Serious Questions About the Effects of a VLCD
Options
Replies
-
I made the mistake of doing the hCG diet (homeopathic drops with no real hCG). It was a 500-calorie diet and it caused so many serious problems for me. More than a year and a half later and I'm wondering if the kidney infections I've had since are related since I wasn't prone since. When I ended up under a doctor's care during the diet, I was told my body was cannibalizing my organs to get the nutrients it needed. It also dropped my ferritin and iron to almost nothing. Since I had just had them checked weeks before and they were perfect, there was no doubt it was the diet.
Don't do it! Biggest mistake of my life was this diet.
Is that the one with weekly injections?
0 -
The #1 side effect of VLCDs is gallstones. I've had them, they hurt a lot, and the only real cure is to have your gallbladder removed. You do not want gallstones, trust me.
Besides that, consider this: When you eat at a deficit without exercising, your body cannibalizes your tissues to make up the rest of its energy needs...both fat and muscle. Do you know what's a muscle? Your heart. You can permanently damage your heart by eating a VLCD.
Eat at a reasonable deficit. The weight will come off. It took you years to get to the point where you are, why would you think you should be able to reverse it in a few months?0 -
[/quote]
Read what you wrote, especially the bit that I've bolded.
Even if there were nothing physiologically dangerous about a 350 cal diet (and there is, even in those who are obese), your eating issues and a VLCD do NOT mix.
[/quote]
Fair enough. But it does leave me in a tough position.0 -
[/quote]
I'm going to assume there are a couple of grams of carb and fat in there somewhere because 52g of protein is only 208 calories. With that said, you are eating virtually no fat, which is extremely unhealthy. Dietary fat is vital to our health. And no, excess body fat does not mean you don't need dietary fat. You're eating no fruits and vegetables which just isn't smart.
All in all what can be said for sure about your plan is that it's practicing horrible nutrition and you are setting yourself up for horrible consequences. You got to 300+ lbs so what makes you think you need to eat under 400 calories to lose weight?
[/quote]
Thanks for putting my weight up there. That's fantastic.
Anyway, I do throw some veggies in. A bag of Trader Joe spinach is 40. Or a box of their bok choy is 20. CAuliflower is low. Broccoli. String beans. I take a little of this and a little of that. Or, sometimes I eat these VEggie Go's things that are 15-20 calories per.
The current dietary fat is close to non-existent though, you're right.
0 -
Thanks for answering. Do you happen to know what they're checking for every 2 weeks when they are following someone on an 800 calorie diet?
Blood pressure, heart rate, general health. Potassium supplementation can be required. The risk of heart problems if you don't spare muscle protein (the heart is a muscle) is one of the danger areas of VLCD.
50 grams of protein and 30 grams of fat = 470 calories a day is probably a better rock bottom approach to get in the fat soluble vitamins and essential fatty acids plus give the gall bladder something to do.-1 -
grimmeanor wrote: »Well, if going VLCD repeatedly over all this time has left you in good health, then why change a thing? Keep going, I would say.
I actually have a "healthy" appreciation for sarcasm nso good for you with that response! lol
0 -
Thanks for answering. Do you happen to know what they're checking for every 2 weeks when they are following someone on an 800 calorie diet?
Blood pressure, heart rate, general health. Potassium supplementation can be required. The risk of heart problems if you don't spare muscle protein (the heart is a muscle) is one of the danger areas of VLCD.
50 grams of protein and 30 grams of fat = 470 calories a day is probably a better rock bottom approach to get in the fat soluble vitamins and essential fatty acids plus give the gall bladder something to do.
Thanks for the details. So if the gallbladder has nothing to do, that's when it forms gallstones?0 -
"The only thing any of them are willing to do is monitor a program that starts at 1800 a day to produce a loss of .5-2lbs a week."
That's because it's what you should be doing to lose weight.
I lost 35 pounds in about 6 weeks due to an intestinal bacterial infection and it took me over a year to get over that kind of weight loss and all the ramifications. Please re-evaluate what you are doing and follow the advice you received from professionals.0 -
SnuggleSmacks wrote: »The #1 side effect of VLCDs is gallstones. I've had them, they hurt a lot, and the only real cure is to have your gallbladder removed. You do not want gallstones, trust me.
Besides that, consider this: When you eat at a deficit without exercising, your body cannibalizes your tissues to make up the rest of its energy needs...both fat and muscle. Do you know what's a muscle? Your heart. You can permanently damage your heart by eating a VLCD.
Eat at a reasonable deficit. The weight will come off. It took you years to get to the point where you are, why would you think you should be able to reverse it in a few months?
Do you know if the body would turn to something like my heart if it's getting the daily recommended protein?
I'm not looking to reverse all this in a few months. I understand that's not realistic or possible even with surgery. I'm just trying to get enough off, say 50lb, in a couple of months instead of 6 to a year so that I stay motivated long term. A couple of pounds a week at THIS POINT makes me think "Why bother?"
If that makes any sense. IF it doesn't, it probably just means you're good, mentally.
0 -
Please read through this experiment, especially the results. Please note 'starvation' for these men was 1560 calories per day. Also there were only 36 participants and it does not look like they were overweight to begin with, so this is not a perfect analogy to your situation, however it does shed some light on what restricting calories does to the human body.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_Starvation_Experiment
I thought I remembered reading elsewhere that when they tried to return to normal eating most of these men had to eat a tremendous amount of calories for their bodies to recover. This article discusses a little of that :
http://www.topsecretwriters.com/2014/01/wwii-minnesota-starvation-experiment-recovery-slow/
The best thing you can do for yourself it to set up healthy habits you can live with for the rest of your life. So what if it takes you 5 years to get at your goal weight. You need to be thinking about your health and well-being for the next few decades, not the next few months. Please seek out a health care professional who specializes in eating disorder recovery.0 -
__drmerc__ wrote: »You can survive on a 0 calorie diet for a extended period of time assuming you have enough fat. Most people here are just echoing what they read on MFP.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2495396/pdf/postmedj00315-0056.pdf
OH I have enough fat. Nooooooooo shortage there.0 -
Please read through this experiment, especially the results. Please note 'starvation' for these men was 1560 calories per day. Also there were only 36 participants and it does not look like they were overweight to begin with, so this is not a perfect analogy to your situation, however it does shed some light on what restricting calories does to the human body.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_Starvation_Experiment
I thought I remembered reading elsewhere that when they tried to return to normal eating most of these men had to eat a tremendous amount of calories for their bodies to recover. This article discusses a little of that :
http://www.topsecretwriters.com/2014/01/wwii-minnesota-starvation-experiment-recovery-slow/
The best thing you can do for yourself it to set up healthy habits you can live with for the rest of your life. So what if it takes you 5 years to get at your goal weight. You need to be thinking about your health and well-being for the next few decades, not the next few months. Please seek out a health care professional who specializes in eating disorder recovery.
This0 -
"The only thing any of them are willing to do is monitor a program that starts at 1800 a day to produce a loss of .5-2lbs a week."
That's because it's what you should be doing to lose weight.
I lost 35 pounds in about 6 weeks due to an intestinal bacterial infection and it took me over a year to get over that kind of weight loss and all the ramifications. Please re-evaluate what you are doing and follow the advice you received from professionals.
I know. I've tried. I just get so discouraged so quickly when the initial weight loss is slow.
0 -
The doctor has told you that a VLCD is dangerous based on your history. They've also told you that surgery is dangerous based on your history. Restrictive EDs can and do cause death. Why do you want to do things that the doctors are telling you are dangerous? Do you not care that you're putting yourself at risk?brianpperkins wrote: »The only time and way to ever go on a VLCD is under the direct supervision and direction of a doctor. Quit trying to figure out how to bypass that requirement.
Bypass it? I've asked my doctor who referred me to the weight specialists at the hospital I go to who looked at my history and said "Uh, No. We fear it would activate restriction."
I asked for the weight loss surgery. "Uh, no. We would never perform that surgery on you with your history." I am pretty sure NOT bypassing it and having all these people previously involved in my weight loss efforts is what semi-screwed me now.
So, I have asked multiple doctors and nutritionists and therapists for the help I think I need but haven't gotten anywhere other than told to do. The only thing any of them are willing to do is monitor a program that starts at 1800 a day to produce a loss of .5-2lbs a week.
Seriously, is losing more than two pounds a week so important to you that you'd rather hurt yourself?
0 -
Thanks for the details. So if the gallbladder has nothing to do, that's when it forms gallstones?
Gallstones are associated with low fat eating, where the demind for bile is low. Cholesterol is secreted regardless and accumulates in the gall bladder, becomes oversaturated and forms stones.
Eating fat means it is drained regularly, the cholesterol doesn't accumulate, and the saturation doesn't occur.
http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/gallstones.htm#d
-1 -
I thought we weren't allowed to encourage vlcd on here?
0 -
-
I understand that it's frustrating for it to take so long when you have so much to lose. Maybe looking at it differently will help. Instead of telling yourself you have the whole amount to lose, break it up into smaller goals of say 10 pounds each. Celebrate each and every 10 pounds, they will add up.
Remind yourself no matter what, a year from now is a year from now. You will either be steady on your weight loss journey, or in another binge cycle because you didn't do it properly. 2 pounds a week is 100 pounds in a year. 1 year from today, you could be 100 pounds lighter, or you could be in the hospital, or worse.
Furthermore, I would scour these threads for people who have successfully lost and maintained triple digit weight loss, and/or have dealt with EDs in a healthy way. Send them a friend request. Ask them to help motivate you. Learn from their experience and wisdom.
Have patience with yourself. And forgive yourself when you mess up. You are worth it.0
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 392K Introduce Yourself
- 43.6K Getting Started
- 259.8K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.7K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.3K Fitness and Exercise
- 402 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.4K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 152.8K Motivation and Support
- 7.9K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.4K MyFitnessPal Information
- 23 News and Announcements
- 998 Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.4K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions