Quote:
Originally Posted by jansan
What about those protein-sparing fasts from about 20 years ago? Optifast or something? The one similar to what Oprah went on years ago. I went on one of those, doctor supervised and all. (That particular doctor got in trouble for having an affair with one of his anorexic patients --she rightfully sued him-- Us plumps were indignant that he didnt have the decency to have an affair with one of us fatties, not that we were interested - we were the ones he was making all the money on.). All you could eat was afew protein packets that tasted horrid, plus a lean cuisine for dinner. Less than 500 cals for the day. And I was exercising on this starvation diet. Egads. I was so hungry I almost ate the plastic plate too -I certainly licked it clean enough. On that regime I used to wake up so hungry in the night I couldnt sleep. I had to roll over and double my fists into my stomach to lessen the extreme pain of hunger.
Didnt Richard Simmons have a bunch of exercise salons back then? And Jane Fonda?
Jan
I was on Optifast in 1990 - it was 800 calories a day, and the powder was actually pretty high in protein - derived from eggwhites, as I recall.
I think you might be referring to either the Cambridge Diet or "Prolinn" from back in the late 70's. Prolinn was developed by Dr. Robert Linn who wrote a book titled
The Last Chance Diet. What Prolinn consisted of was VERY low-grade protein (ground-up hooves, hides, bones, horns, etc) with a lot of artificial coloring and flavoring (and a hefty price tag!). The recommended amount came to 400 calories a day. After a bunch of people died of heart attacks while on the plan, Prolinn fell from favor.
The Cambridge Diet used to be similar. It's still around, although I don't believe they advocate a very-low-calorie diet anymore - I think it's more like Jenny Craig or NutriSystem - not just a shake, but a bunch of different products.
I don't believe that Richard Simmons ever had a chain of fitness centers - he's always had his one fitness center, Slimmons, in Beverly Hills. (and I think he still does those weight-loss cruises annually?)
I don't know if Jane Fonda had a chain of fitness centers, but I was just watching
Camp Beverly Hills a short time ago with my niece - one scene was shot outside a Jane Fonda's Workout. And I do remember getting a Spa Finders magazine and seeing a Jane Fonda Health Spa listed.