Diet

[Yorkie580]

I've been told about a diet where you just drink special shakes conatining minerals but no calories and the weight just drops off - about 3-5 stones in 12 weeks.

Does it really exist and is it safe?

[LaLaLand2006]

No "faddy" diets every work long term. They may promote a fast way to lose weight, but pose all sorts of health risks. The body needs a variety of vitamins, minerals, fibre, healthy fats..... anything that doesn't provide all of these isn't going to do your body any good. A diet with no calories, sounds particularly dangerous to me!

Also found this on http://www.healthyweightforum.org/eng/diets/ne gative-calorie-diet/

"The Negative Calorie diet works on the premise that certain foods create negative calorie effects (negative calorie foods), allowing you to lose weight. The Negative Calorie diet is controversial because the theory is not scientifically sound."

It's boring, but true, the best and healthiest way to lose weight is through a balanced healthy diet and regular exercise and that suits your lifestyle.

[Miss-taken]

I expect you're refering to the Lighter Life diet and yes it does work and is perfectly safe to do. You have to be recommended by your GP (so you do have to be pretty big to qualify) and you also have to go to counselling sessions. The one down side (other than drinking milkshakes IMO as I hate milk based drinks!) is that it costs over �60 a week!
I know someone who is on this diet and the results are amazing.

HTH

[Dollie]

my mate lost over nine stone with lighterlife - costs a mint tho - as Mis-taken says - around �60 per week but really works wonders. Its very strict tho - you can only eat their food packs.

[Scarlett]

Please do not bother. These things do not educate you in wise food choices. They are fine when you are eating their expensive drinks, but when you stop and have to go back to eating like a normal person, you still don't know what to eat, and will therefore end up making bad food choices that made you gain weight in the first place!

My advice is to eat 3 small meals a day- avoid bread and instead have oat cakes/rice cakes. Eat lots of fresh, non processed food- fruit and veg, salad and fruit. Snack on fruit/crudities/houmous. Drink lots of green tea. Don't eat carbs in the evening if you can help it (or maybe only a few times a week) and don't eat at all after 8pm!

Generally, listen to your body. Avoid sugar as it sends your signals way off. And do more exercise! x x x

[applebee]

I'll start by saying im completing my last year of school to be an RD, and I am familiar with almost EVERY diet that is out there. The diet your referring to is not safe nor effective in the way i'm sure you are hoping. Calories NEED to be consumed in order to loose weight properly. By only drinking these shakes you will be slowing your metabalism. These shakes also do not work as an effective appetite supressent. You will be left hungry ALL the time! Look into the Mayo health diet, or South Beach diet...both diets I promote. There isn't a quick way to do this! Good Luck!

[Yorkie580]

Thank you for all the advice. One of the major problems I have is that I do shift work - generally two days then two nights. It's difficult to get into a pattern of eating, and it's also hard to break from the habit of the take-away cultuyre on nights.