Hahaha,
Our body is specially designed to store as much as it can (from prehostoric times, where food is scarce and need to be hunted for) so our body becomes super efficient in storing all calories as fat. Fat can be stored as fat, sugar can be converted to fat, protein can be converted to sugar and then to fat. so don't you think our body is an efficient fat storing machine?
Next, i agree with alan that our body required at least 1500cal per day (without exercise) to function properly, to maintain health, to let u feel ok. if your body is given less calories per day, e.g. from VLCDs, the body wun know u are dieting, it'll perceive it as starving. Our body is still similar to the prehistoric model, so when u go back to you normal diet again, >1500cal, your body will quickly store them as fat (body's best storage form), kia-su mah, scared kena starved again lor. hence, after your "course" of VLCDs, you'll tend to gain back weight, if not fatter. I'll give you half a year, you'll gain back your weight if your diet and lifestyle is still as per last time.
Because last time your diet and activity habits already got problem, when u go back to them again, the problem still exists. you are just wasting your money on these expensive low calorie stuffs.
Moreover, in cases of extreme VLCDs, a person lose a lot of water and also muscle mass. When your body needs calories, it'll just pull from the sugar stores, the muscle stores and lastly the fat stores.
And when a person looks fat, its not wholly due to fat deposition, some is due to water retention. know which type you are and use the correct method.
When its due to fat deposition, do exercises and control your diet, at least 1500cal/day please. Thats natural those weight loss programs are a hit cos its human nature to be lazy.
Talking about that... after finishing this msg, i'll go do my cross-trainer.
When it is due to water retention, take in more protein from low fat sources. You'll see significant differences. No need to spend so much on those replacements... make ur life miserable only... and also they dun contain all the nutrients you need to maintain health. the body required at least 40 types of nutrients to survive.
Go and count lor. count how many nutrients there are. and if you are going to survive all meals with the replacements, you imagine for yourself lor.
dats why in my prev posting, i recommend at least 1 proper meal.
