I'm not here to argue with anyone, so if that is what you want to do or if you think that is what I'm here for, then you needn't read any further.
I've needed to rant about this place for a long, long time. I keep coming back in the vain hope that maybe someone thinks outside the box. I am continually discouraged.
This is somewhat in reference to my post in the birth control thread; and telling the OP that 800cal/day is basically ok, as long as it is high protein, and should be medically supervised.
(Just to clarify, in this post, I am referring to all legitimate diet plans; and exclude anorexia and bulimia... those people need to be supported and encouraged to seek immediate medical help).
Y'all can argue the starvation mode thing till yer blue in the face.
But I have yet to see any statistically significant research to show that obese people go into "starvation mode" when they diet.
There is no magic number to calories that applies to every body, and anyone who believes there is, is simply foolish.
You do what works for you, but there is no reason to knock down a low calorie diet.
For the record (and you can search my posts) I am doing an Optifast based plan... medically supervised very low calorie high protein diet. Is it restrictive? YES. Does it need to be? YES. Research has shown that people maintain significant weight losses when their variety is limited (and if you read the "You: On a Diet" book, you will note that exposure to a variety of tastes during a meal causes one to eat more).
When I am on plan, I eat about 500-800 calories per day, and I lose about 5lbs per week. When I am off plan, I eat about 4000 calories per day, and after about 5 or 6 days of that, all I have gained is about 8lbs of water weight. Do I go off plan because it is too restrictive or because I feel hungry? ABSOLUTELY, UNEQUIVOCALLY NO. I go off plan because I am addicted to food, in much the same way that alcoholics are addicted to alcohol and the like. I go off plan because I have no alternative coping strategies; because nothing satisfies quite like food (which is actually a brain neurotransmitter issue; food elicits a stronger dopamine response than most other things - which has been scientifically shown as well).
I started this plan back in June of 2006; I have yet to experience anything that could come close to resembling "starvation mode."
I keep coming back to 3fc because there are a few (very few) people here who are genuinely interested in my journey with this very low cal plan. However, besides being busy, I find that it is difficult for me to come here when I need support because of judgmental attitudes.
It is very disheartening to see how judgmental people are when someone does something other than what is in the mainstream. It is also very disheartening to see that people will believe whatever the media throws at them, whether or not there is any basis to the claims (and that people don't do their own research in order to decide for themselves.) Its hard enough to deal with being fat in real life with people always asking questions or giving disapproving looks when you try to change something about your habits... I should be able to come here and feel safe from that; everyone who comes here should feel safe from that.
This is supposed to be a place that is accepting of all body weights and all plans... yet I find that to be not quite true... I can count on one hand the number of people (who have commented) who have been interested, encouraging, and optimistic with the plan that I am on.
I am not asking for everyone to come here and gush about how wonderful I have done so far... thats not what I want. What I want is a wake-up call; before you go around and tell people they aren't doing the right plan, do some research to back up your response and also take into account that you don't know their whole story.
I think that too many people approach weight loss with rose-colored glasses. The idea of a "lifestyle change" is great... but there is no one, specific definition of that idea that works for every person.
Weight loss is hard no matter what your size is. It is an even bigger issue and challenge when you are morbidly obese and on the slippery slope to becoming one of those people bedridden by their weight and their addiction (which I believe I will always be on that slippery slope). People need to be able to come here and feel accepted and not ashamed for the type of diet they choose. Having a support group of any kind can make a world of difference; but I find that I can't get that here.... at least not what I'm looking for, especially with the plan that I do.
One of the reasons I stopped posting about my struggles is because I would either get a slew of responses wanting me to explain my plan all over again or inevitably someone would say that they didn't think that it could be healthy. Its medically supervised, so it doesn't matter if you think its healthy or not; and if you see someone post that they are eating a low number of cals, your best advice is not tell them to up their calories, but to encourage them to seek medical advice/supervision if they haven't already done so.
Basically, there is no one right amount of calories or amount of weight loss per week. Everyone's body is different and none of us are in a position to judge how others approach their weight loss... we all do what works for us as individuals. You can't be supportive of a person's weight loss if you are (whether being straight forward or in a round-about way) telling them they are doing it wrong.
End Rant.
I'm tired and I'm going to bed; but I'm fired up enough about this that maybe I will get out of my current slump....Now that I'm mad about it, I want to make this plan work in spite of my addiction just prove everyone wrong.