Re: 400/2000 calorie diet
I don't know but it I know any diet you do, you should avoid sodium--It makes you retain water.
Re: 400/2000 calorie diet
The main reason this can work is because it "shakes up" your metabolism. If you change your caloric intake off and on, it keeps your metabolism going to continue burning fat. Weight Watchers used to have a variation of their points program called the "Wendy" plan that basically ran by the same premise - alternating days and the number of "points" that you could eat from day to day to keep your body from getting bored. :)
Personal opinion though - 400 calories is pretty extreme. That is a very low number and I would think that on those days you would feel pretty weak and shaky. Your body needs a certain amount of nutrients. :)
Re: 400/2000 calorie diet
it's just another trick for caloric restriction. If you do it, don't get roped into undereating protein. You'll do best, and feel best, if you stick to lowfat protein only ie: cottage cheese, chicken breast, fish, eggwhite etc. on the low calorie days, and then not bingeing on carbs the next day.
Re: 400/2000 calorie diet
I've known a few people who did some variation of this "diet". It didn't last long.
Your body needs x amount of calories per day just to function. Not giving it what it needs will only cause you to feel "out of sorts".
Besides....calories are just a measurement of heat. If you need to lose weight, I can guarantee you that by cutting the trans fats, refined, processed foods from your diet and eating more fruits/veggies, lean protein that you will automatically drop weight. It doesn't have as much to do with calories as it does with QUALITY of food. Tighten up your diet (no more pop, chips, cookies, etc...except for every ONCE in a great while) and you won't have to worry about caloric restriction. The healthy foods that you put into your body will give your body what it needs and it will be able to effectively and efficiently burn off the rest.
Re: 400/2000 calorie diet
Let us know how it goes. I personally would advise trying a diet that you can stick to and try to develop a lifestyle that works for you.
Good luck.
Re: 400/2000 calorie diet
First of all, stop reading "Woman's World", ASAP. That is a trailer-park magazine and no good can come out of you purchasing it. When I was in college, every issue of that magazine I would see while on the grocery checkout line would have another freaky-ass crash diet to promote every time.
Freaky fad diets sell a lot more issues than "eat less, eat better, move more".
If you ate an average of 1200 calories a day it's the same thing as this.
What has 400 calories a day that you could eat? I can't imagine functioning on that few calories per day, Especially for women that have jobs, kids or do anything that involves actually getting out of bed at some point in the their day.
Eat less, eat better, move more.
Re: 400/2000 calorie diet
^Well said.
I'm going to suggest you up the protein and cut out carbs save for those in veggies and whole grains. Drink at least 2 L water a day and no junk food-this is the most important part.
You will lose weight.
Re: 400/2000 calorie diet
Crash diets always lead to long-term weight gain. Diets are never good for you - the only thing that will help you effectively lose weight and keep it off is a consistent lifestyle change. Nina's "eat less, eat better, move more" mantra is exactly right. Healthy eating and exercise are really the only thing that works on a long-term scale.
400 calories a day and losing 5 pounds a week sounds REALLY dangerous to me. You definitely couldn't do that for long without causing yourself some serious damage. Shoot for no more than 1 to 2 pounds a week through healthier eating and, most importantly, exercise.
Also, don't focus on the scale; as you exercise, you'll build muscle, which weighs more than fat. The number on the scale is mostly worthless. Measure your progress by taking your measurements, or by trying on a pair of jeans you used to have when you were younger and thinner.
Re: 400/2000 calorie diet
Quote:
Originally Posted by VenusGoddess
Besides....calories are just a measurement of heat. If you need to lose weight, I can guarantee you that by cutting the trans fats, refined, processed foods from your diet and eating more fruits/veggies, lean protein that you will automatically drop weight. It doesn't have as much to do with calories as it does with QUALITY of food. Tighten up your diet (no more pop, chips, cookies, etc...except for every ONCE in a great while) and you won't have to worry about caloric restriction. The healthy foods that you put into your body will give your body what it needs and it will be able to effectively and efficiently burn off the rest.
Exactly! Heed VG's words and you can't NOT lose excess weight unless you are seriously metabolically resistant or have some sort of underlying conditon (i.e. thryroid problems).
This is the smartest and healthiest way to lose weight and, like Yek said, shoot for only 1-2 lbs a week. It should be a lifestyle change and, if you lose more slowly, you'll be able to adjust yourself over the long run and be less likely to resort back to bad eating habits.
Good luck!
Re: 400/2000 calorie diet
I would think that eating 400 calories on a day would still trigger low blood sugar, and for that day you wouldn't have much energy and then when you ate the next day, the calorie dump would cause your insulin levels to spike and you'd store fat more quickly. Most long-term weight loss regimens emphasize small, regular meals specifically to avoid such a reaction. I wouldn't go for that. What good would starving for a day do?
Now, some bodybuilders recommend cycling calories over the course of a week, so they'll eat 2000 one day, then 1800, then 1600, then 1400, then 1200, then back up to 2000 (or whatever your caloric needs are, with a proportional calorie reduction). The jury's out on how effective that is.
Re: 400/2000 calorie diet
always remember your brain functions on carbs-- you need a MINIMUM 100g of carbs a day to have JUST proper brain function....
Re: 400/2000 calorie diet
^^^Maybe that's the reason I'm so ditzy, lol!!!
Actually, with the hypoglycemia, I couldn't have 100 + carbs a day if I wanted to without blood sugar repurcussions. I can only have 15 net grams tops per meal and with 6 meals spread out, that's still only 90.
Re: 400/2000 calorie diet
God, I already knew Women's World was crap, but 400 cals a day? I used to do that number- right before they tried to put me inpatient! I didn't know they were *trying* to promote eating disorders!
What a crock of shit. Never underestimate your body's ability to strive for equilibrium. You need vit & min, protein, and fat to sustain you, and gluclose (carbs- like others said) to fuel you. You won't get it on 400 cals, or even 1000 cals, a day. If you go too low in carbs, you'll throw your body into ketosis, which is another matter altogether...
If eating well and exercise don't work, consistantly, consider talking to your doctor, having your thyroid amoungst other things checked.
Re: 400/2000 calorie diet
Haha thanks ladies ...*throws Woman's World out the window* I actually was just wondering because it has all these "success" stories and i wanted to see if these stories extended beyond the magazine. I had just been thinking of taking the concept of rotating calories out of the article...such as 2000 one day and 1500 the next. I really do not need to lose weight. I only need to tone up and do cardio to stay healthy as of now. I have been jogging, drinking tons of water to flush out water weight, and eating well. I do like some of the recipes in that magazine though lol.
Re: 400/2000 calorie diet
^ This is something I just found out from my doctor.
Women who have children tend to have their hormone levels thrown off. Not just the thyroid but the estrogen/progesterone balance. If you have tightened up your diet and are exercising but not seeing much results, then you may want to have your thyroid/hormone levels checked. USUALLY, you will only need to take the medication/therapy until your levels even out and then you're off of it. But, if you let it go for too long, you may have to stay on the medication/therapy. So, go get those hormones/thyroids checked.
Re: 400/2000 calorie diet
Quote:
Originally Posted by VenusGoddess
^ This is something I just found out from my doctor.
Women who have children tend to have their hormone levels thrown off. Not just the thyroid but the estrogen/progesterone balance. If you have tightened up your diet and are exercising but not seeing much results, then you may want to have your thyroid/hormone levels checked. USUALLY, you will only need to take the medication/therapy until your levels even out and then you're off of it. But, if you let it go for too long, you may have to stay on the medication/therapy. So, go get those hormones/thyroids checked.
Kinda off subject, but...
I actually am supposed to be on thyroid meds- for life. Long story why I'm currently not. BUT the thyroid/hormones are nothing to play around with. I was diagnosed hypothyroid- associated with low metabolism, but ALSO infertility, heart problems, brain fogginess... alot of people don't know anything more than "it can make you fat."
The hormones you're talking about, Venus - same thing that causes postnatal (sp??) depression, right?
OK... back to the regularly sched programming... ;)
Re: 400/2000 calorie diet
Well, there are more "natural" meds that my doc was talking about. I just had my blood drawn to look for it. After I finished breastfeeding Makayla, I've had a loss of energy, a lot of weight gain (that won't budge no matter what I eat or how much I exercise...which is hard cuz I'm so damn tired all of the time). My core temperature is also a little low. So, I told my doc this at my last pre-natal check-up and he suggested that I check the thyroid. I should have the results tomorrow.
From what he said, if it's a "pregnancy" induced "throw off" taking the meds for a short time to get your body back into balance and then going off is normal and ok. I'll find out more after the results come back.
And, to answer the question, the hormones I am speaking of DO cause Post Partum Depression. If anyone is suffering from PPD, they should speak with their doctor immediately and get treated. It's not a psychological issue (usually), it's a hormonal one.
Re: 400/2000 calorie diet
Quote:
Originally Posted by VenusGoddess
If anyone is suffering from PPD, they should speak with their doctor immediately and get treated. It's not a psychological issue (usually), it's a hormonal one.
That makes perfect sense. If we suffer from PMS due to hormonal changes, why wouldn't it be (in most cases), a hormonal thing after having a child? Lord knows, those hormones are flying every which way after giving birth!