A Friend of mine....

Valqis

just started this weight loss program about a week and a half ago that he is swearing by. he has lost 15.4 pounds in 11 days, basically drinking 2 shakes that the program provides, and taking vitamins and supplements that the program provides, and eating a 400-600 calorie lunch, plus 2 small snacks 6 days a week. On the 7th day, all he gets is the snacks. Now, this goes on for 30 days. The program itself cost 300+ dollars, plus he has to pay for purified water, which he is drinking close to 13 8 oz glasses a day, and he has to work out 30 minutes a day 6-7 days a week.

I am asking for assistance in this as I do not think this is a healthy alternative, but need some help backing it up.

UsedToBeHusky

I don't really think that you can talk him out of this program. He will probably get bored with it before long though and quit. Maybe just emphasize that he can't eat this way forever.

UponThisRock

You're not going to stop him. Ever heard of the "sunk costs" fallacy?

BrettPGH

I don't think it sounds very healthy either. Though I'm far from a saint. I just hate hearing about people replacing food with shakes and powders and dropping their calories down to nothing.

I would ask your friend what their long term plan was. Guarantee they don't have one. They'll just use this shake until the weight is off then resume bad eating habits, because they've learned nothing about nutrition. It's a fad diet, not something sustainable. Maybe you can go at it from that angle.

Best of luck though. You'll have trouble convincing someone when they're seeing results.

macpatti

Though I'm far from a saint.

Wait. What????? :laugh:

Zichu

I agree with Brett, everytime I hear about certain diet programs that people follow, where it's basically a quick fix for a month or 2 and then they have to go back to eating normally.

I see eating healthy, losing weight, gaining weight, etc. a journey you shouldn't rush. You learn a lot about food and healthy eating and this site has helped me a lot with that. I knew little to nothing, I was following my own diet last year and I did lose weight, but I didn't stick with it. I didn't gain a lot of weight because I wasn't eating the way I used to for 2 or 3 years, it was instead for like 3 or 4 months. I gained 6lb.

I find this site helps me a lot, helps me plan out my meals, helps me rearrange my meals, add or take away a certain amount of food to reach my goal for the day. I don't see myself going back to the way I was eating before because I am enjoying the food I eat now, I do have a day where I will eat something that might be considered unhealthy, but we all have to indulge once in a while. By following a diet program that doesn't teach you anything about food or diet isn't going to get you anywhere I think.

beccyleigh

you are doing it your way, let him get on with his. it will either work & he will be happy or it will fail & once he is off program will put the weight back on but it isn't your place to "get back up" to prove his method wrong. just y tuppence.

BrettPGH

Though I'm far from a saint.

Wait. What????? :laugh:

Oh man is Lent over already??

ETA: It's not! (see how long it's been?) You may need to head back to Rome Patti...