I was visiting Marisol's blog a few days ago and was amazed to find out the Kimkins website (link goes to the About.com Inside Kimkins review) and the dangerous very low calorie / carbohydrate diet endorsed there is STILL operating. Admittedly after Kimkins aka Kim Drake was called to task by California news stations and the California Attorney General I thought Kimkins would cease and desist then vanish from the internet and cheesy magazines like Woman's World. No, nada, not happening.
I had deleted my "Kimkins Watch" links from my sidebar awhile back because I thought it was over. Well, now I wish I hadn't. So they're back and near the top of my sidebar for now. Many of the blogs no longer update regularly or cover Kimkins but I feel their previous posts have valuable insights. (If I missed anybody, let me know).
I just want to reiterate Very Low Calorie Diets Are Dangerous unless medically supervised. And medically supervised VLCDs are of dubious value, cause muscle loss, slow your metabolism and cause rebound weight gain after discontinued. Don't Go There. Period.
Healthy women who start low calorie diets (below 1200 calories a day) often end up showing signs and symptoms of eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia. This was demonstrated recently in the BBC America special "Super Skinny Me" - a must see show. I mentioned this a few posts back, one of the female reporters who went on a very low calorie diet (1000 calories a day) began showing signs of bulimia and anorexia and was counseled by an eating disorders specialist to stop the experiment.
In the end, there's only one proven and sustainable way to safely lose weight and KEEP IT OFF. You must create a lifestyle of a healthy balanced diet, eat fresh whole foods, keep calorie restriction to no less than 250-500 calories under your total daily requirements (not under your BMR!) You must also exercise regularly, and do resistance training to preserve or build muscle. This is EXACTLY how I lost 50 pounds, gained muscle mass, and kept the weight off!
The above lifestyle is not just to lose weight. Healthy whole foods in proper portions, regular aerobic exercise and strength training enhance and preserve good health. Always consult your physician before starting any new dietary or fitness practices. Especially very low calorie diets like Kimkins.
Related Links:
What is a portion size?
What Is A Healthy Balanced Diet?
12 Reasons Every Adult Should Strength Train
Scientific Guidelines For Effective Weight Loss
Begin Exercising For Your Fitness and Health
Six New Rules Of Fat Loss - Cardio Isn't The Best Approach To Fat Loss & You Must Build Muscle To Win The Battle Against Fat
Calculators for BMR, RMR and more.
Diet That Made Oprah Winfrey Slim Demands Discipline, Specialists Say
