VLCDs (very low calorie diets) are one of the most extreme forms of dieting available today.
They usually consist of intaking the minimum amount of calories that your body can take (less than 1000 calories a day) by having meal replacements such as highly nutritious shakes, soups and bars, rather than proper meals.
These kind of ‘quick diets’ have been around for a long time and are often used to treat the clinically obese to get them started on a weight loss program that needs a quick weight loss fix followed by a longer term healthy eating plan to help them lose weight at a more sensible rate.
However, the popularity of VLCDs has increased amongst more ‘normally sized’ people because of the regular endorsements of VLCD s by A-List celebrities in the media. They usually undertake such extreme weight loss for films, concerts or red carpet events where they need to look their best (and their lightest).
These endorsements are becoming a big problem according to weight loss experts, because extreme weight loss isn’t necessary for most people, as it can be unhealthy and have unexpected side effects on the body and mind. Most people would simply benefit from a healthy eating plan that involves stricter portion control than they currently have, alongside an exercise regime that they can stick to and improve upon as they get fitter and lighter.
So, VLCDs are only really necessary if you have serious weight issues that require you to lose weight fast for health reasons. The best way to find out if a very low calorie diet is the right diet for you is to consult a dieting professional or your Doctor. They will give you honest advice about your weight loss requirements and can probably recommend the best plan for your particular weight loss needs and lifestyle.