Not eating so I can jumpstart my weight loss?

[Anonymous]

i know I am gonna get crap for asking this, but I want some real answers. I want to lose a large amount of weight and I plan on doing it the healthy way. before I start working out and eating healthy, will it work to severely restrict for a week or two? I know I will lose weight from it, so if I go straight from not eating and slowly start building my food intake up and get healthy can I keep that weight off? I know its not healthy but its the only way I can lose 10-15 pounds fast and I will do it the healthy way after I reach my goals. not asking if it's a good idea but will it work? I'm desperate

[Anonymous]

Yeah, it'll work for a little while. But most of the pounds you lose will be water weight, and when the food cravings start kicking in and you inevitably start eating again, you'll gain more weight back than you would normally because your metabolism will have slowed down.

But I hardly have a right to talk. I have had an eating disorder for three years, and currently do not get my periods. It started out with the same mentality as yours ("I'll lose weight fast, then get back to normal at a weight I can maintain.") This is definitely not meant to "scare" you into thinking you're going to develop an eating disorder, but what you want to do really can become very unhealthy.

If you want to lose weight the healthy way, don't bother with the two week restriction period first. When I first began restricting (around 500 calories a day), I won't lie, I saw immediate weight loss. About five-six pounds that first week. Amazing, right? (I actually would laugh every time I saw weight loss commercials that promised to help you lose two pounds in a week.) But your metabolism adjusts if you routinely eat less and less, and it slows down. So, I started to plateau and the weight loss stopped. This is where it became addictive--I wasn't doing anything differently than when I started, so why did the weight loss stop? At this point most people will either

a. restrict more, or even begin fasting completely to see results

or b. get frustrated, give in to food cravings, and eat a regular meal, leading to weight gain because your metabolism has slowed down.

I've done both. Again, I've got little right to even be saying any of this because I still struggle with my disorder. But the thing is, our bodies are not meant to handle this sort of diet, or rapid weight loss/gain. (I have big angry stretch marks to prove that one.) Just eat healthy and exercise, it's really the best thing you can do. You may not lose the weight nearly as fast as you wanted to, and I know how frustrating that is. But in the long run, you'll be far better off, and have a much smaller chance of gaining the weight back.

[Opinion Owner]

Wow, thank you for awarding me best answer. I hope my advice helped you out -- if you'd ever like to chat about how things have been going for you these past few months, I'd love to talk.

[samiam90]

it will slow the hell out of your metabolism. once you start eating regularly again, your body will use whatever you eat as fat. unless you do a healthy detox (either liquid or fruit, which do help you lose weight quickly) that might work more in your favor and be healthy at the same time

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detoxing will also help your skin, nails, hair, any body aches/pains and will help you greatly once you start your real diet and give you lots over energy to exercise. starving yourself will only hurt you in the long run, and may seem like the only thing that will work, but trust me, you may lose a few pounds in a week but a lot of other problems come about from that...

[regular-guy]

I think this is the perfect way to sabotage yourself. You might get some quick initial results, but the process will be so uncomfortable that you won't stick with it and you will perpetuate the negative cycle of dieting and exercise that makes it feel like a punishment for being fat. I think if you do this you are bound to gain what you lose plus some within a few months.

My recommendation is to stop thinking of exercise and food as your enemies. Exercise can be fun, but not if you are doing it because you think you are fat--then it feels like a punishment. Do an honest inventory of what you eat. Cut out the obviously harmful stuff like soda (even diet), candy, junk food, and regular restaurant and fast food trips. Eat normal, but make sure to increase your water intake and your intake of lean proteins and fruits and vegetables, and complex carbohydrates and fiber. Make sure to include weight lifting in your exercise. You will burn more calories overall and you will increase your lean body mass, even though your weight change might not be as fast. More muscle will increase the calories you burn when you are doing nothing. But it is heavier than fat so that is why you won't notice the difference in pounds right away even though your size in inches will be changing.

Best of luck and post an update in a few weeks to let us know how things are going.

Oh, and a committed work out buddy would also be helpful.

[arsenal25]

well it works for me in that way. I don't severely restrict though but I do start off with eating extremely strict not below 1200 usually exactly 1200 cals and I always work out so to me going to the gym not a problem, so instead of once a day the whole week I go twice a day. then nxt week keep it on 1200 cals and go once a day. the results just motivate me to keep going, then I don't stress eat just eat healthy and keep working out. What exactly is severely restricting to you? you can actually make a meal plan eat vegies and some fruit for those two weeks I don't think that's unhealthy and lose allot of weigh and work out those two weeks for an hour walk or run.

[Asker]

Restricting for me is eating about 1000 or less calories. I know that's kind of a lot but my body requires more

[arsenal25]

Thats not a lot I think that is fine do a 1200 calorie diet those two weeks I think that would really work. what is your height and weight ??

[Asker]

5'7 150

[arsenal25]

O okk so you are tall. well 5'7 and 150 I would imagine you are not fat at all skinny so I don't think you would lose weight fast that quick. But eat small frequent meals for two weeks about 1200-1500 calories and work out I think you would lose a pretty good amount and see a difference in your body. Sometimes going too low is bad and you won't lose as much if you eat a little more especially if you work out. If you are not going to work out eat 1200 .

[Asker]

Ok thanks for your advice! I feel like I'm fat though I just want to be really skinny

[regular-guy]

"Restricting for me is eating about 1000 or less calories. I know that's kind of a lot but my body requires more"--yes your body does require more. You should be eating a minimum, MINIMUM of 1600-2000 calories a day. If you severely restrict your calories like that you will put your body into starvation mode which will slow your metabolism and will make it MORE LIKELY to store the calories you do eat as fat, and you will gain weight when you return to normal caloric intake.

[melissarose8585]

Actually, this can sabotage your diet and exercise. If you stop eating for a period of time, your metabolism will slow down due to the loss of caloric intake. It's doing it to keep your body going. So you'll be burning less calories when you do start the diet and exercise. Just try to eat small, frequent meals of very healthy fruits and vegetables.

[mdog123456789]

yup. it works. I went on a cookie diet wear I only ate 2 cookies a day and 4 glasses of milk and that's it. I lost lik 6 lb. in a week

[arsenal25]

Or you could of ate a lot of veggies and some fish for same cals and lost the same in a healthier way. its all in calories

[mdog123456789]

Ya but I like cookies!!!!!!

[mdog123456789]

...lol I don't really care anymore.

[Anonymous]

I hate diets.Work out better,and drink green tea!It helps