Crash PROTEIN-ONLY Diet?

gashinshotan
gashinshotan Posts: 749 Member
edited October 6 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi,

Well I lost 25 lbs eating mostly carbs and running.... I want to lose a lot of weight fast without fasting and losing all my muscle... so I was thinking of this week doing a 1200 calorie diet consisting of only protein with 0 carbs. How successful will this work for losing weight fast? This will only be a temporary 1 week diet and I'll be running every day while on it but only short distances (3-5 miles) cuz I know it's gonna kill my endurance and will jump back on eating carbs again after this week.

Thanks

Replies

  • SergeantSunshine_reused
    SergeantSunshine_reused Posts: 5,382 Member
    Read Rapid Fat Loss by Lyle McDonald :]
    I would suggest against the cardio though
  • LabRat529
    LabRat529 Posts: 1,323 Member
    Why crash diet at all?
  • SergeantSunshine_reused
    SergeantSunshine_reused Posts: 5,382 Member
    Certainly agree with rebekah tho. I think you are better off doing what you are doing. Seems like you have been having a steady loss!
  • gashinshotan
    gashinshotan Posts: 749 Member
    Hehe thanks or the recommendation... well I just want to get cut this week. I'm prob at 14% now.... hmm I'm deciding though because maybe I should just do what I've been doing and then carb up a couple hours before my runs and not eat my exercise calories back at all - I could create a 3600 calorie deficit if I did this with a 5-6 mile run + 15-25 min cool down walks on 1200 calories a day and lose about a 1lb a day...
  • SergeantSunshine_reused
    SergeantSunshine_reused Posts: 5,382 Member
    But like you said, you don't want to be losing a ton of muscle mass. Lyles RFL is a PSMF that will preserve it. Good book and can get a free download online. It is only like 11 days and is all protein + fish oi + works amazing with the EC
  • westcoastSW
    westcoastSW Posts: 320 Member
    I could create a 3600 calorie deficit if I did this with a 5-6 mile run + 15-25 min cool down walks on 1200 calories a day and lose about a 1lb a day...
    If your ticker is anywhere near accurate and you have ~20 pounds left to lose, then that does not sound like a safe plan at all. What's wrong with the slow-and-steady way that your body has been cooperating with weight loss so far? The pounds don't pack on overnight (though sometimes it seems like it), so why would they be gone overnight?
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    12 or 24 months from now, do you want to be one of the people who say "I've lost weight and have kept it off over a year", or do you want to say, "I've gained and lost and gained and lost" ?
  • paulwgun
    paulwgun Posts: 439 Member
    No carbs at all ? You will struggle I suggest you look at the Dukan Diet. I hit a plateau before discovering MFP and did the Dukan diet for 7 days and lost 14lb, I now base my diet around it but modify to suit me. Its a protein diet with a minimal carb intake and the first phase is from 3-7 days depending on how much weight you carry and personal ability.
  • killagb
    killagb Posts: 3,280 Member
    About Me
    I've been a yoyo dieter for the past 5 years and recovering alcoholic/smoker..... before that I was 40 lbs lighter for 3 years and I got there by eating right and running (was 20 lbs overweight before that for about 5 years).... my yoyo dieting has shown me that NOTHING works for losing and maintaining weight other than eating healthy and exercising. I tried all sorts of diet pills/fasting and would always regain more than the weight I lossed within a few months.

    The above is you, from your profile. Have you not learned any lessons from the past?
  • westcoastSW
    westcoastSW Posts: 320 Member
    About Me
    I've been a yoyo dieter for the past 5 years and recovering alcoholic/smoker..... before that I was 40 lbs lighter for 3 years and I got there by eating right and running (was 20 lbs overweight before that for about 5 years).... my yoyo dieting has shown me that NOTHING works for losing and maintaining weight other than eating healthy and exercising. I tried all sorts of diet pills/fasting and would always regain more than the weight I lossed within a few months.

    The above is you, from your profile. Have you not learned any lessons from the past?
    ^FTW^
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    About Me
    I've been a yoyo dieter for the past 5 years and recovering alcoholic/smoker..... before that I was 40 lbs lighter for 3 years and I got there by eating right and running (was 20 lbs overweight before that for about 5 years).... my yoyo dieting has shown me that NOTHING works for losing and maintaining weight other than eating healthy and exercising. I tried all sorts of diet pills/fasting and would always regain more than the weight I lossed within a few months.

    The above is you, from your profile. Have you not learned any lessons from the past?

    ah, that answers my question too....
  • emmab0902
    emmab0902 Posts: 2,338 Member
    It's impossible to have zero carbs. All protein foods contain SOME carbs.

    I would go for something sustainable or it won't work in the long term.
  • SergeantSunshine_reused
    SergeantSunshine_reused Posts: 5,382 Member
    It's impossible to have zero carbs. All protein foods contain SOME carbs.

    I would go for something sustainable or it won't work in the long term.

    It isn't impossible to have zero carbs.
  • emmab0902
    emmab0902 Posts: 2,338 Member
    I stand corrected.

    However I stick by my other sentence!
  • SergeantSunshine_reused
    SergeantSunshine_reused Posts: 5,382 Member
    It's impossible to have zero carbs. All protein foods contain SOME carbs.

    I would go for something sustainable or it won't work in the long term.

    Its isn't impossible to have zero carbs.

    What foods contain zero carbs??

    Beef, turkey, chicken, some whey protein

    During a PSMF this is what you strive for ^^ zero carbs (or very very little) and essential fats.
    Not that I am saying it is a good idea in this situation at all ^-^
  • gashinshotan
    gashinshotan Posts: 749 Member
    Blah im gonna just do the same but only eat 1/3 of my exercise calories - if I stop running long distances I know ill never come back... I lost almost 2 lbs this week so im not in a plateau anymore I just want it faster haha
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,200 Member
    From one extreme to another....classic NA dieter.
  • gashinshotan
    gashinshotan Posts: 749 Member
    haha is time is different though - I'm also training for a marathon and don't want to mess up my endurance but I also know that losing weight will help me run farther but you guys are right - I actually just looked at my weekly report and I lost 3 lbs since last Saturday with HALF the mileage I ran last week. I guess I don't need to change anything really.
    From one extreme to another....classic NA dieter.
  • JBorg039
    JBorg039 Posts: 24
    hey gashinshotan you should really be careful with this one as you can't lose weight fast without losing your muscle. Don't worry about losing it fast, just take a slow pace ~2lbs per week & you'll be happy with the results.

    If you don't know what you're doing I suggest you follow a program(you can find lots online) so you don't waste time as I did. Just read the reviews before following a program, I read mine at FATCUDA.com
  • LesleeAH
    LesleeAH Posts: 64
    Have you ever tried eating very little carbs before? It isn't fun. Your brain largely functions on them.
  • nsblue
    nsblue Posts: 331 Member
    I have been under a docs care during my weightloss and one of the most important things stressed to me is that i make sure i get in 60-80 grams of protein in in a day to preserve lean muscle mass. my cals varried from 600 to 1200 between feb 24th this year to present..... and i have lost 198.7 pounds in that time period...yest it was rapid...but i am healthy as a horse and even have a little muscle (bicept) being built.
    Cutting cals etc does lose weight fast....but be careful of losing your lean muscle...do it healthy and safe....u will be better in the long end.
  • BeautyFromPain
    BeautyFromPain Posts: 4,952 Member
    This is for christmas aye? ;)
  • gashinshotan
    gashinshotan Posts: 749 Member
    Not for Christmas but for this race Im planning by early next month.... the person I'm racing is in the high 120s and I want EVERY single advantage - right now our pace is about equal but I really don't want to lose because she's starting to run again and she finished half-marathon already a couple months ago. If I get down to 135 I think my pace will increase significantly because before when I was that weight I was able to do 7:30 miles compared to the crap 10 I'm running now :(.
  • emmiee921
    emmiee921 Posts: 224
    I think it will be hard ahaving no carbs, fruit n veg are important so u should include those
  • gashinshotan
    gashinshotan Posts: 749 Member
    Yeah Im not gonna do it anymore - I tried eating mostly protein today and it messed up my run in that my stomach didn't seem to be handling it well. I drank some Gatorade before and during the run so it got me through what I actually did finish (5 mi) but I know low carb will really impact my long runs so Im ditching it.... I really need to cut down for the race though because I can feel how my weight is hindering my speed compared to when I was 135ish. I'm just gonna try to eat half my exercise calories instead of all.
    I think it will be hard ahaving no carbs, fruit n veg are important so u should include those
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    Ok, I know this is a little snarky and all, but... you're looking to crash diet just so you can beat a girl in a race? :huh:

    That doesn't sound very sporting.

    It also sounds like a recipe for burnout to be anyone, but especially a guy, marathon training on 1200 calories. I'm a short 129# 39 year old woman and I eat loads more than that.
  • gashinshotan
    gashinshotan Posts: 749 Member
    THis chick is manly :)... well I also want to beat her because she said she didn't believe I could run to my face.... even more of a reason to crush her when we race.
    Ok, I know this is a little snarky and all, but... you're looking to crash diet just so you can beat a girl in a race? :huh:

    That doesn't sound very sporting.

    It also sounds like a recipe for burnout to be anyone, but especially a guy, marathon training on 1200 calories. I'm a short 129# 39 year old woman and I eat loads more than that.
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