What do YOU think

Leana93412

Always amazed to see people do VLCD's.

I've seen some say they only do it temporarily to lose weight and then once they are at goal, they'll eat a normal amount of calories and maintain. I just shake my head.

What are your thoughts on why vlcd's fail almost all the time?

aneary1980

I think it's a combination of things.

- You don't learn portion control so when you go back to normal you eat the large portions again.
- You don't learn to make better choices such as swapping over little things.
- You lose muscle which burns more cals than fat
- Your body's system gets screwed up and can't cope when you go back to normal

But I will probably be told all of this is wrong.

Leana93412

But I will probably be told all of this is wrong.

Not from me at least. :bigsmile: I'm just in it for the opinions and maybe some science

Unknown

This content has been removed.

aneary1980

This is not just a US forum dispite what you might think.

accelerashawn

Your metabolism slows waaaay down
Your body starts fearing for its life and holds on to everything it can to preserve its life
Becoming increasingly malnourished...your hormones get screwed up and your mood/general outlook on life gets weird.
Then when you eat normal calories again you instantly gain a few pounds and freak out.

I like nothing about starving. I tried it and it sucked. I lost 15lbs of pure muscle and still looked exactly as fat as i did when I started the starve.

marilandica

Losing weight is different than losing weight and keeping it off. A calorie deficit is all that's needed for the former. A change in life and eating habits is what's needed for the latter.

fat2skinny50

Losing weight is different than losing weight and keeping it off. A calorie deficit is all that's needed for the former. A change in life and eating habits is what's needed for the latter.

This... It is not hard a calorie deficit will make you lose weight. This is not a quick fix,but is is a life style change.

1princesswarrior

http://www.win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/low_calorie.htm

This is a pretty good information sheet about the pros and cons of a VLCD. When I started it would have turned me off.

Mainly these side effects: diarrhea, gallstones, fatigue, nausea, weight regain, to name a few. Not the mention the cost of doing it correctly as a friend of mine who was super morbidly obese did, his protein mix was outrageously expensive plus the vitamins - they were all prescription and insurance didn't cover them back then.

Leana93412

My friend started a vlcd. I don't comment on it because she doesn't listen anyway and just tells me I'm being crazy for eating 1600-1800 calories while losing.

The interesting part is, she knows her maintenance calories, and she said once she's lost the weight on this 700-800 calorie diet (which is actually 1200 but she exercises some away) She will eat at her goal maintenance.

Do you think she will keep it off? She thinks if she just increases slowly to maintenance she won't gain. I don't know about such things. Never really tried it. I like to eat too much. She's been doing it for 2 months already. :ohwell:

Leana93412

My friend started a vlcd. I don't comment on it because she doesn't listen anyway and just tells me I'm being crazy for eating 1600-1800 calories while losing.

The interesting part is, she knows her maintenance calories, and she said once she's lost the weight on this 700-800 calorie diet (which is actually 1200 but she exercises some away) She will eat at her goal maintenance.

Do you think she will keep it off? She thinks if she just increases slowly to maintenance she won't gain. I don't know about such things. Never really tried it. I like to eat too much. She's been doing it for 2 months already. :ohwell:

scottkjar

What are your thoughts on why vlcd's fail almost all the time?

I thought that ALL diets fail almost all the time. Why should VLCD be different?

SezxyStef

I think it's a combination of things.

- You don't learn portion control so when you go back to normal you eat the large portions again.
- You don't learn to make better choices such as swapping over little things.
- You lose muscle which burns more cals than fat
- Your body's system gets screwed up and can't cope when you go back to normal

But I will probably be told all of this is wrong.

yup this...

I watch friends/family do this all the time and none of them will listen to me...their response is "I know how to lose weight"...my response to that..."you sure do you're and expert at it, you've lost the same 10lbs 5x"...

3dogsrunning

In.

WalkingAlong

What are your thoughts on why vlcd's fail almost all the time?

I thought that ALL diets fail almost all the time. Why should VLCD be different?

VLCDs are often found to have the most long term success.

http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/74/5/579.abstract

JoelleAnn78

THE FIRST AMENDMENT DOES NOT APPLY TD THE MFP FORUMS.

We are censored from freedom of speech on this topic.

You.will not receive honest anseers to this particular question on these forums.

Not true -- you can say whatever you'd like. Just because you don't like the response doesn't mean you can't voice your opinion.

JoelleAnn78

THE FIRST AMENDMENT DOES NOT APPLY TD THE MFP FORUMS.

We are censored from freedom of speech on this topic.

You.will not receive honest anseers to this particular question on these forums.

So....You're the pringle lady...

TavistockToad

Always amazed to see people do VLCD's.

I've seen some say they only do it temporarily to lose weight and then once they are at goal, they'll eat a normal amount of calories and maintain. I just shake my head.

What are your thoughts on why vlcd's fail almost all the time?

I just don't understand how people aren't starving hungry when they eat 1000 cals and then spend an hour in the gym.... I would gnaw my own arm off if I did that!

Linli_Anne

Goes hand in hand with the microwave mentality of today. Unfortunately a good majority of the population would rather have things NOW with little effort, rather than put the work in to get there. This applies to weight loss, work ethic, meal choices (with our without weight loss in mind) etc.

Sabine_Stroehm

THE FIRST AMENDMENT DOES NOT APPLY TD THE MFP FORUMS.

We are censored from freedom of speech on this topic.

You.will not receive honest anseers to this particular question on these forums.

You're not "censored from freedom of speech". There IS no implicit or explicit freedom of speech on an internet forum. There's just rules. Rules you agreed to.

VBnotbitter

THE FIRST AMENDMENT DOES NOT APPLY TD THE MFP FORUMS.

We are censored from freedom of speech on this topic.

You.will not receive honest anseers to this particular question on these forums.

Not true -- you can say whatever you'd like. Just because you don't like the response doesn't mean you can't voice your opinion.

I think she is referring to being heavily moderated in what she says because she supports some of these unhealthy eating habits.

Seriously I think it's better for people not to engage with that one. Huge issues there beyond the scope of the average MFP member

Sabine_Stroehm

This is not just a US forum dispite what you might think.

I am censored from commenting on this post as well!

DESPITE the First Amendment....

My point is that the first amendment does not apply outside of America!!!

Even IN the U.S. it only means the government cannot suppress free speech. It doesn't mean you can say whatever nonsense you want on a calorie counting website.

Something any sane person would know.

Thanks Obama!

bwahahahahaha.

Leana93412

oh em gee at all the replies here. :laugh:

ETA: also, I think I just binged on 600 calories of cereal bars...and I'm not even on a 800 calorie diet. :indifferent:

Sabine_Stroehm

What are your thoughts on why vlcd's fail almost all the time?

I thought that ALL diets fail almost all the time. Why should VLCD be different?

Most long term attempts at keeping weight off, regardless of whether they're called diets or lifestyle changes.

srslybritt

THE FIRST AMENDMENT DOES NOT APPLY TD THE MFP FORUMS.

We are censored from freedom of speech on this topic.

You.will not receive honest anseers to this particular question on these forums.

Quality contribution.

aneary1980

THE FIRST AMENDMENT DOES NOT APPLY TD THE MFP FORUMS.

We are censored from freedom of speech on this topic.

You.will not receive honest anseers to this particular question on these forums.

Quality contribution.

She says 'she is the voice of reason'

jmv7117

Always amazed to see people do VLCD's.

I've seen some say they only do it temporarily to lose weight and then once they are at goal, they'll eat a normal amount of calories and maintain. I just shake my head.

What are your thoughts on why vlcd's fail almost all the time?

I've been doing a lot of reading on eating disorders. I don't think VLCD fail but rather are very effective for the primary goal of losing weight to the point of death for some which is why they are discouraged here. Yo-yo dieting that include VLCD followed by normal or binging, aren't effective for long term weight loss but the VLCD portion is still effective for losing. The problem is VLCD are encouraged by the diet industry who's goal is lining their pockets. The main reason a VLCD fails is health is compromised but even then, if the mindset is there the symptoms are ignored. All of the calorie counting websites, apps and software can be misused. Even though the lowest caloric intake for females is 1,200 and males 1,800 there are many, many, many using these tools who consistently eat below that level. The vast majority who do so, are not vocal about it. So again, there is nothing to say that the VLCDs fail. They just become part of the dietary industry underground, not spoken of.

KnM0107

THE FIRST AMENDMENT DOES NOT APPLY TD THE MFP FORUMS.

We are censored from freedom of speech on this topic.

You.will not receive honest anseers to this particular question on these forums.

Quality contribution.

This made me LOL. Thank you! I needed a laugh.

Raynne413

Always amazed to see people do VLCD's.

I've seen some say they only do it temporarily to lose weight and then once they are at goal, they'll eat a normal amount of calories and maintain. I just shake my head.

What are your thoughts on why vlcd's fail almost all the time?

I did a VLCD for about two years. I had no energy (falling asleep driving, passed out on the couch every night around 8), but I was losing weight so I was happy and thought every thing was great. Finally my body had enough and I started having CRAZY cravings for fat and carbs (my body needed SOMETHING for energy) to the point of eating a dozen donuts. I started binge eating, which freaked me out, and I saw a nutritionist. She told me that I had deprived my body for so long, that it was desperate and doing whatever it could to survive. Once I upped calories and fat (which really freaked me out at first, but I was desperate), the cravings went away. I still sometimes have issues, but now I know when I do that either I am working out too much or not eating enough. I'm sure others on VLCD end up having the same problems, but perhaps not quite as extreme of a reaction, which is why they end up gaining back. You just can't maintain that for long.

jmv7117

THE FIRST AMENDMENT DOES NOT APPLY TD THE MFP FORUMS.

We are censored from freedom of speech on this topic.

You.will not receive honest anseers to this particular question on these forums.

No, I think it is more of a responsibility and liability issue for MFP forums. It is irresponsible to knowingly encourage an activity that causes harm which brings in liability in the event harm is caused. I have found several sources that do discuss the topic you are interested in BUT they tend to get removed for the same reasons. If you look hard enough there are all kinds of sites promoting some form of self-harm BUT responsible sites do not.

srslybritt

Always amazed to see people do VLCD's.

I've seen some say they only do it temporarily to lose weight and then once they are at goal, they'll eat a normal amount of calories and maintain. I just shake my head.

What are your thoughts on why vlcd's fail almost all the time?

I've been doing a lot of reading on eating disorders. I don't think VLCD fail but rather are very effective for the primary goal of losing weight to the point of death for some which is why they are discouraged here. Yo-yo dieting that include VLCD followed by normal or binging, aren't effective for long term weight loss but the VLCD portion is still effective for losing. The problem is VLCD are encouraged by the diet industry who's goal is lining their pockets. The main reason a VLCD fails is health is compromised but even then, if the mindset is there the symptoms are ignored. All of the calorie counting websites, apps and software can be misused. Even though the lowest caloric intake for females is 1,200 and males 1,800 there are many, many, many using these tools who consistently eat below that level. The vast majority who do so, are not vocal about it. So again, there is nothing to say that the VLCDs fail. They just become part of the dietary industry underground, not spoken of.

I feel it's important to note here that it's in the best interest of the person doing said VLCD to make sure they've vetted doing so with the proper medical professional.

It's easy to say that they help you lose the weight. But doing so without proper medical supervision is dangerous.