs in four weeks? Thanks, Tina.

April 28, 2012

Hi, Adrian.
First, i want to say thank you for all of your awesome plans for losing weight. Second, i'm 16 years old, 5ft2, and 151 lbs. I think i'm in VLCD too, because i'm drinking Herbal life shake in the morning (with calcium liquid), i'm eating fruits for lunch and dinner. I DON'T KNOW if it's a RIGHT plan for me. Oh, and i'm work out everyday except Wed and Sat. I'm riding bicycle for an hour, lose about 600-700 calories. I want to lose about 30 lbs for 2 month. Do you think its possible? Please reply my message. I really want to know what diet plan will be good enough for me. Thank you so much.

March 28, 2012