Juice for Weight Loss

Tilran
Tilran Posts: 627 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Alright, so I was bored the other night and watched Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead which is a documentary about a morbidly obese man who goes on a juice routine of 5 juices per day and no solid food. He ends up losing absurd amount of weight.

Now of course it is easy when you are really big to lose the weight, especially when you are cutting down calories like crazy but I've also heard that doing a juice cleanse for 1-2 weeks can kick start metabolisms and really get your weight loss going.


Has anyone had any luck with this method? I'm always up for trying new things, but juicing is super expensive and if its not meant for "average" weight than I wont waste my time and just keep logging like I always do.

For comparison sake. I am 5'8, 178 pounds and 18% body fat and looking to drop to around 160 pounds which should put me under 10% body fat hopefully.

If you are similar in size and have had luck with this method, lets chat. :)
«1

Replies

  • juggernaut1974
    juggernaut1974 Posts: 6,212 Member
    He lost weight because he was consuming less calories than he was expending...the content of those calories (juice vs. 'regular' food) made no difference.

    You don't need to 'kickstart' your metabolism. It is always running and doesn't stop.
  • Laurenloveswaffles
    Laurenloveswaffles Posts: 535 Member
    He lost weight because he was consuming less calories than he was expending...the content of those calories (juice vs. 'regular' food) made no difference.

    You don't need to 'kickstart' your metabolism. It is always running and doesn't stop.

    Yep.

    It's not worth it. I dropped $70 on a juicer for this same reason, and I have not even touched it since I bought it. I'd rather eat my calories than drink them.
  • Beckboo0912
    Beckboo0912 Posts: 447 Member
    There are people who live on the light from sun and air. I prefer real food though.
  • JoanaMHill
    JoanaMHill Posts: 265 Member
    I'll echo what others have said in the past and say that Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead isn't a documentary, it's an infomercial.
  • AllOutof_Bubblegum
    AllOutof_Bubblegum Posts: 3,646 Member
    Fat Sick and Nearly Dad is nothing but a glorified commercial for juicing crap. My sisters bought into it hardcore, and it's laughable.

    Here's my beef with it: They are suggesting that people with years of unhealthy eating under their belts somehow need to make up the lack of nutrition by suddenly injecting huge amounts of vitamins and nutrients into their systems (via juicing) as quickly as possible. Which is not the case. Put it this way: If you have been chronically dehydrated for several weeks or months, do you need to FLOOD yourself with water--fifteen gallons all at once---to get healthy again? No. Nutrition does not keep tabs, you do not need to "pay back" any nutritional or vitamin deficiency like a credit card with interest. All you need to no is simply start eating more healthy foods, and keep up at it.

    Juicing can be delicious, and an easy way to get in more vitamins for those who have a hard time liking vegetables and fruits, but it is absolutely 100% not necessary to lose weight or get healthy. Mostly it's just a pitch to get people to buy expensive juicing appliances or "weight loss programs".
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
    Going very low calories, if it's going to do anything, in any 'science' I've seen will do the opposite of 'kickstart' your weight loss.

    Ok, it'll see you losing even more than the caloires might suggest due to lower water retention, but it'll also have the highest chance of causing your metabolism to slow down, making the rest of the weight loss harder.
  • Tilran
    Tilran Posts: 627 Member
    He lost weight because he was consuming less calories than he was expending...the content of those calories (juice vs. 'regular' food) made no difference.

    You don't need to 'kickstart' your metabolism. It is always running and doesn't stop.

    Kick start perhaps was a bad choice of word insinuating that it was stopped. Clearly the metabolism only stops when you are dead, however your metabolism can slow down. The things I have heard revolve around a juice cleanse bringing your metabolism back in line if it is too low. Could all be false, but that is what I am wondering.

    Lolowolf - That is what I was afraid of and the reason I wanted to ask before I went ahead and bought a juicer. I was debating about buying the cold pressed variety from Whole Foods/Earth Fare places but they are about 5-8$ a pop and would need 4-5 a day. That would get pricey quick.
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    The human body cleans itself and doesn't need help from any cleanse products. Secondly, the purpose of any weight loss program is to burn fat calories and juice won’t do the job. Third, there isn't any such thing as kick starting your metabolism. Your metabolism works all day and all night. Boosting it requires exercise but it will mean nothing unless accompanied with a calorie deficiency. If you are losing with your current method then save your money. If not then read this link:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants?page=1#posts-16625920
  • juggernaut1974
    juggernaut1974 Posts: 6,212 Member
    The things I have heard revolve around a juice cleanse bringing your metabolism back in line if it is too low. Could all be false, but that is what I am wondering.

    It IS false. See the thread pinned to the top of the board about detox/cleanses.
  • Mykaelous
    Mykaelous Posts: 231 Member
    The main benefit of juicing from my perspective is being able to add some vegetables that I tend to not like/eat into a drink that I can consume without puking.
  • ChrisUK70
    ChrisUK70 Posts: 54 Member
    I juice once a day as a way of getting fruit and veg into my system, also got to justify using the bloody juicer I bought after watching the same film!
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
    Kick start perhaps was a bad choice of word insinuating that it was stopped. Clearly the metabolism only stops when you are dead, however your metabolism can slow down. The things I have heard revolve around a juice cleanse bringing your metabolism back in line if it is too low. Could all be false, but that is what I am wondering.
    I would be confident it IS false, because that's about the opposite to general understanding.

    Low calories over an extended time will reduce not increase metabolism.

    The best way to increase resting metabolism is to eat more.
    You can of course increase metabolism generally by moving more.

    I have another solution to that Mykaelous - I don't eat them. Seems to work nicely for me too :).
  • Laurenloveswaffles
    Laurenloveswaffles Posts: 535 Member
    He lost weight because he was consuming less calories than he was expending...the content of those calories (juice vs. 'regular' food) made no difference.

    You don't need to 'kickstart' your metabolism. It is always running and doesn't stop.

    Kick start perhaps was a bad choice of word insinuating that it was stopped. Clearly the metabolism only stops when you are dead, however your metabolism can slow down. The things I have heard revolve around a juice cleanse bringing your metabolism back in line if it is too low. Could all be false, but that is what I am wondering.

    Lolowolf - That is what I was afraid of and the reason I wanted to ask before I went ahead and bought a juicer. I was debating about buying the cold pressed variety from Whole Foods/Earth Fare places but they are about 5-8$ a pop and would need 4-5 a day. That would get pricey quick.

    Oh yeah, the $70 was AFTER I spent $150 in juices from a juice shop in Dallas that makes them. I want that money back :frown:
  • _Josee_
    _Josee_ Posts: 625 Member
    He lost weight because he was consuming less calories than he was expending...the content of those calories (juice vs. 'regular' food) made no difference.

    You don't need to 'kickstart' your metabolism. It is always running and doesn't stop.

    ^^^ +1 for this.
  • troelsandtheis
    troelsandtheis Posts: 45 Member
    I have a spinach and blueberry juice for breakfast everyday, it actually fills me more than porridge does but only just. I normally have soup for another meal and then something more substantial for the third meal. It works for me as it means I can look forward to a proper dinner in the evening, plus I love soup and smoothies! But all that sugar in juices, natural or not, just would make me crash if I had more than one a day. In fact most soups I make are eyes calories than a smoothie and way healthier in terms of vegetable count, and filling too. Some people need a fad diet to kick start them into getting on track I guess so if it was for a few days then you could try it out but brush your teeth after each one!. My friend never eats mum food or sugar but has had a smoothie every morning for years and her dentist said her teeth were ruined!
  • CCSavage88
    CCSavage88 Posts: 191
    I drink juice in the AM only because I've never been a morning eater...I don't like eating foods in the AM so I juice to get a healthy drink in me..Aside from that juicing is just a tasty way to get fruits/veg, nothing else. Now you put enough greens in your juice, you might become more regular lol that's about it that's about all...My juicing isn't expensive to me at all but I'm in MD where we have plenty of orchards all around selling veggies/fruits dirt cheap.
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
    I drink juice in the AM only because I've never been a morning eater...I don't like eating foods in the AM so I juice to get a healthy drink in me..Aside from that juicing is just a tasty way to get fruits/veg, nothing else. Now you put enough greens in your juice, you might become more regular lol that's about it that's about all...My juicing isn't expensive to me at all but I'm in MD where we have plenty of orchards all around selling veggies/fruits dirt cheap.
    Every study I've seen has shown it doesn't matter when you consume your food.

    If you don't feel like eating in the morning and don't have bad effects from that (ie lack of energy, etc), then you might as well not eat in the morning.
  • juggernaut1974
    juggernaut1974 Posts: 6,212 Member
    I juice once a day as a way of getting fruit and veg into my system, also got to justify using the bloody juicer I bought after watching the same film!

    I will add...if you enjoy drinking the juices/smoothies/whatever, by all means do so. I usually down a few protein smoothies a week made with various fruits & sometimes veggies myself because I find them a nice way to get a 'sweet' treat and get a few more fruits/veggies too.

    But there's no magic to them any different than consuming any other form of food. They're still calories that must be counted against your daily goal. And they certainly don't jumpstart anything - save for maybe your digestive system if you get too much fiber!
  • FireOpalCO
    FireOpalCO Posts: 641 Member
    I never understood juicing. It leaves all the best parts of the fruit and veggies on the counter as waste.

    Now if you want to do whole fruit/veggie blended drinks (smoothies) those can be beneficial for when you want something with very low prep, portable, and/or won't heat up your kitchen in summer. It can be a good way to sneak in some veggies by disguising them with fruit, and you can use frozen/defrosted which brings down cost vs. fresh but out of season.

    It won't kickstart anything, but it will make sure you reach your fiber goals and will be a great deal healthier then the average drive through breakfast.
  • Valrotha
    Valrotha Posts: 294 Member
    If you're going to "juice" then use the whole fruit, not just the juice from the fruit. The fiber in fruit offsets the issues from just taking in fructose alone.
  • MostlyWater
    MostlyWater Posts: 4,294 Member
    If you juice mostly vegetables, and have the kind of juicer that includes the skin and fiber like a Nutri Bullet, maybe. But some people gain weight on a juicing diet too.
  • LucasEVille
    LucasEVille Posts: 567 Member
    Freebie pages of Dr. Hagan's "Breakfast: The Least Important Meal of the Day" are very enlightening.

    How many more threads can you push this book on?
    I would understand if its a book of personal inspiration for you, but a quick look at your recent thread posts list shows that you've pushed this book a few times. In fact the first page of your recent posts alone has you push this book 8 times in 8 posts....

    Just a snippet from the guidelines for you:
    14. No Advertising, Self-Promotion, or Fund-Raising

    a) You may not post any links or mentions of other services, websites, or businesses from which you or an associate might benefit financially or otherwise. This includes, but is not limited to; posts that contain links to offsite blog posts and social media. You also may not solicit off-Forum contact from which you might benefit, e.g. "message me for more info", “I can get you free samples”, etc.
  • Russellb97
    Russellb97 Posts: 1,057 Member
    He lost weight because he was consuming less calories than he was expending...the content of those calories (juice vs. 'regular' food) made no difference.

    You don't need to 'kickstart' your metabolism. It is always running and doesn't stop.

    Exactly what he said, but you do get a metabolism boost with high fiber and high protein foods versus higher carb and fatty foods with the Thermic Effect .

    Still the best way to "kickstart" metabolism is over-eat for a day. Since the biggest direct effect on metabolism is the calories we eat it makes total sense to have a very high calorie day, a small caloric surplus, to make your metabolism work harder and break the pattern of caloric deficits from dieting.
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
    why do you consider it 'complete nonsense'?
    Ok, fibre doesn't boost metabolism particularly as far as I know, but it does change the 'CICO' balance a little, which is what most care bout.
    Protein does have a higher TEF than other food types and this is well known.

    The concept of using higher calorie days to 'reset' or 'confuse' the body is used quite widely.
    Certainly eating more WILL increase the metabolism for that day at least.
  • LucasEVille
    LucasEVille Posts: 567 Member

    Complete nonsense.

    PLEASE BUY TEH EBOOKS OFF AMAZON

    FIFY
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
    Show me a study. Something that is widely done doesn't mean anything.

    Sure, it takes calories to metabolize ingested foods into useful forms, but if the useful form is FAT, well then, what's the point?
    Do you have studies to show that it doesn't?

    What about the other points, or is not 'complete' nonsense, just one part?

    Of course I worded it as I did because I haven't personally read studies that support that.
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
    So you don't have studies that support your beliefs? If not, what are your beliefs based upon?

    What about the other points, or is not 'complete' nonsense, just one part?
  • candistyx
    candistyx Posts: 547 Member
    There are people who live on the light from sun and air. I prefer real food though.
    Trees are people too!
  • rebeccaisafish
    rebeccaisafish Posts: 87 Member
    I did a 10 day juice "fast" in January and felt great and it did kick start my healthy eating plan. I ate much healthier for a few months because I was craving fruit and veg rather than chocolate and chips. Unfortunately it didn't last, as nothing did. I wanted to do a three day one this week, last one day lol. I switched it to juice in the days and food at night. That's much easier for me at the moment.

    I did find it very useful for teaching me how much I eat when I'm not hungry and rther just out of habit. It's something I would like to do every now and again to remind myself of that. However as others have said he lost weight because he was at a calorie defecit, not from some miracle. The plans on his website says they average out to roughly 1200 calories per day, but when I logged it using his information I was getting more like 1000 calories which is very low.
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
    It's based on the standard medical textbook for dotors, called "Guyton's Textbook of Medical Physiology."
    And what was your belief in the case of eating higher calories after periods of lower calories?

    (To me, your answer seems to be the same as mine, just that you've seen it printed in a recognised medical resource vs my information coming from recognised experts in the area who the same as far as desiccating research papers and so on.)

Categories