calorie restrictive diet society... fascinating!

(Note: This is not supporting anorexia...)

http://beta.sling.com/video/show/92509/75/Cal orie-Restricting-Lifestyle

OMG those two people look SO young for 61 and 59.

And this is real, we learned about it in biology...

What do you guys think??

I think it's ridiculous. I belonged to their society for a while because I was curious. They are all insane. They spend all day bickering over studies in 3 rats and this molecule and that molecule. I'd rather die at 80 than live to be 100 like that

80's a pretty long life, lol.  Most people die before that...

I do think a lot of it makes sense, though.  A lot of studies have recommended that one fast a week is actually good for you, and some cultures have being doing it for years.  Like in India, a lot of people will go on brief one day, or half day fasts at least once a week.

Also, studies show that every time you eat free radicals are released which is what causes aging... so it only makes sense that eating as little as possible while maintaining the same nutrition would improve your health...

I find it interesting, and I did see a show about a man who lived on about 1500 calories a day for years. His doctor was saying how low his cholesterol was, and how he had perfect blood pressure, and low body fat percentage. The guy was at least 50..maybe even the same guy you mention in the first post, and had like zero heart attack or stroke risk.

They did say there was no extra energy for exercise, or to be too active in general though, so I'm not sure most people would have an easy time on CR.

He seemed to live on vegetables and fish..he went to lunch with the reporter who was doing the story and showed her how he could pile spinach and greens on his plate and use a vinegar based dressing and come out with far fewer calories than she did by eating smaller amounts of higher calorie foods.

I don't know, his doctor was raving about how healthy the guy was, so maybe it works well for some.

I think you'd have to be *very* strict about what you ate though, and couldn't afford to really blow the few calories you had each day on something that didn't give you major nutrients.

I actually think the guy looks really sick.

Original Post by cherry_:

I actually think the guy looks really sick.

But for 61?  Yeah, maybe he was a bit thin... but he had perfect skin, and so did his wife.

It could also have something to do with all the health foods they ate... I mean if you ate a normal calorie diet on brocoli and barley you might look like that too, so who knows...

I agree with Cherry, that guy looks awful.  And I actually don't think he looks good for his age.  My dad is that age, actually quite a bit overweight, and he looks a lot younger.  They both just look so drawn....if either of them fall they ill have no padding and break their hips, they are just so underweight.

Whether or not controlled starvation prolongues life or doesn't, bottom line is that some people are so scared of dying they forget life is for living... and I think that's a pity. 

I think having to maintain that level of restriction for the rest of my life would cause me so much stress and misery I'd look about 90....

I think having to maintain that level of restriction for the rest of my life would cause me so much stress and misery I'd look about 90....

I hope they find the money and people to do a long-term study, because as skeptical as I am, the studies on animals make further testing worth-while.

I've been thinking lately about the people who look healthy and feel good through eating a lot of food and exercising for an hour or more a day. Our bodies are machines and the parts wear out faster the more we use them, so although all the exercise makes us strong and allows us to eat as we please, we are shortening the period of our lives that have a high quality of life. As more and more people reach their 40's and 50's who have been using treadmills most of their adult lives, hip-replacement surgery has skyrocketed.

As with all health fads, there is probably a happy middle ground that no one wants to believe in because it puts money in no one's pocket and takes a lot of self-control.

Original Post by werethylacine:

Our bodies are machines and the parts wear out faster the more we use them, so although all the exercise makes us strong and allows us to eat as we please, we are shortening the period of our lives that have a high quality of life.

Our bodies aren't like machines in that our parts have regernative abilities and actually work better the more they're used.  People who do cardiovascular exercise improve the efficiency at which their heart pumps blood so that it works better and for longer, people who do a lot of critical thinking are less likely to develop dimentia and memory troubles, etc.

Original Post by werethylacine:

As more and more people reach their 40's and 50's who have been using treadmills most of their adult lives, hip-replacement surgery has skyrocketed.

 Um, several generations ago before hip-replacement surgery had 'skyrocketed' people spent most of their days walking around.  The increase in hip-replacements isn't due to the hour a day these people spend on the treadmill, it's the 16 hours or so they spend sitting down.

Original Post by werethylacine:

As with all health fads, there is probably a happy middle ground that no one wants to believe in because it puts money in no one's pocket and takes a lot of self-control.

Like eating enough, not too much, and being generally more active? Yeah, nobody believes in that, least of all the CC community.

Agreed with floggingsully. For the most part, there really are no negative consequences to our bodies for being physically active.  Exercise increases one's endurance, strength and flexibility.  IMO, a physically fit person has a much less chance of injuring themselves when taking a fall, etc.  The body is better conditioned to handle "abuse".

Hip replacements have skyrocketed because of an aging society.

i know this is against along of dietary plans out there that go on about eat small meals every few hours and such, but i think it works. i dont know about the whole living longer thing, but when i have coffee for breakfast, a small healthy meal for lunch, and a reasonable dinner and thats it while exercising, i seirously have more energy, feel better and get fitter. maybe its crazy but this is what i go back to when i want to lose a few lbs. if you look at people in other countries, they eat MUCH less than americans, dont have slower metabolisms, and are thinner AND healthier than we are. i find a good fast (not really more than 24 hours) can make me feel good every now and then. in america everyone is always trying to shove food down your throat rather than admit that we dont need all of that.

There was an article called  The Fast Supper in NYmag a while ago about this.

But basically, subsequent studies have disproven the whole basis of their plan...

You can look it up on like, web of science.

Rikaj I agree with you about a few meals being enough.  Honestly, I think giving your digestive system a break for a few hours is good for it, and I feel less hungry and much cleaner overall on two meals a day.  (Except usually I do the opposite, eat a big breakfast, and then a light dinner - two meals a day) - I mean, if you think about humans in the wild, it's not like we would be eating ALL DAY LONG, right?

  While I'm not totally convinced about this restrictive calorie thing, I do think that this modern idea of making yourself eat like seven tiny meals a day is ridiculous... I mean, I tried that, and it just made me hungry all day long.  And who has time to constantly be preparing meals? 

In lots of countries it's just one solid meal a day, and maybe a couple snacks... these people are healthy.  Your body gets used to it and doesn't go into 'starvation mode'. 

I think some of the diet advice out there just confuses people.

Original Post by tealparadise:

There was an article called  The Fast Supper in NYmag a while ago about this.

 

But basically, subsequent studies have disproven the whole basis of their plan...

You can look it up on like, web of science.

I'm pretty sure it hasn't been disproven, or proven for that matter... what studies?  Can you put up a link?

given my personal experience with calorie restricting and fasting i'm tempted to say how much this makes sense and all that....

but even if all that they were doing would help you live ten or twenty years longer with nice skin would you really want to miss:

a piece of cake and a glass of champagne at your wedding?

sharing decadent dessert with friends?

warm, crusty pizza with the perfect tomato sauce?

thanksgiving dinner with your family?

just trying to remind myself that eating and enjoying eating is not, in itself, a bad thing

not to be argumentative, but sparkle7c, i haven't done any research whatsoever on these people, but in my mind, i dont think they would miss any of these things. not having cake on your wedding day is a ridiculous assumption, along with no thanksgiving dinner. these are the special days that you treat yourself. holidays, weddings, and just enjoying a dessert once a month or something with friends isnt the point. and you can eat pizza. in moderation. on a regular day to day basis though, i dont see anything wrong with restricting calories and not eating all the time. also if you only eat when you're truly hungry, you may find yourself eating alot less.

also, if they would then maybe dont take it so literally. you can learn something from everyone. maybe taking it to their extreme isnt right for everyone, but dont completely shut down their idea. they appear healthy. they must have something right. allowing yourself these treats doesnt even make you different from them as long as you eat well on a regular day-to-day basis.

personally, i think we make dieting in america far too difficult and complex than it needs to be. we have all of the tools of people in the past and present that were successful to follow and yet we try to make complicated plans that do not follow these successful examples. for example, go back to grandma's diet. only eat when you're truly hungry. walk alot. eat smaller portions. if you're feeling ambitious throw in a little extra gym activity. we dont listen to our own cues. i find if i only eat when i am truly hungry, i end up eating a lot less than trying to eat 6 small meals a day whether im hungry or not and feel much better. or again look at those in other countries. they eat whatever they what, just only when they are really hungry. there is nothing wrong with not stuffing your face all the time, its unhealthy and has been made acceptable by american culture. we over emphasize the importance of food in enjoying experience, you do not need to gorge yourself at thanksgiving to enjoy your meal. in fact, i would argue i enjoy meals more when i eat slowly and only as much as my body actually wants.

greenink im glad you feel the same way. i agree seriously the more i eat the hungrier i get and end up eating way too much. i guess its just whatever works individually, but i like the point you made about humans in the wild not eating all day.

sorry for the length response, i just find this topic very interesting and it is something that personally bothers me about america in general. haha ok im done being obnoxious now.