Zero Calories Vs 600 Calories on fasting day – Pros & Cons

This topic contains 4 replies, has 5 voices, and was last updated by simcoeluv 10 years, 8 months ago.

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pjbatch

9:03 am
20 Jan 14
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Day 1, 89kg, BMI 28, 45yr old male. I was 96kg 8 years ago and got down to 76kg (zero fat diet) but have steadily put back on despite lots of exercise. I eat healthily, I just eat too much and drink too much beer.
Anyone know the pros & cons of total fasting for the 2 days rather than consuming 600 calories? Obviously stronger will power will be required but will you lose more wieght? Is there any scientific evidence to support better to eat 600 calories than nothing or is it the inverse? Trying to work out is the greater challenge worth it before I eat something on my first ‘fasting’ day

caros

1:57 am
10 Mar 14
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Hi pjbatch – Dr Krista Varady in her book ‘The Every Other Day Diet’ says when experimenting with many different levels of calorie restriction in mice to determine the perfect level for healthy weight loss:

‘… I tried 75 per cent of normal caloric intake; 50 per cent; even 0 per cent – a total fast. And the winner was 25 per cent.

At 25 per cent, the mice had the maximal amount of weight loss with the minimal level of muscle loss. In other words, they lost fat but not muscle. And retaining muscle while dieting is a must for health and long-term weight maintenance. Also, 25 per cent of calories also produced the best improvements in risk factors for heart disease and type-2 diabetes. …’

I found this book a really fascinating read on the subject of fasting to lose weight (and for health reasons). It really helped to motivate me. Good luck with your efforts! 🙂

Strawberry Moon

6:55 pm
10 Mar 14
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Thank you for this question and answer. My husband and I are in week 2 and discussing this very thing. I think we need Dr. Varady’s book as well for these extra research findings. This result makes me happy – those 500 calories aren’t just easier, they are scientifically sound!

goldeelocks

11:01 am
12 Mar 14
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Hi…that is what I do. I find that if I eat I want to continue eating so I just eating nothing at all on fast days From dinner Sunday night until breakfast on Tuesday morning. I drink a lot of water, black tea and coffee and go to bed early!

I cant be bothered to fiddle around with 500 calories.

I repeat again on Thursdays.

I usually mange to drop a kilo every week.

simcoeluv

5:14 pm
12 Mar 14
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Hi and welcome:

Dieting can be a numbers game. By eating 0 calories you will be cutting an additional 1200 calories a week from your diet. The general rule is the less you eat, the more you lose. However, 1200 calories only equals about 4 ounces. It is up to you if it is worth it.

This explains the ‘numbers’: http://thefastdiet.co.uk/forums/topic/tdee-for-the-curious-or-why-dont-i-lose-weight-faster/

Good Luck!