Very Low Calorie Protein Diet To Lose Weight Fast

Very low calorie diets, also called VLCD, restrict your caloric intake by more than 50 percent and generally call for consuming between 400 and 800 calories daily in the form of liquid protein drinks. VLCDs should only be used under a doctor's supervision and in cases of extreme obesity. They're often used prior to gastric bypass surgery to help you lose as much weight as possible before surgery to decrease surgical risk.

When is a VLCD Appropriate?

A very low calorie diet may be used for rapid weight loss if your health is in jeopardy due to obesity. The American Society of Bariatric Physicians suggest that VLCDs can be useful for people with a BMI over 30, a waist circumference greater than 39 inches for men or 34 inches for women, who have been unsuccessful on other diets. Losing weight on a VLCD may work especially well for people who overeat for psychological reasons, as a liquid diet is a "a deterrent from food" and eliminates the need to make food choices. VLCDs are often used before bariatric surgery to help a patient lose as much abdominal fat as possible, making surgery shorter and safer.

Life on a VLCD

Most VLCD programs last between six and 18 months -- although toward the end of your program, you'll begin to eat real food again -- and you will work with a dietitian to learn about nutrition and portion control. In the initial phase of your diet, you won't consume any food, only meal replacement shakes. Your doctor will determine how many drinks you'll be allowed to have per day, based on your weight and nutritional needs. You'll also be encouraged to drink as much water as possible. In the beginning, you may experience fatigue, nausea, constipation or diarrhea, but symptoms should subside within a few weeks. If constipation continues, you may need to add a fiber supplement.

Pros of a VLCD

Average weight-loss using a VLCD can be between 3 and 5 lbs. per week. A 2005 study in the "International Journal of Obesity" concluded that VLCDs work for people regardless of age, race or socioeconomic status. Patients following a medically supervised VLCD often improve blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels in addition to losing body fat and lowering their BMI.

Cons of a VLCD

VLCDs can be a difficult plan to adhere to long-term. According to New York University Medical School, people who lose more than 3 lbs. per week have an increased risk of gallstones. Rapid weight loss can also mean losing muscle mass as well as fat; according to NYC, on a moderate diet you lose three times more fat than lean tissue, but on a VLCD, you may lose equal amount of fat and muscle. VLCDs also slow your metabolism, making weight loss more difficult. A slower metabolism makes it easy to regain weight lost after your VLCD program is finished.