no starches, no sugars, 500 calories a day

Cassi_Lynnette

My uncle-in-law is on this new (to him) diet per his doctors orders. I'm not sure exactly what it is because he doesn't like to talk about it. But from what I gather, he takes daily shots ("Vitamins in such" is what I was told), can only eat 500 calories a day, can have no sugars and no starches. To me it sounds like the HcG diet, though I don't know too much about it so I'm not sure.

Anyways. I was curious about the "no sugars and no starches" thing. I've heard many times that too many starches is a bad thing, and we all know too much sugar is bad. But things that *I* thought were healthy and a great choice, he says he isn't allowed to have. Peas for example. Among many others.

Anyways. It makes me second guess myself and if I am making the right choices. Or if the foods I THINK are good for me, really aren't.

Should I be avoiding certain foods, like peas? I only ask because he says "In order to lose the weight, you have to cut the crap that is putting the weight there to begin with. Other wise you are just going to keep adding it on" And that makes since. But is it even possible to REALLY cut out all sugar and starches? He says he will gradually add sugars and such back once he is off "the program"...and to me that sounds no good! I thought you were supposed to lose the weight by living a healthy lifestyle that you can continue forever. If you cut out all starches and sugars, then added them back, wouldn't you gain weight back?

I'm so confused! And YES! I'm sure I'm over thinking it. But 9/10 people around me are not just over weight but obese! and 2 that I can think of off the top of my head are MORBIDLY OBESE...so I really don't have any "good influencers" around here that know much about healthy eating, except that uncle. But all he is open about is telling me what he CANT eat. He wont talk about "the program" or anything that goes into too much detail.

LisaKyle11

hcg...

mrmarius

hep sounds like hcg

tigersword

I wouldn't listen to him. There's nothing wrong with eating starch or sugar in moderation. People have been doing it for hundreds of thousands of years. It doesn't matter what he eats, at 500 calories a day, anyone will lose weight. It will be mostly muscle mass and not fat, but he'll lose weight. And then put it all back on as soon as he eats normally again.

Eat sensibly, and you'll be fine.

Artemis_Acorn

Yep - it's HCG, and the reason he can't have sugars or starches is so that his body is forced to convert his fat stores into glycogen for energy since he isn't providing it in his diet.

I have never heard of anyone doing HCG under doctor's orders. Doctor's supervision, yes, but doctor's orders? I doubt it. And the reason he won't talk about it is that it is very controversial and has probably been warned not to say much.

willimh

It's definately HCG.

supermom1114

Sounds like HcG diet, which in my opinion, is crap but thats another post. As far as you second guessing whats healthy and whats not, it doesn't take a doctor to know that(plus doctors get one maybe two nutrition classes in all of med school so yea they aren't experts either!!!) Anyways, its simple, eat REAL food in reasonable amounts. Fruits, Veggies, Whole grains, lean meats, healthy fats. Start reading ingredient lists, and better yet avoiding most "food" or rather "food like substances" that come in packages. If you really want to learn more about our food system and what to eat I suggest watching the documentary Food Inc. and reading Michael Pollan's "The Omnivore's Dilemma", "In Defense of Food" and "Food Rules" as well as Jillian Michael's "Master your Metabolism". Really great, informative, researched books! I'd suggest starting with "Food Rules" Its REALLY short, just a list of guidelines to follow on what to eat, then read his other books for more explanation of why he has boiled it down to those rules. Hope that helps!

Pebble321

You can't control what he eats or how he tries to lose weight, but you CAN make healthy choices for you.

If you don't really know where to start then a good rule of thumb is to eat less processed stuff - at least that way you can see what you are actually eating. Lots of fruit and veg (not too much of any particular one), lots of different colours on your plate, a moderate sized portion of protein without too much visible fat (chicken, fish, beef, pork, eggs, lentils, beans, whatever you like), some carbs (less processed = more nutrition, like brown rice instead of white).

And read the packaging or look for a website that gives you actual portion sizes, not what you get on your plate at a restaurant which is probably enough for 3 people.

Cassi_Lynnette

Sounds like HcG diet, which in my opinion, is crap but thats another post. As far as you second guessing whats healthy and whats not, it doesn't take a doctor to know that(plus doctors get one maybe two nutrition classes in all of med school so yea they aren't experts either!!!) Anyways, its simple, eat REAL food in reasonable amounts. Fruits, Veggies, Whole grains, lean meats, healthy fats. Start reading ingredient lists, and better yet avoiding most "food" or rather "food like substances" that come in packages. If you really want to learn more about our food system and what to eat I suggest watching the documentary Food Inc. and reading Michael Pollan's "The Omnivore's Dilemma", "In Defense of Food" and "Food Rules" as well as Jillian Michael's "Master your Metabolism". Really great, informative, researched books! I'd suggest starting with "Food Rules" Its REALLY short, just a list of guidelines to follow on what to eat, then read his other books for more explanation of why he has boiled it down to those rules. Hope that helps!

Thanks! I'll definitely look for these books!

MaryEffingPoppins

Pass the peas!

SuperScrabbleGirl

I am always wary of any diet that tells you to eat less of a vegetable. Weird.