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Reduced- calorie diet shows signs of slowing ageing in people

nature.com

11–20 of 78 posts

Re: Reduced-calorie diet shows signs of slowing ageing in people

#11

So far in 2018 I have had one ~1300-1500 calorie meal per day for all except maybe ten days (where I have gone out for drinks or have extra food late in the evening with friends). The strangest thing so far is how much my body has adapted to this - I skip breakfast and lunch every day, yet don't feel particularly restricted (save socially), hungry, or weak. I am just one person, but I now intuitively feel that whatev…

How do you even deal with that? I'm on the lower end of BMI (still in the normal/healthy range). I am constantly in a state of starvation. My body burns through food like it's nothing. I have to eat 2 main meals per day to even sustain myself properly. The thing about low calorie intake increasing your lifespan freaks me out.

Re: Reduced-calorie diet shows signs of slowing ageing in people

#12
This is difficult to follow in daily life although not impossible. Given that food is becoming less nutritious as per [1] taking less food will mean less nutrition which can affect general well-being. Figuring out foods high in nutrients, low in calories will require a lot of discipline.

[1] https://www.nature.com/articles/nature13179

Re: Reduced-calorie diet shows signs of slowing ageing in people

#13
That’s great and all, but you cannot build muscle unless you’re on a caloric surplus. Good bye resistance weight training with the goal of having more muscle.

The irony is that having more muscle would also increase the amount of calories you need to maintain (not get bigger/fatter, not get smaller).

What I’m trying to say is that a “deficit” completely depends on what your current lean body mass is. If I want to go on a 15% calorie deficit, I have to eat 2200 calories a day. A much smaller person would probably GAIN weight at that caloric intake.

Re: Reduced-calorie diet shows signs of slowing ageing in people

#14

So far in 2018 I have had one ~1300-1500 calorie meal per day for all except maybe ten days (where I have gone out for drinks or have extra food late in the evening with friends). The strangest thing so far is how much my body has adapted to this - I skip breakfast and lunch every day, yet don't feel particularly restricted (save socially), hungry, or weak. I am just one person, but I now intuitively feel that whatev…

Similar for me, doing low calorie intake for most days and it feels norm now. Inconvenient downside I feel more in social domain than in physical domain.

Re: Reduced-calorie diet shows signs of slowing ageing in people

#15
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How much weight have you lost? Were you somehow obese? Were you fit? Have you lost muscle mass? Sorry if I'm getting too personal, genuinely interested.

I have lost ~10lbs, but I was not overweight (on the high side of normal BMI, but I also lift weights). My muscle mass seems unaffected (or even slightly greater) - these days at the gym I only aim to maintain what I have, and my lifts have even improved slightly.

I see, thanks.

Re: Reduced-calorie diet shows signs of slowing ageing in people

#16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How were the first few days though?

Tough. I stopped eating breakfast (for the most part) a couple years ago, so this time it was just skipping lunch and eating an early dinner. Still, it took less than a week for this to become normal for me, and it has not been difficult to maintain (except socially).

Taking out the bulk of the sugar you take in regularly is a helpful preparation for that kind of diet. Sugar creates short spikes and constant appetite. When you get rid of that, the longer distances of not eating become much less of an issue.

Re: Reduced-calorie diet shows signs of slowing ageing in people

#17

So far in 2018 I have had one ~1300-1500 calorie meal per day for all except maybe ten days (where I have gone out for drinks or have extra food late in the evening with friends). The strangest thing so far is how much my body has adapted to this - I skip breakfast and lunch every day, yet don't feel particularly restricted (save socially), hungry, or weak. I am just one person, but I now intuitively feel that whatev…

You must either be quite short or female. The average healthy male would be losing weight very quickly at such a large deficit.

Re: Reduced-calorie diet shows signs of slowing ageing in people

#18
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How much weight have you lost? Were you somehow obese? Were you fit? Have you lost muscle mass? Sorry if I'm getting too personal, genuinely interested.

I have lost ~10lbs, but I was not overweight (on the high side of normal BMI, but I also lift weights). My muscle mass seems unaffected (or even slightly greater) - these days at the gym I only aim to maintain what I have, and my lifts have even improved slightly.

What prompted you to go for just one meal a day?

I lift as well but I only eat larger amounts during recovery. I am also training less as my priorities have shifted for a period of time.

Re: Reduced-calorie diet shows signs of slowing ageing in people

#19

So far in 2018 I have had one ~1300-1500 calorie meal per day for all except maybe ten days (where I have gone out for drinks or have extra food late in the evening with friends). The strangest thing so far is how much my body has adapted to this - I skip breakfast and lunch every day, yet don't feel particularly restricted (save socially), hungry, or weak. I am just one person, but I now intuitively feel that whatev…

I have recently started doing something similar. One longer-term concern for me is non-macro nutrients (i.e vitamins/minerals). Have you had any thoughts about doing supplements?

I'm also somewhat worried about the bioavailability of supplements...

Re: Reduced-calorie diet shows signs of slowing ageing in people

#20
post #11

So far in 2018 I have had one ~1300-1500 calorie meal per day for all except maybe ten days (where I have gone out for drinks or have extra food late in the evening with friends). The strangest thing so far is how much my body has adapted to this - I skip breakfast and lunch every day, yet don't feel particularly restricted (save socially), hungry, or weak. I am just one person, but I now intuitively feel that whatev…

How do you even deal with that? I'm on the lower end of BMI (still in the normal/healthy range). I am constantly in a state of starvation. My body burns through food like it's nothing. I have to eat 2 main meals per day to even sustain myself properly. The thing about low calorie intake increasing your lifespan freaks me out.

Just fast metabolism. Consult your doctor and adjust it.
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