500 calories a day program?

doomspark

I am *NOT* promoting this, but one of my coworkers has just started a program that only allows her to eat 500 calories a day. The first week was protein only (no veggies). Is this something that anyone else has heard of? Is it reasonable?

500 calories doesn't sound healthy to me...

elisa123gal

I'm sure it would work..and I've heard of these 500 cal diets supported with vitamin injections..and they work for weight loss. But for how long? Sounds desperate and short term for sure. Riding the yo yo ... that is what your co worker is doing.

jynxxxed

Eventually she will have to break the 'diet' and return to different eating habits.. and what would this diet have taught her about eating properly? Nothing.

It will all be gained back very quickly once she returns to 'normal' eating because this will not teach her portion size, anything about macros, calories, etc.

Agreed with the above poster.. it's a yo-yo diet.

126siany

It's far from reasonable in my opinion.

WhoTheHellIsBen

yup this diet exists, it's called natural selection. It's used to help us identify the dumbest people on earth when they aren't wearing an Ed Hardy shirt

Rubie81

yup this diet exists, it's called natural selection. It's used to help us identify the dumbest people on earth when they aren't wearing an Ed Hardy shirt

:laugh:

ebaymommy

Dang, I just polished off about 530 calories for BREAKFAST. I can't imagine having on that small amount for an entire day. Pretty sure my family would disown me because I would be a total b**** on that little food.

redredy9

Whoa. That is really extreme. I sincerly hope that she is under a doctor's supervision. Is this some type of medical diet proscribed by a doctor for someone who is morbidly obese? NO ONE should attempt this type of diet otherwise or without a doctor!! CRAZY!

mumof5

thats not ok, 500 cals is one meal - not a healthy way to lose and definatley not sustainable.

nxd10

A friend of mine does research on long term weight loss. The results are clear. People can lose weight lots of ways - although the slow, steady way has the greatest losses just because it is easiest to stick to.

But most people put the weight back on. The faster the crash, the faster the regaining.

And every time you try to lose weight again it gets harder because (1) you don't work as hard because it undermines your efficacy and (2) your body changes and holds onto calories more dearly.

deksgrl

Only if she is morbidly obese and under a doctor's direction, and not for long term. If this isn't something her doctor has her doing, for example some people are instructed to do very low calorie diets to prepare for gastric surgery, then it's crazy.

joybedford

My mum is following a plan at the moment where she eats normally for 5 days of the week and eats 500 calories for 2 days. she was on a 500 cal day the other day lost concentration and lifted a pan straight from the oven with her bare hands. she has lost 12lbs in about 10 days but for me it just isnt worth it. I couldn,t function on that on a normal day and certainly not a day when I have to work. Also I workout hard I would almost certainly pass out. i would rather lose weight slowly and healthily.

debs6

Sounds like pure madness to me

redscylla

I'm currently doing alternate fast days like this. T/Th I eat only 500 (net) calories. Sun I eat 1200. The other four days, I eat at my maintenance calories. I'm getting the same calories deficit as I did back when I was eating the same level of reduced calories every day. I cannot imagine eating only 500 every day. I don't yet know how this will work, because I've only been doing it for a week and a half now. I guess in a few weeks I'll see if it's helped break me out of my plateau.

My mum is following a plan at the moment where she eats normally for 5 days of the week and eats 500 calories for 2 days. she was on a 500 cal day the other day lost concentration and lifted a pan straight from the oven with her bare hands. she has lost 12lbs in about 10 days but for me it just isnt worth it. I couldn,t function on that on a normal day and certainly not a day when I have to work. Also I workout hard I would almost certainly pass out. i would rather lose weight slowly and healthily.

lindadevito

The only way I can manage to start getting the weight off is sticking to under 1000 calories per day and manage to lose 2lbs per day average. This is extreme to most people but I don't have a hungry feeling (probably the determination). I am only doing this while I build up my activity level to compensate for the calorie intake. I could not imagine only eating 500 calories per day, every day, and be able to actually stick to it.

sgarrard01

yup this diet exists, it's called natural selection. It's used to help us identify the dumbest people on earth when they aren't wearing an Ed Hardy shirt

This.... oh and every other poster is correct!

sgarrard01

The only way I can manage to start getting the weight off is sticking to under 1000 calories per day and manage to lose 2lbs per day average. This is extreme to most people but I don't have a hungry feeling (probably the determination). I am only doing this while I build up my activity level to compensate for the calorie intake. I could not imagine only eating 500 calories per day, every day, and be able to actually stick to it.

You know your supposed to loose 2lbs or 1% of your total weight PER WEEK... not per day!!

DanaDark

500 a day is ridiculous unless it is medically supervised by both a medical doctor and a nutritionist (degree, not simple program). Such a diet can be done by sticking to large amounts of proteins and plenty of supplemental vitamins and fluids. But again, this would be medically supervised. Not just medically advised, but SUPERVISED.

The ONLY reason to do this is very quick, rapid weight loss before surgery where weight can be a hindrance.

It is not going to work for long term weight loss at all. Maybe a couple weeks.

The real key is the behavioral change. This is only done via the slow and steady weight loss plan. Something that most of all of us here are doing.

If you don't change what caused it in the first place, when its gone, it will come roaring back.

Nette_54

It is shear stupidity ! ! ! All you friend will be doing is starving her body and making it go into starvation mode so the metabolism slows right down ! When you friends starts to eat normally again he / she will gain the weight back faster than was lost.

No female should eat less than 1200 calories a day, I have been told to eat around 1400 a day which is still low as a female should have 2000 / 2500 calories a day when they are not trying to lose weight and for men add another 500 calories on top of that !

I had a dietitian that told me I wasn't eating enough food and it took me over 2 years to learn to eat more, even now some days I struggle to eat enough food ( except when I get taken out to lunch..... lol )

Tell your friend to grow up, be sensible and lose weight the correct way and not the fast way !

mjj79

So, what about those of us who really CAN't lose on 1200 or more cal?. I've tried.. and tried. The ONLY success i've ever had has been to stick around 1000. Yes it's miserable. Yes I work out (p90x). I've even tried the whole "metabolism reset" thing. NOTHING seems to work. I have resigned myself to having to eat VERY small amounts for the rest of my life. I know that I will never be able to increase my cals without gaining weight

deksgrl

So, what about those of us who really CAN't lose on 1200 or more cal?. I've tried.. and tried. The ONLY success i've ever had has been to stick around 1000. Yes it's miserable. Yes I work out (p90x). I've even tried the whole "metabolism reset" thing. NOTHING seems to work. I have resigned myself to having to eat VERY small amounts for the rest of my life. I know that I will never be able to increase my cals without gaining weight

What did you do for exercise? Doing strength training along with eating more works.

mjj79

So, what about those of us who really CAN't lose on 1200 or more cal?. I've tried.. and tried. The ONLY success i've ever had has been to stick around 1000. Yes it's miserable. Yes I work out (p90x). I've even tried the whole "metabolism reset" thing. NOTHING seems to work. I have resigned myself to having to eat VERY small amounts for the rest of my life. I know that I will never be able to increase my cals without gaining weight

What did you do for exercise? Doing strength training along with eating more works.

I do p90x, which has strength training and cardio.

bellecoccotte

I strongly discourage anyone from from following a 500cal/day plan. It is unrealistic since a person needs to gain nutrients from all food groups. I would be starving all the time if i did this and very grumpy

RLDeShazo

yup this diet exists, it's called natural selection. It's used to help us identify the dumbest people on earth when they aren't wearing an Ed Hardy shirt

:flowerforyou:

drmerc

yup this diet exists, it's called natural selection. It's used to help us identify the dumbest people on earth when they aren't wearing an Ed Hardy shirt

^ This

KittieLea

OMG yes, I would say GO FOR IT, TOTALLY!!
Be sure you do cardio only in addition to the 500 calories a day!!!

morgansmom02

So, what about those of us who really CAN't lose on 1200 or more cal?. I've tried.. and tried. The ONLY success i've ever had has been to stick around 1000. Yes it's miserable. Yes I work out (p90x). I've even tried the whole "metabolism reset" thing. NOTHING seems to work. I have resigned myself to having to eat VERY small amounts for the rest of my life. I know that I will never be able to increase my cals without gaining weight

You lost 28 lbs eating only 1000 calories? Are you starving and crabby all the time, cuz I would be. I raised my calories to 1500 when I hit the wall. Now I am losing again. Try a new activity to confuse your body into losing!

Show_Stopper

yup this diet exists, it's called natural selection. It's used to help us identify the dumbest people on earth when they aren't wearing an Ed Hardy shirt

LMFAO

xHelloQuincyx

you could just go on the coke diet. the extra jitters make for massive calorie expenditure !


and no. 500 calories a day is insane. just protein for a week is insane. your friend is insane and will prolly gain all the weight back from the little that she can accomplish before giving up for the hundredth time. O.O just eat healthy...

lamilli09

yup this diet exists, it's called natural selection. It's used to help us identify the dumbest people on earth when they aren't wearing an Ed Hardy shirt

^^ This!

2muchsauce

Are you seeing a pattern in the responses yet????