Very Low Calorie Diet ..any experiences?

purpleshoes_2

If you feel unwell on this diet. Stop. Any gp worth their salt would be saying that.

Vlcds don't sort out attitudes towards food either. I would imagine you'll feel hungry a lot of the time. Which will also make you think more about food.

Any decent diet plan will be healthy and sustainable for life. Or it's not worth doing.

lessonlearned

Mumcoach wrote: »

The doctor gave me the ok to do this, he took my blood pressure weighed me and suggested 500-600 kcal said day for a max of 12 weeks to begin with to see how I get on. Obviously I have a great deal if weight to lose so I'm not going to lose it in 12 weeks but hopefully I can get started.

With regards to plateauing I don't know, I hadn't though
It's strange my appetite has gone today completely and has been replaced with a sick feeling and (tmi) diarrhoea most of the day!
I do hope this passes

You should stop this right now, your body is talking to you, telling you that what you are doing is wrong, but you are not listening.

What you are doing is dangerous. Are you absolutely sure you understood your GP. Perhaps he or she meant the 5:2 method, where you eat 500 calories for two days a week, and eat normal healthy food for the remaining 5 days.

I cannot believe that a GP would tell someone to eat only 500 calories a day for 12 weeks. It would be beyond reckless.

As other posters have said your body will literally eat itself, starting with your muscles.

If you must count calories, then a level should be set that is appropriate for your current weight, and certainly no less than 1500.

Just eat clean, cut out all the junk and rubbish, cakes, biscuits, pastries, crisps, sweeties.

Eat good lean protein and fill up with vegetables and salads, then just a couple of pieces of fruit a day. Remember fruit has sugars, so don't go overboard with it.

Then once your energy levels return add some exercise into your daily routines.

But please stop this mAdness now, it's just too dangerous.

Feral_Moon

Sorry but I can't believe for one moment that any GP would advocate a 500 calorie a day diet! Hell, those going for bariatric surgery that have to endure a pre-surgery liver shrinkage diet are allowed more than 500 calories each day and their diet is extremely limited for a very short period of time. Around 10 days I think.

cashewnut

Surely your GP would only have recommended this with a method of getting all the nutrients you need within those 500 calories, eg. Specially fortified drinks? I'd do a bit of research as you don't want to end up lacking in vital minerals and vitamins. Good luck!

tomtontom

If you can stick to a vlcd why can't you stick to a healthy diet plan?

You've received some excellent advice on this thread and you're ignoring it. There are no long term benefits to vlcds, quite the opposite. And this is about making long term changes, not a quick fix.

tomtontom

Mumcoach wrote: »

Because I have tried a diet sticking to the 1500 kcal a day losing 1/2 a pound to a pound a week and to be frank they don't work for me. I lose for a few weeks then plateu then I'm back to square one. I have lost 6 1/2 kgs sice starting this and I'm most certainly not ignoring anything. Everyone thinks it's a bad idea. I was asking if anyone had any success it seems not. So thanks I will see how I get on.

If you are hitting a plateau so quickly you need to ask why. Are you exercising? Are you honestly sticking to your calorie limit? Have you looked at a plan that is not based around calorie counting?

If you're that adamant that a vlcd is for you then set yourself a reminder and update this thread in a year, eighteen months and so on. Do you really believe you'll be reporting amazing results? I do wish you well, I know how challenging weight loss can be, but I don't believe you'll be any further on than you are now

fairy_lights

Mumcoach wrote: »

Because I have tried a diet sticking to the 1500 kcal a day losing 1/2 a pound to a pound a week and to be frank they don't work for me. I lose for a few weeks then plateu then I'm back to square one. I have lost 6 1/2 kgs sice starting this and I'm most certainly not ignoring anything. Everyone thinks it's a bad idea. I was asking if anyone had any success it seems not. So thanks I will see how I get on.

A pound a week on 1500 calories is a decent rate of loss and much more sustainable than restricting your calories to 500 a day. Exercise is also an important part of weight loss but I doubt you'll have much energy for it at the moment.
I seriously doubt you will be successful in the long term because you can't stick to 500 calories a day forever and as soon as you start eating more you will gain weight again.

Mojisola

I'm not advocating it but check out what calorie intake the Cambridge Diet would recommend for you -
http://www.cambridgeweightplan.com/is-cambridge-for-me
http://www.cambridgeweightplan.com/whats-the-plan/steps-to-success

If you are very overweight, you would not be allowed to go on a 500 calorie plan.

You'd probably be shocked if you asked your GP just how many days of education he/she had during training on diet, nutrition and safe weight loss.

jenniewb

Mumcoach wrote: »

The doctor gave me the ok to do this, he took my blood pressure weighed me and suggested 500-600 kcal said day for a max of 12 weeks to begin with to see how I get on. Obviously I have a great deal if weight to lose so I'm not going to lose it in 12 weeks but hopefully I can get started.

With regards to plateauing I don't know, I hadn't though
It's strange my appetite has gone today completely and has been replaced with a sick feeling and (tmi) diarrhoea most of the day!
I do hope this passes

Your GP only weighed an took your blood pressure?


Sorry, I don't know your GP or your medical background but this is just sending out too many alarm bells! I really think you should get a second opinion here; your GP should have done a far better assessment of you, taking at least a urine test and even a blood test would have told him/her more about if your body was healthy as well as making sure you didn't have any underlying conditions (e.g diabetes or a thyroid issue) this would have also ensured you were not lacking in any nutrients which would have put you in a difficult position when trying any new diet plan.


Do you think you could go back to at least let your GP know how you are doing? They should be able to see if there are any physical problems at the very least if not offer some advice or a dietician to offer advice.

tomtontom

Mumcoach wrote: »

From reading the Cambridge diet they would start you on 440 kcal so less than I'm on now. I actually may get in touch with one of thes plans as I am concerned I may not be gettin enough nutrients I'm having constant diarrhoea and heartburn so maybe they meal replacement shakes although expensive in the short term would be a better option

If a friend came to you and told you she was having those symptoms, what would your advice to her be?