Why is (carefully planned) rapid weight loss bad?
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You are bound to crash and burn if you attempt to fast too often and then not follow through with enough calories throughout the week. I agree with what others have said that OMAD is fine and it looks like that works for you which is great. Why don't you just stick to that instead of being harsher against your body with attempting to fast in between? You want a lifestyle change that you can adhere to and one that makes you happy. I know if I went two days without eating I would be very unhappy and lethargic.9
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I guess because I'm not unhappy and lethargic. Honestly I get a bit of an adrenaline rush from it. I can promise you, I am not a person who is harsh on myself - the second it gets difficult I will almost certainly cut it out, and probably before then just because my husband is iffy on the idea.etherealanwar wrote: »You are bound to crash and burn if you attempt to fast too often and then not follow through with enough calories throughout the week. I agree with what others have said that OMAD is fine and it looks like that works for you which is great. Why don't you just stick to that instead of being harsher against your body with attempting to fast in between? You want a lifestyle change that you can adhere to and one that makes you happy. I know if I went two days without eating I would be very unhappy and lethargic.9 -
OP, sounds like you're pretty well set in your ideas, so I'd just move along at this point. But to answer your original question...
There are generally 3 reasons why people (I) advise against "extreme" dieting (and to be clear, what you're talking about is much more along the lines of extreme dieting than it is careful and planned weight loss) -- People don't typically learn the things they need to learn to be successful long term (i.e. after the extreme diet ends). You're aware of this, so it's just a question of whether or not you can/will do it.
- Extreme diets don't typically improve people's perspective on eating, dieting, health, etc.
- Extreme diets typically come with some drawbacks/side effects. Minimally we're talking about things like an increase in loss of muscle. More concerning we're talking about things like yo-yo dieting, worsening relationships with food, eating disorders, etc. Whether or not any of those things matter to you is, well, up to you.
In most cases, the good doesn't outweigh the bad. But I guess that is ultimately up to the individual.20 -
I would say that "carefully planned" rapid weight loss could be OK.
What you're planning on doing isn't "carefully planned."
If you really intend to try to achieve rapid fat/weight loss, I'd suggest you peruse bodyrecomposition.com and look at Lyle's Rapid Fat Loss Protocol.9 -
"Someone"? No idea. Someone who has the same level and type of activity? I would expect more but I couldn't quantify it.TavistockToad wrote: »
how much more muscle do you think you've got compared to someone who has never been obese?
Considering your diet history, I would think you would be lower than someone who hasn't crashed dieted. I am at the higher end of a BMI (almost overweight) at 16% body fat (male); at 10% body fat, I will be more towards the high end of a healthy weight. I have never crashed dieted and have been athletic my whole life.
I never considered myself to have crash dieted. I did do atkins as a teenager but I got lots of protein on that.
I know I have very little upper body strength (carrying my kids about honestly kills me) and when I am thinner I probably will want to work on that because I'd like it to be less painful (although my neck not my arms kill the most at the moment because my son loves to sit on the handlebars of the buggy -while the other kid sits in it -and I have to stabilise him on there since the buggy is light and will just fall over if I don't apply constant and exact pressure - adjusting for his every movement. I swear an hour of walking around like that is murder on my neck/shoulders - but yeah lol, I think that's more because I'm not getting enough exercise than a protein deficiency.)
Why wait to get stronger and improve your issues before you are "skinny" enough to do it. Pains are often caused by being obese with very weak muscles. Almost all of my pains went away after I started to train (except for my tendinitis but I am still working that one and did OT for it). I no longer get knee pains (tore my MCL playing ice hockey) since I started building the muscles in my legs. Every day practicality has improved, even if it's just playing with my kids, moving furniture, or taking in the groceries. So yea, part of your issues are weak muscles, but protein improves muscle recovery, builds muscles and allows for greater strength gains.
So it's not an either or thing... it's a total picture.
Also, when you are maintain your muscle, that means you will have greater body fat % reductions quicker, which means you will get to a more ideal body weight and image quicker. And I can't tell you how many people I have worked with to correct the issues caused by their dieting practices (similar to yours or the typical cardio queen mentality). And I will say, it's a lot harder to rebuild what you lost, than maintaining what you have. But if you are ok with potentially, prolonging this because you don't think it will cause issues, then it's ok. You would have to live with this consequences.14 -
"Someone"? No idea. Someone who has the same level and type of activity? I would expect more but I couldn't quantify it.TavistockToad wrote: »
how much more muscle do you think you've got compared to someone who has never been obese?
Considering your diet history, I would think you would be lower than someone who hasn't crashed dieted. I am at the higher end of a BMI (almost overweight) at 16% body fat (male); at 10% body fat, I will be more towards the high end of a healthy weight. I have never crashed dieted and have been athletic my whole life.
I never considered myself to have crash dieted. I did do atkins as a teenager but I got lots of protein on that.
I know I have very little upper body strength (carrying my kids about honestly kills me) and when I am thinner I probably will want to work on that because I'd like it to be less painful (although my neck not my arms kill the most at the moment because my son loves to sit on the handlebars of the buggy -while the other kid sits in it -and I have to stabilise him on there since the buggy is light and will just fall over if I don't apply constant and exact pressure - adjusting for his every movement. I swear an hour of walking around like that is murder on my neck/shoulders - but yeah lol, I think that's more because I'm not getting enough exercise than a protein deficiency.)
You can work on improving muscle quality now. Losing weight will certainly help with mobility however instead of getting weaker in strength you have the ability to make your quality of life better now in instead of waiting till you are thinner.
If your husband is not keen on this idea, hopefully sooner than later you will eliminate this idea all together and work on 'healthy' weight loss and integrate exercise as part of your 'longer term' big picture.11 -
Because when I am thinner it will be easier because I won't be working against my own fat as much. My cardiovascular fitness is awful as well which makes it hard to exercise efficiently. And for a totally other un-weight related reason - I don't feel confident crafting an exercise plan that works on my own, which means I need professional help to do it and that costs money which I don't have to spend right now, in fact thats one of the other reasons I am liking this WOE - spending way less money on food/can afford higher welfare produce from the food budget - I feel like if I can't afford high welfare animal products I should cut them out but I do love them.
Why wait to get stronger and improve your issues before you are "skinny" enough to do it.Also, when you are maintain your muscle, that means you will have greater body fat % reductions quicker, which means you will get to a more ideal body weight and image quicker. And I can't tell you how many people I have worked with to correct the issues caused by their dieting practices (similar to yours or the typical cardio queen mentality). And I will say, it's a lot harder to rebuild what you lost, than maintaining what you have. But if you are ok with potentially, prolonging this because you don't think it will cause issues, then it's ok. You would have to live with this consequences.12 -
Because when I am thinner it will be easier because I won't be working against my own fat as much. My cardiovascular fitness is awful as well which makes it hard to exercise efficiently. And for a totally other un-weight related reason - I don't feel confident crafting an exercise plan that works on my own, which means I need professional help to do it and that costs money which I don't have to spend right now, in fact thats one of the other reasons I am liking this WOE - spending way less money on food/can afford higher welfare produce from the food budget - I feel like if I can't afford high welfare animal products I should cut them out but I do love them.
Why wait to get stronger and improve your issues before you are "skinny" enough to do it.Also, when you are maintain your muscle, that means you will have greater body fat % reductions quicker, which means you will get to a more ideal body weight and image quicker. And I can't tell you how many people I have worked with to correct the issues caused by their dieting practices (similar to yours or the typical cardio queen mentality). And I will say, it's a lot harder to rebuild what you lost, than maintaining what you have. But if you are ok with potentially, prolonging this because you don't think it will cause issues, then it's ok. You would have to live with this consequences.
walk for exercise18 -
You should really check out the success stories section. What most are saying is the truth and there are members who were in your exact shoes to prove it. There are a lot of members who have achieved the amount of loss you are looking for through reasonable calorie tracking. You've asked a question and very knowledgeable people are answering and your basically arguing and dismissing it. You can listen and do this the right way or not and most likely end up exactly where you are now. It's science...17
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Sometimes the only way to learn is to do. OP, sounds like that's where you're at. Do what you're going to do, what you're willing to do and see how it goes. Adjust as needed.9
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Because when I am thinner it will be easier because I won't be working against my own fat as much. My cardiovascular fitness is awful as well which makes it hard to exercise efficiently. And for a totally other un-weight related reason - I don't feel confident crafting an exercise plan that works on my own, which means I need professional help to do it and that costs money which I don't have to spend right now, in fact thats one of the other reasons I am liking this WOE - spending way less money on food/can afford higher welfare produce from the food budget - I feel like if I can't afford high welfare animal products I should cut them out but I do love them.
Why wait to get stronger and improve your issues before you are "skinny" enough to do it.Also, when you are maintain your muscle, that means you will have greater body fat % reductions quicker, which means you will get to a more ideal body weight and image quicker. And I can't tell you how many people I have worked with to correct the issues caused by their dieting practices (similar to yours or the typical cardio queen mentality). And I will say, it's a lot harder to rebuild what you lost, than maintaining what you have. But if you are ok with potentially, prolonging this because you don't think it will cause issues, then it's ok. You would have to live with this consequences.
Exercise is something you build over time. And its something you should start out slow.
Start out with walking, you can pick up some heavier objects in your home and work your muscles. There are plenty of free videos and programs available on line that you can do using body weight exercises. As I stated, losing weight will help you with mobility but there is plenty you can do now.
If you choose to want to be stronger you can, all of these things are choices.14 -
Because when I am thinner it will be easier because I won't be working against my own fat as much. My cardiovascular fitness is awful as well which makes it hard to exercise efficiently. And for a totally other un-weight related reason - I don't feel confident crafting an exercise plan that works on my own, which means I need professional help to do it and that costs money which I don't have to spend right now, in fact thats one of the other reasons I am liking this WOE - spending way less money on food/can afford higher welfare produce from the food budget - I feel like if I can't afford high welfare animal products I should cut them out but I do love them.
Why wait to get stronger and improve your issues before you are "skinny" enough to do it.Also, when you are maintain your muscle, that means you will have greater body fat % reductions quicker, which means you will get to a more ideal body weight and image quicker. And I can't tell you how many people I have worked with to correct the issues caused by their dieting practices (similar to yours or the typical cardio queen mentality). And I will say, it's a lot harder to rebuild what you lost, than maintaining what you have. But if you are ok with potentially, prolonging this because you don't think it will cause issues, then it's ok. You would have to live with this consequences.
It's actually quiet the opposite of what you believe. Including a combination of cardio and resistance training will improve short and long term health, improve fat loss, and will reduce your current pains caused by being so weak.
Also, we live in an age where you have tons of free resources where you don't have to craft anything. For resisntance trainng programs, you can use: https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10332083/which-lifting-program-is-the-best-for-you/p1 or go to www.fitnessblender.com for free videos. There is everything from body weight, free weight, and full lifting routines in that link. There are several books in there as well if you want to develop knowledge.
For cardio, you can use fitnesblender, go for walks, bike ride, run, etc.. Its just about finding something you are interested in.
I will say, I have never met a person who was mad they started lifting early. But I have met a ton of people who are mad they didn't start earlier because they thought like you did.24 -
OP, maybe I missed it somewhere or am confused but is your plan to eat nothing for 2 days and then to eat at maintenance on the 3rd day and to continue this pattern until you get to a normal BMI? Have you tried complete fasting for 2 days?1
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As others are also noticing, you seem to be looking for validation rather than advice. What you’re suggesting isn’t going to kill you, so go for it. People are advising you that it’s probably not going work because they know better. Going without food for days at a time is not something overweight people are typically good at. If we were, we wouldn’t be overweight in the first place. But again, it’s not going to kill you. Good luck, I’ll look forward to seeing your results10
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TavistockToad wrote: »walk for exercise
I don't know if walking counts as exercise really, it's not exactly hard work. Since having the kids I am only averaging 6000 steps a day (when carrying my phone - so outside, I don't carry it round in the house - when I used to have a wrist tracker I got 10-15k average, usually with one 30-35k day in there, in a hilly area, but that was before kids - my son can't walk far and carrying him is - as I mentioned - quite difficult).
I am trying to get out more in the evenings when the kids are in bed but I feel super guilty because it means my husband is stuck alone at home feeling lonely. Like last night I went out for a walk but I rushed home because I felt bad for him.
I really miss it though, my husband and I loved walking before we had kids, but the cost/logistics of getting childcare or the difficulty of carrying children for miles is hard to work with. I'd really like to build up to going mountaineering one day, I am genuinely sad at how trapped in the local area having kids makes us - you add in having to be home for nap time (so no whole days out just walking around anymore) - a bus or train to anywhere interesting to walk is an hour in itself so it's 2hrs round trip, getting him and the baby fed, dressed, ready etc is another 2hrs, at best you get a measly hour walk. We used to go for 6hrs or so. It's the one thing I regret about having kids - but I know once they're older and we build up some stamina we'll be able to get back into it (although I plan to have more so who knows when everything will fall into place...)19 -
tracybear86 wrote: »OP, maybe I missed it somewhere or am confused but is your plan to eat nothing for 2 days and then to eat at maintenance on the 3rd day and to continue this pattern until you get to a normal BMI? Have you tried complete fasting for 2 days?
1600 cals isn't maintenance for OP4 -
TavistockToad wrote: »tracybear86 wrote: »OP, maybe I missed it somewhere or am confused but is your plan to eat nothing for 2 days and then to eat at maintenance on the 3rd day and to continue this pattern until you get to a normal BMI? Have you tried complete fasting for 2 days?
1600 cals isn't maintenance for OP
My main goal was to see if OP was planning to repeat this pattern until they got to a normal BMI or if they were just looking to "kick start" their weight loss with a fast.2 -
tracybear86 wrote: »OP, maybe I missed it somewhere or am confused but is your plan to eat nothing for 2 days and then to eat at maintenance on the 3rd day and to continue this pattern until you get to a normal BMI? Have you tried complete fasting for 2 days?
Not as regular as that, just doing the 2 day fasts from time to time.
Today I finish one, I've done it a couple of times now.
1600kcal isn't my current maintenance but it will be once I am a normal weight.
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Because when I am thinner it will be easier because I won't be working against my own fat as much. My cardiovascular fitness is awful as well which makes it hard to exercise efficiently. And for a totally other un-weight related reason - I don't feel confident crafting an exercise plan that works on my own, which means I need professional help to do it and that costs money which I don't have to spend right now, in fact thats one of the other reasons I am liking this WOE - spending way less money on food/can afford higher welfare produce from the food budget - I feel like if I can't afford high welfare animal products I should cut them out but I do love them.
Why wait to get stronger and improve your issues before you are "skinny" enough to do it.Also, when you are maintain your muscle, that means you will have greater body fat % reductions quicker, which means you will get to a more ideal body weight and image quicker. And I can't tell you how many people I have worked with to correct the issues caused by their dieting practices (similar to yours or the typical cardio queen mentality). And I will say, it's a lot harder to rebuild what you lost, than maintaining what you have. But if you are ok with potentially, prolonging this because you don't think it will cause issues, then it's ok. You would have to live with this consequences.
Look. You made your own choices that got you to this weight. You're still going to be fighting against your bad decision making.
Eat at a reasonable deficit. Move more. If you don't want to move more, eat less.
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