Yo-yoing between "diets"

janekana
janekana Posts: 151 Member
edited December 4 in Health and Weight Loss
Hey guys, I'd like to ask your opinion on something.

My friend (not on MFP) is currently working on toning down the fat on her stomach and thighs. She doesn't need to lose a lot of fat though, just toning down by probably 2 kgs (4-6 lbs-ish).

The problem is, recently she's been going on a vegetarian week so that she can get less protein, which she claims would allow her to not build up muscle (because she gains muscle quickly & she doesn't like muscle particularly). Next week though, she wants to go on a low carb diet. She hasn't specified if she wanted to go keto or low carb high protein, but she only wants to do it for a week. The next week after that she says she might want to do another diet, more to "spice things up".

I know this isn't very healthy but she doesn't really want to listen to my friends and I. I was wondering if you guys has an idea of why she shouldn't do yo-yo between diets (fact-wise) so that I could bring it up with her properly. I'm just really concerned for her health, that's all.

Replies

  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Unless she is seriously damaging her health (a diet of 500 calories per day for example) I would just leave her to it.

    You do you....
  • seska422
    seska422 Posts: 3,217 Member
    As long as she's getting enough calories and nutrients, I don't see where it would make any difference what diet she followed or how long she stayed with it.
  • courtneyfabulous
    courtneyfabulous Posts: 1,863 Member
    She's making it harder than it needs to be that's for sure.... could lead to disordered eating being so obsessed with trying all those different diets.

    But not really physically unhealthy unless she is eating too few calories.

    The low protein thing worries me though, especially if she is trying to "tone up"... lean muscle mass is healthy and trying to lose muscle in addition to fat seems odd. Muscle loss lowers the metabolism and reduces overall health. Fat loss to a certain point is fine but it just seems odd that she's trying to lose fat but is also scared of having muscle. Getting enough protein is also important for the immune system & organs- but 1 week of low protein won't do much harm. Months or years eating low protein can be dangerous and unhealthy, but a few days is probably no big deal.

    Sorry wish I had more facts based info for you but it's her body anyways so you can't really do or say much about what she wants to do with it.
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    Well this is sort of a loaded question..

    Any one can certainly change their macros, change their food choices, change when they eat and how they eat when ever they want to.. its not yo-yoing to me unless this person is losing, gaining, losing, gaining and not learning anything in how to break their lose gain cycles..

    If she is getting all the calories she needs to lose or maintain weight and not doing anything stupid like eating to little and actually harming herself, see no need to try different things..

    Personally speaking to her about this is treading boundaries that you might disrupt, approach with caution..
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    Why would that necessarily be unhealthy? If it works for her then just let her do her thing. My guess is you don't actually have any evidence to offer her that what she is doing would be unhealthy anyway.
  • trigden1991
    trigden1991 Posts: 4,658 Member
    Everything you have written about this "friend" makes me think that she has absolutely no clue about anything fitness/diet related.

    Women can't gain muscle quickly, you can't gain muscle in a deficit, changing diets regularly is pointless and a way to failure, etc...........
  • nosebag1212
    nosebag1212 Posts: 621 Member
    janekana wrote: »
    Hey guys, I'd like to ask your opinion on something.

    My friend (not on MFP) is currently working on toning down the fat on her stomach and thighs. She doesn't need to lose a lot of fat though, just toning down by probably 2 kgs (4-6 lbs-ish).

    The problem is, recently she's been going on a vegetarian week so that she can get less protein, which she claims would allow her to not build up muscle (because she gains muscle quickly & she doesn't like muscle particularly). Next week though, she wants to go on a low carb diet. She hasn't specified if she wanted to go keto or low carb high protein, but she only wants to do it for a week. The next week after that she says she might want to do another diet, more to "spice things up".

    I know this isn't very healthy but she doesn't really want to listen to my friends and I. I was wondering if you guys has an idea of why she shouldn't do yo-yo between diets (fact-wise) so that I could bring it up with her properly. I'm just really concerned for her health, that's all.



    tumblr_m9fbufwsqn1qc882co2_250.gif~c200

    The number of times I've heard this, your friend is absolutely clueless.
  • applesandtapeline
    applesandtapeline Posts: 58 Member
    Your friends business is her business. What ever floats her boat.
    But you, you are right to recognise this kind of dieting is not about fitness and being healthy. So don't even doubt yourself or your approach to healthy lifestyle.
  • janekana
    janekana Posts: 151 Member
    Okay, if you guys think it's not unhealthy, then I won't bring it up to her.

    She's just a really good friend of mine so I don't want to see her crash and burn, or become really, really miserable when doing low-carb without understanding what she's doing. Thank you though :)
  • AliceDark
    AliceDark Posts: 3,886 Member
    One week isn't long enough to do anything, positive or negative.
This discussion has been closed.

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