& with friends
Don't stay on Very Low Calorie Diets (VLCD) for too long because...
Eventually - your body's metabolism will slow down & go into 'survival or starvation mode' to help you survive on the low amount of calories you're eating and when you go into 'survival or starvation mode'...
- You'll start to lose weight much slower or...
- You'll stop losing weight and the worst thing that can happen to you is...
- After you finish your VLCD & go back to eating normal - You'll probably gain back all the weight you lost (and maybe more) real quick & easy because your metabolism has gotten much slower from being in 'survival or starvation mode' and...
How fast you go into 'survival or starvation mode' all depends on how overweight you are and basically... The more overweight you are = the longer you can stay on a VLCD and continue to lose more than 2 pounds a week without ever going into 'survival or starvation mode' so for example...
If you're really overweight - You can go on a VLCD or eat less than 1200 calories a day & lose like 5 pounds a week for maybe up to 3 months before your body ever goes into 'survival or starvation mode' because...
People who are really overweight have lots of body fat or LOTS OF
EXTRA ENERGY stored in their bodies that can burned off to help them
survive during a period when they're not eating very much and...
That's why overweight people lived longer than skinnier people during famines way back in history but...
A perfect example of an overweight person who lost a lot of weight on a VLCD is biggest loser winner Ali Vincent who lost 112 ponds in 5 months by eating less than 1200 calories a day & exercising and when you get a chance -go here to see a video of how she lost 112 pounds but on the other hand...
If you're not overweight - You may get lucky and lose 10 pounds in 7 days while on a VLCD but after that...
- Your metabolism will probably slow down and go into 'survival or starvation mode' and...
- You're not going to lose weight at the same rate anymore or... You'll probably hit a weight loss plateau and stop losing weight and...
- Your body will begin storing fat and instead of burning ugly body fat for energy... Your body may start burning off your good looking muscle for energy because...
- People who aren't overweight don't have the extra body fat like overweight people do that can be burned off for ENERGY during a VLCD and...
Celebrity Beyonce
Knowles is a perfect example of someone who isn't overweight
that went on a VLCD and lost a lot of weight and then gained it all
back quickly.
Beyonce lost 20 pounds in 2 weeks on the master cleanse diet but
she quickly gained it all back and more - so...
Follow these 4 rules if you ever decide to go on a VLCD...
- Just because you're overweight doesn't automatically mean you can escape 'survival or starvation mode' for a very long time and vice versa...
- Just because you're NOT Overweight doesn't also automatically mean you CAN'T stay on a VLCD for a long time without going into 'survival or starvation mode' but generally - the way things work out...
- Overweight people do tend to be able to stay on VLCD longer and lose larger amounts of FAT than leaner people while on a VLCD and...
Look at these 3 articles if you ever think about doing a VLCD...
- How NOT to lose weight -VLCD related
- See how fast you can really lose weight
- Why it's harder to lose your last 10 pounds
- 7 reasons why you can't lose weight
and tell your friends why very low calorie diets do not work
Responses to "Why Very Low Calorie Diets Don't Work"
Steven
#1 - have you taken any action yet?
#2 - you're over analzing every single thing
#3 - I would feel much better helping you as you TAKE ACTION so what have you done so far and as for your questions...
#4 - the intervals and football will be fine with the calories you are eating but if you need more energy to get thru your workouts - you may have to increase calories or increase complex carbs
#5 - Don't worry about how much fat you eat and since you are on a low calorie diet -it would be best that you try to avoid fat so you can actually eat more food before you reach your daily total
Adrian Bryant | 06.21.09 - 6:28 pm
Ok.
So if I did Intervals and a littlee bit of football one day and some Weight lifting the other days, that is fine with the calories Im eating?
Steven | 06.20.09 - 3:45 pm
Steven
Yes - the 1250 is fine but what about exercise?
Adrian Bryant | 06.19.09 - 8:17 pm
What is the difference between a VLCD and a LCD?
What if I eat 1250 Calories a day but need 2000? Will I be fine if I do that?
Steven | 06.19.09 - 11:51 am
Steven
"You just want to LOOK GOOD"
why didn't you say that in the first place!
Just go to NowLoss.com/w
Adrian Bryant | 06.19.09 - 10:26 am
Reading that article kind of depresses me because I want to look good before I go back to College in late august but I need to lose 45 pounds.
Im 6'1 215 pounds.
Is there a Healthy way I can get in good enough shape before I go back to college?
Please Help.
Steven | 06.18.09 - 7:56 pm
Steven
You can workout with weights to try to maintain some muscle and yes...
as long as you dont overeat and stay active - you should maintain your weight but...
Look at this here also about VLCD
Adrian Bryant | 06.18.09 - 3:54 pm
So is there anything I can do while on a low calorie diet to look decent and have some muscle?
Also, when I go back to normal eating again, as long as I eat enough to maintain my weight or anything below that, i shouldnt gain any weight back right?
Sorry If I ask alot of questions, I just want to make sure I can do this right.
Steven | 06.16.09 - 10:40 pm
Steven
Not really
If you are not getting enough carbs - your body will utilize protein and maybe your own muscle while on VLCD for enregy
Adrian Bryant | 06.16.09 - 8:12 pm
I want to work out while Im on a low calorie diet. If I consume decent amount of protein, is it possible to build muscle working out on a low calorie diet?
Steven | 06.16.09 - 8:03 pm
Marci,
Sorry it took so long to answer - I don't know how i missed your question but...
your diet is fine - look at 1-thru-5 here for how to exercise to lose weight faster
Adrian Bryant | 04.23.09 - 4:59 pm
Hi,
I was recently on a 500 calorie a day diet and then went up to 800. I lost about 5 pounds but then stopped losing so I increased my calories to 1275 and I exercise for 1 hour and a half. I have stayed at the same weight for a week now so I dont know if I am still in starvation mode or if my body is just adjusting to start losing weight again. the problem is that I was overexercising too and going over the amount of calories I can cut a day. I was cutting about 850 calories and then with exercise I was cutting about 1550 calories so I must have been storing fat instead of burning it. So I was wondering if the best thing to do is to continue my 1275 calorie a day diet but decrease my exercise to only 20 minutes of cardio so that I wont go over the amount of calories to cut. Will I still be able to lose weight after I went over for several weeks. I weigh 150 pounds and am 5 foot 5.
Marci | 04.20.09 - 11:45 pm
Kerri,
#1 - you are at your ideal weight already so it's going to take longer for you to lose weight no matter what weight loss method you use - Go here to see why
#2 - 1350 calories is fine but for you to keep losing weight - you really need to go to NowLoss.com/15 and...
#3 - at you weight - you need to worry more about exercise intensity and/or increase overall activity for weight management
ADRIAN BRYANT | 03.21.09 - 2:38 pm
I am so glad I found your site. I lost 47 lbs from April 07- Oct. 08 following a program where I ate only about 800 cal, but drank 4 protein supplements per day to supplement my intake. For the first year I was able to totally maintain by allowing myself a 3 lb. buffer. My goal is to stay within the 135-138 lb. range. Once I hit the 138 lbs. I would go back to the lower calorie diet to get it back in line. Now suddenly, that is not working. I am weighing in at 140 lbs. and I am 5'5 1/2" tall, female, and 44 years of age. I have been trying to use the lower calorie method and increase my exercise and I have not been able to get back to 135 lb. In fact, I keep creeping up .2 of a pound at a time. I found your information about starvation mode and I am pretty sure that is what is happening. I have not been indulgent in my eating, probably the opposite because I am so afraid of putting the weight back on, but I am scared to death of adding more calories to my diet, too. I am going to try your method of eating every 3 hours and still incorporate my whey protein (17 g protein and only 30 calories) into the calorie count. I am exercising 30-40 minutes per day three to five times per week and although I work in an office, I am constantly up and down from my desk to the filing cabinet, so I would not say I am sedentary. Do you think 1350 calories is an OK amount to shoot for? My diet plan is as follows:
6:30 am
1/2 cup skim milk
1 slice 45 cal wheat bread
2 oz hard cheese OR 1 egg & 1 oz cheese
Whey Protein drink (30 cal 17 g Protein)
fiber powder
9:30 am
Protein Bar 180 cal - 17 g Protein
small apple
12:30 pm
grilled chicken breast
salad
spritz dressing
5 wheat crackers
edemame beans
3:30 pm
Protein drink
small orange
cup of yogurt
6:30 pm
grilled chicken
salad w/ spritz dressing
cooked veggie
1 slice 45 cal wheat bread
walnuts
multivitamin & calcium supplement
fiber powder
Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated. I feel like a failure and I am scared to try adding more calories to my diet!!!
Kerri | 03.21.09 - 9:52 am
Steven,
Yes - exercise will help and the more active you are = the less you have to rely on a VLCD
ADRIAN BRYANT | 03.18.09 - 9:45 am
If I do exercise during the diet, that would ok too right?
Steven | 03.18.09 - 9:19 am
Steven,
If you didn't exercise to lose weight then exercising or staying active will keep the weight off and going here will give you an idea of how much you need to eat to maintain your weight but...
If you start gaining - you can either get more active, cut back on how much you eat or do both
ADRIAN BRYANT | 03.17.09 - 11:02 pm
What can I do to ensure I don't gain the weight back after I lose it with the VLCD diet?
Surely, there must be a way.
Steven | 03.17.09 - 8:36 pm
Andrea,
You're not doing anything wrong...
It's just that you're eating VLCD plus intense exercise + working 40 hours a week = fatigue. - Simple as that! and you need to realize...
The biggest loser TV show people don't have to work 40 hours a week and they probably have the luxury of taking an extra nap and also...
You only been doing this for a week and after 3 weeks - you'll get used to it
ADRIAN BRYANT | 03.04.09 - 9:16 am
Hi, im 21 yo, 5'3 tall and weigh 246lbs. I have been on VLCD for a week now, i do 20 min interval cardio and weight training 5 times a day. this should be my 2nd week now but i started feeling tired all the time and feeling sleepy at work. am i doing anything wrong? I do sleep 7-8 hours a day.
Andrea | 03.03.09 - 10:50 pm
Monica,
YEs - the contraceptive pill can be a reason but consult with a doctor to be sure about that and...
Since you're only about 10 pounds overweight - Go to NowLoss.com/15
ADRIAN BRYANT | 03.04.09 - 9:08 am
Hi there,
I wonder if you can help. I am five foot 4" and weight 144 pounds. I am 35 years old and in the last year I have put on 17lbs. I am now eating between 1200-1500 calories a day (I used to eat around 2000-2300) and I am exercising every day (running/walking more/static rowing & skipping) I have been doing this since 1 January, I lost 2lbs in one month only and I am not lossing anything now at all! Could my contraceptive pill have anything to do with this? i believe since I started taking it I put on the weight. Can you help me lose 17lbs Please??/
Monica | 03.04.09 - 5:54 am
Marla W.,
I don't know too much about the Optifast diet (i'd have to look into it) but as far as exercise goes...
ANy of the exercises or workout plans here are good
Hi Adrian,
I am currently on the Optifast program. I currently weigh 219 and would like to get down to 130-135. I am 5'4". I have been following the program for about 7 days now. I've heard a lot of bad things as far as people regaining the weight after the program, but it seemed that this was my last resort as I have tried everything under the sun to lose this weight. What would you recommend as far as excercising while on the Optifast program and how to boost my metabolism when the program ends?
Thank you,
Marla W.
Marla W. |
01.11.09 - 8:47 pm
Becky | 01.06.09 - 11:20 am
Becky,
You have nothing to worry about.
1200-to-1500 calories is a safe range for you and unless you're eating 800-to-1200 calories is when you need to worry about starvation mode.
The 1800 calories is about what you need to eat to maintain your current weight and you want to eat less than that and/or exercise to lose weight and you're doing that
Becky | 01.04.09 - 9:29 pm
Moni,
being in a wheelchair doesn't mean you still can't be active and being more active increase your metabolism and after you lose weight...
Go here to see how many calories you need to maintain your weight and keep eating weight loss foods and you should either maintain your weight or not gain too much weight as a result of ding that and...
here's more ways to increase metabolism
(P.S. Im also in a wheelchair so excersize is outa the question.)
Moni | 12.09.08 - 7:11 pm
Alvy,
YES!! - exercising more or better yet in your case... exercising more intensely for 15-to-30 minutes will do you much better than eating less than 1200 calories and better yet...
You'd be better off with this weight loss plan here eating a range of 1041-to-1264 calories a day
Hello, I'm 5'3" and 119lbs.
Hovering from 114lbs to 119lb, I'm really confused about counting calories. According to your site, it states one should eat at least 1200kcal right? However, most sites tell me if I wish to continue losing weight, I'd have to eat AT MOST 1000kcal! (Using statistics that I lead a sedentary lifestyle, 119lbs, and 5' 3")
Just need to confirm really, it's not a good idea to eat below 1200kcal right?
That means, rather than reducing calories, exercising more would be the better way to keep the weight off?
Thanks! :D
Alvy | 11.24.08 - 12:06 am
jurgen makus,
If you're a bodybuilder who is trying to lose your last 10 pounds of belly fat so your abs can show then You may want to give "how To lose your last 10 pounds in 40 days or less" a try
hi..i'm about 5'-4" and 194 pounds..i am some what of a body builder ..chest up...thighs down...my mid section is terrible...i'm still lost...i do excercise about 3days aweek...i do lots of walking at work..in a 8 hour day...i probably walk about 5 to 6 hours of it.. i came to the point to were i eat mostly cubcumbers and lettuce...occationally apiece of chicken sandwich or so.. please help..
thank..
jurgen makus |
07.09.08 - 8:48 pm
Lisa,
What's your height and weight? This info will help me figure out your problem
Lisa | 04.14.08 - 7:52 pm
