How long is it safe to do a VLCD?

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turtlemt20
turtlemt20 Posts: 43 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hi -- over the past three months, I stopped working out and started eating junk food out of depression and gained 20 lbs. I started taking an anti-depressant and am back to my workout routine and eating whole foods again. I'm not very hungry and could be fine with eating 300-400 calories a day but I'm forcing myself to average at least 500-600 calories/day. I work a sedentary office job and do an hour on the elliptical 5x/week. Last year, I got amenorrhea while losing weight and I'd like to avoid that hopefully so was wondering how many days I can eat like this before I have to up my calories?

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  • MichelleSilverleaf
    MichelleSilverleaf Posts: 2,028 Member
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    Unless you're under doctor supervision you absolutely have no reason to be on a VLCD. You're setting yourself up for some very serious short term and long term damage (brittle nails, hair loss, muscle loss, etc)
  • apullum
    apullum Posts: 4,838 Member
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    What you are describing is not safe at all. 1200 is the minimum number of calories needed by women per day. Don’t eat less than that. When you’re exercising, you also need to be eating back your exercise calories.

    Your post indicates that you know these things. You understand that you had health problems that were caused by eating too little, yet you’re continuing to undereat. This suggests that you should see a professional about your inability to eat enough.
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,013 Member
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    Www.nationaleatingdisorders.org

    Please speak to a professional and take good care of yourself.
  • PaulaWallaDingDong
    PaulaWallaDingDong Posts: 4,641 Member
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    However long your doctor says. *hint hint*
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,565 Member
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    Up your calories now before you damage your body. The amenorrhea is just one thing that can/will happen.
  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
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    Not very long at all if you're unlucky and have problems with heart arrhythmia - you could die or end up in a coma. Stop it and seek help.
  • sugaraddict4321
    sugaraddict4321 Posts: 15,779 MFP Moderator
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    Dear Posters,

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