Don't you just hate unsolicited advice? I got some today that pushed my buttons a little bit.
At a meeting with a vendor I ran into a trainer from South County that I met for the first time. In the course of our conversation, my business partner brought up the Purium cleanse I'm currently participating in. I immediately cringed as she launched into all the horrible side effects of restricting your diet and how it's not the right way to lose weight or get healthy. She had no previous knowledge of me, my diet, or exercise routine, but felt the need to tell me the "appropriate" way to go about losing weight. I hate telling people (especially other people in the health industry) about anything I choose to do with health or exercise because everyone has an opinion... and quite frankly... I'm sick of hearing it.
I get it, when you seriously reduce your food intake it can have negative side effects. A severe reduction in calories and nutrients can lead to a slower metabolism, decreased muscle mass, fatigue, dizziness, low blood pressure and headaches. What's even more, the second you start eating larger amounts of calories again, any weight you did lose can just comes flying right back on.
But here's the difference between what I'm doing with Purium and what happens during some of these other cleanses. While I am seriously restricting my diet and reducing my caloric intake, I'm making sure my body gets the nutrients it needs to still function at a high level. On a daily basis I consume: 3 shakes, 1 piece of grilled chicken, 1 organic apple and a few different types of vitamins. The food along gives me daily:
Calories: about 600
Protein: 83 grams
Carbs: 43 grams
100% of daily vitamins including Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Iron, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12 and Zinc.
Besides that, the vitamins include a Vegan protein supplement, a hormone balancer and a supplement that protects your muscles and skin from damage.
On top of that I'm continuing to lift and exercise like I regularly would, keeping my metabolism high and my muscle mass up.
So, what's the point in all that? While I am hungry, I'm not hurting myself. I'm giving my body all the nutrients it needs, while losing some fat, resetting my taste buds, shrinking my appetite and reducing some of my "bad" cravings (like sugar and carbs). Poor eating habits can be tough to break, so by doing something dramatic like this reset, I am breaking those habits and coming back to a healthier lifestyle. The goal is to no longer crave the "bad" food, and make better choices moving forward.
So while I understand that this isn't right for everyone, it is right for me at this time in my life. And while I appreciate that everyone has their own opinion, I think sometimes it's better to keep them to yourself. Or maybe that's just the hunger talking...