Liquid diet options

[Geekbabe]

I'm trying to get lean and rehab my abs(I've had 3 babies,and 4 abdominal surgeries-vertical incision from pubic bone to a couple inches below the sternum)

I've had sucess thus far and have leaned down to size 4-6 from a size 8 last summer but still have that stubborn bit of fat that won't leave my mid-section.

I've increased my cardio in both time and intensity,I'm also doing a lot of abs work in the gym.I'm wondering if I switch over to just drinking whey protein shakes and eating maybe just cottage cheese if this will help me lean out faster while sparing some muscle?

 

[Arkitech]

I don't have any suggestions but I'm all ears.

I'm currently on a fast today, I'm thinking of going without food for a week. For the first 2 days I plan on just drinking water, the final 5 days will be vegetable and the occasional fruit juice. I have a really wierd body type or something. No matter what kind of diet I do or how much cardio and weight lifting I do my weight never changes more than 3-5 in either direction. Its driving me absolutely insane, so I've decided that fasting might be the only way to shed some pounds. When I come off of the fast I plan on doing some really high intensity cardio to prevent my body from holding onto any fat. I'm desperate

 

[stev0]

lipo

optimum whey protein is what i use... i hear the abs is a tricky area to work, although i wouldn't know... i still can't see mine

 

[TheNinja]

IF you fast or try any crazy diets like that, you'll look good for a week. Until you decide to eat again, then you'll go back to normal. It's called genetics and unless you get down to bodybuilder like 5-7% fat for men (don't know what it is for women) your body will store fat where it wants. You realize many of hte models and body builders don't drink much water for 3-4 days before a show/photo shoot and don't intake any salt (as salt holds in water). Therefore your body doesn't hold any water and you'll look ripped. I guess if you ask 10 different peopel you'll get 10 different ideas/responses.

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: stev0
lipo

optimum whey protein is what i use... i hear the abs is a tricky area to work, although i wouldn't know... i still can't see mine

Abs are a funny thing, even though I need to lose lots of weight when I flex I can clearly see my ab muscles. If I could just drop a few pounds I would have a ripped midsection

 

[Ogg]

Can I say it first?

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: Staley8
IF you fast or try any crazy diets like that, you'll look good for a week. Until you decide to eat again, then you'll go back to normal. It's called genetics and unless you get down to bodybuilder like 5-7% fat for men (don't know what it is for women) your body will store fat where it wants. You realize many of hte models and body builders don't drink much water for 3-4 days before a show/photo shoot and don't intake any salt (as salt holds in water). Therefore your body doesn't hold any water and you'll look ripped. I guess if you ask 10 different peopel you'll get 10 different ideas/responses.

I picked up a book the other day on fasting and from what I've read when a person is coming off of the fast its not recommended to start eating what they did before the fast. I would imagine that when people pig out after a fast thats what adds the weight back on right away. But if they gradually ease back into a normal eating pattern the body is able to compensate for time its been without food.

 

[vi edit]

It's largely genetics. Some people (like me) could get down to dangerously low levels of body fat and STILL have a little bit of fat in their midsection. It's just a thing you have to learn to deal with.

Radical diet plans don't do anything but make you pack on more pounds when you ultimately stop following them.

 

[Electric Amish]

Honey, I think your starting to obsess...

 

[Babbles]

First off, you can't spot reduce fat. Clean diet and cardio will take care of it. I wouldn't recommend an all liquid diet, however protein supplements can't hurt you (I like Optimum myself).

Fasting for a week to lose fat, can only be a bad thing. Your body kicks into 'starvation mode' and will actually use up muscle as opposed to fat.

 

[edro]

Diet.

It's all about keeping your metabolism up. You can't just not eat for a few days, that will accomplish the complete opposite. You need to eat 6 times a day, 200-400 calories per meal. Missing a meal can be detrimental to a diet.

There is no way to "target fat zones". Doing abdominal excersizes will not slim down your waist. It will actually make it larger, by building muscle under your layer of fat. Think back to when you were a kid. Where was the first place you remember being "fat"? I bet it was your stomach. Wherever fat first developed, that is the last place it will come off when trying to lose fat.

Ok, now before you flip out on me, let me say that building muscle WILL burn fat, but it does not burn it in the way that TV shows portray.

 

[stev0]

maybe try some HIIT... ephedra used as directed works wonders

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: Babbles
First off, you can't spot reduce fat. Clean diet and cardio will take care of it. I wouldn't recommend an all liquid diet, however protein supplements can't hurt you (I like Optimum myself).

Fasting for a week to lose fat, can only be a bad thing. Your body kicks into 'starvation mode' and will actually use up muscle as opposed to fat.

yeah I admit its not the greatest thing, but I'm desperate at this point. I figure if I can follow a fast for a week and then move into a restricted calorie diet for a few weeks it might help me to shed the pounds. Fortunately though from what I've read fasting does have some really good health benefits.

 

[Geekbabe]

Let me clarify

1.I am not talking about "fasting" I usually eat pretty clean but think I'm at a stuck point and was wondering if drinking just whey protein shakes and such for a few days would jump start my body into burning fat again.

2.I know one cannot "spot reduce" I work my entire body and do cardio.I have visible triceps and biceps and my back is leaning out nicely,I have the start of some ab definition but would like to kick start a metabolism that seems to have gotten used to my regime.

3.I've started using ephedra and I do my cardio HIT style,hill mode level 12

 

[Babbles]

I think fasting once in a while for a day or two is okay, I have done it a few times for more philosphical reasons than for health reasons. However for an entire week when you have never done so would be a bit rough.

I don't want to turn this thread into yet another low carb thread, but maybe you should check out the South Beach Diet or check out Bill Philips' Body for Life (not really low carb) - he has a new cookbook and even though I don't follow his book per se, his new book looks like it has got some pretty good recipies in it.

 

[Geekbabe]

Originally posted by: Babbles
I think fasting once in a while for a day or two is okay, I have done it a few times for more philosphical reasons than for health reasons. However for an entire week when you have never done so would be a bit rough.

I don't want to turn this thread into yet another low carb thread, but maybe you should check out the South Beach Diet or check out Bill Philips' Body for Life (not really low carb) - he has a new cookbook and even though I don't follow his book per se, his new book looks like it has got some pretty good recipies in it.

my normal diet looks very similar to South Beach,my carbs are complex and usually always eatten during the early part of the day.I avoid white flour,sugar,I eat lean chicken and turkey,veggies.

 

[bbrontosaurus]

Originally posted by: Geekbabe
Let me clarify

1.I am not talking about "fasting" I usually eat pretty clean but think I'm at a stuck point and was wondering if drinking just whey protein shakes and such for a few days would jump start my body into burning fat again.

2.I know one cannot "spot reduce" I work my entire body and do cardio.I have visible triceps and biceps and my back is leaning out nicely,I have the start of some ab definition but would like to kick start a metabolism that seems to have gotten used to my regime.

3.I've started using ephedra and I do my cardio HIT style,hill mode level 12

Are you doing cycling for the cardio?

 

[Geekbabe]

Originally posted by: bbrontosaurus

Originally posted by: Geekbabe
Let me clarify

1.I am not talking about "fasting" I usually eat pretty clean but think I'm at a stuck point and was wondering if drinking just whey protein shakes and such for a few days would jump start my body into burning fat again.

2.I know one cannot "spot reduce" I work my entire body and do cardio.I have visible triceps and biceps and my back is leaning out nicely,I have the start of some ab definition but would like to kick start a metabolism that seems to have gotten used to my regime.

3.I've started using ephedra and I do my cardio HIT style,hill mode level 12

Are you doing cycling for the cardio?

I switch my cardio up,recumbent bike,upright bike,elliptical trainer and treadmill.I always choose high intensity/strength options.

 

[blackdogdeek]

the only time i was able to get really ripped(~5% body fat) was when i was taking fat-burning supplements.

i was eating 6 meals a day of regular food(bagel w/egg white and cheese, 2 turkey sandwiches, salmon/brown rice/broccoli,2 protein shakes, frozen yogurt) and working out regularly.

other than taking supplements the only time i got pretty ripped was when i was doing a LOT of cardio(30 minutes on the treadmill m/w/f, karate for 1.5 hrs tue/wed/thu, and rollerblading for a few miles sat/sun).

unfortunately, i don't think the liquid diet will help as much as you want it to.

EDIT: a woman friend of mine got good results taking one of those over the counter fat burners like oxycut or ephedrine. when she was taking them her abs were much more visible than when not.

 

[Geekbabe]

Originally posted by: blackdogdeek
the only time i was able to get really ripped(~5% body fat) was when i was taking fat-burning supplements.

i was eating 6 meals a day of regular food(bagel w/egg white and cheese, 2 turkey sandwiches, salmon/brown rice/broccoli,2 protein shakes, frozen yogurt) and working out regularly.

other than taking supplements the only time i got pretty ripped was when i was doing a LOT of cardio(30 minutes on the treadmill m/w/f, karate for 1.5 hrs tue/wed/thu, and rollerblading for a few miles sat/sun).

unfortunately, i don't think the liquid diet will help as much as you want it to.

EDIT: a woman friend of mine got good results taking one of those over the counter fat burners like oxycut or ephedrine. when she was taking them her abs were much more visible than when not.

I do a lot of cardio already but would be willing to go further and do spilt cardio sessions,say 30 minutes in the am and another 30 minutes before bed if that would jump start the furnance again.I think the ephedra does help.

 

[TekChik]

Originally posted by: Electric Amish
Honey, I think your starting to obsess...

no kidding...

 

[Geekbabe]

Originally posted by: TekChik

Originally posted by: Electric Amish
Honey, I think your starting to obsess...

no kidding...

I'm spending good,hard earned money on things like gym memberships,fresh,clean healthy foods and supplements,I want my money's worth in terms of the best build I can achive.I have long limbs and a long torso,have some definition mid-section would look darn good.

 

[blackdogdeek]

Originally posted by: Geekbabe

Originally posted by: TekChik

Originally posted by: Electric Amish
Honey, I think your starting to obsess...

no kidding...

I'm spending good,hard earned money on things like gym memberships,fresh,clean healthy foods and supplements,I want my money's worth in terms of the best build I can achive.

and i think it's not unreasonable to ask for adivce from people who may have already considered or done what you are considering.

EDIT: can you take classes at your gym? i found that was an easy way to get a good cardio workout for another 60 minutes.

 

[imported_Tomato]

Solid food is good, hon... I think everything in moderation is key, and don't you have to stay on a liquid diet to maintain the results?

 

[stev0]

Originally posted by: Geekbabe

Originally posted by: blackdogdeek
the only time i was able to get really ripped(~5% body fat) was when i was taking fat-burning supplements.

i was eating 6 meals a day of regular food(bagel w/egg white and cheese, 2 turkey sandwiches, salmon/brown rice/broccoli,2 protein shakes, frozen yogurt) and working out regularly.

other than taking supplements the only time i got pretty ripped was when i was doing a LOT of cardio(30 minutes on the treadmill m/w/f, karate for 1.5 hrs tue/wed/thu, and rollerblading for a few miles sat/sun).

unfortunately, i don't think the liquid diet will help as much as you want it to.

EDIT: a woman friend of mine got good results taking one of those over the counter fat burners like oxycut or ephedrine. when she was taking them her abs were much more visible than when not.

I do a lot of cardio already but would be willing to go further and do spilt cardio sessions,say 30 minutes in the am and another 30 minutes before bed if that would jump start the furnance again.I think the ephedra does help.

the ephedra does help... but be careful mixing that and lots of cardio. your heart is basically on speed, 24/7, lots of cardio only ad's more stress

have you thought about some glutamine, it might not help you loose that weight, but it will help against catabolism while your working to loose the extra fat.