Very Low Calorie Diets (VLCD’s)

A Very Low Calorie Diet (VLCD) is a diet where normal meals are replaced with drinks, soups, or bars. The typical daily calorie intake is on or under the 800 mark - however the aim is to be as nutritionally balanced as possible.

Prescription Only

A VLCD is normally only used privately and in the medical profession to bring about rapid weight loss in the dangerously overweight person. These diets should be undertaken only under medical supervision. They are typically a high fat, high protein diet that will bring about Ketosis.

The diet is only undertaken for a short period of time (a few weeks). In some situations, the meal replacements may only be used for two meals a day - therefore bringing about slower but more manageable weight loss.

VLCD Diets

Medifast
This has been used by (apparently) over 1 million people, and is endorsed by John Hopkins University. It’s a meal replacement plan around the 800-1000 calories mark (which puts it outside the strict definition of a VLCD). It will put the body into a mild state of ketosis.

Optifast
Available at hundreds of clinics in the US and Canada. However many find it difficult to complete the program

The Cambridge Diet
Used in the UK, this diet has an even lower daily calorie level (400-600) and is a high protein, low fat, low carb diet.

Comments

mahshid

I agree with this diet.I prefer that note amount of calorie of food daily.:)

Amy

When I was fifteen, last year, without consulting my doctor, and lying, saying I was 18 and my doctor had told me to go on it when buying these drinks, I did this sort of diet for a five weeks, and lost on average 12 pounds a week.
However, at the end of the diet, after slowly returning back to a ‘normal’, but healthier diet, I gained all the weight again. Also, I had extreme hair loss, resulting in me having to go on medication do make it grow back.

Robin

Ditto. Hair loss!

itworked

LOW CALORIE DIETS DO NOT WORKKKKK!!!

L.P.

My whole lifestyle is extremely low cal. It DOES work. You just cant go back to eating like a pig afterwards. Otherwise it doesn’t work. Self control people.

libby

as a recovering anoexic these diets do work but with severe side effects strongly recomend not to try unless your doctor advises

sarah

two words. hair loss. low cal is terrible for you.

Louise

It does work on the long term. I was eating under 1000 kcals a day for about 6 months. The only trouble was that I lost my periods, I was very underweight and I was constantly cold.
Even when I ate like a pig for 6 months after that, on average about 3000 kcals a day, I only gained 2 stone.
It shouldn’t be done. But still I would easily do it again.

jhon

im am a male reconvering annorexic im 6′3 116 pounds and this diet is kinda working for me

JASON

WTF JHON, AT 6′3 116 LBS. YOU SHOULD BE IN A HOSPITAL.

tabby

hi i eat like a pig i was wondering is this a good diet

SarahRP

I was on a low cal diet about 550-800 a day. I lost 10 lbs and kept it off, by watching what I ate.

Last modified: April 6, 2008