This diet and it's many variations was first used in hospitals for extremely large people needing to lose weight in a quick amount of time before undergoing surgery.
The reason weight loss is so dramatic is simple - the number of calories you take is almost non-existant (ever see the nutrional labels for vegetables in the grocery stores - and non-fat broth is nothing more than spiced water (again, zero calories) and water fills you up (hence the reason you should carry around a milk jug of water each day and guarantee you finish it). Unfortunately, the lower number of calories is also the main reason weight gain can be dramatic, especially if one goes back to their old eating habits. Your body, for the most part, can accomodate to whatever level of calories you give it.
If you are really serious about dropping weight and keeping the weight off, the best approach really is calorie counting. But, the drop in calorie intake on this diet is far too extreme. I would never suggest putting together a diet of less than 1200 calories (and that would be a suggestion for women). Men, should really not consider any intake less than 1500 calories per day. This is an easily maintained number and still provides the necessary energy to workout (a key component of any healthy living approach).
I tend to take in about six small meals a day. Although, my concern is energy for training for distance trailrunning. So, given what you want (energy for aerobic activity, foods that help recover from anabolic workout, etc.) to achieve - all diets will vary. I'll try posting the details of a typical food week, if anyone is interested.
One final note: One poster indicated he has been on the diet for 15 days. IIRC, the original hospital write-up on this diet noted that no one (regardless of size) should take this approach for more than seven days at a time with at least a 7-day break.
The reason weight loss is so dramatic is simple - the number of calories you take is almost non-existant (ever see the nutrional labels for vegetables in the grocery stores - and non-fat broth is nothing more than spiced water (again, zero calories) and water fills you up (hence the reason you should carry around a milk jug of water each day and guarantee you finish it). Unfortunately, the lower number of calories is also the main reason weight gain can be dramatic, especially if one goes back to their old eating habits. Your body, for the most part, can accomodate to whatever level of calories you give it.
If you are really serious about dropping weight and keeping the weight off, the best approach really is calorie counting. But, the drop in calorie intake on this diet is far too extreme. I would never suggest putting together a diet of less than 1200 calories (and that would be a suggestion for women). Men, should really not consider any intake less than 1500 calories per day. This is an easily maintained number and still provides the necessary energy to workout (a key component of any healthy living approach).
I tend to take in about six small meals a day. Although, my concern is energy for training for distance trailrunning. So, given what you want (energy for aerobic activity, foods that help recover from anabolic workout, etc.) to achieve - all diets will vary. I'll try posting the details of a typical food week, if anyone is interested.
One final note: One poster indicated he has been on the diet for 15 days. IIRC, the original hospital write-up on this diet noted that no one (regardless of size) should take this approach for more than seven days at a time with at least a 7-day break.
