Hydroxycut-Are the meal plans realistic?

I just bought a bottle of hydroxycut advanced and was glancing through the meal ideas that are included. To me this does not look like it adds up to 1200 calories (the minimum reccomended for women). Below is an example of what the enclosed meal plan consisted of.

I just want to know why they might suggest  so few calories b/c isn't consuming too little detrimental to weightloss?  I thought I might try to go by the guide but they seem to be lacking the appropriate caloric quantity that I am supposed to have, especially since I work out for no less than an hour a day (30 strength and 30 cardio).

SO! I need some advice... should I continue to chose my own foods( I don't eat junk at all except for my cheat treat 1x a week on Sundays) and stay at 1200 calories a day or go with the meal plan? 

I am 4'11 and 106 lbs. trying to get down to 101. I burn about 1700 cal. on an average day (based on the burn meter w.my age, activity lvl and weight). Please help!

The Meal Plan:

Breakfast*Egg white omlet, 4 egg whites, 1 whole egg, 1/2 cup greens,1 tbsp wheat germ, 1 oz of low fat cheese, 1/3 cup of oatmeal

Snack* 1 apple or banana

Lunch*1-2 cups of spinach or salad mix with added vegetables, 1 tbsp low-fat dressing, 4-6 oz of chicken breast, 1/2 piece of rye bread or whole wheat pita

Snack* 1 low-fat cereal bar

Dinner* 4-6 oz grilled or baked chicken or white fish, 1 cup of steamed veggies,1/3 cup of brown rice.

Ok, Now I know this seems like enough food but as many of you know from using the calorie counter these calories do not seem to equal

Original Post by nb2hott4u:

The Meal Plan:

Breakfast*Egg white omlet, 4 egg whites (50 cals), 1 whole egg (70 cals), 1/2 cup greens (negligible),1 tbsp wheat germ (30 cals), 1 oz of low fat cheese (100 cals), 1/3 cup of oatmeal (150 cals - assuming this is for the raw oats) = 400 cals for breakfast

Snack* 1 apple or banana = 100 cals

Lunch*1-2 cups of spinach or salad mix with added vegetables (negligible), 1 tbsp low-fat dressing (25 cals), 4-6 oz of chicken breast (150-250 cals), 1/2 piece of rye bread or whole wheat pita (100 cals) = 275 to 375 cals for lunch

Snack* 1 low-fat cereal bar = 150 cals

Dinner* 4-6 oz grilled or baked chicken or white fish (150-250 cals), 1 cup of steamed veggies (negligible), 1/3 cup of brown rice (150 cals, assuming this is for the pre-cooked volume). = 300-400 cals

Ok, Now I know this seems like enough food but as many of you know from using the calorie counter these calories do not seem to equal

I get a total of 1225 to 1425 calories not counting the vegetable calories.  Now, if they mean 1/3 cup of *cooked* oatmeal and rice that'd cut off about 100-200 calories for the day and it would be quite low.

It seems like one would shed pounds just by following the meal plan. Do the Hydroxycut pills even do anything?

My friend and I were looking at these pills they have that supposedly get rid of hangovers, called 'Chasers' or something like that. I thought no way in hell do they have a pill that gets rid of hangovers! Wouldn't this be all the rage if it actually worked? Well, it turns out that the directions require you to take a pill with a big glass of water before you start drinking, then take one or two in between your alcoholic drinks, each time drinking a big glass of water with the pills. Well hell. If you just drink that much water throughout a night of drinking without taking the pill you won't be hungover. The pill itself doesn't seemingly do anything at all.

I'm suspicious that hydroxycut is the same way, given the suggested meal-plan you outlined above.

I don't know for sure, obviously. It's just my general suspician of OTC pills that claim to shed pounds or relieve hangovers, etc., expecially given that the directions include already known methods of shedding pounds and relieving hangovers.  

If you only need to lose 5 pounds then why are you taking diet pills and thinking about following such a drastic meal plan?

Hey,

I too think that if u only need to lose 5 pound then u shouldn't be taking diet pills.

Please, read this 

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/05/01/hydroxyc ut.fda.recall/index.html

Hydroxycut has been recalled because it has caused liver damage in some people.  Dont take any other diet pill either. 

Hi - I wont beat you up on wanting to lose 5lbs however, based on my experience diet pills dont work.  I cant tell you how much money I threw to the advertising diet gods only to discover the only thing I ended up losing was my money.  Diet pills are multi-billion dollar business and no magic bullet or pill will make you lose any more weight than a good healthy exercise program and nutritional meal plan....period...trust me...I must have bought everything being sold and in the end its just plain sweat and changing my nutritional intake....and 5 lbs should be fairly straight forward and achieveablein a relatively short time frame.

Dave

Those pills (and other diet pills) have been shown to cause everything from nervous episodes to liver disease to convulsions to heart attacks!  Not to sound too preachy, but you need to eat within your calorie limit and exercise and be patient.  Don't put your health at risk -- so not worth it.

 I have been on a plateau at this weight for more than a month now so that's why I was considering diet pills. I'm not lazy or anything. I do household chores and work out everyday for at least an hour,sometimes more(light weight training,and at least 30 min of cardio) and I've been following the reccomended CC calorie intake for weightloss which is 1200.  I'm just simply not seeing any difference at all in my weight from week to week. It's stuck at 106.4.

Just letting u know cuz 106 lbs. doesn't seem like alot but  I'm only 4'11  and I have a small frame (my wrists measure about 4 ''). 

Original Post by phimegaphi:

It seems like one would shed pounds just by following the meal plan. Do the Hydroxycut pills even do anything?

We guarantee that you'll lose weight, by following our simple plan!

you're exactly right, phim.  it's nothing but salesmanship.

Original Post by jessicasbc:

Hydroxycut has been recalled because it has caused liver damage in some people.  Dont take any other diet pill either. 

i had heard this too.
it killed a few people or something...

in general, diet pills are not good.
however.... -one thing that's really worked for me is acai. i take to capsules (1000 mg) around 4pm, and easily end up eating about 600 calories less than i normally would.
it's not really a diet pill, it just suppresses appetite...works better for me than hoodia or anything else i've tried.