Every other day diet?

This seems like a decent diet, but I'm skeptical.

http://www.everydiet.org/diet/every-other-day -diet

The idea is that you eat 400-600 cals every other day, and on the other days you can semi 'pig out' without overdoing it.

That sounds like the perfect way to screw up your metabolism.

Apparently the theory behind it is that it keeps your metabolism running at full rather than slowing it down on a constant calorie restricting diet.

Original Post by automatikflowers:

Apparently the theory behind it is that it keeps your metabolism running at full rather than slowing it down on a constant calorie restricting diet.

 Yes but the minimum amount of calories for an adult women is 1200, An adult male 1500. You need at least that amount everyday to not starve. if you eat 400 -600  every other day that is still starving yourself even if it's only for a 24 hour period. you will eventually want to pig out everyday and not just every other day because your body will be asking for more food. this will confuse your metabolism and you will gain weight, a lot more weight  then when you started. it's like your body's way of trying to make up for what has been lost. it's not healthy. I wouldn't try it.

From the description:

An important component of the diet is vegetable juices that are high in potassium and with adequate sodium such as tomato juice as these help to alleviate the feeling of fatigue and weakness when calories are very low. Orange juice and low fat drinking yogurt are included as source of potassium.

A 4 oz serve of orange juice is also recommended on the low calorie day for when dieters feel very tired or are experiencing uncomfortable reactions.

Dietary Fiber is added to prevent constipation that can occur when food intake is significantly reduced.

Getting tired is a sign that your metabolism is slowing.  And the description basically says that you will get tired on the low days, so it seems like a silly concept to me.

might have some merit, if you think about it. someone who doesn't count calories at all there calories intake probably varies wildly from day to day, maybe 500 one day, 1,000 the next and 2,500 on another.trying to eat the exact same amount of calories per day is probably not the best thing for your metabolism. yesterday I was really busy and didn't get to eat three meals like I usually do. I just ate when I was hungry, at the end of the day when I added it up it was only 500 calories. I think varying your calories intake is a good idea, and I try to do that in my own diet, not to that extreme  though. one day I might have 1,300 calories the next 1,900 and so on...

they forgot to add the protein you should eat daily so your body doesnt eat away at your muscle rather than fat

I've never eaten less than 1200 a day unless I was sick...Even before I started counting. I don't know how anyone would be able to only eat 400 in a day but whatever.

Seems like it could be more effective to cycle your calories in a safer range.  Say you are supposed to eat 1500 a day.  You could choose to eat 1200 one day and 1800 the next.  This would give your metabolism the wake up.. with out dropping so low you are ravenous or shut down.

Lol. So eat nothing and binge a lot? I'm pretty sure you'd gain weight if anything.