Solid psychology, sure. But starvation is not the answer to long term success.

I have to agree with Steve, from my limited knowledge of healthy dieting I believe the lowest recommended amount of calories is 1200 for a woman and 1500 for a man. I have not heard of the PSMF method before - is it medically sound? Congratulations on the 16.5lbs you have already lost wimic. Just be careful you are getting enough food and nutrients - you are working your body hard and taking the calories really low. Good luck!

Medically sound? I would use it on myself. As long as you get adequate essential aminos and essential fats in, as well as all the other good micronutrients from things like veggies, I think any diet is ok. Remember, there is no such thing as an essential carbohydrate.

What - no essential carbs? What about my RDA of chocolate, bread and fries?

Fasting, just as with anything else, can be good or bad, depending on how it is done.

I belong to an Intermittent fasting group. Some fast/eat alternate days. Some (including me) fast for 20 hours of the day and eat during the remaining 4.

My program includes 1350-1550 calories --what I calculate my goal weight maintenance calories will be. I am currently 183 and my goal weight is 109.

My daily food intake is comprised of whole grains, fresh fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, and very little meat.

I find it extremely easy to follow. If I spread my 1350-1550 calories out among 5-6 meals/snacks, I am always hungry, always pre-occupied with food, always looking for what I can eat to not go over my limit. I have a voracious appetite. I did alternate day fasting for awhile, but I had hunger for about 4 hours on the fast day, and I was always cold on the fast day. Then on the eat day, I consumed twice the normal calorie range as planned, but I was always pre-occupied with food, and eating throughout the day. I decided to try to the 20/4 method, and it has worked very well for me.

Whereas I was always hungry spreading my calorie budget out through the day, I reach satiation by consuming it in one 4 hour period. I don't have hunger during the 20 hours until about an hour before it's time to eat again, and then it's mild hunger. My stress eating has stopped, as have my cravings. My food tastes have changed dramatically.

I don't eat all my calories in one sitting, but in 5-6 courses. I take anywhere from 2-4 hours to consume all of my food, so the courses are pretty close together.

1st course is whole grains, and I use steel-cut oats or a multi-grain with brown sugar and 2% milk. Sometimes I add raisins or bananas to the cereal.

2nd course is fresh fruit, usually citrus, oranges or tangerines or both.

3rd course is a commercially prepared soup, usually Healthy Choice, and California Black Bread (it's actually pure 100% whole wheat bread) with 1 tbsp peanut butter.

4th course is more fruit, usually a large organic Fuji apple.

5th course consists of more vegetables plus a sandwich of 1 slice Cal Black Bread and an omega 3 organic egg fried in 0 calorie Spam. If I am going to have meat, it's usually turkey meatloaf or thin-sliced roast turkey instead of the egg.

6th course is dessert and usually consists of low-fat yogurt (I prefer the Cascade brand, as it is sweetened with fruit juice and has 7 active cultures), grapes, and perhaps a cheese stick.

This is not a short-term diet for me -- but a chosen lifestyle. Since I am using my goal weight maintenance calories as my current daily intake, I expect to lose the weight slowly and do not anticipate having to make any changes in my diet once I do reach goal weight. Also, I anticipate that my body may reach a couple a set-point higher than my goal, but that is okay.

During the 20 hour fast period, I consume only water. I have excellent energy throughout the day, and I do have a exercise program that includes cardio and weights.

If you want to do some research on the subject, just google intermittent fasting. It's based on the calorie restriction research that shows that restricting calories activates the longevity genes and produces other health benefits that reduce diseases typically associated with aging. The studies included mice that were fed regularly, mice that were fed reduced calorie diets, and mice that were fed intermittently but allowed to eat whatever they wanted. The results were very good for the intermittent fed mice. Several in our group just eat what they want for their feeding periods, but they are men. If I ad lib eat, I will maintain, but I will not lose. So, I restrict my calories to my goal-weight maintenance calories. It's a matter of training myself and allowing myself more time for my food preferences to permanently change.

As far as gaining the weight back, well, no matter what program I follow, if I go back to my old ways of eating, I will gain the weight back. So will anyone.

Steve, can you clarify what you mean by no essential carboyhdrate? I don't think you mean that carbohyrdrates are not essential in the diet, becase you mention needing veggies to get other good micronutrients. You don't consider these micronutrients to be essential? Can you clarify what you mean by essential?

I don't think I'm in disagreement with you, as I've read several of your posts, but I am just a bit confused by what you mean by essential.

interesting diet Marlene. I'm glad this method is working for you. :-) I will look up that fasting method as I'm pretty curious about it.

I have ALWAYS been an over eater. However I also remain pretty active so Im not unhealthy. Im a big framed gal though and I do have some "extra baggage" this past week I got my tonsils removed and I have had no other choice than to basically fast.

Living on JEllo and applesauce for one week and I lost 13 lbs! Which Im very excited about, but now that Im feeling a little more up to eating real food Im paranoid because I dont want to gain the weight back.

Is it healthy and will the weight stay off if I continue to eat the very small light portions of food. I am going to cut out the majority of what I was eating...which as we all knoe college student diets are not that great.

just seeing how my post look

Yes I think you are going to lose weight if you are fasting, because of obvious reasons

I go on fasts spontaneously from time to time, it definitely works and takes out any bloat you might have.

I think juice fasting is the most healthy form, I don't think milk and jell-o are good for the human body.

Hi,

In my knowlege of healthy dieting I believe the lowest recommended amount of calories is 1200 for a woman and 1500 for a man. I have not heard of the PSMF method before - is it medically sound? Congratulations on the 16.5lbs you have already lost wimic. Just be careful you are getting enough food and nutrients - you are working your body hard and taking the calories really low. Good luck!
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Nope, I'm out to hurt people.

+1 Fasting is a no no.

my mother went on a similar medically supervised programme. she had to lose weight safely and fast for urgent surgery. she didnt lose as much as she was told she could cos even the slightest deviation(and she did deviate) caused the weight loss to stall. but it was for a good reason she was doing it. being a little elderly her weight loss previously was very slow. well shes now had the op and fingers x`ed will be feeling much better. slim

For anyone fasting: Nevermind the uncertified opinions of selfproclaimed helth gurus. If you don't eat you will loose weight, and to do this fast is needed for those of us who are an inch from up.

No, it is not THE sollution for long term weight management, but it was the only thing that worked for me (and I tried all of the "only X diets" and "not X diets")

Loosing 9 lbs in a matter of 48 hours is enough to motivate even the most "hopeless" of us.
Sure! It is improtant to see a doctor if you notice that your body has a hard time coaping.

Also, this might sound like the "Stop eating diet"
I am not saying that fasting is easy, I know, my friends: The first 48 hours is prettymuch repeating the phrase "No, I am not going to eat" over and over again. And it did take me about two years before I made it over those first 48 hours, but just keep trying.

When you start eating again, your stomach will have shrunk and this will give you a great starting point for your new, improved eating habits.

I recomend staring your fast with three days where you don't have to do anything: NO work, NO chores and (for the love of god and all other things that might or might not be holy) NO walking inside, outside, next to or even within sight of a store

Never give up, my friends

Hurray for you