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Weight Loss Forum / General Topics / April 2010WHY do liquid diets work? Medifast - Optifast - HMR!
I am a person who has a tough time losing weight. Most people do anyway but I am resistant to it. Exercise has to be excessive, food intake has to be perfect and low calorie or I maintain. Yet medifast, a liquid diet, makes me lose weight everytime I can stick to it. I have eaten as little as 600 calories a day and never lost an ounce, yet that is about what a consume with medifast and off comes the weight. Why do I go into "starvation mode" on any other low calorie food diet but not on medifast? Does anyone understand why this works?? It is a sad fact of the world for everyone, but especially us ladies, that we are willing to torture our bodies to be thin. Here I am, suffering on medifast, a diet that gives me heart palpitations and headaches, makes me weak and feel gross but willing to do it because it WORKS. Because other diets cant seem to get the last of the weight off me and the liquid diet always does. I am so confused about dieting, I thought I was an expert. I have no idea what to eat to make me thin and healthy and stay that way. The only time I have maintained my weight and not gained was on an 800 calorie a day ALL PROTEIN low fat and I mean ZERO carb diet. How the hell do I stay on that for life???? I am really frustrated with my body. I dont even lose weight on that, only maintain. If I eat ONE thing off the plan I gain up to 5 pounds. In 2 weeks I put on 17 pounds just from eating "normally" and not starving. I hate my body. Well I am venting. Thanks for being here. Would love to hear any thoughts from people out there who did liquid diets, and from other women with bodies like mine...are you out there or am I alone? Thanks Vanessa > Well I am venting. Thanks for being here. Would love to hear any thoughts from > people out there who did liquid diets, and from other women with bodies like > mine...are you out there or am I alone? > Thanks > Vanessa I did a liquid diet and was quite successful in losing the weight like you. Keeping it off has been a serious challenge to say the least. Each person is different and has different levels of success. The people I know personally who have kept their weight off have done so for two reasons: either they built up a lot of muscle or they continue to eat extremely low calorie. I'm not sure on the research, bicker would know better than me, but I personally think that how long you did the liquid before transitioning to a low calorie plan with regular food has a lot to do with your long term effects. I stayed on the liquid until my goal weight and then lost more during the transition, so much so that they rushed me through the transition. If I had it to do over, I would have transitioned sooner and slower. I think that I ended up losing too much lean mass which has made it difficult to maintain my weight, but I'm doing weight training and it's helping. Your hormones also play a big part. I ended up losing too much estrogen too quickly and my periods completely stopped during my liquid diet. My body still hasn't recovered and now I'm in perimenopause at 37 which has wreaked havoc with my entire system. I also had an existing adrenal problem that didn't become apparent until after the weight loss. I get this fun thing where every so often my body swells up like a water filled balloon and I can be as much as 15 lbs heavier in one day and can barely walk because my feet get really bad. Each of these problems are affecting my ability to maintain or even lose weight, but I'm seeing positive results from doing the weight training, eating 5-6 small meals a day, and taking hormones. Don't give up, but don't expect quick results either. You aren't alone. Jenn Your thing about building up muscle is a good point. That requires exercise. You have to exercise to be healthy. I'm glad you kept after it and found some way to do that even when you couldn't walk. > > Well I am venting. Thanks for being here. Would love to hear any thoughts > from [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > > Jenn A Sun, 6 Jun 2004 19:49:09 -0500, "JMA" <bjenniferb@yahoo.com> escribió: > I'm not sure on the research, bicker would know better than me, but I > personally think that how long you did the liquid before transitioning to a > low calorie plan with regular food has a lot to do with your long term > effects. From what I've experienced and read, I believe it is actually more a matter of how formal the transition to maintenance is. VLCDs work best for the morbidy obese precisely because they are relatively easy to maintain for the period of weight-loss. However, they're subject to the same pressures of regain from reverting back to previous (bad) eating and lifestyle behaviors as other diet regimens. VLCDs have typically taken their advantage, in that they're generally taken more seriously by their patients (due to the higher risks from the regimen itself), to apply significant behavioral re-training into the weight-loss support. Behavioral re-training is the key to effectiveness with respect to maintenance, regardless of the approach taken. -- bicker® http://abcnews.go.com/sections/GMA/DrJohnson/Diet_registry_040602.html > I am a person who has a tough time losing weight. Most people do anyway but I > am resistant to it. Exercise has to be excessive, food intake has to be perfect [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > into "starvation mode" on any other low calorie food diet but not on medifast? > Does anyone understand why this works?? sounds like bad calorie counting methods to me... > It is a sad fact of the world for everyone, but especially us ladies, that we > are willing to torture our bodies to be thin. seeing weight loss in these terms is not very productive... > Here I am, suffering on > medifast, a diet that gives me heart palpitations and headaches, makes me weak [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > Thanks > Vanessa Do you have any special health issues? i >Do you have any special health issues? Yes, I have PCOS, diabetes, insulin resistance - all of which seems mostly controllable through low carb dieting. However, now I cant lose any weight low carbing or on any normal type diet...dont know where to go with this? >>Do you have any special health issues? > > Yes, I have PCOS, diabetes, insulin resistance - all of which seems mostly > controllable through low carb dieting. However, now I cant lose any weight low > carbing or on any normal type diet...dont know where to go with this? Kitten, what is your current weight and height? Just curious. Not that I suggest that it is your case, but once in a while someone would post a complaint how they cannot lose weight, and then when asked about their weight and height, they turn out to be very slim people trying to become even slimmer. Like I said, this does not apply to you but knowing the numbers helps keep things in perspective. i >>Do you have any special health issues? > >Yes, I have PCOS, diabetes, insulin resistance - all of which seems mostly >controllable through low carb dieting. However, now I cant lose any weight low >carbing or on any normal type diet...dont know where to go with this? Kitenlove99 I too have PCOS,insulin resistance ect. i was thinking about doig medifast but i want to talk to you about it first,please reply and i will give you my email ad. Thanks I'm sorry if you said this and I forgot but you don't say anything here about exercise. Do what JMA did; don't let anything stand in the way of exercising. > I am a person who has a tough time losing weight. Most people do anyway but I > am resistant to it. Exercise has to be excessive, food intake has to be perfect [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > Thanks > Vanessa > I am a person who has a tough time losing weight. Most people do anyway but I > am resistant to it. Exercise has to be excessive, food intake has to be perfect [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > into "starvation mode" on any other low calorie food diet but not on medifast? > Does anyone understand why this works?? This would seem to violate the laws of thermodynamics. Your body burns a certain number of calories every day. If you were consistently consuming only 600 calories per day, and not losing any weight, that would mean that your body was only burning 600 calories per day. This seems highly unlikely...you would probably burn more than this even if you were sleeping all day long. Most people underestimate the number of calories they consume each day - this phenomenon has been documented in a number of research studies, and it is especially true of overweight and obese folks. So, in answer to your question - perhaps the liquid diets work because it's harder to cheat on a liquid diet. GG > It is a sad fact of the world for everyone, but especially us ladies, that we > are willing to torture our bodies to be thin. Here I am, suffering on [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > Thanks > Vanessa A Sun, 6 Jun 2004 18:25:20 -0700, "GaryG" <garyg@shasta_SPAMBEGONE_software.com> escribió: > This would seem to violate the laws of thermodynamics. Your body burns a > certain number of calories every day. If you were consistently consuming > only 600 calories per day, and not losing any weight, that would mean that > your body was only burning 600 calories per day. This seems highly > unlikely...you would probably burn more than this even if you were sleeping > all day long. That's not clear, and so no violation of physics is assuredly indicated. The body is a remarkable thing, and it does often manage to slow itself down quite a bit. All of the major VLCDs are specifically designed to provide enough protein, and to include enough exercise, to preclude this (though there is nothing forcing VLCD patients to ensure a good amount of exercise is weight-bearing). However, any low-calorie diet, improperly practiced, metabolism can be adversely affected. > Most people underestimate the number of calories they consume each day - > this phenomenon has been documented in a number of research studies, and it > is especially true of overweight and obese folks. Yes, this is likely to account for some, but not necessarily all, of the disparity, in most cases. VLCDs, especially the 600 calorie ones, though are easier to ensure accuracy. Count the empty packets. It is a lot harder to deceive yourself into believing that you're not cheating when what you're doing is eating something other than the one packet of powder you're supposed to be eating. > So, in answer to your question - perhaps the liquid diets work because it's > harder to cheat on a liquid diet. Yes, yes, yes. Precisely. -- bicker® http://abcnews.go.com/sections/GMA/DrJohnson/Diet_registry_040602.html > I am a person who has a tough time losing weight. Most people do anyway but I > am resistant to it. Exercise has to be excessive, food intake has to be perfect > and low calorie or I maintain. Yet medifast, a liquid diet, makes me lose > weight everytime I can stick to it. I'm afraid I don't have much to offer in the way of a reply. But I do have a question. How on earth can you stand drinking those liquid diet things? To me they taste so awful, I think I would rather drink a glass of used motor oil. Em >To me they taste so awful, I think I would rather drink a glass of used >motor oil. > >Em Em, if I could have 5 minutes with God and ask Him to grant one wish - it would be that I could go on living and never have to eat. I hate food, I hate eating, and if I didnt feel hungry and lousy on the shakes, I would feel relieved that I never had to eat solid food. If I could live on shakes and feel great, I would do so for life. I actually like the taste of them though :-) A Sun, 6 Jun 2004 21:44:48 -0500, "Auntie Em" <Auntie Em@yahoo.com> escribió: > How on earth can you stand drinking those liquid diet things? I'm drinking one now, for breakfast, more than two years completing weight-loss. I'm at a healthy weight, and have been for over two years, so why would I still be drinking shakes, when I could legitimately be having a bowl of oatmeal, cereal, toast or even eggs? Because they're GOOD! What I'm having for breakfast this morning is the single best breakfast I could imagine (for 200 calories). Better than any of the traditional choices. It sure helps that it is also incredibly nutritious and helps me maintain my weight-loss. What's the difference? Have I been reprogrammed? <grin> No! I just know which shakes to buy, and how to make them into my breakfast -- make them better than any alternative. There are horrible shakes out there. There are also rotten eggs! (Hint: Don't eat rotten eggs!) <grin> -- bicker® http://abcnews.go.com/sections/GMA/DrJohnson/Diet_registry_040602.html Bicker, what shakes do you use? Did you lose weight on a liquid diet? Which one? Can you please email me so I can ask you a few questions? I would appreciate it so much! Thanks V. A 08 Jun 2004 19:28:25 GMT, kittenlove99@aol.com (KittenLove99) escribió: > Bicker, what shakes do you use? We're currently using up the last of the old Myoplex Lite Cappuccino Ice flavor. (They discontinued it, and replaced it with a Cappuccino flavor that isn't half as good, IOHO.) We'll probably switch to HMR 800 Chocolate for a while when this stuff runs out (we just replenished, selling out Vitamin Shoppe, so we're set for a few months). > Did you lose weight on a liquid diet? Which one? Health Management Resources. 100 pounds for myself; 60 pounds for my wife. Maintained for two years so far. > Can you please email me so I can ask you a few questions? I would > appreciate it so much! Thanks Sure! However, you may find that some of your initial questions are already answered on my web page: brianandrobbie.com/hmr -- bicker® http://abcnews.go.com/sections/GMA/DrJohnson/Diet_registry_040602.html Bicker, That seems to jive with reports that dieters using meal replacements have more success. At least the meal replacements won't have the side effects of diet pills - so you can continue using the shakes indefinitly. > A Sun, 6 Jun 2004 21:44:48 -0500, "Auntie Em" <Auntie > Em@yahoo.com> escribió: [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > (Hint: Don't eat rotten eggs!) <grin >>The only time I have maintained my weight and not gained was on an 800 calorie a day ALL PROTEIN low fat and I mean ZERO carb diet. How the hell do I stay on that for life???? I am really frustrated with my body. I dont even lose weight on that, only maintain. If I eat ONE thing off the plan I gain up to 5 pounds. In 2 weeks I put on 17 pounds just from eating "normally" and not starving.<< I'm sorry that you're having such a tough time. I have a few questions. How old are you? How tall? What weight are you trying to maintain? How many calories is "eating normally"? What happened after you put on 17 pounds in two weeks? Did your weight stabilize or continue to go up? What is the highest weight you've been? How long were you at that weight? What does your doctor say (you are going on these fasts under strict medical supervision, right?) about your apparently extremely slow metabolism? As always, YMMV. Kasey 365/262/??? My body is so like yours! But I didn't do a liquid diet -- what worked for me was initially, getting off my main problem food (sugar) permanently because I lost 100 lbs upon doing so -- and then subsequently, when I couldn't get under 200 lbs. despite trying hard for 22 years -- what worked was a balanced diet prescribed by a very good nutritionist, and increasing my exercise to 7 hours a week of walking along with the 4 hours of weight training I was already doing. I *do* have to do more than other people to keep weight off -- it is scary how fast I gain if I slack off on even one component of my health regimen -- but if this is the physical challenge I've been dealt, I'd take it any day over being blind or deaf or unable to walk or having some other devastating physical problem that I have absolutely no control over. At least I can do something about this (even if I don't like it one bit some days) -- it's important for me to stay out of pity party mode because that's the first step down the slippery slope. But I do relate and feel for you, Vanessa! I can sure relate to quick gains -- on vacation one year I gained 15 lbs. in 16 days -- and not even going hog wild either! But I ate more refined carbs and fat than usual (i.e. fried foods, too) and couldn't exercise because of a foot injury. No one believed that I could gain that much in such a short time -- but with bodies like ours, it happens and so we know it's true for at least you and me! It took me a long long time to find out what works for me -- and it's more than I ever thought I'd have to do -- but that's OK too -- it takes what it takes. Mary M 325-158-145 > I am a person who has a tough time losing weight. Most people do anyway but I > am resistant to it. Exercise has to be excessive, food intake has to be perfect [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > Thanks > Vanessa >I *do* have to do more than >other people to keep weight off -- it is scary how fast I gain if I slack off on even >one component of my health regimen -- but if this is the physical challenge I've been >dealt, This is me, too. In order to stay where I am now, I need to exercise more than most people and eat less as well. But it really isn't all that big a sacrifice to make. A slower metabolism also means I don't get hungry on what I'm eating, whereas others might. My problem isn't hunger but just wanting to indulge -- and I do make room for that occasionally. (I know this doesn't seem to work for you, Mary -- at least not with sugar -- but I don't seem to have that particular sensitivity.) The exercise is fun, but there are times I'd rather just relax. This week I'm in long meetings each day, and I'm the only one there who's working out in the gym beforehand or taking a walk during the lunch break. I'm also the only one not eating the cookies and pastries and chips and stuff that are provided. But I'm about the thinnest person in the room, too :-). (There are 12 people in the group, and I think one of the men is also a normal weight. The other folks are of varying degrees of tubbiness -- none huge but typical of middle-aged white collar workers.) Chris 262/151/ (145-150) > This is me, too. In order to stay where I am now, I need to exercise > more than most people and eat less as well. But it really isn't all > that big a sacrifice to make. A slower metabolism also means I don't > get hungry on what I'm eating, whereas others might. My problem isn't > hunger but just wanting to indulge -- and I do make room for that > occasionally. So, you are not hungry, but once in a while you want to eat some treats, right? I am personally hungry much more often than I would like to, and also need to exercise a lot to simply stay where I am. I guess it comes with territory. It is not a big sacrifice to make as exercise has its benefits etc, but, it does take time every day. Supposedly, successful long term weight maintainers spend about 2800 calories per week exercising, which is equivalent to walking about 5 miles per day for 5 days a week. My wife though, lost about 20 lbs, does not exercise at all, and eats sweets and junk food. All by simply eating less. She is quite gorgeous. We'll see what happens to her weight as time passes... i >> This is me, too. In order to stay where I am now, I need to exercise >> more than most people and eat less as well. But it really isn't all [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >So, you are not hungry, but once in a while you want to eat some >treats, right? That's correct. And so far it has worked okay. >Supposedly, successful long term weight maintainers spend about 2800 >calories per week exercising, which is equivalent to walking about 5 >miles per day for 5 days a week. I never pay attention to calories burned exercising, but I think I get a pretty good amount of exercise. Currently I'm walking 2 to 4.5 miles most weekdays, running maybe 6-7 miles total per week, and weightlifting around 4 hours per week, plus other odds and ends. Chris 262/151/ (145-150) >>> This is me, too. In order to stay where I am now, I need to exercise >>> more than most people and eat less as well. But it really isn't all [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > That's correct. And so far it has worked okay. I am happy for you. It is the opposite for me. I do not care much for treats and sweets and such, and like my basic food. But, I want to eat more of it. >>Supposedly, successful long term weight maintainers spend about 2800 >>calories per week exercising, which is equivalent to walking about 5 [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > 4.5 miles most weekdays, running maybe 6-7 miles total per week, and > weightlifting around 4 hours per week, plus other odds and ends. Sounds like you exercise on the order of 3 thousand calories per week... i A 9 Jun 2004 13:56:31 GMT, Ignoramus26239 <ignoramus26239@NOSPAM.26239.invalid> escribió: > Sounds like you exercise on the order of 3 thousand calories per > week... Research from the National Weight Control Registry shows that this is typical for folks successfully maintaining significant weight-loss. -- bicker® http://abcnews.go.com/sections/GMA/DrJohnson/Diet_registry_040602.html > >I *do* have to do more than > >other people to keep weight off -- it is scary how fast I gain if I slack off on even [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > least not with sugar -- but I don't seem to have that particular > sensitivity.) It seems whatever I want to indulge in backfires on me -- with cravings and obsessions creeping up, and that's what I really want to avoid most -- the mindset I had as an overeater -- just uncontrollably obsessed with eating refined carbs (I don't have trouble with "normal food" except nuts.) . It seems that I really have to adhere to the maxim, "You don't crave what you don't eat." >The exercise is fun, but there are times I'd rather > just relax. Isn't that the truth -- most of the time I absolutely don't want to do it -- but I just look forward to how I will feel when it's done. >This week I'm in long meetings each day, and I'm the only > one there who's working out in the gym beforehand or taking a walk [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > folks are of varying degrees of tubbiness -- none huge but typical of > middle-aged white collar workers.) I've been out of the traditional work force for 10 years, and last week I went to Cleveland to meet with a client who was finishing up a seminar with some district managers. I was really struck by the number of overweight people in that small group -- back when I was more in that kind of world, I always felt like the fattest person in the meeting -- I don't think I remember any overweight executive women (I was not an executive), and most of the men were in shape, too -- it seemed like part of the job requirement. To see an overweight woman manager was an exception -- but at this meeting it seemed to be the rule. I don't know whether it was my changed perception about how I compare to others physically, or if things really have changed that much in the past 10 years. Mary |
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